Smith LDC-5

ARtsig1

ARtsig1

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Jul 20, 2000
Messages
3,692
I just feel compelled To do a review of this knife since I have been so impressed with it. I originally got this one back in November. It is a knife that was built for Les Robertson of Robertson Custom Cutlery back in the mid to late 90's. It was one of I think 10 different knives for that particular series. The knife I have is #27 out of 50 produced. I saw pictures of this knife when they first came out but was not impressed at all as the blade looked to be too narrow for the handle, especially with the flared bolster.

It was not until I had purchased a few Smith folders that I was offered this knife. I took the seller up on his offer and that was that. As soon as the knife came and I was able to hold it and see firsthand the whole knife I instantly knew I was going to have a new edc! The only problem was the pocket clip. Where it was mounted allowed about 1 to 1.5 inches of the bolster to stick out the top of your pocket like a sore thumb. Another "problem" was a micarta backspacer. Now the spacer wasn't really a problem, I just wanted a stainless steel spacer. For a month the knife sat in my knife bag. Finally, around the first week of December, I sent it to John for him to make a stainless steel backspacer and to move the clip up to the very top of the bolster.

Got it back on the 22nd of January and it has ridden in my right pocket everyday since. John did an excellent job on this knife. The ss backspacer adds a couple ounces of weight to the knife but that is what I really wanted so it's not a problem. Knife probably weighs 8 to 9 ounces now. The ss spacer also gives the knife a more solid feel and upon lockup you hear a deep KER-THUNK. The clip move was an excellent job with set screws being used to fill in the holes that were left. Now the knife rides deep in the pocket with no more than an 1/8th of the bolster showing.

This is a big solid working folder. The specs bear out that fact and are as follows;

BLADE: 4.0" X .165"
LINERS: .070"
OVERALL LENGTH: 9.50"
WEIGHT: 8 to 9 ounces
THICKNESS: .600"
BLADE STEEL: ATS34
BLADE SHAPE: clip point

It's big and it's heavy, yet it rides with ease in my right front pocket. I haven't been able to test it on anything except some very thick cardboard we had in our basement and all I tried to do was see how easy it was to cut. The ATS34 takes and keeps a razor edge and although it is now "old hat" it still works for me. Only problem I encountered was the thickness of the blade made the slicing a little bit more difficult. My Cuda MAXX makes a much better slicer.

All in all I am very pleased with the work John has done, first in the actual building of the knife then in the modifications. I suspect this knife will be a regular edc for me.
 
Hey Art,

Nice review! I hate reading reviews like this, because I always end up wanting the knife in question! I've looked at the picture Les has on his site, and my reaction was the same as yours. Way too narrow of a blade for such a big knife. I also thought it might have been an optical illusion, being that the bolsters are extra long.

It's good to hear such a raving review. I tend to agree with your likes and dislikes, so your opinions usually end up running parallel with mine.

Now all I have to do is find one....anybody have an extra one laying around?? HA!
 
Well Roger I did have an extra one, with stag grips and a titanium spacer, but it is in Minnesota by now in the hands of Barry H. and I figure he'll like it as much as I like mine and so it may be hard to get it from him. Course that does leave 48 more of them out there..................somewhere.

I wanted to mention that I really like to tighten down the actions on my folders. I do not want any accidental openings in the pocket! On most knives that usually means a "tear down" and a polishing of the liners and blade tang. On the LDC-5 I have the action about as tight as it will go and the blade still glides out and locks up with one thumb push. Now it takes a strong thumb push, but it still falls into lockup without banging the blade off the stop pin. Just the way I like it!
 
Hey!! I heard my name and I came running. Don't get me involved in this nonsence. Roger, if you find another LDC-5, run for the hills. Just remember to give me a call so I can dispose of the knife properly.

Barry H:D
 
NO NO NO. Knife Disposall Central is located right here in North Carolina...........SEND THEM ALL TO ME!
 
Seriously,
This knife is a prime example of how a liner lock OUGHT to be made:
The .070 thick liner has significant spring, so that it actually holds the blade locked up. Too many customs that I have looked at have very little tension on the lock bar, thus making it a potential accidental closure.

It is also a very large knife. No, make that an xxl. It is larger than a Strider AR. And to repeat myself, the lock is very similar in FUNCTION to the AR's lock--nice and stiff.

Barry H
 
You two are killing me here! :eek:

Just when I think I'm content with the knives I have, you go and do this to me. HA! Just kidding, of course. I wish you guys lived closer so I could see one in person. I guess the web pics will have to do for now.

Thanks for nothing...:p
 
Any time Rog, anytime........what are friends for?:D ;) :D I agree with what Barry said about the liner spring. John cuts the spring slot shorter ans ends up with a more acute angle in bending the spring. But what you end up with is a stiff spring that holds the blade shut with the ball detent, and when open a spring that has no tendency to move back to its left unless you forcibly move it. All in all an EXCELLENT liner lock!
 
Hey Art,
Got a very nice big present from JWS beginning last week - unfortunately haven't had chance to take any pictures yet but it is sweet!!! New 4" recurve tactical framelock w/bead-blasted carbon fiber overlays on thick Ti handles - back spacer is Ti - one big, heavy beautiful knife. It is one solid gorgeous knife - "WALKS AND TALKS" - goes KER-CHUNK when opened,lock-up is rock-solid and oh so smooth! Very close to Larry Chew's Voodoo pivot - by the way picked up one of Larry's Slayer models - very, very nice! You need to check him out - right there with your other favs. New framelock makes me even more excited about our collab. model - sent drawing to John with handle & blade mods - he approved and really like the changes - has done those handles before and thought the blade mods were great - more aggressive, sleek & balanced and the blade flows into the handle - I'm prejudiced but it will be gorgeous! Overall lines are very graceful in a big powerful way.

Bill
 
Hi Bill. I know what you mean by KER-CHUNK, because I just went to the post office and picked up my new 4" tactical framelock from John!!:D :D :D and you ain'y lying it's sweet. The spring lock really has a lot of force to bring it over into lockup, with a lot of force required to unlock it. I'll be posting a review in a bit! Thanks for telling John he better do an extra one!!:D :cool: :)
 
Been nearly two months since I originally got this knife back from John and I have to say that my enthusiasm for it HAS NOT changed one iota. I only have the two JWS custom folders and I just put my xl RF-1 up for a while in order to carry the LDC-5 and the Cuter Brend manual.

Everytime I pick this knife up, especially since the mods I had done, it just amazes me how solid it feels. The blade, though tight to my standards, feels like it is opening on ball bearings it is so slick!
The extra weight it gained through the stainless steel backspacer just gives it an excellent feel in your hand, not to mention the solid feel, which I already have! For such a big and heavy (to some) knife it rides like a dream. No bulkiness. Well hidden in the pocket. Bolster and thumb ramp on the blade provide a quick and sure drawing of the knife.

Just couldn't help myself and after it being up for a few weeks I just had to relive it all over again...........and of course let all you know how I felt along the way!
 
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