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Pull on your #78 American Jack?
- Thread starter addylo
- Start date
black mamba
Gold Member
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- Oct 21, 2009
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- 23,595
There has been quite a bit on the pull strength of the #78s, and the concensus is that they are very stout, ranging from 7-9, with most being an 8.
Mine was an 8+ when it arrived, but I left the blade 2/3 open (for max spring deflection) for about 10 days and it softened up to a 7, perfect for me.
Mine was an 8+ when it arrived, but I left the blade 2/3 open (for max spring deflection) for about 10 days and it softened up to a 7, perfect for me.
Hmmm... that's a bit discouraging.
That's my only gripe about GECs. I'm starting to get a touch of arthritis lately and have more and more of a difficult time opening the tight ones. I'm not yet ready for EO's but it may not be long. As much as I love the feel of my #72 it hardly gets used for that reason.
That's my only gripe about GECs. I'm starting to get a touch of arthritis lately and have more and more of a difficult time opening the tight ones. I'm not yet ready for EO's but it may not be long. As much as I love the feel of my #72 it hardly gets used for that reason.
oldrifleman
Platinum Member
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- Jan 5, 2006
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- 2,093
Mine is also on the rather stiff side. I love the knife, but I wish GEC would back off the springs a bit! Steven
- Joined
- May 5, 2014
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- 72
I recently purchased one in African Blackwood. When it first arrived, it was a 9. I had trouble opening it occasionally.
BUT
I used a technique I read about in an older thread on this subforum to reduce the spring tension quite a bit. I opened the knife part-way and used a narrow pry-bar to flex the spring. Now the pull is about a 7, not unlike my 71 Bullnose. I expect it will get smoother as I oil it/open close it more. It's firm, but more than manageable.
Of course, I only did this because I was determined to keep the knife, tough pull or no. I can understand that some might be reluctant to fiddle with spring tension like that, though I suspect they do the same thing at the factory to relieve tension without disassembling the knife.
BUT
I used a technique I read about in an older thread on this subforum to reduce the spring tension quite a bit. I opened the knife part-way and used a narrow pry-bar to flex the spring. Now the pull is about a 7, not unlike my 71 Bullnose. I expect it will get smoother as I oil it/open close it more. It's firm, but more than manageable.
Of course, I only did this because I was determined to keep the knife, tough pull or no. I can understand that some might be reluctant to fiddle with spring tension like that, though I suspect they do the same thing at the factory to relieve tension without disassembling the knife.
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2013
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- 265
I too just picked up a 78 in African Blackwood. This knife has been a "Grail" knife for some time but the one I looked at before, in stag, was every bit of a 10 on the pull so it was a no go. The one I just got is about a 7-8 on the pull which is manageable as I'm sure it will ease up a bit. In short I don't think they are all identical.
Bob
Bob
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- Dec 8, 2010
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- 2,348
I have a 56 Dogleg Jack that I just got in that I can barely open on a good day. It was about an 11 before I cleaned and oiled the joints now it's about a 10. I was going to send it off to GEC but I think I'll try your method out first.
Modoc ED
Gold Member
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- Mar 28, 2010
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It shouldn't surprise me but it does surprise me to some extent that people who have issues with hard pulls (i.e., arthritis) buy or continue to buy GEC knives what with all that has been written about the hard pull of most GEC knives. I'm not talking about a collector (i.e., black mamba) who buys many GEC knives I think mostly for just the enjoyment of having them and as an investment too but guys/gals who buy one or two, perhaps three for daily use and then find them practically useless because they can't readily open them when needed.
Don't get me wrong. GEC makes very good knives but the pull issue makes them impractical for some people. For those thinking about getting a GEC knife, I'd suggest they make a cheat sheet and write down the pattern numbers that people complain about as to pulls and base their buying decisions on the information gathered.
I think the best way to ease the pull of a new GEC knife is to thoroughly wash the joints with hot, soapy, water, dry them thoroughly, and then oil the joints. It hasn't been my experience that leaving them open eases the pull to any great extent. Leaving a knife open for hours or days may take it from say a 9 to an 8 but won't take it down to a 7 or a 6 and I would have to say in the end that flushing the joints with hot soapy water and then oiling the joints doesn't provide much more relief.
