Leatherman
- Thread starter richiequan
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12GA00buck
Member
I use the one my sister found on the side of the road a few years back, been clipped to my pocket ever since. Great tool, I'm guessing it's one of the old basic models, knife, pliers, screwdrivers. It looks like the Philips head has a tungsten carbide tip. That being said if I ever had to replace it, I'd probably opt for a gerber. I like the one hand operation and the locking blades. Although I recall seeing a leatherman with a gut hook and 154cm blade included. Hmmm Decisions Decisions....
armoredman
Member
Standard ordinary Leatherman. Love it, handiest dadgum thing I ever found.
Kimber1911_06238
Member
I have the original one, bought it when they first came out. The Gerber multitools are nice too 
Crunch
Kimber1911_06238
Member
Gerber multitools are pretty good, and made in the US... are SOG multitools made in the US??
Gerber is owned by Fiskars of Finland. Tellner is pointing out the irony of selecting a tool because of political reasons instead of technical.
12GA00buck
Member
This probably belongs in L&P, but I was looking at Finnish gun laws and while there generaly very restrictive, I found one thing I liked.
"Sound suppressors, a firearm accessory strictly regulated in many other jurisdictions, are also available in Finland. Their use is not regulated. Their use can be considered to reduce the noise pollution that firearms otherwise produce. Noise pollution is to some extent a problem, since although most ranges are located in relatively remote locations, many ranges may be closed down if the noise becomes a problem for the nearest inhabitants. Suppressors also remove the need to use hearing protection while shooting. Silencers are not a major topic in Finnish gun control debates as they are almost never used in crimes."
Based on that, I feel moraly and politicaly okay with buying gerber
"Sound suppressors, a firearm accessory strictly regulated in many other jurisdictions, are also available in Finland. Their use is not regulated. Their use can be considered to reduce the noise pollution that firearms otherwise produce. Noise pollution is to some extent a problem, since although most ranges are located in relatively remote locations, many ranges may be closed down if the noise becomes a problem for the nearest inhabitants. Suppressors also remove the need to use hearing protection while shooting. Silencers are not a major topic in Finnish gun control debates as they are almost never used in crimes."
Based on that, I feel moraly and politicaly okay with buying gerber
boomer1911a1
Member
Okay, back to Leatherman...
I love the wave because of the external knife blades. You don't have to deploy the pliers to get to the knives. I had a Gerber. Loved the snap-out action, hated the grip angle. Back to the Kerry backer...
I love the wave because of the external knife blades. You don't have to deploy the pliers to get to the knives. I had a Gerber. Loved the snap-out action, hated the grip angle. Back to the Kerry backer...
on the weekends i carry a Blast i think. not sure on the name. i don't carry on weekdays because of school. it's quite handy, with all the handy tools, and nothing over the top [can opener, screwdrivers, scissor, saw, file blade]. i quite like it, and use it rather often.
~tmm
~tmm
LeonCarr
Member
The standard original one, whatever its original name is. I have had it for 15 years and works great for all kinds of stuff.
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Just my .02,
LeonCarr
some no-name I picked up at the last gun show for $10 - 2CR stainless, seems to be built fairly robust, nice wood panels on the handle and I can get to the goodies easier than with a regular Leatherman. I need to oil the spring or something though.
I want one of the new Leathermen that look like a regular folding knife rather than pliers, but I doubt I'd get $70 of usage out of one.
I want one of the new Leathermen that look like a regular folding knife rather than pliers, but I doubt I'd get $70 of usage out of one.
SOG Paratool.
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000AQ6HG0.16._SCLZZZZZZZ_SS260_.jpg
http://www.autumnsedge.com/images/SOG/paratoolf.jpg
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000AQ6HG0.16._SCLZZZZZZZ_SS260_.jpg
http://www.autumnsedge.com/images/SOG/paratoolf.jpg
- Very flat. Although it's a full sized multitool, you can carry it like a pocket knife. (I did grind off the opening lug to keep it from eating a hole in my pocket.)
- The plier head opens in a different axis (swings out to the side) than the action of the pliers so they never try to fold up while you're using them.
- The pliers are very sturdy.
- Because of the way the pliers open, you can't pinch your fingers with the handles while using them.
- The handles aren't "pokey" side to your palms when using the pliers so you can really bear down.
- They contain a saw and file and a flat bit screwdriver small enough to adjust gun sights.
- The tool can be easily disassembled to replace broken parts also can be easily tightened/loosened as required. (The only time I've ever broken one was after using it as a hammer a few too many times.)
