- Joined
- Jan 13, 2007
- Messages
- 2,780
As soon as I saw the lightweight version of the Street Beat, I knew I would get one. The original Street Bowie has always been a favorite. When the Street Beat came out, I liked it, but it felt heavy in relation to the Street Bowie, as well as expensive. So the lightweight version of the Street Beat seemed to offer the advantages of the Bowie in an EDC-friendly version. It seemed to me it would make a perfect lightweight hiking or tactical back-up to a larger blade.
I just received my lwt Street Beat. I have to say I was initially surprised and a bit disappointed that it isn't really any lighter than the original Street Beat. The knife itself is slightly lighter, but with the sheath, there doesn't seem to be any noticeable difference from the original. Of course, it is significantly cheaper, although it is still the same price as the Street Bowie, despite the bowie being significantly larger and having rubber inserts in the handle. I guess that is understandable given that the Bowie is using existing molds, but the lwt Beat needed new ones.
That's not to say I don't like it, it is still a great, lightweight EDC blade with tactical function as well, it's just not the ultra-lightweight knife I was hoping for. The FRN handle feels fine, and a bit warmer and less slippery than the polished micarta. In a way, it makes me appreciate the original Street Beat more - the tang on that knife must have been seriously skeletonized to get its weight down to a similar level as a partial tang / FRN handle.
For me, it would be ideal to put the handle from the lwt Street Beat on a blade about an inch longer. That way you would have a very versatile blade in a package still considerably more compact than the Street Bowie.
Below is the lwt Street Beat alongside a few other lightweight knives with blades just over 3". They're all good options. The lwt Street Beat is the best on price and for tactical double duty. The Guardian 3 has a better blade for general use (M390 steel, more belly and more robust tip), the Ultralight Bushcrafter (top) would be most comfortable in extended use, although it doesn't have the most hand-filling handle. The Bravo Necker II is the lightest (even with a small firesteel woven into the handle wrap.
I just received my lwt Street Beat. I have to say I was initially surprised and a bit disappointed that it isn't really any lighter than the original Street Beat. The knife itself is slightly lighter, but with the sheath, there doesn't seem to be any noticeable difference from the original. Of course, it is significantly cheaper, although it is still the same price as the Street Bowie, despite the bowie being significantly larger and having rubber inserts in the handle. I guess that is understandable given that the Bowie is using existing molds, but the lwt Beat needed new ones.
That's not to say I don't like it, it is still a great, lightweight EDC blade with tactical function as well, it's just not the ultra-lightweight knife I was hoping for. The FRN handle feels fine, and a bit warmer and less slippery than the polished micarta. In a way, it makes me appreciate the original Street Beat more - the tang on that knife must have been seriously skeletonized to get its weight down to a similar level as a partial tang / FRN handle.
For me, it would be ideal to put the handle from the lwt Street Beat on a blade about an inch longer. That way you would have a very versatile blade in a package still considerably more compact than the Street Bowie.
Below is the lwt Street Beat alongside a few other lightweight knives with blades just over 3". They're all good options. The lwt Street Beat is the best on price and for tactical double duty. The Guardian 3 has a better blade for general use (M390 steel, more belly and more robust tip), the Ultralight Bushcrafter (top) would be most comfortable in extended use, although it doesn't have the most hand-filling handle. The Bravo Necker II is the lightest (even with a small firesteel woven into the handle wrap.
