Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Equipment => Your Kit => Topic started by: grb on March 25, 2013, 11:19:40 PM

Title: GN Legend?
Post by: grb on March 25, 2013, 11:19:40 PM
Evening all,

Long term 'guest' of this great forum, but I though I would get involved!  My first post can hopefully be a useful one as well as me introducing myself, as I'm after some information on a bat that i've just purchased. 

Some background info....Always been addicted to cricket bats.  Whether it's searching ebay for anything that looks good (not even buying just being nosey), reading about them, refurbing them, adjusting grips, swapping grips, doing the same for mates bats etc etc etc.  Owned my fair share, usually always off the shelf brands, closest i've got to custom would be buying a team mates Salix off him that was custom for him, not quite the same.  Anyway, always gone for 8-10 grains, straight, everybody knows the score.  Came to start winter nets this year and thought I would look for something 'special' with a few more grains (everybody sighs, another numpty picking his bats on looks), don't even know why, perhaps i've been influenced by all the great kit on here.

So I took a punt, one Saturday evening (after a few beers), I come across what was advertised as a GN Legend on ebay.  I'm the only bidder with not long to go and lo and behold i've won it.  Now i've got two problems:  I've just bought a bat i've never picked up or looked at in the 'flesh', and i've got to break the news to the other half that there's another bat winging it's way to me.  Thankfully, when it arrived it was a lovely stick.  Loads of grains, nice ping with the mallet.  Some of the stickers were peeling so I rearranged them slightly, gave it a sand and a new face and replaced the grip.

I've never seen a GN with edges like this one, and the pick up is excellent.  It has a J and a P stamped on the shoulders.

(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/birdy104/photo2-3_zps5d581bbd.jpg)

(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/birdy104/979130bd-3d70-43c5-a7f9-78f22422a30d_zps00616801.jpg)

(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/birdy104/d46d91c9-264d-46bf-adca-07f300594be0_zps76689dcd.jpg)

Anybody got any ideas?  If it isn't a Legend then i'm not overly bothered, it's been going really nicely in the nets.  Just would be nice to have some background info.  Thanks in advance!
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: fasteddie on March 25, 2013, 11:24:47 PM
The Legends I've seen at the Lords shop have the Gray Nicholls embossed on the edges.
The profile is also different.

There are many here with more knowledge of profiles, but it does look Indian sub-continent.
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: grb on March 25, 2013, 11:29:24 PM
Knew i'd missed something by rambling on!  It had GN embossed on the sides but it came off completely when I sanded it down, musn't have been very deep.  You can just about see it above the 50p, it's whiter than the rest of the bat.
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: Vitas Cricket on March 25, 2013, 11:30:49 PM
Shoulder stamps sound like they are a match. But there should be Gray Nicolls edge stamps, and the profile is a little off in my opinion.

Legends should have a very pronounced spine.

Can we see the shoulder stamps?

Looks a cracking stick regardless
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: toenails97 on March 25, 2013, 11:32:08 PM
So it did have Gray nicolls stamped in the edge? If so in my books it a real legend mate!
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on March 25, 2013, 11:32:36 PM
I have to agree mate, that does not look like an original Legend to me mate. Even the face doesn't look like it make the standard of a legend grade from GN. Others may say different and I am not an expert on GN but doesn't quite look right to me.

Welcome to the forum mate, you had better start thinking of the excuses you will give the other half as most of us buy a lot of kit on here.
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on March 25, 2013, 11:33:44 PM
Seems I may have been wrong then lol :(
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: Colesy on March 25, 2013, 11:36:19 PM
I have to agree mate, that does not look like an original Legend to me mate. Even the face doesn't look like it make the standard of a legend grade from GN. Others may say different and I am not an expert on GN but doesn't quite look right to me.

Welcome to the forum mate, you had better start thinking of the excuses you will give the other half as most of us buy a lot of kit on here.

Guy at my club has a Legend with 6 not entirely straight grains. Doesn't mean much
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: SOULMAN1012 on March 25, 2013, 11:42:12 PM
For the money they want for a legend I would want at least 12 and the face to be completely blemish free as well as obviously play like a beast and pick up like a feather.
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: grb on March 25, 2013, 11:50:23 PM
Excuse the quality of these photos, just taken them on my phone now.

These are the stamps:

(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/birdy104/photo5-3_zps448e9999.jpg)

(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/birdy104/photo4-3_zps7e851099.jpg)

The faint GN that's left on the edges:

(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/birdy104/photo6_zps5c27daed.jpg)

And the pronounced spine that doesn't really show up on the other photos:

(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b550/birdy104/photo3-5_zps477797e0.jpg)

By the way, many thanks for the quick reponses.  Great service, and thanks for the welcomes.
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: Vitas Cricket on March 25, 2013, 11:52:46 PM
Was it sold to you as used or refurbed? Legends don't have toe guards.

Everything else appears to match up.
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: grb on March 25, 2013, 11:57:01 PM
Was sold as used having had a refurb.  That explains why it doesn't have GN on the toe guard, others I've seen have it written in the middle of the rubber?  I think.  Do the stamps mean anything in particular Vitas?  A year perhaps?
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: Six Sixes Cricket on March 26, 2013, 05:49:05 AM
Welcome to the forum. Nice grains, nice blade. Stickers look iffy, the front are too close together, profile looks a little different. Maybe a different model that they have made to look like a legend, with some fake stickers.
Here are some legend pics to compare
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx165/d7bow/ddd945f5.jpg)(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx165/d7bow/dc41a944.jpg)
(http://i752.photobucket.com/albums/xx165/d7bow/d85c283c.jpg)
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: IQ on March 26, 2013, 06:16:27 AM
How does it ping?

