Tidioute Blade Snap & GEC Repair

[Aimus Moses]

I bought a NOS 2008 year made GEC Tidioute 73 pattern knife off the web that I liked the looks of. When I received the knife, it had the weakest blade snap on both blades that I've ever seen on a GEC made knife. It was so weak that honestly I don't see how it made it past GEC's quality control. I contacted GEC about the knife and explained the problem with the knife. I asked them to put that strong blade snap on the knife's blades that GEC was known for, and a few people complained about. They told me to return it for repair. I also had a Northfield that had a little bit of side to side blade play on one of it's blades (not enough to hurt anything but I figured since I was sending them the Tidioute 73, I'd send it and get the blade play fixed), so I sent it with the 73 Tidioute to GEC repair. I received the 2 knives back from GEC about 2 weeks later. The Northfield with the blade play was fixed. The Tidoute 73 had more blade snap to it's blades but it is still weak compared to all the other GEC knives I have. Has GEC backed off on the strong blade snap on their 73 and 23 patterns now because of customer complaints or some other reason? I have a 2008 year made stag handled 73 pattern that has the GEC bear trap blade snap. Does GEC make a difference in the Northfield and Tidioute brands blade snap because the Northfields have long pulls and the Tidioutes have the short nail nicks? I was disappointed in the Tidoute's blade snap when I first got it, then I was disappointed again with it's blade snap when I got it back from GEC repair. I don't want to be a pesky customer and send it back to GEC again but the Tidioute just doesn't seem like a GEC product the way it is. I'm not a hard to please person but even after getting it back from GEC repair the Tidoute's blade snap is a little weaker than the blade snap on the new Case work knives or a cheap Pakistan knife. I believe after some honest use it will get weaker to the point that the blades will have to be pushed closed. Maybe I just got one of the 1 in a million bad ones? Has GEC made a change to the blade snap that they put on their knives blades now? I hope not, I really liked the strong bear trap blade snap they put on their knives. That is one of the things that sold me on GEC knives. If someone from GEC reads this, please keep the strong blade snap on your knives that they were known for.

Aimus

[johnny twoshoes]

Aimus, I'd send her back again. I have a feeling GEC won't like to have to fix a knife twice, and I know they'll get it done for you.
I have a Northfield #73, and a Tidioute #73, great snap in both of them, no real difference at all.

Good Luck my friend, I'd love to hear how things go.

[Cooter Brown]

I'd agree with Mr. Two Shoes. I've got two 73s, one a Tidioute and one a Northfield, both from 2007, and they have equal springs. As far as changing the springs on the new ones, I have a feeling that they know that most of their customers probably like the strong springs over weaker ones.

I'd call and talk to Christine about it.

[knifeswapper]

There is no difference in backspring tension between the brands. And if it is 2008 it wouldn't matter if they had eased them a little; that one was made when they were stout on average (same as your stag).

You can't really "add" snap if the knife is finished correctly in the first place ( no unintended resistance with blade / liners, etc. ). Building up the blade round end would be about the only way, and they might as well send another knife due to the expense that would incur. But I suspect the factory does not consider a reasonable backspring tension in the hands of a customer that loves bear traps, a defect. Although they will bend over backwards to take care of it for you.

It won't get worse because of backspring tension easing; but I guess if you work it hard for several years the backspring and blade will each lose a little surface area and ease a bit.

Put it in for a trade on the forum, there are tons of people that would love one minus the nail killer pull.