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

I've had 2 #73s. One came at about an 8.5 (which to me is very difficult, but possible eith the right technique, to open and borderline dangerous to close) but lightened with oil, many openings, and leaving it 3/4 open. The other came at about a 6 and was one of if not the nicest traditional production knife I've ever seen. Just sold it on here for a steal of a price, imo.
 
Markesharp said:
You just happened to get a lighter pull on that particular one. The lanyard hole makes no difference in pull weight.
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My first GEC purchase was a two blade 73 I bought after seeing a friends 73. It was a bear trap and I sold it. I later bought that 73 from my friend, and it was perfect. No idea if he altered it, he is a knife maker and he would've told me or anyone for that matter if he had altered it. I bought another 73, more recent, single blade, no lanyard hole, and that one is pretty stiff, but I had a local shop alter the blade because it was hitting the backspring. Decided to leave as is. My 15s are some of the best slipjoints I own, other than custom or the Tony Bose collaborations with Case, for ease of opening yet not being too loose.
 
scotchleaf said:
I have a gorgeous Northfield Burnt Stag Drop Point Scout Linerlock. Love it, EXCEPT, that it is all but useless - I literally cannot open it with my nails - I have to find a coin or something. Any fix for this?
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I'm sure you have lots of great advice. My first and only GEC is a Stag American Jack (#78 I think), and I couldn't open it without pliers. I worked it a ton and finally got it to the point I could open it with thumbnail, but chipped it up every time. It is now sitting in a cabinet with the blades open to about 2/3'rds (with the spring out as far as possible). It's been that way for a few weeks, and is slowly becoming usable. If careful, I can now open it without nail damage. But I would say that it is still the hardest opening of any of my 100+ traditionals.

Sure I could send it in for a little file job, but I'd rather not hassle. Still may have to anyway though. It's very pretty and I love the quality. But still wonder how something that cannot even be opened makes it out the door.
 
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bflying said:
It's very pretty and I love the quality. But still wonder how something that cannot even be opened makes it out the door.
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The GEC girls that do the finishing work and etching open every blade more than once during their time with them. But they may have lost good judgement due their steel nails. I saw one of them open a fixed blade once without breaking a nail. :D

Just dab a little superglue on your nail tip each morning ;)
 
Some of my older 23 and 73 patterns are called "impossible" to open by others. I rate them about a 7.5 or 8.

Nicely firm!

I handed a 73 fire and ice Schrade to my buddy (6 foot 6, sheriff, swat). He handed it back to me, nursing his torn thumb nail and said it was impossible. I opened it with my pinky nail, and gave it back to him. (He called me a smart ass).

Now, my kids who are 5 and 10 can't open them, because they are too soft in the nail.
 
knifeswapper said:
The GEC girls that do the finishing work and etching open every blade more than once during their time with them. But they may have lost good judgement due their steel nails. I saw one of them open a fixed blade once without breaking a nail. :D

Just dab a little superglue on your nail tip each morning ;)[/QUOTE

:D:thumbup:
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Bigfattyt said:
Some of my older 23 and 73 patterns are called "impossible" to open by others. I rate them about a 7.5 or 8.

Nicely firm!

I handed a 73 fire and ice Schrade to my buddy (6 foot 6, sheriff, swat). He handed it back to me, nursing his torn thumb nail and said it was impossible. I opened it with my pinky nail, and gave it back to him. (He called me a smart ass).

Now, my kids who are 5 and 10 can't open them, because they are too soft in the nail.
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Definitely using "soft in the nail"
 
I do occasionally check if my 10 year old can open mine, because his papa and grandpa are both holding knives for him. I asked them each to hold on to a knife for both boys. When they can open them, they will each get a knife their grandpa and papa owned.

I have my grandpa's knife, and my other grandfathers revolver. I also have some great grandfather knives to pass on to my boys when they are even klder, if they show the inclination. They will each likely get some guns from my dad passed on (he is papa).
 
EyeDog said:
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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Sorry about the "wound", Mike!:eek:

I do open a knife at least 10 times a day - sometimes 30 or 40 times, if I am scanning pictures - knock on wood! (Say no more - I don't want to jinx my luck!):rolleyes:

:D
 
I have a 78 GEC that I thought was very stiff to open but I loved it so much I just kept trying and carrying it:o. Now it just feels stout but manageable. I went back to an old Henckels barlow that I bought when I was younger that I hated because of the beartrap like opening and find it tolerable even though it is still the stiffest of all my folders. On the other hand, I have a 15 that is so perfect that it feels like it is on oiled ball bearings and still does not have any scratches on either side of the tang (I think it must be the steel liners:confused:). I won't hand my stout knifes to friends anymore after a huge guy at work almost dropped one of mine while trying to open it. I love the 73's so adding to my ____ list :D
Good luck with your knife scotchleaf, the stag 73 is a beauty.
 
