Is the Gerber LST considered a "traditional"?

Case has a very similar one to the LST. Same type handle, comparable size. I often wondered where exactly they fit in the knife world? As has been mentioned, handle material not withstanding, it really can't be considered a tactical. But a traditional? I think Jackknife said it best. It's in the Twilight Zone, right between traditional and tactical. Still neat little knives to have. They definitely get the job done, and totally cut way above their price line.
 
Speaking of modern vs traditional discussions as much as I love moderns I really, really appreciate the lack of a pocket clip on my trads.

From the fact that the pocket clip ruins the clean lines of a traditional knife design to the fact that it's civil sometimes to keep a cutting tool tucked away until needed. I find that folks are always surprised when I pull out a pocket knife in a moment of need vs when it's clipped which is where I keep a knife when I'm doing house chores for easy access.

I find the Alox to fall in the same class of the lst, just a sak with updated materials.

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As an aside, when discussing the LST keep in mind that there was an earlier version made with flat, pinned Micarta slab scales. Fewer of those were made because they were soon replaced with the molded handle/frame model being discussed here. That earlier model had more traditional construction even though it was somewhat exotic when it appeared.
 
Tree vs. forest.

Tree=knife is lockback no pocket clip=traditional

Forest=revolutionary modern one-piece design with late 20th century material that revoluionizes production=not-traditional.
 
buckthorn said:
As an aside, when discussing the LST keep in mind that there was an earlier version made with flat, pinned Micarta slab scales. Fewer of those were made because they were soon replaced with the molded handle/frame model being discussed here. That earlier model had more traditional construction even though it was somewhat exotic when it appeared.
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If you go even further back, Gerber has a small knife that was the same design and shape as the first LST in micarta, that was a brass framed rosewood handled knife. Kind of like a small version of the folding sportsman 2 with the drop point blade. This knife today would be considered a traditional design. Yet put it and the modern LST side buy side, and the family resemblance is clear to a blind man. Only difference is materials. Maybe someone with great google foo than I can bring up a pic?
 
Do you mean this one Carl, the Gerber Sportsman II from 1973? ;)

_POR5204b_small.jpg


_POR5197b_small.jpg
 
They did a special edition of the Sportsman I, II, and III with stag covers, and there were others with covers in different materials.

$_1.JPG
 
jackknife said:
If you go even further back, Gerber has a small knife that was the same design and shape as the first LST in micarta, that was a brass framed rosewood handled knife. Kind of like a small version of the folding sportsman 2 with the drop point blade. This knife today would be considered a traditional design. Yet put it and the modern LST side buy side, and the family resemblance is clear to a blind man. Only difference is materials. Maybe someone with great google foo than I can bring up a pic?
Click to expand...

I have one of those. Putting them side-by-side, they're even the same size (both blade and handle length), even with the same length lockbar. Blade grinds are a little different between mine, maybe due to different vintages; the brass/rosewood is likely 1970s or early '80s, and my LST was bought in the early '90s. And the overall shape of the handles is obviously different. But it wouldn't surprise me if the LST came from the same identical pattern, in terms of pivot & pin locations and geometries. I'll see if I can take a pic and post it here... (Edit: see pics below)

BTW, they both have a pretty unique half-stop 'notch' in the tang, as well.

Last pic includes a Case Sod Buster Jr. alongside, for scale:


David
 
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Obsessed with Edges said:
I have one of those. Putting them side-by-side, they're even the same size (both blade and handle length), even with the same length lockbar. Blade grinds are a little different between mine, maybe due to different vintages; the brass/rosewood is likely 1970s or early '80s, and my LST was bought in the early '90s. But it wouldn't surprise me if the LST came from the same identical pattern. I'll see if I can take a pic and post it here...

BTW, they both have a pretty unique half-stop 'notch' in the tang, as well.


David
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I don't believe that was by accident. Like GM, and other huge firms, Gerber made use of existing off the shelf parts to come up with a new version. The same blades, back spring and lock bar could be used on the all Zytel LST as the little folding sportsman. Cuts new model production costs to a fraction. And in business, it's ALWAYS all about the money.
 
jackknife said:
I don't believe that was by accident. Like GM, and other huge firms, Gerber made use of existing off the shelf parts to come up with a new version. The same blades, back spring and lock bar could be used on the all Zytel LST as the little folding sportsman. Cuts new model production costs to a fraction. And in business, it's ALWAYS all about the money.
Click to expand...

Sounds right to me. :thumbup:

(I added pics to my previous post, BTW.)


David
 
The Gerber Silver Knight is another goodie in similar configuration.

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