GT Forks: what have I bought ?

[MADJEZ]

Just to diffuse the argument I have suspected before that us in Europe occasionally got slightly different spec to the US. As evidenced in my Backwoods which our American cousins didn’t think was standard.

I have seen some Carratti Sport catalogues (UK importers) which were different to GT catalogue.

 

[merckx]

the Pantera AL that came here to Australia, also had these same forks you have. the chunky, non bologna ones.

 

[Drencrom]

Just to diffuse the argument I have suspected before that us in Europe occasionally got slightly different spec to the US. As evidenced in my Backwoods which our American cousins didn’t think was standard.

I have seen some Carratti Sport catalogues (UK importers) which were different to GT catalogue.

There are quite a few differences between them, and also between what was avaliable when the catalogues/specs were released and what was actually avaliable when shipping bikes for the following year.

 

[MADJEZ]

Update. I've had a closer look and very feint below the serial no it says '?B CR-MO' (can't see first letter).

I will know better when I strip the paint. Looking at catalogues these on
the 93 Tequesta look to be the best match shap-wise.
Outpost and other low end seemed to have much more skinny ends and
also these are quite straight in the leg.

 

[hydorah]

Low, low end...probably Outpost or Outpost Trail and probably hi-tensile steel.

They do look pretty low end got that over weight over sized thing going on too

But on the GT decals it says Cro Mo so they'll be ridiculously strong!

Overall I rather like 'em

 

[MADJEZ]

As I said I wasn't hoping for much... did I mention I get them for £1.70 plus a few quid postage. Hehe.

I wanted some of the ones with GT embossed on to tart up but these will
do for the mo. Steerer is way to short and threaded so I'll stick a quill
adaptor on as my build budget is currently peanuts.

 

[MADJEZ]

Started stripping them

Definitely says :

AK SL 91

B CR-MO

No cracks no rust.

 

[JamesM]

Definitely not Pantera AL fork. I have a Pantara AL and it has the early version Bologna Lite Fork with GT stamped into the angled cut and it also has a much nicer forged dropout...not the cheapes angle stamped end that the OP's fork has.

I dont know what forks the Pantera came with in Europe but as far as I know these are what GT called chisel cut forks and they came on bikes that didn't get the Bologna forks. I have several sets that came with '92 Tequesta and Timberline frames and both say cromo just like yours but both also have forged Spinner dropouts. So I have to agree with GM here that they are from a bike lower in the range than a Timberline. Mine weigh in around 950g. I believe the cheaper bikes may have had cromo blades (that would explain the sticker) with a hi-ten steerer and the cheap stamped dropouts. In later years they even made cheap Bolonga Lite style forks; I have a set here that I bought on ebay for £1. They have '99 model year decals, a threaded steerer and those cheap stamped dropouts. They aren't really any heavier than a proper set of DB Bolonga Lites (again around 950g) so I guess they must be weaker. There was a thread on here a while back where a guy had bent a set on a '98 or '99 Outpost or something.