- Joined
- May 18, 2011
- Messages
- 733
I understand this may not be in the right section, but didnt see a "how to fix" section or don't know if this should be posted in traditionals section. I apologize in advance and would appriciate any needed redirection.
I have a collection of the small gerber "classic" shape LSTs that came in micarta.
They were the first smaller gentlemens knives that appealed to me with that smooth micarta look.
After accumilating 5, I decided to carry a couple of the more used ones.
I have a solid yellow westinghouse micarta, the one without the reloading company advertisements. As well as 2 burgundy micarta ones, these 3 are "safe queens".
I have an extra burgundy with some blade damage, I believe it was reground. So I decided to carry it and enjoy it. I also have the more common yellow one with the outers/rcbs/speer,etc logos that I decided to carry.
HERES THE PROBLEM:
After EDCing them and some consistant opening and closing, the backspring would misalign and the blade would start getting loose. Soon afterwards the small rod that keeps the lockback "springy" would fall out. It happened to both.
I know these are not the best quality lockbacks out there, even from their time and they were just usefull in that they were the first "ultralite" non liner, just micarta slabbed, small knives instead of using the more common brass handles with wood inserts.
I understand they might currently be more collectible than usefull, especially with whats available from current known companies with better steels.
But now I have 2 unusable vintage gerbers with beautiful micarta slabs. I have better knives, but these make great little beaters esp. since these 2 are my seconds and I have working ones that i know are more collectible.
WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THESE?
I decided to attempt and fix the burgundy one.
I tried to tap the spring rod back into the bottom back spacer that it originally slipped out of with a slim punch and vice to steady the handle, but it felt like it never got tapped in enough and would slip out again after opening and closing the blade a few times. I then managed to BREAK a piece off of the back spacer from the inside. so i stopped trying to fix it.
I would like input from fellow gerber LST collectors that know how great these little guys look and need to be fixed/restored. I recently got into slippies and think these handles could be salvaged for such use.
ANY INPUT?
can someone recommend a knifemaker that can fix these for not too much since these are collected but not super valueable?
Or since the knife would have to be taken apart to properly be fixed and that adding to labor time and cost, would be better used in just salvaging the scales to be used in the next custom slippie I commision a knifemaker to do? I wouldn't mind even keeping the blades since I believe they are 440c and decent, but i understand that if they are already notched for lockback they cannot have the rear tang reground for a slipnot.
ANY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATED.
Thanks in advance.
I have a collection of the small gerber "classic" shape LSTs that came in micarta.
They were the first smaller gentlemens knives that appealed to me with that smooth micarta look.
After accumilating 5, I decided to carry a couple of the more used ones.
I have a solid yellow westinghouse micarta, the one without the reloading company advertisements. As well as 2 burgundy micarta ones, these 3 are "safe queens".
I have an extra burgundy with some blade damage, I believe it was reground. So I decided to carry it and enjoy it. I also have the more common yellow one with the outers/rcbs/speer,etc logos that I decided to carry.
HERES THE PROBLEM:
After EDCing them and some consistant opening and closing, the backspring would misalign and the blade would start getting loose. Soon afterwards the small rod that keeps the lockback "springy" would fall out. It happened to both.
I know these are not the best quality lockbacks out there, even from their time and they were just usefull in that they were the first "ultralite" non liner, just micarta slabbed, small knives instead of using the more common brass handles with wood inserts.
I understand they might currently be more collectible than usefull, especially with whats available from current known companies with better steels.
But now I have 2 unusable vintage gerbers with beautiful micarta slabs. I have better knives, but these make great little beaters esp. since these 2 are my seconds and I have working ones that i know are more collectible.
WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THESE?
I decided to attempt and fix the burgundy one.
I tried to tap the spring rod back into the bottom back spacer that it originally slipped out of with a slim punch and vice to steady the handle, but it felt like it never got tapped in enough and would slip out again after opening and closing the blade a few times. I then managed to BREAK a piece off of the back spacer from the inside. so i stopped trying to fix it.
I would like input from fellow gerber LST collectors that know how great these little guys look and need to be fixed/restored. I recently got into slippies and think these handles could be salvaged for such use.
ANY INPUT?
can someone recommend a knifemaker that can fix these for not too much since these are collected but not super valueable?
Or since the knife would have to be taken apart to properly be fixed and that adding to labor time and cost, would be better used in just salvaging the scales to be used in the next custom slippie I commision a knifemaker to do? I wouldn't mind even keeping the blades since I believe they are 440c and decent, but i understand that if they are already notched for lockback they cannot have the rear tang reground for a slipnot.
ANY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATED.
Thanks in advance.
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