Got this one about a week ago. Been waiting for Great Eastern to make this pattern and blade configuration in 440-C for a while. As soon as they came out I was all over it!
This is the #72 Scout Lockback, similar to GEC's #73 and #23 slipjoints. Same pattern design but sits in between these two in size and is a lockback. Mine is the Model #720111........
It sits in at 3 7/8" closed. Bolsters and shield are nickle/silver, liners and pins are brass, and the Wharncliffe blade is flat ground mirror polished 440-C stainless steel. Scales are jigged Ruby Red Bone.
It's a barehead version with a grommeted lanyard hole. Fit and finish is pretty much what I have come to expect from GEC aside from one small area. This is the first GEC I have ever gotten that had a gap of any kind. Between the mark side liner and the lockbar is a faint hairline gap. Barely noticable, but on a GEC any gap no matter how faint will be seen because they usually come so tight. It's tiny and doesn't affect anything though......
.......outside of that it's a rock solid GEC. Lockbar locks the blade up solid as a bank vault, zero blade play, clean polish throughout, perfect blade grinds, usably sharp edge, and gap free everywhere else. And as you can see from the pic above it is a slim pattern. It would make for a great EDC locker, very pocket friendly.
And for size reference here it is between two of it's kin, a GEC #73 above it and a GEC #23 below......
It's just a hair longer than the #73 which sits in at 3 3/4" closed. The #23's are 4 1/2". I do believe I might have to spring for the Elk Stag version of this one as well.
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