MY Bear trap GEC 73 cured!

Whitedog

Whitedog

Joined
Dec 30, 2005
Messages
1,054
I have a GEC 73 with the "bear trap" spring. Love the style of the knife but that spring has caused me not to use it much even though I wanted to use it as an EDC.
I have tried all the fixes mentioned here but not much help until I gave it a dose of powdered graphite lube. Shot it some graphite and worked the action and shot a little more graphite and worked the action, cleaned off excess after working in, MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. Now is guess you all can tell me TOLD YOU SO.
 
i'm thinking about a possible 73 buy. if i don't use any lube like what you did, is it that hard to open and close? i have butter fingers. :confused:
 
The 73 does have a strong spring. With the half stops you have to have a good purchase on the blade or you may get bit. I did with the first one I had. The second 73 I have had just as strong a spring. After the graphite treatment it is a smooth open and close but still a strong pull. I like strong pulls. I used several different lubes and the graphite has worked the best of all. I guess it got a little bit of polishing with the graphite. The 73 is a good knife, fills the hand and cuts extremely well. I also have a GEC 48 trapper no half stops and is a smooth opener and no a bear trap Like them equally well.
 
I have a few (:D) GEC #48s and they all have half stops.

Yeah, after some use, the #73s do seem to smooth out. Especially if you can get any gunk out of the joints.
 
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I stand corrected. My 48 does have half stops. Since my 73 smoothed out with the graphite application it is quite nice now. Just wish I had thought about doing it sooner.
My 48 is so smooth I had not really paid any attention to the half stops. Glad to know that it has them Thanks for pointing that out 2DEAD.
 
No problem. My #48s are smooth too. I've posted this before but if you want an easy opening #73 from the get go, get one with a lanyard tube if you can find one.
 
I recieved a nail breaker 73 and have been working on it. WHen new I could not open it using my finger nail. I had to use a tool to open it, in fact it sliced open my finger during one of my early efforts. Since then I have been working the blade with oil on a daily basis and leaving it at max spring extension the rest of the time. I can now, if careful, open it with my finger nail, but it is still scary as it can slip and snap closed. I will try the blue stuff and see if that helps. Thanks for the idea
 
Oldrifleman I used the old black powdered graphite, like the stuff you lube locks with.
 
dunno about the 73 but i'm still practicing with the two-bladed big brother, the 23. tip: don't ever put both blades in the half-stop position. i nearly chopped off two fingers in closing them.
 
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