Which GEC's do you think are pull/spring friendly?

C

cards94

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Jul 23, 2013
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i own one gec knife in a #15 barlow single blade and i find it easy to open, close, and use. any others that seem to be on the same level of ease to open?
 
Out of the GEC's I own, the White Owl #68 is the easiest to open.
 
The following are very easy to open:

#72 Mini-Hunter Lockback
#66 Calf Roper
#12 Powcerhorn
#79 Montana Workhorse Whittler
#53 Cuban Stockman
#54 Cuban Whittler
#71 Bullnose
#15 Tom's Choice
#15 Boys Choice.

I'd say stay away from the #23 Pioneer and the #73 Scout.
 
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My 68 White Owl has a very nice pull on it but I just got a 15 Boys Knife easy open and I have to say it's my easiest as you don't even use the nail nick.
 
I'd recommend the GEC #48 as well. Especially the 440C models as they seem to be smoother than the 1095 models. The #33 and #68s seem to be light too. Many of GEC's newer offerings are lighter in pull than previous years. The #85EOs are easy to open, at least the main blade. I don't have one but I believe the #65 Tidioute Spear point would be easy to open due to the placement of the nail nick. The single blade Tidioute #23 with lanyard tube is also easy to open in my experience. I don't have the Northfield version but I believe the nick isn't as deep so it might be harder. The single blade Tidioute #73 with lanyard tube is also easy to open.

Actually, I find with a lot of 1095 GECs is that you not only battle the backspring when opening the knife but also friction between the blade tang and scales. Being 1095, if any thing gets in there like juice from that fruit you just cut, it can oxidize in there and make it harder to open. The 440C models don't seem to have this issue for me so they generally seem to be easier (unless its a particular strong backspring or a small knife, or a small blade with a full size backspring etc).
 
My #99 Farm & Field can easily be pinched open. I agree with the #15, and the #06 Pemberton has a nice easy pull.
 
Modoc ED said:
The following are very easy to open:

#72 Mini-Hunter Lockback
#66 Calf Roper
#12 Powcerhorn
#79 Montana Workhorse Whittler
#53 Cuban Stockman
#54 Cuban Whittler
#71 Bullnose
#15 Tom's Choice
#15 Boys Choice.

I'd say stay away from the #23 Pioneer and the #73 Scout.
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I don't have a #54 Cuban Whittler but have the Cattle Baron and that is easily the hardest knife I own to open. The only one where I actually needed a knife pick to open. My #53 Cuban Stockman knives are easy to open pull wise but IMO you need to be able to get to the nail nick to open them because of how low the blades sit. Its not an issue for me, actually I prefer it, but I think it might be an issue for those with arthritis.
 
My whiteowl and #12 one and two blade knives are easy pulls. The 55 houndstooth and bull lock are very stiff. I normally carry the houndstooth on my doctor's recommendation. He says the extra exercise is good for my arthritis.
 
2Dead said:
I don't have a #54 Cuban Whittler but have the Cattle Baron and that is easily the hardest knife I own to open. The only one where I actually needed a knife pick to open. My #53 Cuban Stockman knives are easy to open pull wise but IMO you need to be able to get to the nail nick to open them because of how low the blades sit. Its not an issue for me, actually I prefer it, but I think it might be an issue for those with arthritis.
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Sorry Trand, I can't agree at least as far as the #53 Cuban Stockman goes. I only have one left but at one time I had six or seven of them and the blade pull on all were no more than 6 to 6.5 . I do have arthritis in my hands and a bunch of other places and find the knives I listed easy to use. Of course that's my .02¢ but YMMV.:)
 
Modoc ED said:
Sorry Trand, I can't agree at least as far as the #53 Cuban Stockman goes. I only have one left but at one time I had six or seven of them and the blade pull on all were no more than 6 to 6.5 . I do have arthritis in my hands and a bunch of other places and find the knives I listed easy to use. Of course that's my .02¢ but YMMV.:)
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I totally agree Ed that they were no more than 6 or 6.5. I'm just saying, if I'm reading Cards' thread/posts correctly, that a 6 might be too much.
 
2Dead said:
I totally agree Ed that they were no more than 6 or 6.5. I'm just saying, if I'm reading Cards' thread/posts correctly, that a 6 might be too much.
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You have a point Trand but if they had a lighter spring on that knife they'd have to rename it #53 Floppy Cuban Stockman.:rolleyes:
 
Certainly the White Owl & Conductor are very smooth, they don't have half-stops intruding....but people should not think these are weak or sloppy! The Conductors I have sport some of the loudest snap of any knife:D:cool:

Pretty moderate on the 61 Half-Congress for that matter, the Eureka's action is satisfying as well.
 
I have only one example, but my 62 Maverick is very easy to open. Also, & already mentioned above, the stainless 48s open very easily.
 
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