Took the Plunge on a Gayle Bradley

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exmaxima

Joined
Jan 30, 2006
Messages
198
I've owned Spydercos for over 20 years, and vowed that I would never consider one built outside of USA or Japan. But after reading all the threads about the Taiwanese models I finally took the plunge this week on a Gayle Bradley. It was my 61st birthday present, and I have to admit it is one of the nicest knives I've ever handled.

I showed the GB to my adult son and found that he could not close it. Just like all the reviews noted, it is indeed a bitch to close, and practically impossible one-handed. So I took another plunge today and modified the grip as I had seen on several other threads. Basically took off one side of the knife, clamped it in a vise (aligning the scale and liner edges), marked off the relief section with some tape, and removed the area with my Dremel. A quick beveling of the scale with a file, cleanup of the liner with some fine paper, and a polish with a buffer wheel (again in the Dremel), and it was done. Took about 1/2 hour total and now I can easily open and close this awesome knife with one hand.

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Spyderco's Taichung knives are changing a LOT of people's perceptions of what "made in Taiwan" can mean in quality. I have a few and they are all awesome.

I love my GB but also find it hard to close, your mod looks great, like it came from the factory that way.
 
Congrats on the Purchase. After much encouragement, I purchased one on the exchange. I really loved the knife and carried it quite a bit. It was one of the smoothest knives I have ever owned (before my Davis). I had some reservations about it being made in Taiwan and felt funny about it, but to be honest, the fit and finish was better than some of my USA made spydercos.

That GB is one tough SOB, and will take anything you can dish out to it.

Very nice work on the Lock Mod. I thought about doing that with mine when I still had it, but reluctantly sold it to fund another purchase before I got the chance.
 
I've seen some pretty crazy "tests" on these knives. They seem indestructable. One of these days I'll buy one.
 
My GB is one of the knives that has a permanent place in my collection. I remember when I joined Bladeforums, it was during a period of the GB getting a lot of attention here, and a lot of guys were talking about them and showing pics of theirs. I had to get my hands one, and was glad I did. I used it during some work on the house and it was ridiculous. I cut through drywall with it, among other things. Ran it on the stones on my Sharpmaker, it brushed its shoulder off like "Dude, where's the WORK at??? This bush league stuff is boring me!". Just an amazing knife.
 
The GB is one of my favorite knives. Really an exceptional piece by Spyderco and Gayle Bradley.

As a note to the lock disengagement. I have never had a problem with it. Even with gloves.

[video=youtube;XYdj8S0AJeo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYdj8S0AJeo[/video]

At 3:20 Gayle discuss the lock and lack of release cutout in the following video. It is one of the design aspects I love.

[video=youtube;Qk0IxU-fuW4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk0IxU-fuW4[/video]
 
marthinus said:
The GB is one of my favorite knives. Really an exceptional piece by Spyderco and Gayle Bradley.

As a note to the lock disengagement. I have never had a problem with it. Even with gloves.
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To be clear, I had no problem closing it with both hands, but it was a struggle with one hand. But more important to me was that I plan to leave my knife collection to my kids someday, and I didn't want a knife in there that they couldn't use or appreciate. The Lock Mod makes it easy for the casual user, or those with softer hands, to utilize.
 
exmaxima said:
To be clear, I had no problem closing it with both hands, but it was a struggle with one hand. But more important to me was that I plan to leave my knife collection to my kids someday, and I didn't want a knife in there that they couldn't use or appreciate. The Lock Mod makes it easy for the casual user, or those with softer hands, to utilize.
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I fully understand your reasoning. At the end of the day. If you enjoy it and those that will receive it in future can enjoy it that is all that matters. One needs to enjoy the knives one has, even if it means to modify it slightly.
 
I picked on up yesterday as well, after thinking about it since they came out. :-) I just love M4.
 
marthinus said:
I fully understand your reasoning. At the end of the day. If you enjoy it and those that will receive it in future can enjoy it that is all that matters.
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One of the reasons I sold my Sebenza was that I had a hard time opening it without cutting myself. Being used to a Spydie hole (even on Benchmade models) or a ZT flipper, that pointy thumb stud on a Sebenza feels awkward. If I used it nearly exclusively I guess it would not be a problem, but since I rotate thru roughly a dozen EDC knives I found that Sebbie slipping on me and sometimes nicking my skin. If there was a way to add a Spyderco hole it would have been a great knife, but that was not the case so I passed it on. FWIW, I think the GB is just as well-made as the Sebbie and looks better to me :)
 
Congrats on the GB! I really enjoy mine. The biggest thing that always kept me from getting one was how everyone talked about how difficult it was to disengage the lock bar. I decided to go ahead and give it a shot and I am glad I did. I find that while it does take some getting used to for me, it isn't that difficult to unlock. It is different at first but I have messed with Emerson lock stick that was harder to close than the GB. Even one of my all time favorite blades, the Southern Grind Bad Monkey, had a more difficult lock to disengage when I first got it compared to the Bradley.

The mod you did looks good and I agree with marthinus. If the mod works better for you and you enjoy it that is awesome! Each person is different and all that matters is that your blade now works better for you. I just thought I'd share my experience with it.
 
I've been handleing lots of the TaiChung models and am just blown away at the F and F. Truly awesome. GB is on my top to buy list for Spydies this year.
 
Taichung spydercos are now my favorite. Every one of them I've handled has been awesome. Even better than my GC's. A GB and a Southard are next on my list.
 
The GB model in m4 is the finest heavy-duty folder that Spyderco produces. I've had four or so; gifted several. It's NOT for office-carry, however; too much of a weight-drag on nice slacks. For jeans, it's perfect.
 
I'd argue the heavy duty award goes to the Schempp Tuff. CPM 3v and all... (also a VERY well done knife out of Taichung).
The GB is much more manageable and probably a bit more reasonable and all, though.

Sonnydaze said:
The GB model in m4 is the finest heavy-duty folder that Spyderco produces. I've had four or so; gifted several. It's NOT for office-carry, however; too much of a weight-drag on nice slacks. For jeans, it's perfect.
Click to expand...
 
The prices on the exchange for these have been pretty awesome lately. I think I'll put away a few bucks over the next couple of months and pick one up around March or April.

I have no experience with M4. What are it's main characteristics?
 
This GB is really one of my fave Spyderco's, but I just can't get past that carbon fiber. If only they offered it in G10, like a brown G10, then I'd be all over it.
 
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