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Reviews > Knives > Folding > Gerber L.S.T. Magnum > Owner Review by Thomas VickersGerber L.S.T. Magnum Knife
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Thomas
Vickers |
Tester Background:
I grew up in the piney woods of southeast Texas. Camping was a quick trip into the
mosquito-infested woods behind the house. My style has evolved and over the last 4 or 5
years, I have begun to take a lighter weight approach to hiking gear (I still use sleeping
bags and tents, just lighter versions). While I have flirted with lightweight hiking, I
feel that I am more of a mid-weight hiker now. My philosophy is one of comfort, while
carrying the lightest load possible.
Manufacturer
Information: Manufacturer: Gerber Knives Website: http://www.gerbergear.com Overall Length: 8.09 in (20 cm) Length Closed: 4.59 in (12 cm) Length of Blade: 3.46 in (9 cm) Weight: 4.8 oz (136 g) Blade Material: 420HC Stainless Steel Handle Material: Glass-filled nylon Blade Style: Drop point Sheath Material: Ballistic nylon Blade Type: Fine MSRP: NA |
Information From
Tester: (all measurements approximate) Overall Length: 8 in (20 cm) Length Closed: 4.50 in (11 cm) Length of Blade: 3.40 in (9 cm) Weight: 4.8 oz (136 g) |
Description from the manufacturer:
The basic design concept flows from Gerber's earlier success with
the original L.S.T. pocketknives. With a lock-back blade securing system.
Emphatic finger grip placements. Fine checkering in the handle for a can't-miss grip. And
a stainless steel blade that holds its edge and brings home the bacon."
Tester's Description:
The Gerber L.S.T. Magnum is a folding blade knife. The blade folds into the
handle and is released by pressing on the back of the knife's handle. When locked
open, the same spot on the back of the handle is pressed to unlock the blade so that I can
fold it into its storage position. The handle feels like hard plastic and contains a
checkerboard pattern along its sides. There are two formed finger grips/notches on
the underside of the handle and and a small finger guard just behind the blade that is
part of this grip area. I wish I could be a little more descriptive, but this is a basic
folding blade knife.
Using the knife:
Locations: California (Sierras), Colorado, Arkansas, Texas
Altitude: Sea level to 13,000 feet (3,900 m)
Temperatures: 26 F to 100 F (-3 C to 38 C)
Activities/uses:
Extended hiking trips (3-5 days)
Day hiking
Geo Caching
Fishing
Whittling
Cutting food
Cutting bait
I want to start of by saying that I don't own just one of the Gerber L.S.T. Magnum folding
knives, I own four of them. My first one was purchased sometime in 2001 and since
then I keep adding additional ones to my collection when I find them on sale. I have this
strange nagging fear that I will lose them all and then not have any more to use.
Opening it up:
When I first started using the Gerber L.S.T. Magnum folding knife hiking,
I liked it because it was big and easy to handle, even when I was wearing gloves or glove
liners. As I kept on using the knife and abusing I really grew to love it because it
survived a lot of rough treatment. Despite almost constant use and abuse,
this knife has stayed in pretty good shape over the years.
I can open the knife easily with one hand by pulling the blade out a bit with my fingers,
then whipping the blade out by flipping my wrist. Not the easiest one handed move to make,
but it lets me do the job when I only have one had available. Once I get the blade out and
locked open, it has never slipped shut or come 'unlocked' at any point. When I get
it open, it stays that way.
Maintenance:
There is no way that I can find to take the Gerber L.S.T. Magnum folding knife
apart for cleaning or maintenance. Of course, over the last few years, I
have never had need to want to take it apart. I have often used a cotton swab to clean
dirt and grit out of some of the hard to get at spaces on the handle and hinge areas, but
this is pretty easy and the knife has never needed it for any other reason than I don't
like a dirty knife.
I also sharpen my knife about every six months or so. The blade can and will hold a
good edge for longer than that, but I prefer to know without a doubt that I am going to
have the sharpest blade possible for when I am in the field.
Durability:
I have cut everything from wood to cheese with this knife and I have done nothing worse
than scratch the blade. Not chips or nicks at all can be found on the blade or the handle.
The handle material is pretty tough and has survived drops onto rocks without chipping or
cracking. The Gerber website describes the material as "Glass-filled nylon," but
it feels and acts like really tough plastic.
The hinge and lock mechanism still works smoothly and without any hiccups as well. I can't
count how many thousands of times I have opened this knife, but for as much use as I have
put it through, the flawlessly smooth action of the hinge mechanism is surprising, even to
me.
My knife:
This knife is durable and easy to handle. When I first purchased it for hiking I was
worried that it was too much knife. It is big when unfolded, but the still fairly light
weight despite its size. Over the past few years I have realized that I can use a
smaller knife and when I hike with a large group, I tend to use a smaller knife. When I am
out solo hiking (probably about 97% of the time) I feel much better having this knife with
me. It is a full function tool that has seen all kinds of uses from cutting fishing line
and cheese, to digging a hole in hard soil for various hiking reasons. It also
functions as a kind of security blanket for me while hiking alone. I always know where the
knife is just in case I have to fight off bad people or wild animals.
Best of all, despite its size, the Gerber L.S.T. Magnum folding knife is
light weight. The one thing that I would prefer is a loop or hole in the handle where I
could hang it from a lanyard. I would even settle for a pocket clip of some sort, but at
this point the Gerber L.S.T. Magnum folding knife does not have either
option available.
Final thoughts:
I will continue to use this knife on the trail till I run out of spares. Hopefully Gerber
will never stop making them and I will never run out, but that is a bridge I will cross
later. Right now I do not hit the trail without this knife. It goes in my pack for every
trip and I know that whatever I need a knife for, the Gerber L.S.T. Magnum folding knife
is going to be the 'go to' tool for me.