Doesn't look quite right. Maybe it's just me.

Who on eBay did you get it from?
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: tim2000s on March 26, 2013, 07:13:49 AM
It has clearly got incorrect stickers on it as the one on the front says Gray Nicolls rather than Legend, which is a bit of a giveaway...

That picture from d7bow is odd... I didn't think Legends had the five stars on the stickers.
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: Six Sixes Cricket on March 26, 2013, 08:25:02 AM
It has clearly got incorrect stickers on it as the one on the front says Gray Nicolls rather than Legend, which is a bit of a giveaway...

That picture from d7bow is odd... I didn't think Legends had the five stars on the stickers.
From looking at retailers pictures the 5stars is on all of them
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: toenails97 on March 26, 2013, 08:43:55 AM
Yeh tim 5 star is always on the legend sticker mate
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: tim2000s on March 26, 2013, 08:49:42 AM
Well you say that, but this is All Rounder:

(http://www.allroundercricket.com/image/cache/data/GN12BTLEG-500x500.jpg)

I think it depends on year.
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: toenails97 on March 26, 2013, 08:51:45 AM
Well you say that, but this is All Rounder:

([url]http://www.allroundercricket.com/image/cache/data/GN12BTLEG-500x500.jpg[/url])

I think it depends on year.

Ahh right cause I had a look at some in lorimers and they had 5 star near the legend sticker.....they were lovely sticks but not for £464!
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: Buzz on March 26, 2013, 08:52:36 AM
if it isn't a legend, but we think it is a GN bat, which seems probable - what do we think it was originally?
An Oblivion?
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: toenails97 on March 26, 2013, 08:59:55 AM
if it isn't a legend, but we think it is a GN bat, which seems probable - what do we think it was originally?
An Oblivion?
I'd go with oblivion too mate! Because of the steep spine
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: Six Sixes Cricket on March 26, 2013, 09:04:38 AM
Well you say that, but this is All Rounder:

([url]http://www.allroundercricket.com/image/cache/data/GN12BTLEG-500x500.jpg[/url])

I think it depends on year.
thats just a stock photo from GN. Pretty sure Strauss's famous legend doesn't have 5stars
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: tim2000s on March 26, 2013, 09:10:45 AM
thats just a stock photo from GN. Pretty sure Strauss's famous legend doesn't have 5stars

yes it does....
(http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/124100/124113.jpg)
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: thedevil on March 26, 2013, 09:15:31 AM
Mmmmm grains   :o
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: Nickauger on March 26, 2013, 09:21:57 AM
It has clearly got incorrect stickers on it as the one on the front says Gray Nicolls rather than Legend, which is a bit of a giveaway...

That picture from d7bow is odd... I didn't think Legends had the five stars on the stickers.

He's rearranged the stickers. THe back sticker is now on the front by the looks of it! I have no opinion on whether its real or not but can't we for once just believe that a bat might.... just might be what it says it is. We're far too cynical on here, the bloke only said he wanted some help not 'tell me my bat is fake!'
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: Six Sixes Cricket on March 26, 2013, 09:22:24 AM
yes it does....
([url]http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/124100/124113.jpg[/url])
I couldn't pick them out looking at google pics on the iPhone. Case closed then. 5stars it is.
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: grb on March 26, 2013, 06:22:04 PM
Well, looks like a good discussion's been happening! Thanks for everybody's help/views/opinions. I did move around some of the stickers as the red triangle that covered the splice and the gray nicolls silver badge, both from the back were peeling. The badge stuck down a bit better on the front so I kept it, but couldn't save the red triangle. There was just the red gn sticker on the front, nothing that said legend, no 5 stars.
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: Danny1870 on March 29, 2013, 10:07:48 PM

([url]http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/124100/124113.jpg[/url])


wow loving the grains on this bat, oh to be england captain and be offered willow of that quality all the time!!
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: Ams4287 on March 29, 2013, 10:39:00 PM
How does it play anyway?

Would agree that the profile isn't as a legend (middle sweet spot with high spine), but if your happy and it wasn't 'legend' money then that's the main thing. Can't believe how much they have increased in price over a couple of years!
Title: Re: GN Legend?
Post by: grb on May 15, 2013, 06:51:42 PM
Sorry it's been a while, hectic at work.  It plays beautifully, which is always good news.  Team mates usually ask to use it, only lend it to the 'trusted' few!  Having had a long hard think over the last month, taking in everybody's opinions, i've sent it off to GN for a tidy up and re-sticker.  On balance I'm not a massive fan of the Legend stickers, but I can see why they are popular, just not my taste.  I've asked for it to be stickered up with oblivion stickers as one, I like the look of them and two, people tended to agree that it was an oblivion profile.  I know I could of probably had it confirmed by GN what model it was, and I did mention some of the confusion on the form you have to fill out, so they might mention it on return.

Sent it off on Monday so i'll post photos up when I get her back!