What GECs have the lightest pull?

UseitorLoseit

UseitorLoseit

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I want to get my dad a nice GEC but his hands aren't what they used to be. Are there any models in particular that ended up having a noticeably lighter pull or is it just hit and miss? I know that certain blade profiles stick out more and give more to pinch but I'd also like the pull to be on the lighter side of what GEC normally puts out. Thanks in advance for any info.
 
Not so easy, mainly because a lot of GEC patterns are not in current production so availability is going to be awkward.

But, the 14 and 15 patterns are available and I think they're more moderate. Patterns that have no half-stop are usually smoother such as 33 Conductor and 66 but these are not easy to get hold of.

I think the current 48s might have a fairly light pull and they are in current production.

Thanks, Will
 
Yeah I know it won't be an easy find. The two 15s that I have are a good starting point I think. Ideally I'd like to find something lighter than those. I was planning on picking up a current 48 anyway so if that turns out to be light enough then maybe I'll grab another. I think the 14 is a little smaller than I'd like but it's at least another one to try. Thanks for the help.
 
68 white owl single spring. The spruce green beagle I thought was light (ish) maybe because the nail nick was forward towards the tip. Good luck on your search. Of course these are subjective
The spruce green beagle has the long pull, I miss spoke.
 
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UseitorLoseit said:
Yeah I know it won't be an easy find. The two 15s that I have are a good starting point I think. Ideally I'd like to find something lighter than those. I was planning on picking up a current 48 anyway so if that turns out to be light enough then maybe I'll grab another. I think the 14 is a little smaller than I'd like but it's at least another one to try. Thanks for the help.
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I am no expert, but it seems to me that the single blade GEC's I have are easier pulls than the two blades. That might be obvious, I don't know.

By far the lightest pulls I have are a sheep foot 15 and a Fat spear 85. The fat spear is very easy to pinch. It might be tough to find pricey in NF trim, but better in TC trim.

Just my 2cents.
 
Great info, thanks! I only have a half dozen and there doesn't seem to be any correlation between number of blades and pull. Small sample size though. I'll have to just keep snagging a few here and there until I find what I'm after. Doesn't really change anything as I'm well down the slipjoint rabbit hole now anyway.
 
i have found the #13 and the farm & field #47 hayn' helper to be very light. the gec lockback patterns, too.
 
The current 48, as mentioned before, has a light pull.
The one I have handled had a 4, 5 pull at most. Lighter than my SAKs but not too much.

I think the thin, long blade works well with the nick being so far towards the tip and no halfstop.
 
Lockbacks are easy to open, but I have seen some folks struggle with releasing the lock.
 
In terms of lockbacks, the 83 is a very nice choice. Compact, 3 3/8" open, light carry with choice of bone,stag,acrylic ,wood,micarta. Either Drop-Point (my choice) or Clip. The lock is not stiff or awkward. Could be a very good option

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My first thought when reading the OP was something with an Easy Open mod (feature?). Like this Northwoods Michigan made by GEC. I have no idea what GEC model this is most similar to. I only have a few GEC's. But my very first one (78 American Jack) needed pliers to open when new . Now after extensive break-in, it's only a nail breaker. But this Michigan is a beauty all around, and very easy to open. And still has a good strong spring for stability during use.

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Sent from my mind....using Tap-a-Thought. (tm)
 
The #13 Speaker Jack is fairly light, but the whittler (especially the little pen blades) and the Clerk (because of it's thick backspring) are a bit stiffer. Haven't handled a #13 Whip.

An easy-open Notch usually (but not always) makes a knife easier to open. There are still some Beer Scouts and plenty of Crown Lifters still available with EO notches. Other than that, I can't think of any currently available easy-open GEC's.

I would also second the suggestion of a lockback. This #72 probably has the easiest pull of any GEC I own (and there are still some available at distributors in other handle materials).

0F8D88E5-AD53-4DC8-AB1A-10C78DE58B77.jpg
 
I have problems with numbness in my fingers that can make it hard to open or close some knives. I love the 72 back locks for ease of opening. Hardly any resistance at all. I don't have trouble closing them, but I could see some hand/finger problems making the lock tricky. After the 72s, the one with the lightest pull is my 13 Whip; it feels about the same to me as a Swiss Army Knife.

The Beer Scouts and the 15 Navy knife both have that awesome combination of EO notch plus sheepsfoot blade that sticks out and what seems to me a fairly light pull. They still seem pretty easy to find, too.


Footnote: If the 72 back locks are the easiest for me to open and close, then the 73 liner locks are the worst. I have to fight the spring, the half stop and the lock. Ugh.
 
The one #48 that I handled (one time) felt a touch lighter than my SAK.
Can anyone else, that owns a #48 from this run, chime in on the pulls of their respective knives?
 
The 48s don't seem lighter than an SAK or the 13 Whip to me, but they seem softer than my 15 Navy and Beer/Soda scouts, and a good bit softer than my 74s.
 
NJBillK said:
The one #48 that I handled (one time) felt a touch lighter than my SAK.
Can anyone else, that owns a #48 from this run, chime in on the pulls of their respective knives?
Click to expand...

Amending what I said earlier, the lockbacks are light pulls. I have two Wall streets. Both are easy, but not sloppy.
 
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