Don't get me wrong. GEC makes very good knives but the pull issue makes them impractical for some people. For those thinking about getting a GEC knife, I'd suggest they make a cheat sheet and write down the pattern numbers that people complain about as to pulls and base their buying decisions on the information gathered.
I think the best way to ease the pull of a new GEC knife is to thoroughly wash the joints with hot, soapy, water, dry them thoroughly, and then oil the joints. It hasn't been my experience that leaving them open eases the pull to any great extent. Leaving a knife open for hours or days may take it from say a 9 to an 8 but won't take it down to a 7 or a 6 and I would have to say in the end that flushing the joints with hot soapy water and then oiling the joints doesn't provide much more relief.
I too have a 78 with a stiff/firm pull which is what I prefer in stout jack pattern. Based on info from GEC's site I've no doubt it was designed that way.
That said, if you are looking for something with a soft pull, I'd steer away from this pattern.
That said, if you are looking for something with a soft pull, I'd steer away from this pattern.
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My Ranch Hand is about a 9 but it eased up with use.
that's the ticket,use it.
that's the ticket,use it.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2011
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- 1,884
Not every knife user consider this an "issue". Not every GEC Pattern has stout springs, and not every 78 Workhorse knife has stout springs.
I'm with you, addylo. I have two GEC knives, a #79 and a #73 and both of them are locked away and do not get used anymore. With apologies to the GEC devotees out there, I'm not a fan of their philosophy of springing knives like a dump truck. I sorta jumped into the GEC ocean after reading all the praise. Thought the first one being hard to open was a fluke and jumped back in and bought the second one. The part about heavy springing had gotten by me in all the positive things people had posted. And I did try cleaning the joints, oiling the joints, working the joints and leaving the knives partially open for several days...none of it helped enough, if it helped at all.
While GEC makes some well put together knives, I guess I'm sorta snake bit.
While GEC makes some well put together knives, I guess I'm sorta snake bit.
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- Jul 30, 2009
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We have a lot of GEC collectors and even dealers on this forum. We have a large thread just to talk about GEC. I think, if anyone has concerns about pull or something, there'll be a dozen folks ready to provide informed input.
That said, from what I've heard, the #78 tends to have stout pulls, similar to #73 knives and the like. I don't have a #78 myself though. Since all the #78s were made in the same run, I'd expect them to be similar in pull strength. Occasionally you'll get one harder and softer than the average though. For example, I have a few older #73s in 440C that do not have the bear trap springs other #73s have had (actually, I tend to find the 440C knives tend to be smoother to open than 1095 counterparts which equates to an easier felt pull. I'm guessing because the 440C would be smoother and won't oxidize). I've said this before but if you want a 1095 #73 with an easier pull, you have to get one that has the lanyard tube. They've been consistently easier than those without the tube, even when made only a few months apart. I've found this to be true for single blade #73s and #23s with the tube.
Other knives that seem to have easy pulls from memory are the #15, #33, #48, #68, #89 with their 440C companions usually easier than 1095. There are probably more but I forget at the moment. I tend to carry the #33, #48, and a worked over by me #73.
That said, from what I've heard, the #78 tends to have stout pulls, similar to #73 knives and the like. I don't have a #78 myself though. Since all the #78s were made in the same run, I'd expect them to be similar in pull strength. Occasionally you'll get one harder and softer than the average though. For example, I have a few older #73s in 440C that do not have the bear trap springs other #73s have had (actually, I tend to find the 440C knives tend to be smoother to open than 1095 counterparts which equates to an easier felt pull. I'm guessing because the 440C would be smoother and won't oxidize). I've said this before but if you want a 1095 #73 with an easier pull, you have to get one that has the lanyard tube. They've been consistently easier than those without the tube, even when made only a few months apart. I've found this to be true for single blade #73s and #23s with the tube.
Other knives that seem to have easy pulls from memory are the #15, #33, #48, #68, #89 with their 440C companions usually easier than 1095. There are probably more but I forget at the moment. I tend to carry the #33, #48, and a worked over by me #73.