Lets talk GEC!

[mbkr]

Yes it's a 78, and a very good one to this day. Sorry, it was unrelated knife content.

It wasn't you it was me
I understand now. I completely misread your post.

 

[JoKr]

Lets talk GEC!
means also lets talk about flaws or unusual/ distinctive features on GEC knives?

#15 TC Sepia, proud back spring in open position.

 

[Jiki]

Lets talk GEC!
means also lets talk about flaws or unusual/ distinctive features on GEC knives?

#15 TC Sepia, proud back spring in open position.

View attachment 1499354

Yes, I believe so. Just not about the buying process.

I have seen reports of the same issue on the gold acrylic.

 

[Viper84]

Lets talk GEC!
means also lets talk about flaws or unusual/ distinctive features on GEC knives?

#15 TC Sepia, proud back spring in open position.

View attachment 1499354

Mine is the same way. I also noticed a slightly unsymmetrical swedge grind near the tip. Not sure if this is pretty common?

Side 1

Side 2

 

[tmd_87]

Lets talk GEC!
means also lets talk about flaws or unusual/ distinctive features on GEC knives?

#15 TC Sepia, proud back spring in open position.

View attachment 1499354

I have the same on mine....I was surprised. 1st GEC I have ever had with this issue. I was pretty bummed about it. But it's not going anywhere.

Big time quality control issue. Mine was pretty gritty/tight but after I hit it with a couple blasts of WD40 it cleared it out.

 

[Jiki]

Mine is the same way. I also noticed a slightly unsymmetrical swedge grind near the tip. Not sure if this is pretty common?

Side 1

Side 2

EngrSorenson Dan this is your department.

 

[EngrSorenson]

Not sure if this is pretty common?

EngrSorenson Dan this is your department.

haha, thanks Jiki- the probability here would just be the number of times that has been witnessed in batch divided by the number of knives produced in that batch. If the question becomes what's the likelihood of getting two in a row, it's that number to the second power. for three in a row it would be that number to the 3rd power... etcetera etcetera.

I would expect that it's not uncommon- the swedge grind is done by hand, as far as I know.

I reached for my 152118 just to inspect it, and it looks fairly even, but I can see slight inconsistencies and I would not be surprised if some were more or less lopsided.

Most swedges I've made on reshaped blades usually have a degree of asymmetry... and I'm persnickety about symmetry.

 

[Pàdruig]

My Sepia Sawcut TC is one of the most flawed GEC knives that I've received to date. However, it is mechanically sound, especially after a good flush and oiling - it just demonstrates that the QC was just not there for this batch of knives.

Because of this, as well as some issues from other recent runs, I am not going to be too sore if I happen to swing and miss at the upcoming releases. I am a knife nut and there are a lot of fish in that sea so it is a good opportunity to peek into other options while the troubled waters settle in Titusville.

 

[Norcaldude]

My Sepia Sawcut TC is one of the most flawed GEC knives that I've received to date.

What sort of flaws?

 

[Pàdruig]

What sort of flaws?

The most egregious flaw is that the backspring is proud in all three positions (closed, at the half-stop, and opened). I generally am not concerned about that at the half-stop but in the other two positions, that just tells me that the fitment is off. If this was a common thing for TC Barlows, I wouldn't think twice but I have TCs that are nicely flush in all three positions and out of the 100(ish) GECs that I have currently and others that have passed through my hands, this is the first one to exhibit this sort of flaw.

Other then that, I have some minor gapping between bone and bolster, some uneven transitions between bolster and liner, and some marring of the sawcut. Also, I had to correct the edge bevel when I sharpened it - the grinds were uneven. In my mind, these are issues that would have typically made this a "second".

However - the knife is overall pretty tight. No blade wobble, no gaps between spring, liners, and covers, and the blade is nicely centered with excellent snap.

I have no qualms about using this knife and it has been in my pocket since I received it. However, though I am a GEC fan and want them to continue to succeed, that does not make them immune from my criticism.

 

[Viper84]

The most egregious flaw is that the backspring is proud in all three positions (closed, at the half-stop, and opened). I generally am not concerned about that at the half-stop but in the other two positions, that just tells me that the fitment is off. If this was a common thing for TC Barlows, I wouldn't think twice but I have TCs that are nicely flush in all three positions and out of the 100(ish) GECs that I have currently and others that have passed through my hands, this is the first one to exhibit this sort of flaw.

Other then that, I have some minor gapping between bone and bolster, some uneven transitions between bolster and liner, and some marring of the sawcut. Also, I had to correct the edge bevel when I sharpened it - the grinds were uneven. In my mind, these are issues that would have typically made this a "second".

However - the knife is overall pretty tight. No blade wobble, no gaps between spring, liners, and covers, and the blade is nicely centered with excellent snap.

I have no qualms about using this knife and it has been in my pocket since I received it. However, though I am a GEC fan and want them to continue to succeed, that does not make them immune from my criticism.

I can relate to what you're saying about the edges that come from GEC. I'm still trying to correct the bevel on my TC barlow to get sharp enough to slice paper easily. Pretty much all the GEC knives I've purchased are not sharp at all out of the tube. I could run my finger on the edge with some pressure and not even feel like I was in danger of being cut.

 

[tmd_87]

Sounds like a lot of proud springs on this run...

 

[Viper84]

Sounds like a lot of proud springs on this run...

Mine is just ever so slightly proud. It's not enough to bother me, but I am bothered by the unsymmetrical swedge grind.

 

[tmd_87]

Mine is just ever so slightly proud. It's not enough to bother me, but I am bothered by the unsymmetrical swedge grind.

My spring is worse. But my grinds and edge are good. The overall got and finish is great.

 

[Hulk2e]

My Sepia bone has a proud back spring at the open position too.

 

[Ramrodmb]

If it's proud in all 3 it might just need another trip across the sanding belt. I think GEC refers to it as "coloring" the backs.

 

[black mamba]

Just make sure they are THOROUGHLY cleaned before you start sanding backsprings. A tiny piece of grit could be causing the "stick up," and once it's out, the spring would be below flush, which is even worse.

 

[solphilos]

I can relate to what you're saying about the edges that come from GEC. I'm still trying to correct the bevel on my TC barlow to get sharp enough to slice paper easily. Pretty much all the GEC knives I've purchased are not sharp at all out of the tube. I could run my finger on the edge with some pressure and not even feel like I was in danger of being cut.

That’s one reason I’ve slowed down purchasing GEC knives. Yes, with a few hours labor I can put a proper bevel on, but spending that kind of money and having to finish the knife myself irks me. A knife is supposed to cut, that’s it’s one job, and it really makes no sense at all for it to arrive from the factory without that ability.

 

[solphilos]

On my Sepia the spring is very slightly sunk when closed, fairly proud at half-stop, and just barely proud at open.

The most blatant issue on mine however is a gap between the bone and liner the runs the length of
the knife (both sides) It’s mostly a small but noticeable gap, getting larger at the bolster.

Also note the proud rocker pin.

 

[SteveC]

Yikes