What's going on with this (GEC Ben Hogan) lockback?

G

greg c

Joined
Oct 9, 1998
Messages
490
I'm used to seeing a U shaped lock cutout in the blade. What is with the extra groove in the cutout? A place for debris to get trapped so it doesn't interfere with operations?

I'm curious as to what the lock tongue looks like...

IMG_7304Small.jpg
 
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I am comparing it to my #72 lockback and it's the same way.
It seems like there is an extra step.
I see what you mean, but i have no clue of its significance.
 
Not sure if anyone is interested in this one, but I've got a theory...

The blade tang on the above pic has two "steps" separated by the groove. The step closest the backspring I believe engages the locking tab of the lock and creates the actual locking engagement. The bottom surface of the lockimg tab actually sits on the second, shallower step, which is carefully ground down to fit so that the backspring sits flush when the knife is in the open position.

Soooo i think this is a novel way to stamp out production blades in configuration that allows better fitment with less work.
 
Their (GECs) knives were not like that pictured above; however, there were quite a few complaints about up/down blade play and I think this was GECs fix for it. I know the lock on my early knives are fairly easy to release while my later knives are sometimes difficult to release when pressing down the lockbar.
 
I've seen many lockbacks (both modern and traditional) wherein the blade notch has that extra step down. The lock bar does *not* have an extra protruding part to fit in there. From what I have read, and been told, it is exactly as you theorized in the OP: a little place to trap debris, so that the lock doesn't fail to engage if it gets dirty.
 
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