Strictly Multitools

[airballrad]

I only buy more MTs because I like to. I could've stopped back in in 1999 when I got my Super Tool.

This is very true. My first Leatherman was the original PST received as a gift. The only gripe I had with it was that the blade/tools did not lock open. A few years later I got a Pulse which was basically a PST with locking tools and scissors, and came with a tool adapter (driver for any standard hex screw bit). I've never needed anything more than that.

[ForgeCorvus]

Does anyone rate the Leatherman Style CS ?

The style is pretty nice, for what it is. It's a keychain-sized tool, so the implements on it are sized accordingly. If you want something small with a blade, scissors, nail file, and tweezers it's pretty much either this or the Victorinox Classic swiss army knife. The Style has a bottle opener, though.

Pretty big keychain

I mean this


Not this

[airballrad]

Pretty big keychain

Well, I have been accused of lugging too much stuff on my keyring that is not keys.

But per Leatherman's website, that is how the Style CS is classified:

[majorhavoc]

Pretty big keychain

Well, I have been accused of lugging too much stuff on my keyring that is not keys.

But per Leatherman's website, that is how the Style CS is classified:

Remember we all drive crazy big cars over here in the States, Forge. Stands to reason our keychains would be ridiculously oversided as well!

[ForgeCorvus]

Its true then.....Everything is bigger in America
I take it the MUT is a Texan Keychain tool

[Lynn LeFey]

I thought the "Trucker's Friend" Multi-tool was the one they used on their key chains in Texas.

http://www.thegreenhead.com/2012/03/truckers-friend-handy-rescue-multi-tool.php

[phractal]

I thought the "Trucker's Friend" Multi-tool was the one they used on their key chains in Texas.

http://www.thegreenhead.com/2012/03/truckers-friend-handy-rescue-multi-tool.php

Damn you... Now I gotta see how much I have in my paypal account.

[Lynn LeFey]

I just got back from K-Mart, and picked up another cheepo multitool, the 'Tool Choice 12-in-1 Mini Multi Tool'. As far as I can tell, it's a virtual duplicate to the Sheffield model 12010 mini-multitool I posted earlier. I mentioned in that review that I bought that one used for $3. This one at K-Mart was $5 new. I got a friend a set of Gerbers for her birthday (the Clutch and Shortcut together in a blister pack) that cost about $20, and that was a reasonable deal on those two. I'd say this cheepo tool is every bit as useful as the Gerber Clutch at half the cost (at least).

This is the Sheffield version:
http://sheffield-tools.com/products/show/12010
Strangely enough, I can't actually find the Sheffield version for sale for less than about $10...which is the best price I can find a Gerber Clutch for. It's a bit weird when a sort-of off brand generic is as expensive as a recognized name-brand. I'm actually kind of hoping it's because folks are starting to recognize that the stuff Sheffield puts out isn't complete junk.

The 'Tool Choice' version doesn't have the plastic scales on the handle, which I actually prefer. It is insanely stiff out of the package, and the blade is, of course, in serious need of sharpening.

I think these things, for light duty EDC are worth every cent of $5. You can use them, and even abuse them, and if you wreck them, you're out a deluxe burger worth of cash. Yes, I use big cheeseburgers as a monetary unit.

[majorhavoc]

I thought the "Trucker's Friend" Multi-tool was the one they used on their key chains in Texas.

http://www.thegreenhead.com/2012/03/truckers-friend-handy-rescue-multi-tool.php

What this? Nah, I replaced my P-38 with one of those as my EDC can opener.

[Lynn LeFey]

What this? Nah, I replaced my P-38 with one of those as my EDC can opener.

Ah! Well... very good then. Carry on.

[Lynn LeFey]

Dammit, dammit, dammit!!!! Due to this thread, I am now an owner of a Leatherman Wingman.

Guess it was a good time to get my federal income tax return, huh?

[airballrad]

Dammit, dammit, dammit!!!! Due to this thread, I am now an owner of a Leatherman Wingman.

At this rate you'll be a collector soon

[Lynn LeFey]

I think owning 9 probably puts me in the range (although in a pathetic way) for being a collector. It's just that all but three of those (a SOG powerlock, a SOG crosscut, and this Leatherman) are cheapos.

A question to those folks with a large number of these: You ever calculate what your collection costs?

[airballrad]

A question to those folks with a large number of these: You ever calculate what your collection costs?

I haven't. I mean, most I either bought on sale or gently used second-hand, so there's that. Others were gifts. But mostly I don't want to contemplate the monetary value of my collection of fancy pliers.

[phractal]

Dammit, dammit, dammit!!!! Due to this thread, I am now an owner of a Leatherman Wingman.

