Up and down blade play on GEC Lockback. Is this common?

D

david childers

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Sep 20, 2013
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75
Just got a #42 GEC Tidiouite lockback with smooth ivory bone handles. Its a beautiful knife, sharp out of the tube,with a nice loud click when opened. I was very happy with the knife but I noticed it has very slight up and down play, and I mean very slight, just enough where you can hear it click if you force it. I don't think it would be a safety issue, but I'm used to near perfection with my other GEC knives. This is my first GEC lockback though and I was wondering if this is common or normal and if anyone else has had this issue. Can't decide if I should take the knife back and exchange it for another or just live with it. Thanks for any input.
 
I think you'll hear from more folks with direct experience with GEC's in the traditional forum.

Most lockbacks I've owned do this to some degree or another. Not all of them though, and that's the frustration. The few that don't have vertical play remind that it's possible to make lock backs without it. But really, everything has to be just so and even then, the design just has this issue sort of baked into into it to some degree.

For hard use knives, I've switched to Opinels. They are crude and have lots of issues. Vertical play is not one of them.
 
In my experience it is common. I have a decent collection of GEC's including 3 lock backs. Of the three I've had 2/3 with play including a 42. There were quite a few reports of this problem with the latest run of 42's. In my case both knives were sent back to the vendor for exchanges. Both replacements are solid. If it bothers you send it back. I too don't care for a $75+ knife that comes with this issue. Others find it acceptable. At this point I'm avoiding them unless I can handle it before purchase. Be warned, this topic has been a hornets nest over on the traditional forum.
 
My Recon 1 with Triad lock has slight vertical play. I can live with slight play, but if it is excessive I would send it back.
 
I just had to send another #72 back because of up and down play. I've been told it is quite common with GEC lockbacks.
I don't mind a little, but mine was excessive even for a lockback.

I'll never try another GEC lockback myself.

I have Case, Moki, and Fallkniven lockbacks of traditional design, and none have blade play. Neither does my Spyderco's.
I have a Buck that has a little, but its not excessive enough to hear the clicking. I'm fine with a small amount of play.
 
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I wanted to try one out also but it seems even real craftsmen can't nail that sweet spot these days. I just looked at two Buck 110's at Wal-Mart and wow, sad. Benchmade Axis or fixed blades for me!
 
I gave up on lockbacks in the 90's. I'm sure there are some bullet proof examples somewhere, but from Buck to Spyderco I found that they turned into rattlesnakes after just a few months. Never again will I even consider a lockback.
 
pinnah said:
For me, it's gone deeper than any particular brand. I'm skeptical of the design at this point.
Click to expand...

Not me. I'm not a bit skeptical of a well designed lockback.
I bought my first Puma lockback in the mid/late 70's, and have owned a lot since. I've never seen any new one's with as much play as the two GEC's (right out of the box) I tried.

I have had some Buck 110 type lockbacks, and most all of those would develope some play, but most all of my others had/have a solid lockup.

I have several Case Copperlocks, Moki, Fallkniven, Spyderco lockbacks that have no blade play at all. I have an well used Endura from the early 90's that has never developed play.
I have an old Parker, a Buck, and a Bear that does have some play, but they are all of the same design and I won't buy that type of design again either. Those types are more heavy than I like anyway.

So no, I'll never buy another GEC lockback. Especially when I loose shipping both ways to return it. I could lose a lot of money trying to get a solid one.
 
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Hi all!
Have two of their #72 pattern lock backs; one has very slight up-down play, the other none. On the one that does have the slight play, it's not enough to make me want to exchange it; I don't subject them to very hard use; just meals, opening packages, etc; (stuff a nice SAK Climber could also do with ease) and it does not appear to be a safety issue.
 
For some reason modern folder manufacturers such as Spyderco, Cold Steel, etc., have figured out a way to make a lock back without vertical play while GEC has not. I like GEC and own several of their knives but I have had terrible luck with their lock backs. I sent two #72's back with too much vertical play. That being said I own several Buck and Case lock backs that are rock solid. The only GEC I have with no play is the #99 Farmer Lock. GEC makes a great slip joint but their lock backs are suspect. YMMV
 
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