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Companies => Off-the-shelf companies => Gray Nicolls => Topic started by: tim2000s on September 11, 2011, 08:08:35 PM

Title: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: tim2000s on September 11, 2011, 08:08:35 PM
Picked this up recently, cheaply, and I'm not sure what it is! Surprisingly traditional shape for a GN, but I reckon it's about 5-10 years old, and I'm suspicious that it may be a Millennium. It's pretty reasonable off the mallet, but has clearly had an amateur refresh, and therefore has lost a lot of stickers...

What do you think?

(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-09-11180039.jpg)

(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-09-11180102.jpg)

(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-09-11180115.jpg)

(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-09-11180136.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: jonpinson on September 11, 2011, 08:11:36 PM
Millennium had scoops, although off the top of my head I can remember how many or how they were positioned.

I reckon it could be an optimum which was of the same era as the Ultimate.

Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: gabbers on September 11, 2011, 08:24:20 PM
looks like a saber but that had 2 scoops?
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: Perkins17 on September 11, 2011, 08:25:06 PM
Gladius ?
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: Buzz on September 11, 2011, 08:30:55 PM
are you sure it is a gn?
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: jonpinson on September 11, 2011, 08:44:32 PM
Actually a good point Buzz, the 'shadow' on the back doesnt look like a GN sticker...
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: pacman75cricket on September 11, 2011, 08:51:01 PM
If not reflex/insignia ?
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: ajm90 on September 11, 2011, 08:53:14 PM
it looks kind of like an older slazenger shape
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: Alvaro on September 11, 2011, 08:54:20 PM
excalibur?
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: 19reading87 on September 11, 2011, 09:11:38 PM
That's a grays shaped handle...
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: tim2000s on September 11, 2011, 09:25:16 PM
are you sure it is a gn?
Pretty sure. The handle rubber is a GN handle rubber and the stickers are obviously GN, but it might not be.

The shape is definitely not Hunts County as pacman suggested as I have one of each of those and it is neither.

On really close inspection, I can just about make out sticker shadow on the back, and it appears to line up with the GN checkers on the front.

The top of the shoulders each has a small round stamp on it. Z on one side and F on the other.There is also a tiny amount of writing on the top of the handle in ball pen with the two numbers "19" and "750". Finally, the inside grip is also a GN.

I thought the Optimum had a rounded back Jon? Any of the additional detail any use?

Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: jonpinson on September 11, 2011, 09:31:15 PM
I could well be wrong but I thought both Ultimate and optimum were trad shapes, but the Optimum was a little more hard-lined...but more like a mjolnir if that makes any sense.

750 backs up that it is a GN, as it was the 2nd top grade, after the 1000 Megastrike, the 750 was the superstrike.
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: pacman75cricket on September 11, 2011, 09:33:04 PM
Can't remember what the elite shape was like
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: tim2000s on September 11, 2011, 09:44:56 PM
I could well be wrong but I thought both Ultimate and optimum were trad shapes, but the Optimum was a little more hard-lined...but more like a mjolnir if that makes any sense.

750 backs up that it is a GN, as it was the 2nd top grade, after the 1000 Megastrike, the 750 was the superstrike.


That was why I thought it was a GN, going on the 750. I could be completely wrong about the Optimum shape.

Can't remember what the elite shape was like


I remember the Elite shape, it was quite similar to this, but I don't think they were still doing them with the chequered stickers.

This image of Robin Smith shows an Optimum, and similar colours!
(http://www.espncricinfo.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/119800/119847.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: toby176 on September 12, 2011, 10:09:45 AM
I figure i may aswell throw my two cents worth in! Could it be a Rapier? I have one and it is the exact same shape! Except mine has scoops up near the splice.. But i read somewere on here that someone on here had one without the scoops...
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: tim2000s on September 12, 2011, 10:20:10 AM
Interesting observation. I've done a quick search and this is the Rapier profile against mine:

(http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp138/djbucko2007/IMG_0246.jpg)(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/2011-09-11180102.jpg)

I'd say that you had that spot on!
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: toby176 on September 12, 2011, 11:50:22 AM
To good! :) a rapier it is then?
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: tim2000s on September 12, 2011, 11:58:26 AM
To good! :) a rapier it is then?
Unless someone who knows better (and I'd suggest that might be thebigginge) says otherwise. It's the only GN I've seen with the duck-bill at the toe.
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: Number4 on September 12, 2011, 12:11:33 PM
Where the stickers have ben removed off the back are a little confusing though... Does look a little like the Elite from around 91/92
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: tim2000s on September 12, 2011, 12:22:01 PM
Where the stickers have ben removed off the back are a little confusing though... Does look a little like the Elite from around 91/92

Agreed, except that the Elite had stickers down the back as in the picture below and there is no sign of them having been on the bat, and the colours on the chequered area were dark red and black.

(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/Elite.png)

There was an Australian Elite more recently, but it has a different side-on profile and top of bat stickers.

(http://cricketwarehouse.com.au/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/Gray_Nicolls_ELI_4de305d394494.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone know what this is?
Post by: Number4 on September 12, 2011, 12:30:34 PM
I owned an Elite back in the day... best bat I have ever owned...