Is it normal for a GEC knife to be IMPOSSIBLE to open by hand?

What year is it? The original GECs are known for being bear traps. I'm sure a couple fingers have been lost on some of them. Chris at GEC hooked me up and reduced the pull on a 23 single blade for me.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
What year is it? The original GECs are known for being bear traps. I'm sure a couple fingers have been lost on some of them. Chris at GEC hooked me up and reduced the pull on a 23 single blade for me.
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I just bought a #73 from this last run and the pull is around 8.5. The tooling hasn't changed as far as I know.
 
Maybe this has been discussed before and I'm sorry if it has. Mark, being a knife maker you may be one of the best to answer...

What makes this pattern have such a hard pull? Compared to other knives that is since they utilize the same steel...
 
Of course it isn't! Haha They are made to be used, according to Mr. Howard, and you have to be able to open them to use them. GEC gives their blades stronger pulls than most outfits, which many like due to more security and maybe longer useful life, but that also means sometimes they go overboard. If oiling doesn't clear it up either return it to the dealer for a replacement or send it in, I've had them lighten pulls and my knife came back perfect.
 
Jsega51 said:
Maybe this has been discussed before and I'm sorry if it has. Mark, being a knife maker you may be one of the best to answer...

What makes this pattern have such a hard pull? Compared to other knives that is since they utilize the same steel...
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I'm no expert Jake, but take a look at the sketch I did on the previous page. The distance from the backspring pin to the blade tang could be longer and/or, the scallop under the backspring near the pivot hole could be increased to thin the spring down making for a lighter pull.

Notice what Rick Menefee did on the backspring of the knife he built me.

2006-07-16%2005.47.54_zpseeq5bsit.jpg
 
I have weak thumb nails (having lost both a couple of times over the years) #73's are tough for me to open. But, I really love that pattern. So, I deal with it. They do get "slightly" better with use.
 
I see it now....I didn't see the sketch before I posted. I got caught up in the middle of posting and when I got back to my phone I submitted it while the thread had already continued on without me. Thanks for the explanation!
 
nugun55 said:
I have weak thumb nails (having lost both a couple of times over the years) #73's are tough for me to open. But, I really love that pattern. So, I deal with it. They do get "slightly" better with use.
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I agree with you nugun. I love the pattern and don't mind the stronger pull, and as you stated, they get better with use. I know the OP said his was a liner-lock and mine are not, I don't think there is a need for that on this pattern.
 
Jsega51 said:
I see it now....I didn't see the sketch before I posted. I got caught up in the middle of posting and when I got back to my phone I submitted it while the thread had already continued on without me. Thanks for the explanation!
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No problem Jake!
 
Jack Black said:
There there was this one! :eek: Returned it to the dealer.



If you choose to return the knife, be aware that it could take a while before you get it back. Based on very recent experience, I understand that Bill Howard handles any returns himself, and since he's busy, you could be waiting six months.
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Have other people had this experience? I've sent 3, maybe 4, knives in and had all in return times of 1-4 weeks.
 
Jack Black said:
If you choose to return the knife, be aware that it could take a while before you get it back. Based on very recent experience, I understand that Bill Howard handles any returns himself, and since he's busy, you could be waiting six months.
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This was once the case; not any more. Not saying it will be back to you by the end of the week - but they do have an "adjustments" guy now.

Blade tension is like many other things and very subjective. I had a 25 that I simply could not open the secondary blade and handed it to a machinist friend of mine. He took his steel fingers (from 50 years of hard labor) and popped it right open - said "I'd rate it a 7". I have had many returned that were "impossible" to open that I had no issues whatsoever with (neither did the next owner). I wish I had a tool that wouldn't mark the blades and I could measure actual draw weight....
 
knifeswapper said:
This was once the case; not any more. Not saying it will be back to you by the end of the week - but they do have an "adjustments" guy now.

Blade tension is like many other things and very subjective. I had a 25 that I simply could not open the secondary blade and handed it to a machinist friend of mine. He took his steel fingers (from 50 years of hard labor) and popped it right open - said "I'd rate it a 7". I have had many returned that were "impossible" to open that I had no issues whatsoever with (neither did the next owner). I wish I had a tool that wouldn't mark the blades and I could measure actual draw weight....
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Good points Mike. I have no problem opening a knife as long as I can get two fingers on the blade.

"I wish I had a tool that wouldn't mark the blades and I could measure actual draw weight..."

Let me see what I can come up with for you. Do you want digital readout?
 
Markesharp said:
I agree with you nugun. I love the pattern and don't mind the stronger pull, and as you stated, they get better with use. I know the OP said his was a liner-lock and mine are not, I don't think there is a need for that on this pattern.
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I wouldn't care for a liner lock on a 73. That would be asking for trouble, IMO. I take special care when closing them, as it is. I wouldn't want my thumb in there.
 
nugun55 said:
I wouldn't care for a liner lock on a 73. That would be asking for trouble, IMO. I take special care when closing them, as it is. I wouldn't want my thumb in there.
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That is part of the reason for a half stop. When the blade goes to the half stop position, you get all your digits clear of the blade well before proceeding.
 
Markesharp said:
Good points Mike. I have no problem opening a knife as long as I can get two fingers on the blade.

"I wish I had a tool that wouldn't mark the blades and I could measure actual draw weight..."

Let me see what I can come up with for you. Do you want digital readout?
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No, don't need anything fancy.
 
knifeswapper said:
This was once the case; not any more. Not saying it will be back to you by the end of the week - but they do have an "adjustments" guy now.
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That's good to hear. My experience was very recent, had to send a knife back as one of the covers had a crack.

Interesting discussion :thumbup:
 
EyeDog said:
This is a known issue as phillll said. If you get it open...be careful closing it. IMO it's a good idea for a traditional but one of the worst GEC knives around. I love the company and have a bunch of there knives and have had liner locks.

Oiled and left them open at 3/4 open to expand the spacers...not much help. I sold one and destroyed the other as I consider it a dangerous knife to anyone but an expert.

Mike
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Breaks my heart that a good knife was destroyed!
I am fortunate to have (as my brother called them) Neanderthal Nails!
I can open any knife - so far. I would gladly give a tough-pull knife a good home!
 
Hey waynorth "good" knife is in the eye of the beholder. The one I broke apart was a liner lock and it was after it inflicted the worst knife wound in 60 years of carrying knives.

I probably would not do that again but at the time it seemed appropriate. If you collect and use knifes you will get blood on the saddle.

Mike
 
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