How do you like the softer pulls on recent GEC knives?

How do you like the softer pulls on recent GEC knives?

  • I like the softer pulls and I think GEC should continue in this direction.

    Votes: 26 22.0%

  • Too soft. I want better snap.

    Votes: 74 62.7%

  • It doesn't matter to me.

    Votes: 18 15.3%
  • Total voters
    118
  • Poll closed .
Camillus said:
The talk and snap are definitely not measurable!
Click to expand...

Whut??? Are you saying sound can't be measured in frequency and decibels or that the talk and snap you reference are not sound? Differences in sound is easily measurable, frequency and decibels.

Besides blade cams and nail nick, backspring material, heat treat, width, height, and length between pivot points all contribute to pull strength and should be engineered into the design. Custom makers can guess though experience and adjust accordingly to the user, but factory knives should have all main blades 6-7 and all secondary blades 4-5 by design. I have zero use for a knife that requires pliers to open, and because I can choose, I have zero use for a slipjoint that doesn't have a satisfying snap when closing.

Early GECs are by and large so hard to open they got a bad rep. Current trends are to lighten those pulls to the point blades no longer have a pleasing sound when they open or close. Don't like them and sold them. Agree with @traumkommode ... if you are looking for a perfect pull / snap example, get a 2016 SS GEC on the 15 platform. Because they are stainless, the pivot doesn't rust (get gunked up) as easily as 1095 GECs so they stay snappy and consistent. GECs that also fall in the consistently excellent category are "pre-peachseed" clip point TCs. YMMV
 
Correct. A ‘pleasing’ sound and a ‘perfect’ ‘satisfying’ snap aren’t empirically measurable.
 
Once we describe a pleasing sound / satisfying snap and find a knife that fits those perimeters, they can be measured. Once measured, they can be engineered in the design, just like flush half stops. Without measuring it, my guess is a pleasing slipjoint sound is probably higher frequency as well as more decibels, it sings. Low decibel / low frequency metallic sounds are not as satisfying, they are more like thunks.
 
The walk and talk and a good snap conveys a feel of quality. Without the good feeling and sounding mechanics of a GEC pocket knife all you would have is good looks. A relationship should be built on more than just good looks.
 
I much prefer the soft pull. Some of the old gecs, especially small ones, were toi much and not fun to use.
 
I’m always amazed at the differences my friends and relatives have when handling pocket knives. Some have more coordination and finger strength than others. Some have big sausage fingers that can only be used for larger pockets knives. Some are irrationally scared that knife is going to jump out of their fingers and bite them. Knives that I think are perfect are considered dangerous by my brother.
 
Personally I started buying these because they have...had strong springs. Have recently bought a few 43s and they don't seem as well built to me due to the weak springs. A strong spring feels to me like I've got something well built in my hands. Just my personal opinion..maybe if I worked in an office and had manicured nails of whatever I would prefer a knife that opened real easy. Or if all I did with a knife was open an occasional envelope or just collect it because that what my friends in the office do and it's a status thing a light pull would be better because I'm also not worried about it closing as easily as.it opens..
 
My opinion....the light pull are complete garbage. I have no use for dang light pulls. I work with them every day and I don’t trust light pulls. A good strong spring and firm snap is a sign of quality in my eyes. I think GEC is going in the wrong direction, with the light pulls and the retarded lack of availability they’ve turned into collector pieces vs. viable high quality working knives. I’m about done with them....which is a damn crying shame because I love their knives.
 
Although the poll is closed, I would vote like the majority for a better snap.
I got in contact with traditional knives through GEC in 2014,
a time when some of the 2013 models still were available from the dealers.
The plurality of patterns impressed me, also the fit and finish. Last but not least I liked the "crisp" feeling and sound of the opening and closing blades from day one.
The first knife I bought was one of the early #15 Huckleberrys, which has a little more pull than the SAK's I knew before.
During this year I also bought a #85 Bullet End Jack from 2011 on the secondary market,
which has the strongest pull of my GEC's, but is still comfortable to open and close,
no nailbreaker for medium hands with softer nails.
I noticed light variations in spring action in 2014 and 2015, but the increasing softer pull during the following two years irritated me.
My last GEC from 2017 has such a light spring, it even starts to close when I sharpen it on a water stone. To avoid this I guess a good pocket knife should have a good snap, at least in the open position (I know that the pressure during the sharpening process should be light, and I guess I'm careful, as I never had problems in this direction before).
 
My preference for a firm pull or not is almost fully dependant on the size of the knife. Big knives can have a much heavier spring and still be okay to open and close because of the leverage of the larger blades. For the 81, I would have expected heavier springs just from the size of the frame and length of blades, but the springs are weighted for a smaller knife IMO, and on top of that the long blades overpower the heck out of them from their leverage. That weight of spring would be fine as a double end spring for stockman secondaries, I'd say.
So if I had to say something for GEC to 'do' concerning pulls, I would say they might be careful about light springs in larger patterns.
 
ccsavage said:
Personally I started buying these because they have...had strong springs. Have recently bought a few 43s and they don't seem as well built to me due to the weak springs. A strong spring feels to me like I've got something well built in my hands. Just my personal opinion..maybe if I worked in an office and had manicured nails of whatever I would prefer a knife that opened real easy. Or if all I did with a knife was open an occasional envelope or just collect it because that what my friends in the office do and it's a status thing a light pull would be better because I'm also not worried about it closing as easily as.it opens..
Click to expand...

