The GEC new 23TL ....Is it just me or...?

A

aadhtbb

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Found this http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/gallery/23-tl/ five minutes ago and ,I get a lot of questions on this design:

1.The TL, may stand for "Top lock", which reminds me a lot about lever locks on many old stilettos or automatic knives. However ,is this ,by which I mean every element of the exactly design ,a traditional lock ?(Some gravity German blades do have a lever lock on the top ,but they are OTFs )

2.The end of the lever ,with nothing protruding, seems to be hard to lift ,especially considering GEC's famous bear-trap back spring. Maybe a winner of all nail breaker?

3.When the knife is unlocked will it be very smooooth thus the blade may fall freely ? (Ive never own a lockback GEC so Ive no idea what would happen if the blade is moving without the tension of back spring)

4.What is the advance of this design ?
 
Oh my, sorry I don't have a pic to share, but that lock looks like the bale lock used on sailors or clasp knives. Usually the lock was on the marlin spike. Very cool if that is indeed what they are up to here! They are easier to dis engage than it would appear, as the leverage from the end of the bail to the pin is great.
 
Looks like the lever lock on my rigging knife's marlin spike. Very positive operation and solid lockup. Effortless disengagement, but the spike doesn't fall of its own weight. The spike also has some side to side play at rest, but zero in any direction when locked. It stands up to more leverage than i would ever put on a knife blade. I've never seen one on used with a knife blade before, though it's been used on rigging knives for as long as they've been around, I guess.
Does anyone with knowledge of lock history know where this falls on the timeline or have an example of one used with a blade ? I'd like to see some pictures, if so.
 
I can't really tell from the pics, but I wonder if this is some kind of manual relative of their Schrade branded traditional autos?
 
I don't really think so. It appears to be what others have said, a lockback with a lever to cam the locking leaf out of the blade well, very similar to the one used for the spike of sailor's knives like my old Buck Yachtsman.
 
Maybe...the reason I thought about it was the hump on the back with the pin in it. On this 23TL, it is connected to a lever; on the auto, that's where the lever is also attached that, when pressed, moves the backspring to let the knife fire. Dunno...just thought that hump/pin/lever combo looked familiarish, even though the levers are different.

Edit to add: Regardless, it looks very interesting and I will no doubt have one, preferably in ebony. :)
 
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I've never owned or handled a rigging knife, but the lock kind of reminds me of what was on an old German auto I had. Very similar to traditional Spanish clasp knife lock/release too.
 
looks like a clasp knife, Otter messer and some other German knife makers make a blade very similar. Here is a pic of Otters version

458_0.JPG


From my research of the sodbuster pattern I've come across some post and comments that suggest the clasp knife was a precursor to the sodbuster, which originated in Germany. It makes sense, if you look at the design, even GEC's version, you can see the similarity of the clasp knife and the sodbuster. Remove the clasp, smooth the ridge from the underbelly of the handle and what do you have, a sodbuster. I'm very interested in this design by GEC, can't wait to see what they handle these things in but I have a feeling I'm game on a few. I still plan on getting one of the Otters at some point too:D
 
Looks like you already have a version Mykel, and a lovely one at that!! They should name it the GEC Clasp knife or the GEC Bavarian Clasp Knife, I think those would be great names and pay homage to the pattern and origins.
 
Hey trevytrev, ur pic is very helpful and , interesting.

Look at the slight difference around pin of both levers. In trevytrev's pic ,the lever could be ezily raised .However ,in GEC's pic ,it even bears the tention from backsping when it is not raised ,and that's why I care so much that GEC's lever does not has anything protruding to catch.
 
Looks cool to me.

It is a traditional lock, and I bet GEC gets it right!

I am a huge fan of stiff springs!

But, I bet this knife is much easier and lighter to open than you think it is going to be.
 
I'm looking forward to this one being released. I inherited my grandfather's Rigger's knife, and the lock on the marlin spike was one of the strongest I've ever seen.

~Chris
 
Interesting, indeed. I look forward to seeing how this one shapes up.

bwperdue said:
Edit to add: Regardless, it looks very interesting and I will no doubt have one, preferably in ebony. :)
Click to expand...

I thought of you first off when I read this on GEC's picture page for this model:

We are having trouble naming this new pattern, if you have any ideas and would like to help us name it, please call or email Chris with your suggestions.
Click to expand...

You are so good at naming patterns! Have at it. :)

bwperdue said:
Dunno...just thought that hump/pin/lever combo looked familiarish, even though the levers are different.
Click to expand...

(Hump-pin Lever Knife has already been disqualified. Try again.)

~ P.
 
I gave it a shot. I emailed and suggested the "Colonel Drake"? It's another reference to their local history, and the lock resembles a pump handle, which is relevant since Col. Drake raised the first oil out of his hole with a hand pump.
 
sitflyer said:
Oh my, sorry I don't have a pic to share, but that lock looks like the bale lock used on sailors or clasp knives. Usually the lock was on the marlin spike.
Click to expand...
Please allow me to help. Even though I cut most of the bail off in this picture, (far right) you should be able to see enough to get the idea. ;)
-Bruce
standard.jpg
 


A Camillus and a Camillus made Buck for amusement purposes...I will definitely be on board for one of these big boys when they hit :D

Updated my suggestion to Christine to be "Bail Breaker" ah the difference a couple of letters can make eh! ;)
 
I think I need to get one of the Otter Sicherheitsschließmesser and another one from GEC when they are available.

This design of a lock has some appeal to me in any case and I´d like to try it out ... some other german cutleries have this pattern still in production.
 
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