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GEC 73 , a beartrap ?

My brother who now lives in New Zealand recently bought himself a GEC 73 in cocobolo . As he is getting rather old ,I guess I am not too far behind, he has had problems using the knife. The main point being the spring seems to strong for him and he describes it as a "Beartrap" and has given up on it . The knife is on it's way to me in the hope that I can tame it .The question is should I be afraid or get used to the idea of having a few less fingers ?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Bamford on February 19, 2014 at 10:36

Nice looking knife you have there Billy, lots of mineral oil and lots of working it open and closed has tamed my bear !

I guess yours is a slip joint I would always choose that over a linerlock myself , I think the unlocking lever spoils the look of the knife myself .

Permalink Reply by Billy Oneale on February 19, 2014 at 20:27

Thanks, John. It is a slip joint. I on the other hand prefer a locking knife for hard cutting tasks. I don't like to have to worry about the knife folding up on me while my finger may be in the way.

Permalink Reply by John Bamford on February 20, 2014 at 11:11

Billy Oneale said:

Thanks, John. It is a slip joint. I on the other hand prefer a locking knife for hard cutting tasks. I don't like to have to worry about the knife folding up on me while my finger may be in the way.

You are right about the lock being safer Billy, I just play with knives these days . When I used to use knives hard I had lockers , or usually one cheapish locknife . Now that I have several nice knives to choose from all I do is open letters and peel an apple or two, but if I ever do have to cut anything I sure have the tools for the job !

Permalink Reply by peter force on February 20, 2014 at 11:48

NUMBER 23!!! ... I have learned though that even though i love that POP!!-let the blades close slowly into the belly.lots of reasons to do so. but of course ill just snap along all the time not even thinking... also a i have 23s with liner locks...i feel better with them. LQST BUT NOT LEAST.. i have a SOUTHINGTON HAWKBILL knife..over 100 years old..it is original blade and pins and all.sppring and all..of all my knives besides the 23s..that one southington piece snaps so hard will chop into fingers bad...and i8s louder and snappier then any 23 i have..just thought that its kind of crazy..being hundred yrs plus old! all ebony,iron,and peened!

peter force said:

Permalink Reply by peter force on February 20, 2014 at 12:07

hey john!!!... im looking at the 47 and i was just looking not 10 minutes ago at what GREG had...smaller world then we think..

the COCO on that knife ilove and its crazy that the linerlock gets frowned upon when its for the safety of the users hands..i love the liner and have a few in 23s and 73s..

all the knives on this little thread i love.. i own a few GEC COCO knivs but i also own a bunch with that "cloud" shield which i just think has CLASS!!! ... great knives everyone!! oh and mineral oil i never really used but as long as its nothing natural. i have recently just become a REN WAX USER..as of only a week ago. if you have used it..ANY)NE??.. please let me know any DONTS ..i already know it no god for things like celluloid..but im wodering HOW MUCH and how often ectect...?/ i will just live and learn with iti guess.. OK RAMBLE OVER!.sweet 73s!

John Bamford said:

Ron Cooper said:

@John,

Your cocobolo 73 is a really nice looking knife. The fluted bolsters and that shield certainly place it a class by itself. I hope you'll let us know what your impressions of this pattern are after you've had a chance play with it and put it to use for a while.

@David,

Whoa! The stag on your knife is nothing short of spectacular! The handles are well match, front and back. And the color is amazing!

These are two great examples of why Great Eastern knives are flying off the Dealer's shelves!

Thanks Ron ,

I like cocobolo, but have only seen pictures before.

I probably wouldn't have ordered this knife for myself because of the linerlock , in this country locking knives are even more frowned upon than slipjoints, but my old brother was struggling with it !

Having said that it has all the usual GEC benefits of flawless fit and finish and a feeling that the knife will be around when I am not, and probably just getting broken in !

I am just giving it a good clean up at the moment , all the manufacturing grease and suchlike .

I will report back when I have had it for a while.

Am also waiting for a #47 to arrive , ordered from Greg at TSA just the other day .

Permalink Reply by John Bamford on February 20, 2014 at 14:28

It is a small world indeed Peter ,and an impatient one for me at the moment waiting for my #47 to arrive . It takes about two weeks to get a knife from the States have been waiting just a week now !

The police in the UK don't like us having locking knives cos they are thought of as weapons ,you can walk around here with a big dog on a chain and thats not a weapon but a lock knife with a three inch blade ?

You better be careful with that Hawkbill it sounds a real beast.

Never have tried Ren Wax ,don't know if we can get it over here,I was just using the mineral oil to try to flush any grinding paste or whatever out of the joints to get her to open easier. Seems to have worked okay the knife is not a problem to open now and the cocobolo is looking great..