Arthritic hands or pain from previously broken hands/fingers might change your mind.

Also, if you use a knife properly, the blade won't close on you- regardless of spring strength.
 
waynorth said:
I have a lot of HJ punches that are a Bear to open, Duncan!! I think it was often considered a safety feature!!:rolleyes: I saw a severely cut finger from a punch that inadvertently closed on a user (not me!:eek:). I like hard pulls, but knives with NO Springs work fine also!!:D
Click to expand...

Thank you Charlie- I have seen your Nails of Steel at work and put me to shame, I still have trouble looking people in the eye :)
I do know that you like Hard pulls on a Knife, and we all like variances,,,but sometimes it's like....Really!!!!
Half Stops on a strong Spring also have a lot to answer for- the safety feature actually turns into a risk factor - the only time I have been attacked by a Punch was loosening a grabbing Punch on the HJ9- OMG - that Punch went in man....I remember foolishly reacting by shaking my hand and it stuck in :eek: :eek: that took months to stop hurting that one!
 
556hunter said:
My opinion....the light pull are complete garbage. I have no use for dang light pulls. I work with them every day and I don’t trust light pulls. A good strong spring and firm snap is a sign of quality in my eyes. I think GEC is going in the wrong direction, with the light pulls and the retarded lack of availability they’ve turned into collector pieces vs. viable high quality working knives. I’m about done with them....which is a damn crying shame because I love their knives.
Click to expand...
I agree with your opinion Ryan !!! It is good to see you around again .

Harry
 
Thanks Harry!! I don’t post much at all but I sure look and read several times a day:)


I’m sorry to say, but I’ve put all my GEC’s away because they’ve made me so mad at the unavailability and making themselves into expensive collector pieces (not what they were founded on in my opinion) that I’ve put them down for now and I’m carrying a case trapper. On that note I’m really proud of the trapper because I dyed the bone scales and turned the Spey blade into a sheeps foot and I absolutely love it!!! Mabybe it’s because of my irritation with GEC at the moment or maybe it’s because I worked on it and I’m super pleased with how it came out:) I’d post pics but since PB went down, I’m not sure how to go about it.
 
556hunter said:
Thanks Harry!! I don’t post much at all but I sure look and read several times a day:)


I’m sorry to say, but I’ve put all my GEC’s away because they’ve made me so mad at the unavailability and making themselves into expensive collector pieces (not what they were founded on in my opinion) that I’ve put them down for now and I’m carrying a case trapper. On that note I’m really proud of the trapper because I dyed the bone scales and turned the Spey blade into a sheeps foot and I absolutely love it!!! Mabybe it’s because of my irritation with GEC at the moment or maybe it’s because I worked on it and I’m super pleased with how it came out:) I’d post pics but since PB went down, I’m not sure how to go about it.
Click to expand...
I have started using IMGUR and it has been fine so far . It is probably as easy to use as Photobucket was.
Harry
 
Campbellclanman said:
Thank you Charlie- I have seen your Nails of Steel at work and put me to shame, I still have trouble looking people in the eye :)
I do know that you like Hard pulls on a Knife, and we all like variances,,,but sometimes it's like....Really!!!!
Half Stops on a strong Spring also have a lot to answer for- the safety feature actually turns into a risk factor - the only time I have been attacked by a Punch was loosening a grabbing Punch on the HJ9- OMG - that Punch went in man....I remember foolishly reacting by shaking my hand and it stuck in :eek: :eek: that took months to stop hurting that one!
Click to expand...
Arthritis runs rampant in my genes...I can sympathize. My uncle's fingers are bent in every direction from it. He still packs a knife but not a traditional with a nail nick
 
Railsplitter said:
I'm trying to post a poll but I've never done it before so I hope this works.

I'm just curious what the general opinion is on the softer pulls on most of GEC's recent production knives.

Personally, I've always been a real stickler for good snap and if that meant that the pulls were up around 8 or 9 on the pull scale then so be it. Much to my surprise, the Calf Ropers and the Churchills from last year have changed my perspective. I like that the blades are easier to open and although the closing snap has suffered some, I think it is still acceptable.

What do you folks think?
Click to expand...
Hi

Don't you have a lot of Queen and Morgan & Schatt?
None of them have strong pulls, I guess a 5 if you have to put a number to it
 
neeman said:
Hi

Don't you have a lot of Queen and Morgan & Schatt?
None of them have strong pulls, I guess a 5 if you have to put a number to it
Click to expand...

Yes, I do have several Queen and Schatt & Morgan knives. Just sitting here thinking about it and not actually pulling all my knives out to check, I can't think of any Queen made knife that I own with a pull softer than 5. Some of them are heavier than that.

I have a Tuna Valley that is almost a nail breaker.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top