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

[RDaneel]

A stupid move that is in the past. I've been angry before too. It's over, pull that chair back up front and grab a stick and start whittling. Here comes the jug, take a dram...

Good point. I think we all have been angry; hopefully only at objects.

I had a period in my life when I threw away any mechanical item that I could not easily modify to get it to work. I was called on this by my boss after I threw away my third stapler in a week. My comment was that if it couldn't do the one thing it was manufactured for it was useless.

As far as strong springs go, I've got a 1980 Case Eisenhower that is a great knife except that I can't get the pen blade open without a knife opener. I find that annoying, so I never carry it.

I consider GEC knives to be strong springed, but after using them for several years I can see the benefits. There are some though that I won't get because of this - usually the larger ones. The 15s have all been perfect for me.

 

[Bigfattyt]

My strongest pull, by a few nails, is a Queen/Burke grandad barlow. It has lots of exposed blade, so that makes it pinch able, as long as your hands are strong and dry!


As to destroying a knife..... no need to apologize to me. I ground the edge and point off a liner lock because my son wanted a knife of his own, and he was 2 years old (not ready for an edge).

 

[5K Qs]

Gary - I apologize if I came off as "Mr. Know-It-All", that wasn't my intention and I don't know everything. Let me expound a little more on the backsprings. The heat treat makes a lot of difference in the stiffness of the spring. 46 -48 Rc hardness seams to be the ideal balance of toughness and flexibility on a back spring. With that said, the springs are sent out in batches for that particular run of whatever pattern knife or knives are being produced. Batches will very slightly due to steel chemistry and other variables on every run. This was noticed on the last run of TC Barlows which people were commenting that the pull was weaker than the previous 9 runs or thereabouts. I like learning too!

-Mark

Somehow I lost track of this thread, and didn't see your post until today. No apology necessary, Mark! I sure didn't think you were being a "know-it-all", and I appreciated the insight you shared about pin placement and leverage. Now I also appreciate what you've learned in your experience with building knives from scratch, so that you can share some of the other factors that can affect pull; thanks!

Hope you have a great Father's Day, Mark (and all the other fathers out there)!! :thumbup::thumbup:

- GT

 

[colubrid]

With the recent (last 15 years) decision that any discernible movement (play) of a blade is a defect; the factories are left scrambling for a solution. I have never been told, but it is my opinion that many of the springs are intentionally very tight such that the factory can peen the joints very snug and the spring will overcome the added resistance. If you have a medium spring, it is a very fine line to get the action you want without any play. You can take the play out, but then have to push the blade open/closed in medium action springs. GEC seems very intent on good action and closed backsprings; if nothing else.

Why I like GEC knives. No blade play.

But I wish they would lighten some of the spring tension as they do vary quite a bit. You enver know if you get a nail breaker or one that is not. Seems to be a different problem than blade play as the search for that perfect union means buying more.

 

[supratentorial]

Why I like GEC knives. No blade play.

But I wish they would lighten some of the spring tension as they do vary quite a bit. You enver know if you get a nail breaker or one that is not. Seems to be a different problem than blade play as the search for that perfect union means buying more.

I've owned several that had blade play or developed blade play after use. I've also noticed that the 82 springs were extremely light. There's some variation. When it comes to hand made knives there are no absolutes, of course... except that there are no absolutes.

GEC does make very high quality knives. And they usually have very good consistency within a run. Another one of my favorite things about GEC is their full flat grinds and taper on main blades. They do an especially good job with clip and sheepfoot blades.