Lets talk GEC!

Modoc ED said:
Received this S&S Mudbug yesterday.

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As with a good percentage of lockback knives made by GEC, the lockback mechanism on this knife is difficult to release. It'll get better in time but it's not a feature GEC does well. One of our BF Dealers said that he'd never had trouble with any of GEC's lockback knives. I flat out don't believe him. I have maybe 15 lockback knives by GEC and probably one-third of them have spotty release mechanisms. You'd think after all this time that GEC would have solved their lockback mechanism malady but it appears that it's not to be.

Oh, I darkened the blade and oiled it to prep it for later use.
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I've had a dozen or so lockbacks from GEC. Definitely had some minor issues, but they weren't terrible. Nothing that, in and of themselves, made me part with the knife. But the last batch....the 83s, I probably had 5 or 6 of them and had no issues at all. So, to me, that suggests that they probably are refining things. But, YMMV.
 
btb01 said:
The Natural Canvas Micarta has really grown on me. Just about everything GEC has put it on looks great!

As for the Mardi Gras acrylic, I kinda like it. It reminds me of these glass candies that my best friend's mom had on their coffee table when we were growing up.

I believe that'd be a coonskin cap, not beaver. :D
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When I saw that Mardi Gras acrylic 2 weeks ago I just laughed. I figured dealers would still have those in stock in 2045! But now, as I see the "what's happening" pics on GEC's site, I'm beginning to wonder if it's like Banana flavored Laffy Taffy...you know, one of those things that's SO BAD that it tips and becomes kinda awesome! Jury is still out on the Mardi Gras #56, but I'm officially tuning in to see how it turns out. If GEC would just add the stippling they did on the liners and bolster of the un-x-ld #09s.....it would be a done deal, I'd be IN. :D
(I'm actually not joking here.)
 
Concerning lock back knives:

I've handled many Buck 110's and 112's as well as many GEC 72's and 42's, and they are all fine patterns by excellent US makers. They are quite different though, in that the solid frame Bucks lock up solidly with no movement 95% of the time, while GEC are quite the opposite in that they almost always have a little movement when locked. However, the Buck models have a LOT of blade movement when in the closed position and GEC's are again the opposite and are fairly tight overall when closed; some Buck models will actually rattle if you shake it closed. Another difference between is the obvious girth and weight of the Buck compared to the GEC, and also the fact that you can almost always see daylight between the frame and lockbar when you hold the Buck knife sideways to the light; GEC features a tighter build.

Anyway, we are comparing stainless apples to carbon steel oranges, and the lock up issue is really not an issue at all in practical use. Also, the mechanisms are somewhat different concerning the lockbar spring. I don't normally check lock up or notice it at all when I use any of the models mentioned. I do notice some GEC are difficult to un-lock, especially the ones that lock up tight, but I've also seen the same thing on Buck models.

I just feel in isn't a fair comparison when the knives are so different and the fact that millions of 110s and 112s have been made and sold (and tweaked over the years) while only a few hundred GEC 72s and 42s (and 83's) have been sold. JMHAO
 
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Ditto ArchiveMoto ArchiveMoto ! This is a great pattern and very well executed. My knife locks up tight when open. It is slightly stiff to unlock, but I would much prefer that to movement in the open blade any day!

gunstockjack gunstockjack might be correct that movement in a locked-open blade might not matter much in practical terms, but I sure do not like it. If the cost of getting a GEC knife to lock up tight is to build it where it is a bit tougher to unlock, I will take that deal every time.

Before this Mudbug, I had reached the point where I turned to Boker or Case for locking knives and limited my GEC purchases to slipjoints only. Glad I took a chance on this one and glad to see they did such a good job on the Mudbug.
 