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Snarlingiron
Member
Had a Gerber. Great pliers. Great hand pincher too. I now have 2 Leathermans. Or would that be Leathermen?
Yup, the pinching and the size finally drove me to give my Gerber away. It was just too big for pocket carry.
Never owned a Leatherman--I used to borrow friends Leathermen(?) in the lab and couldn't get used to the way a well-used one will try to fold up on your when you're using the pliers one-handed. That and the fact that the handles put the blade sides out when you were using the pliers.
Never owned a Leatherman--I used to borrow friends Leathermen(?) in the lab and couldn't get used to the way a well-used one will try to fold up on your when you're using the pliers one-handed. That and the fact that the handles put the blade sides out when you were using the pliers.
cereedy
Member
I carry a charge ti and a juce XE6
armabill
Member
I carry a Wave one. I couldn't resist it for $25 new with case.
grizz
Member
I love my Wave. It's the most useful piece of gear I own. I couldn't care less where it's made.
Sniper X
Member
Had the great Scherade tool but lost it, or it was stolen, got a Wave and Micra and carry them all the time when I do carry a tool.
JesseL
Member
I had a Pulse, but it got lost so for Valentine's day my wife got me a Gerber Suspension (as recommended by Mad Ogre) to replace it. I prefer the Gerber in every way.
If you want a Leatherman I'd steer clear of anything that isn't Wave derived (Wave, Surge, Charge...) and run, do not walk, away from the Classic series.
Leatherman has, ironically (especially for the company that invented the plier-centric multi tool) just gotten around to joining the 20th century in the multi tool world. The turning point was the Wave (arguably the Supertool, which at least has some locking tools) and everything beyond it thus far seems to be a good piece of kit.
For too long in the 'Classic' era (before the Classic was old enough to be the Classic) Leatherman was busy making stamped steel models without locking tools and weak plier jaws/lockups while everybody else on the multi-tool highway was passing them at about a hundred and ten. Gerber in particular still makes a very nice multi tool that gives even the latest Leathermans a run for their money; SOG has some interesting stuff (including one series with double-jointed force multiplying pliers) while Buck and Shcrade make fine tools as well but haven't evolved since the advent of their respective models.
Get a Wave or one of its derivatives; You won't be disappointed.
Leatherman has, ironically (especially for the company that invented the plier-centric multi tool) just gotten around to joining the 20th century in the multi tool world. The turning point was the Wave (arguably the Supertool, which at least has some locking tools) and everything beyond it thus far seems to be a good piece of kit.
For too long in the 'Classic' era (before the Classic was old enough to be the Classic) Leatherman was busy making stamped steel models without locking tools and weak plier jaws/lockups while everybody else on the multi-tool highway was passing them at about a hundred and ten. Gerber in particular still makes a very nice multi tool that gives even the latest Leathermans a run for their money; SOG has some interesting stuff (including one series with double-jointed force multiplying pliers) while Buck and Shcrade make fine tools as well but haven't evolved since the advent of their respective models.
Get a Wave or one of its derivatives; You won't be disappointed.
wuchak
Member
Leatherman Micra - on the keychain
SwissTech Utili-Key - on the keychain
SwissTech Pliers - on the keychain
Leatherman Wave - whenever I am working around the house, hiking, etc. I like the size, the way the blades open without having to open the pliers, and the way the handle is curved around over the blades providing a comfortable surface for you to grip when using the pliers.
Leatherman Supertool - in the glove compartment
Gerber - purchased for $2 at a garage sale in like new condition in the laptop case.
SwissTech Utili-Key - on the keychain
SwissTech Pliers - on the keychain
Leatherman Wave - whenever I am working around the house, hiking, etc. I like the size, the way the blades open without having to open the pliers, and the way the handle is curved around over the blades providing a comfortable surface for you to grip when using the pliers.
Leatherman Supertool - in the glove compartment
Gerber - purchased for $2 at a garage sale in like new condition in the laptop case.
Sistema1927
Member
Up until about two weeks ago I carried the standard original Leatherman.
However, I recently replaced it with the Buck Xtract. The one-handed opening, better knife, and locking makes it a much better tool. Sure it doesn't have all of the other "bits and bobs" that the Leatherman or other tools have, but it has just what I need.
However, I recently replaced it with the Buck Xtract. The one-handed opening, better knife, and locking makes it a much better tool. Sure it doesn't have all of the other "bits and bobs" that the Leatherman or other tools have, but it has just what I need.
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