stiff lockback on the 72?

[313 Mike]

Below is a pic of my Tidioute Ebony 72. Great knife, I really like it alot...only thing is that is the lock portion of the lockback is stiff and not smooth to depress. It's been like that since I got it, I was kind of hoping it would loosen up over time but it's been a few months now and it's still pretty stiff. I blew it out with a can of compressed air and applied some oil to the mechanism and it hasn't really made a difference. Is this common on this model? Is there anything I can do to alleviate it? Not really a big deal, I still really like the knife, just looking for some feedback. Thanks.
Mike

[gino]

I believe that most 72's and 73's are very stiff. I know mine are. I like it that way now that I am used to it. It also helps to open it near the end of the finger pull.

[TripleF]

I have one 72 and it is.....you get used to it

[313 Mike]

Whenever I show the knife off to people they always struggle briefly with it and comment on it. It just seems kind of strange that if it is such a common thing with that model that they did not do something to correct it. Mine is a 2012 production, so it would seem they are still being crafted the same way at least up until January of this year. The knife sure has a solid lockup though, and I certainly wouldn't want to sacrifice that just to have the lock easier to depress. Not sure if those two things are related or not.
Mike

[vieu101]

mike I have 3 72 patterns and all are tight except this one


This stag one i just recently bought few weeks ago and it seems to loosening up



This one i have never gotten to loosen up still tight but it dont get used


if it wont loosen up i would call gec they would fix her,it looks like a great knife

[big monk]

Mike__I have EDC'd the two below,since 2010 __the release is still strong,after two years,but not really ""hard"",to me ** I carry them to work,because they open so easy on the fingernails and lock-up tight, for cutting lots of tape & cardboard _____ these two are my go-to work knives each week !!!!__ can't tell ya' if the lock release can be changed,but I'm interested to know,myself ????__Monk

[313 Mike]

Those are some great lookin' knives there! Love the wharncliff blade on the red one with the acorn shield, very cool. Nice to have a substantially sized wharncliff, most knives from other makers only seem to have a small one. I could see that being a handy knife work knife for certain. And wow that stag is a just gorgeous! Thanks for the input on the stiff locks, glad to know it is not just me. Not sure if I want to send it back to GEC or not...I really don't want to be without it for an extended period of time, and not really sure what they could do to "fix" it....
Monk, those are two beauties you've got there too! I notice your's have the long nail pull, while mine only has the regular nail nick. Wonder why they went to the smaller one? (((Ahhhh...wait, that must be because those are Northfield! think I answered my own question there...))
Mike

[HiPower]

i have several of the 72s & have to admit the lock is fairly stiff but the opening of the blade is so smooth & the lockup so good i certainly can live with the stiff lock release.--HiPower

[bonehead]

313Mike, I think all 72's have a super hard Lock as everyone here mentioned. I do not like it.... but then I do not use the couple I have. I have the IKC edition as well and it is really a bugger. BH

[Ramrod]

Out of the 6 or 8 72's I have, about half are smooth and half a little sticky. One of them takes 2 thumbs to release it.
Mark

[Gunstock Jack]

The knife sure has a solid lockup though, and I certainly wouldn't want to sacrifice that just to have the lock easier to depress. Not sure if those two things are related or not.
Mike

Mike, I've handled more than a few of the 72's; in fact, it is one of my favorite patterns! In my experience, the tighter the lock is to unlock, the tighter the blade lock-up is. And the opposite is true in that the easier they are to unlock, the more movement begins to show up in the blade lock-up. So it is a trade off in that the closer the tolerances, the tighter the lock-up is and unlocking is that much stiffer. GEC took a lot of heat on some past runs due to having a tiny bit of play in the 72 lock-up and I think they have tightened up their tolerances to address that issue, but in doing so made the knife a little stiff to unlock. JMHO

If you were to clean all the oil out of the knife and throw a little dry polishing compound into the works, work the action several times, then thoroughly clean and oil the knife (in other words, put a few years wear on the action), it would probably result in a smoother operating knife. I don't recommend this treatment, however, I have used it to loosen up a tight double barrel shotgun's action, and it does open easier now. It is a drastic measure and can't be undone, so be advised.

I would personally get used to the lock and enjoy!

[313 Mike]

Thanks for all the input folks, I am going to just roll with the lockup as is, and be glad of the fact that there is zero blade play and she locks up solid. Great knife and I don't want to mess with it.
Mike