Knife suggestion for son's 18th birthday...

N

natmad

Joined
Sep 27, 2012
Messages
3
Noob here...

I was looking fondly at my Schrade+ USA LB7 (Late seventies #W38677 Uncle Henry Bearpaw?) that I've had since I was a teenager when it hit me that a knife would make great gift for my son's 18th brthday.

Any suggestions (links) would be appreciated for a high quality USA made knife similar to mine that will cause him to look upon it fondly when he is approaching 50... like me. A buck to a buck and a half cost-wise would seem appropriate, enough to ensure quality but not outrageous if he loses it, you know.

Thanks.
 
A Buck 110 is an excellent choice. Finding an original Schrade LB7 on eBay is pretty easy.
Great Eastern Cutlery also makes some lockbacks, the Missouri Trader. They seem like great knives, and with GEC's quality you cannot go wrong there.
 
Great Eastern Cutlery is my favorite so far, the quality of these knives are unreal! im a big fan of any of their models.. i myself likes slipjoints.. but you are definitely doing a good thing in keeping american tradition alive by passing a knife to your son which one day he can give to his... good luck and tell me how that goes!
 
What sort of things do you guys do together? I would link the knife to some shares memory.

What style are you looking for? More importantly, what style does he like?

Most modern knives with decent steel will last. Buck, Case, GEC, Kershaw, even Leatherman. All fine.

Question is, which will be most cherished.

If you the way of replacing the LB7, I find the Buck 110 to be a better field knife and the Buck 112 to be a better (big) pocket knife for EDC use. Very hard to wrong with either of them, unless he want a different style.
 
Another suggestion for Great Eastern Cuttlery.

www.collectorknives.net has a great selection, and the best prices I have found. He is also very very fast to ship, and good with quick communication.

The new releases are towards page 5 of the Gec offerings if I remember correctly.
 
Hard to go wrong with GEC. Since the LB7 is a lockback and you want to get your son a knife similar to yours, I'd suggest getting him something from the #72 line.

- Christian
 
kamagong said:
Hard to go wrong with GEC. Since the LB7 is a lockback and you want to get your son a knife similar to yours, I'd suggest getting him something from the #72 line.

- Christian
Click to expand...

I would suggest the same, keep with clip point because the spear points are bulky. You can find these in 440C too :)
 
natmad said:
Noob here...

I was looking fondly at my Schrade+ USA LB7 (Late seventies #W38677 Uncle Henry Bearpaw?) that I've had since I was a teenager when it hit me that a knife would make great gift for my son's 18th brthday.

Any suggestions (links) would be appreciated for a high quality USA made knife similar to mine that will cause him to look upon it fondly when he is approaching 50... like me. A buck to a buck and a half cost-wise would seem appropriate, enough to ensure quality but not outrageous if he loses it, you know.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Rethinking your post in light of what you actually wrote.

If your LB7 is stainless and you want a knife like the LB7, I would strongly suggest the Buck 110. The Buck was the first lockback. Buck invented the design and Schrade, like a lot of companies, copied the Buck design to create the LB series.

With the Buck 110, you get the original, you get really good 420HC and you get it for under $50 at most places. It's quite a deal, especially considering that all other lockbacks are derivatives.

If you want the big brass and wood of the LB7 in carbon steel, your best bet is to watch the auction sites for old LB7s with the "Schrade" tang stamp and some indication of partina on the blade. Avoid knives with the "Schrade+" stamp as that signifies their stainless (typically 440a).

There are a host of other vintage US knives that copied the Buck 110 including from Camillus, Case and Ka-bar to name a few.

GEC has a lot of fans and Ill let them sing the praises of those knives. But I don't know of any GEC lockbacks that have the classic double brass bolster look of the original Buck 110 (or LB7). Also, I think for the price of a GEC you can get a custom 110 from Buck with your choice of bolster, scale and blade material.
 
IMG_0636-1.jpg

FoldingHuntersSizeComparison.jpg

BuckFolderHuntersw-sheaths-1.jpg
 
I don't know why I always overlook the 110. I agree with pinnah. Even though I sing a lot about GEC, I will say I have never run into a 110 with anything but rock solid lockup. Its a strong solid tank of a knife. Probably my favorite classic. Another vote to add the 110 onto your browsing list :)
 
I dont know if he will have anything in your price range by reddrumd, the "Art In Stone" forum in the hosted forums section, rehandles knives in stone. Very pretty pieces. Usually Case or Buck stainless steel knives. You'll find his website if you go to his forum.
 
A Buck 110 or USA Schrade LB7 is never a bad idea. I have GEC's #53 stockmans waiting for my kids 18th B'day. They get the 110/LB7 @ 11-12 like I did.
 
Buck 112 or an older LB7. Be well under the price you are considering as well.
 
I think some of the smaller Case knives in Damascus would be an awesome 18th gift, a little different, very special. Worth a look.

I love the Buck 110, everyone should have one, but it's a bit of a boat anchor, a very heavy bulky knife that will likely get left home alot.

A smaller knife that's different, maybe engraved, could be a special knife that could be carried everyday if he so chooses.
 
Thanks to all for the great response... I think the buck 110 and a small folder for his key ring will do.
 
My father gave me a Gerber EFH 3 for my 25th. I have used it all over the southwest for big game, and at 52 I remember it over all the others. I still carry it, even though I have Dozier folders in my (huge) pile in the safe. It is easy to touch up yet holds a fine edge. You can still pick NIB examples off ebay for about $75 -100 if you lurk a bit. The Sakai made new ones ( New Folding Hunter ) are about $180, but you get ATS34 steel. I think my Gerber/Sakai is AUS 8. They make/made 3 sizes, 1,2,&3. The 2 is sweet if one has small hands. The 3 is great for me, with 3 1/2" blade. Best way to find them is to simply search 'Sakai' in knives on ebay. Pass on the ones that spark a 'frenzy', you will get a deal in a few weeks. My last EFH2 cost me $50, NIB. These are hand fitted production knives, in my book the best for the buck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top