Gerber Quietly Released the Best USA-Made Ultralight EDC Knife Under $40

The new LST Ultra steps up an iconic 45-year-old silhouette while remaining crazy affordable and pocketable.

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published March 6, 2025

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The Empire Strikes Back. Dallas. Blondie’s “Call Me.”

There you have the top movie, TV show and song of 1980.

While you can debate how resonant each of these pop culture artifacts is in 2025, at least one other product of that year is still going strong.

gerber lst ultra wood hero — The LST Ultra’s prismatic handle stands out aesthetically while improving the knife’s grippability.

For it was then that one of Gerber’s founders, Pete Gerber himself, designed the LST (Light, Smooth and Tough).

The knife proved so popular that Gerber carries it to this day. But that’s not all. On the heels of the Ultralight LST and the LST Mini comes the most premium version of the knife yet: the LST Ultra.

True to its name

What’s compelling about this new knife is that it manages to deliver everything that’s great about the original LST, while updating the ingredients, bringing the construction stateside and keeping the price incredibly reasonable.

If you are up for a bit of maintenance, this knife and its tried-and-true lockback mechanism will serve you well tackling everyday tasks, from box opening to cord cutting to apple slicing.

Like the other knives in the LST family, the LST Ultra begins with a glass-filled nylon handle. Thanks to prismatic contours, however, this one is just a bit flashier, grippier and more ergonomic.

Unlike the nail nicks on the LST and LST Mini, the Ultra’s blade is solid steel. While that adds a bit of work to the deployment (probably necessitating two hands), it gives the blade a cleaner look.

gerber lst ultra wood folded — The pocket clip can be attached on either side of the knife, enabling ambidextrous carry.

It also likely makes it easier to clean, as you don’t have to worry about any debris getting caught up in the empty space.

Speaking of solid steel, however, brings me to the most notable upgrade here. While the LST’s blade is made of 400 series stainless steel and the Mini’s is 440A, the Ultra’s 2.7-inch drop-point blade is made of 420HC.

gerber lst ultra folding — Lacking a nail nick, the LST Ultra is perhaps best opened using two hands.

While it’s not what you’d call premium, 420HC is considered one of the best budget steels.

It’s both corrosion and wear-resistant, and while it’s not the best at holding an edge, it is fairly easy to sharpen.

In other words, if you are up for a bit of maintenance, this knife and its tried-and-true lockback mechanism will serve you well tackling everyday tasks, from box opening to cord cutting to apple slicing.

gerber lst ultra in hand — The LST Ultra can easily cut through light rope. Thread it through the lanyard loop for an additional carry option.

Adding to the convenience is an ambidextrous pocket clip and a lanyard loop, giving you multiple carry options.

No matter which you choose, you can be sure the LST Ultra won’t weigh you down. Not unlike its 45-year-old predecessor, this knife tips the scales at just 1.4 ounces.