I started backpacking as a kid in the Boy Scouts doing overnighters. I used to hate it with a passion. In the last few months, I have caught this bug that wants me to go out and see things that a relatively few people have seen. This has drawn me back to backpacking. I have found it to be the most enjoyable thing I know. I have gotten my wife involved and we get out and hike at least once a month. I generally carry about 40 lbs (18 kg) for a weekend trip.

This is a folding lock-back knife with a synthetic handle. According to the manufacturer, the design has remained largely unchanged since its release in 1980. The blade has a drop point and a satin finish. There is a nail slot for opening. It measures 2.56 in (65 mm) according to the website. It is not clear whether this is from the handle to the tip or the part that is sharpened, as there is area at the base of the blade that is not sharp. I have measured my blade and the sharpened area is 2.25 in (5.75 mm) after 18 years of use and sharpening. The single blade is smooth, with a single edge. The black handle, made of Zytel, has a checkerboard design in the area where I hold onto the knife and is smooth over the remainder of the handle. According to the manufacturer’s website, they have changed to a "fiberglass-filled nylon" handle. The measurement of the length of the knife handle is equal to the closed length and is 3.5 in (89 mm). The handle is contoured to fit in the hand so that the grip is sure. The knife has a hole at the base of the handle that passes through the whole handle so that it is easily attachable to a key ring or to a lanyard. I have never had the knife slip when I have used it even with the smooth finish. After 18 years of use the handle is scuffed and scratched, but no deep gouges or cracks as of this date.

I have owned this knife since 1986 and it was purchased for me when I was a Boy Scout. This is the only piece of equipment that is still in service since my days as a Boy Scout. This is the one piece of equipment that has been entirely reliable and is still going strong. I have used this knife for all uses in the outdoors; cutting rope, food, whittling, and screwdriver. I have totally abused this blade and it holds a sharp edge like no other knife I have owned. Since that time, it has held a spot in my pocket and I use it as a pocketknife that I carry on an everyday basis. I have tried to destroy this knife so that I can buy a new one, but it just keeps on going.

I would like to have a change from the current design. It has a nail slot on the side of the blade that is designed for right-handers. Being left-handed, I just grip the top of the blade on both sides and open it. A left-handed model would make opening easier for me. The mechanism is soft enough, when it is clean, to simply grip the blade and with a flick of the wrist, the knife will open and lock into place. I would not, however, recommend standing in front of me while I do this. I have yet to have it fly out of my fingers, but I am sure this is possible.

When looking for a knife that locks open, a big concern is safety. This translates into making sure that the blade sits securely against the lock lever. The Gerber LST impressed me because when it is open, the seam from the lock lever to the blade is almost invisible. Many other knives that I have looked at have little gaps in this area or they don’t meet flush. This is what finally sold me on this knife. It is a precision joint that reeked of quality. The lock mechanism is easier to activate, by pressing down on the tab, than other lower quality knives that I have used.

I have to clean the knife and its mechanism about every three months to get rid of the dust bunnies and lint that gathers from riding in my pocket. I use cotton swabs soaked in isopropyl alcohol to swab out the recess that the blade sits in when closed. I have never had the need to lubricate the knife mechanism. Most of the moving joints are metal to Zytel so there is not significant metal to metal contact to wear away. I like to take my knife into a knife and razor shop at the local mall for sharpening. I have found that the quality of the edge is better than my skill allows me to get with a stone at home. I sharpen about one to two times per year with the amount of use I give my knife.