Gerber LST (or another lightweight in the $20 range)?

mnblade

mnblade

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Feb 7, 2000
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I have a buddy who's looking at buying a Gerber LST. I told him about how modern Gerber's are not the same animal as your father's Gerber. But he stumped me when he asked how you tell the difference between a "good" Gerber LST and the contemporary ones. Any tips? When did the current "era" begin?

Also, are the contemporary ones still made in the USA?

Last question, while I have your attention, any other tips for a 3.5"-ish folder in the $20 range would be welcome. They guy wants lightweight for sure. He's not a knife nut, just a guy who wants a reasonable good pocketknife to tote.
 
The current "era" began when they started using lower and lower end steels.

As for a reccomendation, I highly suggest you take a look at Byrd knives, manufactured by Spyderco.
 
He doesn't need a pocket clip?

The Canadian company Grohmann Knives has this product:

http://www.grohmannknives.com/pages/z390st-1.html

It's sightly more stylish, between 20 and 30 dollars, with an European steel comparable to 440A, it says. Also, I think the Benchmade NRA folders combine a good mix of the traditional and the modern, although that'll go up to 50 dollars. Something in the Steigerwalt series:

http://www.nraknives.com/products/product_list.aspx?category=22

But the Fecas is really cheap, 20 dollars:

http://newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=5139
 
KaBar Doziers, BM Pika, Byrds are WAYY better than the Gerber LST..mine had a bad heat treat I spent WAYY too much time trying to sharpen (I thought it was my sharpening skills)
 
Point the way for a blind man as to which ones are G10? I am only aware of SS and aluminum handles.
 
I have a Gerber LST that I bought within the last year. It reads "Portland OR" and "USA" on the blade. It's not a bad little knife for under $20.
 
kel_aa said:
Point the way for a blind man as to which ones are G10? I am only aware of SS and aluminum handles.
Click to expand...

The Meadowlark is available with G-10, both plain and combo edge.
 
Django606 said:
The current "era" began when they started using lower and lower end steels.
Click to expand...

Very informative. This is really going to help my buddy in looking for an LST.
 
My buddy has his eye on the LST for three main reasons:
1) Made in USA.
2) Lightweight.
3) Size (3.5" or thereabouts is just right).

If the new ones are crap, he's willing to scour Ebay.
 
Well it seems like he really wants that LST so tell him to just go for it...otherwise tell him to check out the kershaw vapor which in my opinion is way better even though it is made in china.
 
Made in USA, eh? Spyderco Native, it'll run rings around the LST...The older (well post Fiskars) LSTs that were made in USA were pretty much crap too.. (at least mine was)
 
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