The Les George Knives Thread

[mitchnola]

I do not won any LG knives yet, but it seems that i'm about to! Let me ask you this though, the VECP has that index finger groove on the scale but it's obviously on the small side (according to the pics always).
Does that create a hotspot? The Talos seems to be the more comfortable of the two

Never had an issue with the groove on the vecp. It’s excellent in the hand but my personal favorite is the grip on the myna. The talos is just a little small for my fat fingers.

 

[Chris*33]

Never had an issue with the groove on the vecp. It’s excellent in the hand but my personal favorite is the grip on the myna. The talos is just a little small for my fat fingers.

That's a nice blade, as well. I wasn't familiar with this model to be honest, as it's only of late that i've started to show interest in LG knives.
I was doing some research on pricing and availability, as i live the EU, and the prices here are a joke, as most good knives.....the VECP buttonlock V3, which is the only one i find pricing on, is at 700USD approx!

I will maybe have to settle with a Defiant7 bade with his designs....the Servo and the Eagle models look good, but still at 476 & 427USD respectively.

 

[mitchnola]

That's a nice blade, as well. I wasn't familiar with this model to be honest, as it's only of late that i've started to show interest in LG knives.
I was doing some research on pricing and availability, as i live the EU, and the prices here are a joke, as most good knives.....the VECP buttonlock V3, which is the only one i find pricing on, is at 700USD approx!

I will maybe have to settle with a Defiant7 bade with his designs....the Servo and the Eagle models look good, but still at 476 & 427USD respectively.

You can find most of Les’ knives on the secondary for $500 or under. Keep an eye on the exchange here and the Les George sales group on fb.

 

[pnclbell]

Interesting. Aluminum handles that aren't exactly identical (other than the obvious for the button lock) but very similar at a pretty compelling price point.



That one is totally unaffiliated with LG though, right? Just looked it up and it is a completely different knife and the page I pulled says it was designed by Bill Harsey.

I don't mean to add to the confusion (as much as I enjoy stirring the pot) but Spartan DOES have a LG designed piece that is obviously representative of his Talos....... the Astor. Excellent bang-for-your-buck blade, multiple scale options, familiar shape and very nice entry-point price. (bought one for my son)

The Spartan Astor:

 

[mitchnola]

I don't mean to add to the confusion (as much as I enjoy stirring the pot) but Spartan DOES have a LG designed piece that is obviously representative of his Talos....... the Astor. Excellent bang-for-your-buck blade, multiple scale options, familiar shape and very nice entry-point price. (bought one for my son)

The Spartan Astor: View attachment 2832686View attachment 2832686

Haha, I just don’t understand the reasoning behind having 2 knife companies making very similar/same knives in close to or even the same price points. Maybe someone could help me understand. I’m a simple man.

 

[DustinK]

Haha, I just don’t understand the reasoning behind having 2 knife companies making very similar/same knives in close to or even the same price points. Maybe someone could help me understand. I’m a simple man.

They aren’t similar to me as I said before. A titanium frame lock vs an aluminum button lock vs g10/carbon fiber liner lock. Different materials, locks, prices. The Astor is Taiwan made and half the price of the button lock which is that again cheaper than the titanium frame lock. All very different

 

[pnclbell]

Haha, I just don’t understand the reasoning behind having 2 knife companies making very similar/same knives in close to or even the same price points. Maybe someone could help me understand. I’m a simple man.

It was really all for you Mitch! When Les was developing the button lock VECP he was intending to follow up with a Talos version as well. Instead......you got your Myna. Now quit your.......... (M)itchin'.

 

[mitchnola]

It was really all for you Mitch! When Les was developing the button lock VECP he was intending to follow up with a Talos version as well. Instead......you got your Myna. Now quit your.......... (M)itchin'.

I’m just getting started. I don’t like the direction. Gonna probably unload all theses LGs! I’m a ODKW guy now!!

 

[pnclbell]

I’m just getting started. I don’t like the direction. Gonna probably unload all theses LGs! I’m a ODKW guy now!!

Yes......you should. That V1.0 Talos has wanted me all along.
But it is you fault I am a ODKW fan now too. *Just not coo-coo enough to give up the LG's

 

[mitchnola]

Yes......you should. That V1.0 Talos has wanted me all along.
But it is you fault I am a ODKW fan now too. *Just not coo-coo enough to give up the LG's

Looks like one big happy family to me…

 

[norcalAF]

I’m just getting started. I don’t like the direction. Gonna probably unload all theses LGs! I’m a ODKW guy now!!

I just saw a pig fly past the window!

 

[norcalAF]

A couple of sweet LG pieces landed today from a fellow Les head!

 

[Jetlau3111]

Regretted selling the morph talos so got another . New Les logo etched in to blade is cool.

On a DLC kick lately

 

[Stringjam7]

LG design for this one. Just showed up last week.

A lot to love on this design - and a few things I dislike.

Flipper action is great - no matter how you do it, it thwacks solidly into lock.

Ergos: This is where it shines. That grip is like a longer Myna, with a nice smooth radius over the entire surface. Man does this folder feel good in-hand. Beautiful finish work on the Ti grips, which are internally milled (for an almost 4" blade folder - it feels very light, and perfectly balanced). I also have to mention the clip here - it is so low and flat it pretty much disappears in your grip, and still slips so easily onto pocket during use.

