I love my Spyderco Gayle Bradley, but...

[blkwing]

unlock is too difficult.
I have to use a stick of wood to push the lockbar aside to unlock.
ZT0200's lockbar is the same thick, but it can unlock easy.

[jackknifeh]

unlock is too difficult.
I have to use a stick of wood to push the lockbar aside to unlock.
ZT0200's lockbar is the same thick, but it can unlock easy.

Are you serious about the stick of wood? Several people have said it's hard to release the lock because the liner and scale isn't cut out to make it easier to push the lock bar. Is this the reason you have problems or is it just too hard to push the lock bar? If you would still need the stick if the liner were cut out like most liner locks there may be a warranty issue. Is your GB new?

Jack

[blkwing]

I think there is no need to cut out(perhaps it can help a little) because ZT0200 isn't cut out but work very good.
After I open and close my GB for the umptyumpth time, the lock bar will hurt my finger. The real reason should be the strength of the bar is too strong.
Sorry for my poor English.

[blkwing]

Are you serious about the stick of wood? Several people have said it's hard to release the lock because the liner and scale isn't cut out to make it easier to push the lock bar. Is this the reason you have problems or is it just too hard to push the lock bar? If you would still need the stick if the liner were cut out like most liner locks there may be a warranty issue. Is your GB new?

Jack

Yes, it is new. I just got the GB from knifeworks, and I can't find any defect.

[jackknifeh]

Yes, it is new. I just got the GB from knifeworks, and I can't find any defect.

I was thinking maybe the lock bar or the blade tang had a burr on it or something that would make it hard to push. If the problem is the liner and scale being even with the lock bar and oppisite side there are several people who have removed some of the scale and liner creating a big notch where your thumb goes to release the lock. I think some have done it themselves. If I wanted this done I'd send it to someone who does this kind of stuff all the time. I could do it myself and it would be 100% functional and about 50% attractive. I've never done work where I wanted the results to be as pretty as the GB is now. If you would consider this modification just say so and ask people here who did theirs. I have no idea how much it costs. Oh yeah, IT WOULD VOID THE WARRANTY. You probably know that.

Jack

[Zenith]

Dont worry, your thumb has just never experienced a real mans knife before.... :p and will get use to it after a week and a half of EDC.

It is not a knife one can sit around, opening closing as much and fast as possible, say like the Para2. It is however a knife you draw, do what needs to be done, it laughs it off thinking "Is that all you can through at me? Please!" close it and it goes to sleep until needed again.

The lock was designed that way so that it wont disengage easily in use. It however does take time to get use to it. I love it.

[BAL]

Maybe put on a pair of gloves and open and close it over and over to loosen it up. Shoot a little
WD-40 (I am a bit of a redneck) or some other penetrating type product in there to help. I have
had knifes that were tight at first, but they loosen up after a while.

Two of the worst originally was a Para and the Yojimbo, but now they are the smoothest opening
knives that I have.

[jackknifeh]

Maybe put on a pair of gloves and open and close it over and over to loosen it up. Shoot a little
WD-40 (I am a bit of ar edneck) or some other penetrating type product in there to help. I have
had knifes that were tight at first, but they loosen up after a while.

Only ar edneck types like that. oops :o :D

Two of the worst originally was a Para and the Yojimbo, but now they are the smoothest opening
knives that I have.

Jack

[BAL]

Only ar edneck types like that. oops
Jack

Gui lty asch arged, Ja
ck

[blkwing]

my GB:
[ATTACH]19803[/ATTACH]

[blkwing]

my GB and my ZT0200 side by side.
IMO, just make this thinner and unlock will easier very much.
[ATTACH]19804[/ATTACH]

[jackknifeh]

Gui lty asch arged, Ja
ck

LOL

my GB:
[ATTACH]19803[/ATTACH]

I love that picture. I saved it so I can look at it later. :)

Jack

[rg02]

My GB lock was stiff to close at first as well. Opening and closing it a bunch of times helps break it in. You will also develop a callous on your thumb to make it easier :D . When breaking it in I sometimes used my left hand to close it to give my right thumb a break lol. My GB lock is very smooth but still strong as heck now!

[rodloos]

I saw some comments about the difficulty unlocking some people had before I bought it, so I was aware of the issue. It hasn't really been an issue for me, perhaps because I have fat thumbs :D . I just put my thumb pushing down on the lock, then I push over to the left (if that makes sense). Everyone's hands are different so it may be a different feel for others. I happened to be carrying my Bradley today, opening/closing it during my drive into work :) .

[jackknifeh]

I saw some comments about the difficulty unlocking some people had before I bought it, so I was aware of the issue. It hasn't really been an issue for me, perhaps because I have fat thumbs :D . I just put my thumb pushing down on the lock, then I push over to the left (if that makes sense). Everyone's hands are different so it may be a different feel for others. I happened to be carrying my Bradley today, opening/closing it during my drive into work :) .

How you do it makes sense to me because that's how I do it. To someone standing beside me it doesn't look like I do anything, just close the knife.

Jack

[DeathBySnooSnoo]

How you do it makes sense to me because that's how I do it. To someone standing beside me it doesn't look like I do anything, just close the knife.

Jack

Yup, this is exactly what it looks like when I do it too. And that is with both hands. I find that the GB is probably the easiest lock to work either left or right handed.

[Blerv]

You might try varying angles and places on the lockbar (like further up towards the blade). It sounds like a silly bit of advice but leverage is pretty awesome stuff.

[Papa_K]

It's not an E-Z-Close sort of knife, that anyone would want to repeatedly open and close for fun.
I'd look at the lack of a cut-out for liner access as a safety feature.

On my GB, the blade travels smoothly open and closed. The liner is only difficult to unlock because it's not exposed, and not so much from the pressure required to move it.

One thing that I wondered about when I first got the knife was how the liner doesn't slide completely behind the blade. It's visible in the .jpg linked earlier. Mine seems to seat even less fully behind the blade, but it does seem solid. It appears to travel as far as possible, so I'm not suspecting any defect.

I've been a GB owner for a couple weeks now, and for me it's a keeper.

[Simple Man]

I also realized, with many linerlocks, for me one hand closing is one motion. Push the lock over with the thumb, while applying pressure to fold the blade over with the forefinger. With the GB, you can't be pushing the blade up/closed while applying pressure in the lock to unlock. It takes two separate steps, get the lock out of the way, then fold the blade.

[Blerv]

Linerlocks cause more whining than any other lock it seems. Lockbacks with the "vertical play when cutting" are up there but doesn't even get close.

The OP doesn't fall into this category, but this is what I have heard from people:

* It's too stiff, my thumb hurts from the pressure.
* It's too easy to disengage...what if I need to defend myself with a knife!?!
* Aren't they like the weakest kind of lock?
* I cut my thumb closing my knife!!!
* It doesn't stay closed very well.
* It seems to stick. Is my detent bearing wearing a groove into the blade?
* OMG, it locks up late! Is that safe?
* It locks up early, should I be worried?
* Why no jimping?
* The jimping is kinda sharp.