Hello to all. I've been a knife guy for a good while, but only recently became more interested in traditional folders in general and GEC knives in particular. They are beautiful pocket knives and I've read lots of praise for them. Also, I've got my first one in route: a Northfield Executive Whittler #89 (wharnie) in tortoise shell acrylic. I know this knife is probably not a "typical" GEC offering, but I liked the looks and got a great deal from a generous member on one of the trade forums.
The one criticism I've heard on the GECs is that the very strong spring makes them hard to open. I like a good snap as well as the next guy, but I don't want it to be a pain to open a knife, either. So, can you GEC veterans tell me which models I should probably steer clear of?
Thanks very much.
Andrew
New to GEC: Ease of Opening?
Re: New to GEC: Ease of Opening?
Welcome to the forum, AJF!
I own quite a few of the GEC models, although far from all of them, and the only ones that have regularly come to me with excessively strong backsprings have been the model 23 ("pioneer") and the model 73 ("scout"), and certainly not all of those but a goodly proportion, but these have been ornery enough to give me a chipped thumbnail every time I open them. Unfortunately those two models are also my favorites, so I've learned to put up with it. Not that they're really difficult to open, just that they chip & crack my thumbnail pretty consistently. But I have fairly strong fingers---someone with weak or arthritic hands should best avoid those two models (and also the model 36 sunfish, of which I own just one, but that one has a very strong backsping too). I've noticed that the newer GEC models have come with more relaxed backsprings, probably in response to the complaints GEC has heard, but even in this year's production some of the 23s and 73s have come with really strong backsprings---I own a half-dozen of the 23s and 73s made in Black Plum bone this year, and they're all hard to open.
I've also read in this forum that GEC will readily and without cost adjust any of their knives with an excessively strong backspring if you send it back to them for repair. I have no experience in this regard---maybe other members would tell us how GEC has dealt with this problem.
I think you'll find that GEC makes a consistently fine knife with a fit & finish second to none (and with a price tag to match). As many here will tell you, collecting GECs can be very addictive. Enjoy!
-Tom
I own quite a few of the GEC models, although far from all of them, and the only ones that have regularly come to me with excessively strong backsprings have been the model 23 ("pioneer") and the model 73 ("scout"), and certainly not all of those but a goodly proportion, but these have been ornery enough to give me a chipped thumbnail every time I open them. Unfortunately those two models are also my favorites, so I've learned to put up with it. Not that they're really difficult to open, just that they chip & crack my thumbnail pretty consistently. But I have fairly strong fingers---someone with weak or arthritic hands should best avoid those two models (and also the model 36 sunfish, of which I own just one, but that one has a very strong backsping too). I've noticed that the newer GEC models have come with more relaxed backsprings, probably in response to the complaints GEC has heard, but even in this year's production some of the 23s and 73s have come with really strong backsprings---I own a half-dozen of the 23s and 73s made in Black Plum bone this year, and they're all hard to open.
I've also read in this forum that GEC will readily and without cost adjust any of their knives with an excessively strong backspring if you send it back to them for repair. I have no experience in this regard---maybe other members would tell us how GEC has dealt with this problem.
I think you'll find that GEC makes a consistently fine knife with a fit & finish second to none (and with a price tag to match). As many here will tell you, collecting GECs can be very addictive. Enjoy!
-Tom
Re: New to GEC: Ease of Opening?
I think you'll like that 89 whittler. Mine is pretty easy to open. I'd typically agree that the 73s will be harder to open, however my latest one can be pinched open rather easily, which really surprises me. The 2-blade 56s I have are fairly stiff to open, maybe a 6 or 7 on a 10 scale. I've found some of the 25s & 26s stiff to open, but not all.
Re: New to GEC: Ease of Opening?
Thanks, Tom, for the welcome and for the very helpful reply. That is a lot of good background info., and I will heed your advice.
Just what I need---another knife addiction---yikes!
Andrew
Just what I need---another knife addiction---yikes!
Andrew
Re: New to GEC: Ease of Opening?
Thanks, biglmbass, for that info. Sounds like some models are generally more stiff, but with others, some are and some aren't. Guess I'd better quiz any seller or vendor about this before I pull the trigger.
Andrew
Andrew
Re: New to GEC: Ease of Opening?
Welcome Andrew! 
I don't know where you live but it would be nice if you could go to a knife show where GEC is set up and handle their knifes. They do a lot of shows and have a show schedule on their website.
I don't know where you live but it would be nice if you could go to a knife show where GEC is set up and handle their knifes. They do a lot of shows and have a show schedule on their website."Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long." Ogden Nash
My traditional Nordic knife blog: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/
Mike
My traditional Nordic knife blog: http://nordiskaknivar.wordpress.com/
Mike
Re: New to GEC: Ease of Opening?
Thanks for the welcome, Mike. Great suggestion about seeing GECs up close and personal at a knife show. I just checked the schedule on their website, and, unfortunately, it looks like they're staying closer to home in the near future (I live in central Texas).
Oh well, still a great idea, and I'll check again in a few weeks.
Cheers,
Andrew
Oh well, still a great idea, and I'll check again in a few weeks.
Cheers,
Andrew
Re: New to GEC: Ease of Opening?
Hey Andrew... 
You mite check with Doc's Knife Works out of Houston...Bruce sets up at some gun and knife shows around the state, a great guy to visit with and he always has a good selection of GEC's...
Bob
You mite check with Doc's Knife Works out of Houston...Bruce sets up at some gun and knife shows around the state, a great guy to visit with and he always has a good selection of GEC's...
Bob
Bob
"To Ride, Shoot Straight, And Speak The Truth" - Jeff Cooper
"To Ride, Shoot Straight, And Speak The Truth" - Jeff Cooper
Re: New to GEC: Ease of Opening?
Bob,WelderBob wrote:Hey Andrew...
You mite check with Doc's Knife Works out of Houston...Bruce sets up at some gun and knife shows around the state, a great guy to visit with and he always has a good selection of GEC's...
Bob
Thanks for welcome, and thanks for the tip. I'll shoot Bruce and e-mail and see when he'll be over my way.
Andrew