Nice high grind with really good cutting performance and a superb edge from factory.

Don't like: Recurve blades. Why LG? If you would have given this beast a straight cutting edge I would be over the top on this design. I hate sharpening recurves, and IMO this blade would have looked even better without it. Other dislike - the pointy pivot - eh, not that big of deal, but everything else on this knife looks the part except the screws and pivot - if they would have matched the standoffs and clip with some high quality brass finished hardware, it would just set it off.

Summary - kick-ass folder. Also makes me wish LG would do a design like this for his own lineup (edit - looks like he did - this was based on the discontinued Harpy), with the internally milled grips to drop the weight, same kind of grip design, and a ~4" blade without the recurve. As it is, ZT did a superb job on building LGs design.

 

[mitchnola]

LG design for this one. Just showed up last week.

A lot to love on this design - and a few things I dislike.

Flipper action is great - no matter how you do it, it thwacks solidly into lock.

Ergos: This is where it shines. That grip is like a longer Myna, with a nice smooth radius over the entire surface. Man does this folder feel good in-hand. Beautiful finish work on the Ti grips, which are internally milled (for an almost 4" blade folder - it feels very light, and perfectly balanced). I also have to mention the clip here - it is so low and flat it pretty much disappears in your grip, and still slips so easily onto pocket during use.

Nice high grind with really good cutting performance and a superb edge from factory.

Don't like: Recurve blades. Why LG? If you would have given this beast a straight cutting edge I would be over the top on this design. I hate sharpening recurves, and IMO this blade would have looked even better without it. Other dislike - the pointy pivot - eh, not that big of deal, but everything else on this knife looks the part except the screws and pivot - if they would have matched the standoffs and clip with some high quality brass finished hardware, it would just set it off.

Summary - kick-ass folder. Also makes me wish LG would do a design like this for his own lineup, with the internally milled grips to drop the weight, same kind of grip design, and a ~4" blade without the recurve. As it is, ZT did a superb job on building LGs design.

Congrats on the new knife and thanks for the excellent review!

 

[Jetlau3111]

Morph Monday !

 

[Ilikesharpstuff]

Been awful quiet here lately so I figured I'd post my first and still favorite Les George knife. The Myna is nice but lately I've been pretty interested in checking out a McNees so it might be on the chopping block to facilitate that.

 

[mitchnola]

I’ve been a little consumed with these guys lately. They’ve been occupying the pockets but it’s always really nice to put a LG in the pocket after a break!

I snuck a vecp in there for size reference.

 

[Stringjam7]

Been awful quiet here lately so I figured I'd post my first and still favorite Les George knife. The Myna is nice but lately I've been pretty interested in checking out a McNees so it might be on the chopping block to facilitate that.

I have the Talos and the McNees PM 2.5 - I actually picked up the McNees because some of the design points reminded me of the Talos. lol

Here's my honest thoughts on the two, especially if you're considering dropping the Talos.

The McNees is a great looking knife with decent ergos. It's shorter than the Talos, and a bit more scrunched on the grip.

McNees is on bearings, and the Talos is PB washers. I much prefer washers on a thumb-stud knife, and the Talos is smooth as glass on them.

I...hate...the McNees jimping on the spine. It's sharp as hell - it makes my SHF feel like velvet. lol The lockbar is also stiffer than the Talos, and combined with the thinned edge, it's just not as comfortable and smooth as the Talos.

The working finish on the McNees blade looks like concrete. I'm not a huge fan. The grip on mine is absolutely gorgeous though. I love the swerve pattern, and it provides a really solid grip.

The detent on my McNees was too stiff. I had to adjust the lockbar to get it where I wanted it (no biggie - I've done this on a few LGs as well).

Summary:
I listed a lot of negatives, but the McNees is really a great knife (I'm just being picky for the sake of comparison)...I have no plans of ever getting rid of mine. The bronze / blue swerve grip pattern on mine is just a knockout. If I had to pick between the two, I would hands-down take the Talos. It's better in pretty much every category that matters to me.

 

[mitchnola]

I have the Talos and the McNees PM 2.5 - I actually picked up the McNees because some of the design points reminded me of the Talos. lol

Here's my honest thoughts on the two, especially if you're considering dropping the Talos.

The McNees is a great looking knife with decent ergos. It's shorter than the Talos, and a bit more scrunched on the grip.

McNees is on bearings, and the Talos is PB washers. I much prefer washers on a thumb-stud knife, and the Talos is smooth as glass on them.

I...hate...the McNees jimping on the spine. It's sharp as hell - it makes my SHF feel like velvet. lol The lockbar is also stiffer than the Talos, and combined with the thinned edge, it's just not as comfortable and smooth as the Talos.

The working finish on the McNees blade looks like concrete. I'm not a huge fan. The grip on mine is absolutely gorgeous though. I love the swerve pattern, and it provides a really solid grip.

The detent on my McNees was too stiff. I had to adjust the lockbar to get it where I wanted it (no biggie - I've done this on a few LGs as well).

Summary:
I listed a lot of negatives, but the McNees is really a great knife (I'm just being picky for the sake of comparison)...I have no plans of ever getting rid of mine. The bronze / blue swerve grip pattern on mine is just a knockout. If I had to pick between the two, I would hands-down take the Talos. It's better in pretty much every category that matters to me.

Nice write up, especially the last sentence!