GEC Northfield etc. question.

T

Triq

Joined
Oct 1, 2009
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I hear alot of folks talk about the nailbreaking springs on these knives. Is this a little exageration or are they really that stiff? How do they compare to Eyebrand,Case,Boker? Thanks for the info guys. I have been eyeing a dogleg jack for some time now i just dont really like the idea of haveing to use a pick to open a knife I EDC.

Regards
Ben
 
Here is a photo of the GEC knives I own, or have owned.
This is my scale
1 = falls open
2.5 = minimum acceptable
5 = perfect "snappy" tension
7.5 = beginning of nail buster range
10 = "Get some pliers"

4737036895_d124b39436_z.jpg

Clockwise from the top:
#23 Yellow Rose single blade Trapper - 8.5 Brutal
Blue Lockback - 3 (but that's NICE for a locker)
Tortoise Shell Acrylic Single blade - 4.5 Sweet
Stag #73 Scout Trapper (2 blades) - 5 on the "Clip", 7 on the Spey
Red Jigged Bone Barlow Jack - 5 on the Sheepsfoot (main), 7.5 on the Pen
Yellow Bone Whittler (3 blades) - 3.75 on all three
 
My GEC Scout really does have a stiff spring and it really did break my nail.

Only other brand of slip joints I own is Victorinox -- and compared to the Farmer, Bantam and Pioneer models I have -- all Alox -- the GEC is by far stronger and harder to open.

For what it's worth, I actually like the stiff spring on my GEC Scout because it has gotten easier to open over time, yet remains strong enough to inspire confidence.
 
I think GEC get it just about right across the board. Good firm springs, though none of them scary - not like an old Navy knife I have :)

Bokers I think are too soupy to keep my attention. Queens feel slightly less snappy than GECs, but I like them too. Bulldog and Eye are in that same region. So, yes, GEC have stronger springs than their main competitors, on the whole, but not too hard to be useful
 
In my limited experience they aren't that bad. They are definitely firmer than the other brands mentioned, but I think they have mostly fixed the issue compared to when they first started out and there were lots of complaints. Obviously what each person prefers is going to vary based on their hand and fingernail strength so it's pretty subjective.

Even if it does seem stiff at first, it should break in a little. My 2010 forum knife that I just got was actually painful to open at first. After oiling and working the joints over the course of a few days it got to where it was bearable. Either that or I just built up the strength in my thumbnail so that it didn't hurt anymore.:D
 
My GEC Scout had a very very stiff spring out of the tube but it is slowly getting a little easier as I oil it and stuff.
 
approximated but to give an idea

I have 2 #73's and they are like 8 but it's OK on the knife, more usable but a 6 would be preferred
the 66 mink is a 2-3
66# northy jack is 6
the 23# was a 8-9, pretty pretty hard and the half stop is scary
36# sunfish, not "hard" but needs some force, spring and blade are BIG, 7-8
53 northy rancher 6-7
48#'s 3+
53 furtaker 6

some I've seen/bought for friends

89 gambler, 2-3
lockback 72 in clip and wharnie, 1-3 and smoooooth
various 73# from 7 to 8+
2x# good at 3-4 I think

the 73#,23# and 36# have thick springs, big blades and are thought for heavier use so tough springs are ok, little attention is needed, they're the hardest I've come across out of the 20+ that I've handled

the others are all fine for me, some more some less, 66 and 48 are a joy to use and open, the 53 rancher is overbuilt and on the hard side but it's understandable, the 53 furtaker is just fine for the size, no problems

I edc the 73,48,66 jack, 53 furtaker often and all of them are fine

IMO you need practice in handling and often some attention but they are not scary or dangerous, not more than a SAK

hope this helps, just some cents of mine
Maxx
 
I have a 2 blade Scout in stainless that's a very early knife-06, its springs coupled with an arresting half-stop are murder, 9 on the Ripoutyourthumbnail Scale. I've got an old Ka-Bar that's worse though!
Soon GEC toned down these springs to a very nice level in my view:the Lockback as it should be is light&smooth and the others nice and stout but not problematic.

This year's Forum Knife ,an ebony Moose actually tore off my thumbnail in one neat break when first opening the Clip blade! It's settled down nicely now after a thorough clean out to remove any metal shards and muck plus oiling.

It all depends on your attitude to springs, I don't want my nails removed but I can't abide a soft spring-might as well get a friction folder. Böker, incidentally,seem to have increased their spring strength a lot lately. Goodo!
 
My GEC Dogleg started off at around 8 and did make my thumbnail tender after the first day of playing with it. Now after about two weeks it has smoothed out to more like a 6.5. Does have a nice snap though that I'm getting used to. I've carried this almost constantly once it smoothed out.
 
I would like to add that while the pull on my Dogleg is certainly firm the upside is there is zero blade movement side-to-side and has a great snap.
 
gecs vary from grit your teeth to very nice. after 7 or 8 months my nails actually got stronger so i do'nt need picks unless i'm trying to look at more than 20 or 25 knives.--dennis
 
just got in one of the new dogleg jacks, and I find that the pull is not hard. It is very smooth, I would say it is a 6. Great knife. IT won't rip off your nail.
 
I have the toothpic as well as the single bladed jack. Both are very nice and decent to open. Great snap but can e pulled out with ease. The jack is easy to juct pinch and pull. The toothpic, i use my nail but it is very good.

I also have a scagel produced by GEC. It has great snap and also can be pinch opened.
 
The GEC whittler that I have is fine on all three blades. I'd guess about a five since I don't have a "10" to measure against. Very doable without discomfort, but not at all wimpy. I'd say it's just about perfect. It's definitely got more spring than most of my other knives, but it certainly is far from objectionable. If mine is typical, then they've got it just about perfect for me. - Ed
 
Thanks for all the replys fellas, as soon as i get the funds ill pull the trigger on that dogleg jack.
 
It really depends on the pattern. Some GEC patterns are brutal in the pull department, others are pussycats. The pen blades on some of the earlier #25 barlows are excruciatingly tough. The Pioneers and Scouts are heavy duty as well. Everything else is relatively tame.
 
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