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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Destroyed?

Saddest think I ever heard. Like destroying a big gun because it shoots bullets that are too fast and powerful.

I've never met a pull from GEC yet I thought was too stiff. I would have taken that knife, loved it, hugged it, and named it George!


I got an old stockman that was "too stiff", only because it was rusted shut. Oil and cleaning got the blades moving. But two still have no snap, because the resistance is too high from the friction!
 
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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the 64,000 dollar question is how did you destroy it? The golden jackpot question with special bonus feature is why? was it so bad GEC could not have fixed it -or at least used it as a learning resource for future employees...or something.
Mate I know you must have had a good reason and please don't think I'm being my usual facetious self here but that seems a drastic course of action.:confused::eek:

Sorry -jumped the gun there. I now have the story. You couldn't open it so you tore the knife in half with your bare hands.:p Let that be a lesson to all of us soft nailed nancy boys. EAT YOUR VEGETABLES for strong healthy nails .
 
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I feel like taking a hammer to my computer at least twice a month, the only thing that stops me (apart from the common sense idea that I will then need to buy another) is this image popping into my head ;) :D :thumbup:

carthrash.jpg
 
Kind of perennial subject, but very valid nevertheless.:thumbup:

Pull strength is of course subjective, but there's no doubt that the 73 is a heavy sprung knife, degrees of heaviness that is. I've often mentioned a Northfield I have with longpull matchstrike that is borderline useless. Beautiful bone, wonderful finish but it is a ripper to open and a mare to close Done all the usual stuff, cleaning, oiling, working the action, leaving it open on max tension for THREE MONTHS, filed part of the tang, tried the torque method-nothing from that apart from fear of breaking the spring. Marginal improvements only.

Reading all the discussion over the years about GEC's 73s I was wondering if the current release might turn out milder. Not really, the linerlock Osage I have is a strong pull but it's OK for me - many others would struggle. My dealer bemoaned the lost opportunity for doing a run with a moderate spring, he says a lot of people had been hoping for it as the 73 is a really fine pattern. If you think of the 92 or 66/68 these are firm but really within most peoples' range, the 68 has wonderful snap but then it's not fouled up by half-stops that people are mysteriously enamoured with....:D:D

Looking at Mark's sketches was interesting but then I began to wonder, is the 73's titan pull simply due to its square end construction? Are other square end knives the same? It could be an inherent aspect, certainly getting oil in there to stay is more tricky!

Thanks, Will
 
Maybe I should start a new thread "Why I Destroyed My Knife." [emoji57]

It was a rash and probably unwarranted move. It was done with vice and pliers and broke the blade near the tang.

To be clear, this had to do more with a combination of the liner lock AND pull. The liner lock was also really hard to use. It was from the half stop and the added pressure to get the blade closed (not open) and not being able get my hand out of the way while pushing the liner lock that resulted in blood on the saddle.

BTW...this was some time ago when I was mostly buy/selling tactical folders with easy one handed liner and frame locks. That's what I thought I was getting in the 73 liner lock.

I would do things differently now.

So now you know the rest of the story. I'll move my rocker to the back of the porch and hang my head for s while. [emoji29]

Mike
 
EyeDog said:
Maybe I should start a new thread "Why I Destroyed My Knife." [emoji57]

It was a rash and probably unwarranted move. It was done with vice and pliers and broke the blade near the tang.

To be clear, this had to do more with a combination of the liner lock AND pull. The liner lock was also really hard to use. It was from the half stop and the added pressure to get the blade closed (not open) and not being able get my hand out of the way while pushing the liner lock that resulted in blood on the saddle.

BTW...this was some time ago when I was mostly buy/selling tactical folders with easy one handed liner and frame locks. That's what I thought I was getting in the 73 liner lock.

I would do things differently now.

So now you know the rest of the story. I'll move my rocker to the back of the porch and hang my head for s while. [emoji29]

Mike
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Lol, no worries Mike! Keep your chin up and carry on! :D
 
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