GEC's liner locks.

Will Power · Sep 14, 2014

Big fan of locking Traditionals

The combination of backspring and liner make for a reassuring combination (some modern liners such as my Mcustas are fine knives but I don't trust them not to open in my pocket! This cannot happen with the Traditional type.) As Barry noted, the lock-up on these GECs is very tight and none of mine exhibit play at all. Let's not forget that Queen Cutlery do a couple of excellent liners the Teardrop and Copperhead, totally solid no play either.

Regards, Will

RexRazorX · Mar 14, 2015

Does the liner lock on #73 or similar model create a hot spot or uncomfortable grip? I really want 73 single - but don't see any around without the liner lock. I don't mind the lock as long as it does not create a hot spot.

Thanks,
Rex

KrisNZ · Mar 14, 2015

RexRazorX said:
Does the liner lock on #73 or similar model create a hot spot or uncomfortable grip? I really want 73 single - but don't see any around without the liner lock. I don't mind the lock as long as it does not create a hot spot.

Thanks,
Rex

Hi, I've had a couple of #73 LL, I never noticed any 'hot spot', and I used them all day as a work knife. The LL tab seemed to fit nicely between my first and second finger,.

Kris,.

Will Power · Mar 14, 2015

It's very unobtrusive when you have the knife in your hand, an ideal lock in my view.

SAK Guy · Mar 14, 2015

My 23L (due to Sitflyer's kindness)! Medium pull, locks up like a bank vault and very comfortable in the hand. No hotspots.

RexRazorX · Mar 14, 2015

Thank you all for the input. I will definitely consider the liner lock option. This opens up more candidates for single blade #73's.

SOUTHERN WOODS · Mar 14, 2015

Not to hijack the thread but does GEC make any of these linerlocks or even a frame lock without half stops?

I'm really digging the 85 also the 73 stag models but half stops would be a deal killer for me.

Aias · Mar 14, 2015

The LL's are awesome... and half-stops serve their purpose... give one a try, I'm guessing you will not be disappointed.

#73

#23 double liner lock

#23

KrisNZ · Mar 15, 2015

#73LL Ebony

Kris,.

2manyknives · Mar 15, 2015

I've owned a few GEC Liner Locks. Currently have 2 73s in stag and a 23. Great knives but every one I owned had blades that were noticeably canted to one side.When closed the blades were off centre.

Is this inherent in the design or have I been unlucky?

Will Power · Mar 15, 2015

That may be due to the liner being made of thicker gauge steel rather than the brass liner. You have in effect, another layer in the 'sandwich' 2 brass liners and a steel liner in addition to the steel backspring. Mine are slightly off-centre, but they don't exhibit any play or rub at all.

Thanks, Will

SirJames · Mar 15, 2015

arizonaranchman said:
If you use a knife so much and for so long that the LL starts to wear out then I wanna see pics!

Of course cheap Chinese LLs wear out, but what is a tad disapointing is that American made Buck LLs have failed on the Advantage model, they use such a very thin liner on their $20 models that they just don't work as a liner.

I had a Camillus LL I had to file down as it was a tad longer than it should have been, after that it fit under the screwdriver and locked up tight. Since it was an old knife I also had to use pliers and bend the liner a bit to put some spring into it after decades of use.

Really good liner locks will have an angle in the tang. If you have a nice square tip liner and you lean it over to the right then guess what? You only have part of the metal touching the 90 degree tang. Take a book and sit it on its end as if on a book shelf, not tilt it to the left, see how the nice flat _ surface not looks not so flat.

Here is an article on the linerlock history by Bernard Levine: http://www.knife-expert.com/liners.txt