Pics and thoughts on the GEC 42 if you please!

The factory is listening. Haven't noticed any blade play, but joint is tight enough you will need to push blade fully opened.
 
My #42 Smooth Ivory Bone arrived this morning from Barry, All I can say is that it is a fantastic piece of cutlery. It locks up tight, no side to side play. She sure is pretty. I like lock backs.

Tom
 
knifeswapper said:
The factory is listening. Haven't noticed any blade play, but joint is tight enough you will need to push blade fully opened.
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Guess it will be tight then cause its coming from you...lol! Kinda disappointed in my one 72 wharnie from the last run. Good bit of s2s play. The clip ant green is solid s2s with barely a hint of vertical play. Every lockback Ihave has some vertical play, so that doesn't bother me as much as side to side. I have Buck, Sharp, GEC, and Ka Bar lockbacks
 
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Just got this 42 in from knifeswapper at collectorknives.net. Very nice wood, but even more vertical play than my new 72 and the blade hits the backspring. I'd normally just sharpen out the ding in the blade, but both of these are going back to GEC to see what they can do to make them right. I've never had occasion to use their warranty services until now. Hope they're at least as good as Case or Canal Street at customer service.
 
Ahhh! Don't tell me this kinda stuff. Mine was supposed to have been here today, but the post office was dragging ass qnd it will be here tomorrow. I wanted to take the 42 with me on my hiking trip near Tidioute, but I am leaving way to early to get the mail. My 15 Scout will be in pocket along with aPara 2 and an ESEE 3 on my pack
 
WillieD said:
Ahhh! Don't tell me this kinda stuff. Mine was supposed to have been here today, but the post office was dragging ass qnd it will be here tomorrow. I wanted to take the 42 with me on my hiking trip near Tidioute, but I am leaving way to early to get the mail. My 15 Scout will be in pocket along with aPara 2 and an ESEE 3 on my pack
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Just judge yours on its own merits when it arrives. Everybody pays for there own scale and expectations.

I would be interested if anybody else has any "rapping" issues as I can't even make the ones I check over-travel on close - the lockbar simply doesn't apply enough pressure. It would have to move a full 1/8" to hit the spring at the tip and none I checked get close to that. I wonder if maybe deskil's got forced down in finishing or such to cause a small flat spot.

Also interested if any others find any excessive movement on lockup. I haven't found any more than a "discernible" amount of movement as they really tightened these up. Remember, it is not a stationary backspring, it is a locking bar with pressure. I would love to ask them to go back to using a "shim" on these so they flow more freely; if there is going to be reports of blade play either way - might as well satisfy those that like a smooth flow.

This would be as good a place as any to report either of these issues and see how widespread it is.
 
knifeswapper said:
Also interested if any others find any excessive movement on lockup. I haven't found any more than a "discernible" amount of movement as they really tightened these up. Remember, it is not a stationary backspring, it is a locking bar with pressure. I would love to ask them to go back to using a "shim" on these so they flow more freely; if there is going to be reports of blade play either way - might as well satisfy those that like a smooth flow.

This would be as good a place as any to report either of these issues and see how widespread it is.
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Just got a micarta and blackwood version yesterday. Both had a very slight amount of discernible up and down movement but as I've said before, this doesn't bother me much at all. Sure, it would be logically appealing to have them lock up with no movement but the movement is only noticeable when I grab the blade to check for it. It isn't noticeable when I'm using the knife and doesn't affect the utility of the tool in the least.
 
I like the #42. Mine is just about perfect as far as I'm concerned.

I see these new GEC models that are announced and released, and I seldom can find one at one of the dealers. That's something I can't really figure out and maybe I expect the dealers to have the knives in stock for sale quicker than is reasonable.
 
Generally the factory posts pictures as they are coming into their "finishing". Many weeks they will only ship MWF or such. So if it came into finishing last Friday, for example, since they didn't ship Monday - I wouldn't get them in stock until tomorrow.

The closer dealers get them in stock a day before I do.
 
I have had 4 73's of which 3 were bear traps but loosened up over time to be usable, otherwise they were perfect.

I have a 42 from the previous run which is perfect, no blade play at all.

I have a 72 from the current batch with significant blade play up and down. Love the knife, not sure what to do with it as I live in Australia and it will involve a long turn around to send it back for fixing.
 
Got back fom my trip and this was waiting for me. Really like the feel and size. I like bigger folders. Fit and finish is great. Very slight vertical play and no discernable side to side play. The vertical play doesn't bother me at all as all my other lockbacks have it. Really love these lockbacks!
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My 42 in African Blackwood came in last week. The size is "just right" between the 23 & 72. Very minor up & down play that does not bother me; awesome fit & finish; downright beautiful.

Tom
 
I have been reading this for two days and just realized that a 42 is a Missouri trader.....that was my first GEC. In frontier bone. It is a great knife. It started my addiction. There is no blade play at all. The pull is about a 9/10 when I got it. Now it is down to maybe a 7? Doesn't matter. It is a great knife. I carry it in a KSF pocket slip in my back pocket. Get one.
 
All this talk of 42 and lockback design has me thinking.....yeah I know....fellow like me thinking cant be a good thing......

Weirdly most of my traditional lock backs typically have allot to very little up and down blade play. Most have no side to side. My modern lockbacks though rarely have any blade play in any direction. Pure question here.....any insight into why? Tighter tolerances? More machine less hand? Thanks in advance......

I got 42 in ivory bone on the way.....looking forward to it. I do like these one blade with some sort of lock.
 
My 42 Trader was my first GEC and one of my first traditionals. I don't carry it as often anymore but I still love it, fantastic knife. The only reason I don't carry it much is I'm moving away from locking knives (I have some trust issues with them, except for Opinels which I still trust). Been carrying my new 73 almost exclusively lately and it's become my favourite knife, but the 42 is still a special knife to me.
 
I've noticed no blade play in either, but I also don't like to grab my knife and start wrenching the blades either. But no play.
 
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