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gunstockjack said:
Concerning lock back knives:

I've handled many Buck 110's and 112's as well as many GEC 72's and 42's, and they are all fine patterns by excellent US makers. They are quite different though, in that the solid frame Bucks lock up solidly with no movement 95% of the time, while GEC are quite the opposite in that they almost always have a little movement when locked. However, the Buck models have a LOT of blade movement when in the closed position and GEC's are again the opposite and are fairly tight overall when closed; some Buck models will actually rattle if you shake it closed. Another difference between is the obvious girth and weight of the Buck compared to the GEC, and also the fact that you can almost always see daylight between the frame and lockbar when you hold the Buck knife sideways to the light; GEC features a tighter build.

Anyway, we are comparing stainless apples to carbon steel oranges, and the lock up issue is really not an issue at all in practical use. Also, the mechanisms are somewhat different concerning the lockbar spring. I don't normally check lock up or notice it at all when I use any of the models mentioned. I do notice some GEC are difficult to un-lock, especially the ones that lock up tight, but I've also seen the same thing on Buck models.

I just feel in isn't a fair comparison when the knives are so different and the fact that millions of 110s and 112s have been made and sold (and tweaked over the years) while only a few hundred GEC 72s and 42s (and 83's) have been sold. JMHAO
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My 72 deviates almost 2mm side to side when open, and a hair under a millimeter up and down. It's enough play to allow the blade to turn in a whittling cut, to dangerously dish out and fly off when pushing through a twist tie, and enough to allow it to deviate diagonally, changing a straight cut into a curved one. I'd call that failure in practical use. Will it close on my hand? No. Will the edge go where I want it to? Maybe not.

Yes, GEC knives use a different lock. That's what I'M saying, is there are a lot of different sorts of lockback, including old historic designs, that do not do this. I'm saying GEC uses a BAD design. The fact that millions of other knives with better designs exist doesn't make me feel better about them using a bad design.

One of the reasons I like GEC slipjoints so much is that they're better than, well, just about any factory knife. They're mechanically satisfying. Handling a slipjoint so tightly put together it looks like it could hold pressure in a space suit, opening it and finding the action easy and smooth, and then having it click into place so solidly it feels like a fixed blade if you don't try and close it, that's what gives me joy about them.

But their lockbacks just seem to be cause for dissatisfaction or excuses. If the design has this inherent flaw, where one end or the other will have some level of trouble, then they ought to use a different design.
 
Matt Bernier said:
My 72 deviates almost 2mm side to side when open, and a hair under a millimeter up and down.
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When was your #72 made? Does the up / down cause functional issues or just the side play? I can't imaging any force being put on the spine of the blade during use, thus expect your main functional concern is side play - but just curious.
 
knifeswapper said:
When was your #72 made? Does the up / down cause functional issues or just the side play? I can't imaging any force being put on the spine of the blade during use, thus expect your main functional concern is side play - but just curious.
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It was that last batch, only unflattering review I've left on your site, actually. OD green Canvas micarta. The thing was a mess in other ways, blade grind was uneven, gappy scales, etc. I know mine wasn't the only one.

The up down isn't bad, and would merely annoy me if it was the only issue. It isn't a functional issue, just not confidence inspiring or satisfying.

To be totally clear, I chose to keep it and use it as a testing bed for convex sharpening and other processes, so I have no issue with you or GEC in terms of warranty or satisfaction.
 
I had a PPP #72 from 2010 with zero play or lock rock. At some point the lock release bar changed design as on the newer ones you can see under the bar while earlier ones were solid. Not sure what internal stuff may have changed or why but this possibly contributed to the well known play in the later 72s
 
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Matt Bernier said:
All this having been said, keep posting mudbug photos. I love sodbuster patterns, and these are super handsome.
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Really like it, no blade play, good fit and finish, only disappointment is that these are linen micarta not canvas like last year. Not a big deal , but, much prefer canvas to linen micarta. Oh and the sheath is really nice pull- up leather.
 
The pictures of the Mudbug show a tough handsome work-knife to my eye.:thumbsup: Probably too big for my pocket, I'm content with the 71 Bullnose in Burgundy mic. Thick handles offer a lot of comfort and micarta creates no issues even with rough use:)

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