Roark Posted November 14, 2001 Share Posted November 14, 2001 Richard Sorin and I have been in communication recently regarding his closing years ago of a gripper that has more recently been tested at 621 inch pounds. Richard referred me to a woman named Presley who witnessed him close it. I spoke with her and she re- counted how years ago at Sorin's gym he asked her to witness him close a gripper because 'this might be important'. Then he shut the gripper in front of her. This was a gripper that had arrived that day at his gym in a package but without a note, from Randy Strossen. Richard took it out of the box, noticed how large the spring was, and closed it. At this point he walked into another room and asked Mrs. Presley to witness him do it again. Later Randy called to ask Richard if he had received the 'joke'. Richard told him that if he meant the gripper, yes, he had closed it. Apparently there were four of these early prototypes made. Richard also told me how this same gripper was closed with John Brookfield as witness, so I called John and mentioned the circumstances to refresh his memory- how one day at Richard's gym, as they were walking through the gym Richard had the gripper in hand and John was urging him to close it, so Richard gave a huge crush, and although he himself could not see the handles touch, John said that they were touching and that Richard had closed the gripper (later known to be 621 inch pounds). Unfortunately John does not remember this incident. He does not deny that it happened, he just does not recall it happening, and therefore cannot be a witness to it. I asked John if he had ever closed a #4 and he said that he had closed a #4 while holding the spring steady with the other hand, but that he had never closed one using one hand only. These are the facts as I know them to this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat 74 Posted November 14, 2001 Share Posted November 14, 2001 Good facts Roark. I had heard somewhere that Brookfield recived one of the 4 Phantoms. Do you know anything of this?Who were the 3 sent to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted November 14, 2001 Author Share Posted November 14, 2001 Do not know, but have heard that Ken Leistner got one, would guess Randy kept one, Sorin got one, and the other I don't know. I will leave it to others to check with Randy, if interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiotGrip Posted November 14, 2001 Share Posted November 14, 2001 Roark, your information is great. I can't wait to here what other cool grip facts you have up your sleeve. Also, if Richard Sorin closed the phantom 4 out of the box, that means it was unseasoned, I'd love to know the initial closing torque of the phantom 4. Alas we can only speculate that question:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest james Posted November 16, 2001 Share Posted November 16, 2001 If Richard Sorin can close the phantom 4 - 621 IP... Why don't he get certified for closing the #4? I'm curious... It's about ten years since he close a #3 gripper. Did he get injured? James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roark Posted November 16, 2001 Author Share Posted November 16, 2001 Because of health problems Joe Kinney can no longer close the #4, though he told me about 40 or 50 people have at various times seen him close a #4. He now cannot close a #3 consistently. So, imagine this scenario: Joe never was certified on the #4, so the best he could hope for currently is being certified on the #3. In his mind he would always want credit for the #4, whether or not he can still do it. In a similar way, I think Richard Sorin wants credit for the 621 he closed; frankly I don't think he cares whether we call it a #4 or not. The 621 transcends that designation. And the fact that he can no longer close it does not deter him from wanting the recognition of having done it. We all want to be known for our best effort, particularly if that best effort places us in the category of the super elite. Frankly, when Richard told me to check with Brookfield for verification, I was thinking that if Brookfield said that he did remember, then given all the circumstances surrounding these two men in grip history, that Richard should be afforded the honor of being recognized for the 621. When John said he did not recall the incident, the wind went out of my sails, as I am sure it must have Richard's sails as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiotGrip Posted November 16, 2001 Share Posted November 16, 2001 Frankly, in my mind and I'm sure in the minds of many others on this board--Richard Sorin is and always will be remembered and recognized for his closure of the 621 in-lb Phantom 4!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kINGPIN Posted November 16, 2001 Share Posted November 16, 2001 That is amazing and only goes to show the potential that the hand has for strength. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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