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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5


              [ARMSTRONG, TEASDALE, SCHLAFLY & DAVIS LETTERHEAD]

                                 May 26, 1998


Board of Directors
LaBarge, Inc.
9900A Clayton Road
St. Louis, Missouri  63124

Gentlemen:

        In our capacity as counsel for LaBarge, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), we have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the   
"Registration Statement") proposed to be filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act 
of 1933, as amended, relating to up to 1,000,000 shares of common stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), to be offered by the Company to its
employees pursuant to options issued under the Company's Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Plan").  In connection herewith, we have examined such
records, documents and proceedings as we deem relevant and necessary as a basis
for the opinion expressed herein.

        Upon the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

        1.      The shares of Common Stock referred to above, to the extent
                actually issued pursuant to the Plan, will have been duly and 
                validly authorized and issued and will be fully paid and non-
                assessable shares of the Company;

        2.      Under the laws of the State of Delaware, no personal liability
                attaches to the ownership of the shares of the Common Stock of 
                the Company.

        We hereby consent to filing of this opinion with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        ARMSTRONG, TEASDALE, SCHLAFLY & 
                                             DAVIS

                                        /s/ Armstrong, Teasdale, Schlafly
                                                & Davis