Gerber Lst

Bump, just thought I'd bring this back up.

Was working in the yard this weekend. I must have opened 50 bags of mulch, replanted a dozen hastas, and cut out a bunch of sod. All with the medium LST! Quick spray down with the hose, shot of WD-40 and a touch-up with the round diamond file...good as new.

I have a lot of very good knives that don't see nearly the amount of action as the LST. It's just a great working knife.
 
Mine saw similar action this weekend, right down to the hostas. Best bang for the buck out there.
 
My dad gave me an LST years ago. It has a red FRN handle, with "Eddie Bauer" etched on the blade. I think he got it for me while on a business trip.

It remains one of the smoothest opening folders I've ever owned. Are the current versions made as well? Somehow I doubt it.

Sadly, I did some stupid things to the knife that to this day I can't explain why. For some reason, I took a file and blunted the edge, then resharpened it. To make it worse, I did it again! I don't know why and I can't imagine what possessed me to do it. The end result is that a significant portion of the thinnest part of the blade is gone, so the edge is a lot thicker than its original state. It's sharp, but nowhere near what it used to be because it's just too thick now. I deeply regret ruining that knife!
 
rhino said:
...a significant portion of the thinnest part of the blade is gone, so the edge is a lot thicker than its original state. It's sharp, but nowhere near what it used to be because it's just too thick now. I deeply regret ruining that knife!
Click to expand...
That knife is nowhere near ruined. It just needs a major reprofiling. You can thin it out again just fine. Lay it down at a very shallow angle and back bevel it until it gets a thin edge the way you want it. There is still a lot of life left in that classic blade. Never regret using and maintaining a great tool. I have a vintage knife blade with half of its steel worn away and 20% of its length gone and it is still a great cutter.
 
Hi Guys - I'm really glad to hear that the LST is as loved by as many! I've had one pre-production- a white micarta with high polish blade - in the "birdhead" scale shape - I cryed for weeks when my son lost it! - but I still have the maroon micarta squared end scale version... along with couple of the zytel models including one with Pete Gerber's signature etched on the blade, and one of the clip models with a 1/2 serriated blade... and all that's been said I'll simply add my "amen" - there was a point a few years ago that "wally-world" was closing them out for $8.00! - sadly I didn't buy enough of them!
Yep - the LST is often the edc I choose!
Peace and long live the LST!
Revvie
 
Great thread! I've have two of the standard black zytel handled ones (G06009 model). Interesting story is that my Battalion Commander in Iraq last year pulled his little LST out of his pocket...he's had it for over 20 years and it went with him to Desert Storm in the early 90's and now returned (well, actually his second OIF tour) to Iraq. Lock up was great and I touched the blade up for him...great little blade!

ROCK6
 
Still one of my all time favorites, had mine a long time and it still locks up like a vault
 
Great Thread - I have such strong feelings for Gerber LST

Have had a micro in my pocket now and have had nealy every day for 15 or more years - only time I don't have one is when flying with no carry on. Gave one to my father who loves it. When I could not get them from shops here in Oz I brough them in from the US - the shipping was more expensive than the knives. Don't know how many I have been through but I now have 3 in my draw and just grab one in the morning

They were the first "good" knife I had

The Micro is fantastic - it is the flattest small pocket knife I found of any quality that can fit in my suit trousers or jeans without bulging. The micro is effectively a gentlemans suit knife. It is also small enough that I don't think I wil get grief it is found here where EDC is not allowed.

Beacuse it is so handy it get used for anything - form opening boxes of paper, collapsing cardboard, deadheading roses... openign packets and mail , removing staples, and have gone to all continents of the world for me. They are not quite big enough to bagels or apples easily though. I don't seem to get mine scary sharp but just to shaving sharp which is good enough

I have had mid size and red too. I also have the larger bolt knife in both clip and a full bodied blade. These have been my country knives but suspect may be replaced by the griptilians. But for office EDC in a knife unfriendly climate the LST Micro is the way to go

I'd certainly be interested in a higher quality micro
 
Lurker said:
That knife is nowhere near ruined. It just needs a major reprofiling. You can thin it out again just fine. Lay it down at a very shallow angle and back bevel it until it gets a thin edge the way you want it. There is still a lot of life left in that classic blade. Never regret using and maintaining a great tool. I have a vintage knife blade with half of its steel worn away and 20% of its length gone and it is still a great cutter.
Click to expand...

I have several of my late father's knives which he used for peach pit carving.
For example, see: http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/dietr1rv/peachpits/index.htm
Since he used Missouri sandstone and hard Arkansas stones for sharpening, he'd wear down the blades until a Case 2.5 " clip point became a 1" needle thin spike, razor sharp on one side. :)

JMH
 
I began this thread a while back because of my affection for this simple and inexpensive knife. There have been comments made regarding possible improvements to the knife or upscale enhancements.

I would propose that the LST be left as is, a classic in its own right.
 
That is just like the one I use, I don't know if these are NOS or a more recent iteration of the same knife. Maybe someone else does. Mine isn't marked on the blade, only the tang, "Gerber 400" on one side and "Portland Or. U.S.A." on the other.
 
I had what I now believe is a magnum LST Jr. (W/O thumb hole). I got it from a friend when I was in the Academy & I think it was 10 yrs old then. I ended up giving it to my Cousin. I now have a magnum LST Jr. (With thumb-hole) & I've had this one for probably 10 yrs now. Not sure why, but I haven't carried it in yrs, but I used to carry it as a back-up to my other knife for work. Handy little knife & this one's the CE.

However, I think you guys are talking about the original LST, not the Magnum, huh? Although I actually prefer the Magnum because of its finger ridges in the handle.

It's amazing how Gerber doesn't make what they used to, but they are capable (Unless another company is being farmed their "made in the U.S.A." FBs). I have a Gerber Yari I (& the II is just as nice or better, depending on who you talk to). So, they can make a nice U.S. made knife with very good steel (My Yari I's 154CM & the II's S30V).
 
Gerber would have to make 5,000 units, to bring back the LST. Drop in the bucket!
 
I thought only the micro version was discontinued. The molded plastic handled ultralight and regular versions seem pretty commonly available new via various retail outlets.

The comparison with a sodbuster is interesting. The LST line is much thinner and pocketable than most sodbusters.

I've seen the design of the LST sometimes credited to Blackie Collins. I do think the one piece plastic handle design is delightfully simple.
 
I think you hit on what makes the LST what it is and that is its simplicity. Form and function with the least amount of parts possible.
 
Jvan---Yup. That's why I had Gedraitis Knives make me a Friction Folder. SIMPLE. :)
 
The LST is my favorite Gerber knife. I haven't bought any Gerbers for years, but I still own a few LST's, and I keep a regular-sized one as a backup knife in my waist pack.

I can't say if today's LST's are as good as older ones, but the first one I got about 11 years ago had even edge grinds, whereas the most recent one had very uneven edge grinds, but nonetheless still came very sharp. Otherwise, they were about equal.
Jim
 
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