Guess it was a good time to get my federal income tax return, huh?

Look on the bright side. It's an American made tool out of Oregon. Everything I edc (sans my watch) was made in America. Light (Mag XL100) from Ontario CA, Leatherman from Oregon, and BIC, made in America. Even the holster for my light (nite-ize) is made in the US.

It's hard to go wrong with US made products.

[HatchetSurvivalist15]

This is and "Entrenching Tool" or "E-Tool" it was invented in WWII and it has been used in combat ever since. Over the years it has been modified so it would have more lethality. Mine is foldable so its more compact. It has a saw blade on one side of the shovel and can sharpen the other side into a blade. it has a horizontal handle. it is about 2 1/2 feet unfolded and about a 6" when compacted. Made of reinforced steel for diggin holes and beatin the crap out of who ever.

[Lynn LeFey]

It's hard to go wrong with US made products.

I'm still evaluating it for usefulness (my Wingman). It weighs about 1.5 oz more than my current EDC tools (a SOG crosscut, a Sheffield mini multi-tool, and a spyderco delica). I picked mine up from a local Sears tool store after looking for who carried it locally. Unfortunately, had i waited a day, I would have found it at Home Depot for a few dollars cheaper. Not a big loss, but just a heads-up to everyone. The best brick-and-mortar price I found was Home Depot, and that's about dead even to the cost through Amazon (and then Amazon may also hit you with shipping costs). It was $29 at Sears, and $26 at Home Depot.

One bit of warning to lefties: The Wingman is asymmetrical, and it looks like the blade needs the larger area to house it, so swapping it with the scissors doesn't look to be possible. I didn't actually take it apart and try, but eyeballed it (EDIT: now confirmed). I ALSO find it absolutely impossible to open the blade left handed in one swift motion. It's not smooth enough, and the finger hole is not large enough to do it with either index or middle finger. I CAN get it open left handed by half-opening it with index finger, then finishing the job with the thumb... if the tool is in just the right location in my hand, and my hands are clean and dry. Add sweat, or a touch of oil or anything, and forget it. If you are left handed and looking for a multitool with an external blade that can be opened in your primary hand, skip this one. If you're okay with deploying the blade right handed, then switching, or if you're okay with a blade that requires two hands to open, then no problem. I find opening the blade right handed with my thumb an easy task. It otherwise seems like a pretty excellent tool for the price. I don't think I could justify paying double what I paid for this to get a Wave, and have a left hand deployable blade. Maybe I'll ask for one for Christmas or something.

And, indeed, I've only ever heard good things about Leatherman's product support.

[phractal]

I'm still evaluating it for usefulness. It weighs about 1.5 oz more than my current EDC tools (a SOG crosscut, a Sheffield mini multi-tool, and a spyderco delica). I picked mine up from a local Sears tool store after looking for who carried it locally. Unfortunately, had i waited a day, I would have found it at Home Depot for a few dollars cheaper. Not a big loss, but just a heads-up to everyone. The best brick-and-mortar price I found was Home Depot, and that's about dead even to the cost through Amazon (and then Amazon may also hit you with shipping costs). It was $29 at Sears, and $26 at Home Depot.

One bit of warning to lefties: The Wingman is asymmetrical, and it looks like the blade needs the larger area to house it, so swapping it with the scissors doesn't look to be possible. I didn't actually take it apart and try, but eyeballed it. I ALSO find it absolutely impossible to open the blade left handed in one swift motion. It's not smooth enough, and the finger hole is not large enough to do it with either index or middle finger. I CAN get it open left handed by half-opening it with index finger, then finishing the job with the thumb... if the tool is in just the right location in my hand, and my hands are clean and dry. Add sweat, or a touch of oil or anything, and forget it. If you are left handed and looking for a multitool with an external blade that can be opened in your primary hand, skip this one. If you're okay with deploying the blade right handed, then switching, or if you're okay with a blade that requires two hands to open, then no problem. I find opening the blade right handed with my thumb an easy task. It otherwise seems like a pretty excellent tool for the price. I don't think I could justify paying double what I paid for this to get a Wave, and have a left hand deployable blade. Maybe I'll ask for one for Christmas or something.

And, indeed, I've only ever heard good things about Leatherman's product support.

That's a bummer to hear that the scissors and main blade won't swap on the Wingman. I can swap the saw and main on my Sidekick in about 3 minutes because ther're the same length.

[majorhavoc]

Dammit, dammit, dammit!!!! Due to this thread, I am now an owner of a Leatherman Wingman.

I think owning 9 probably puts me in the range (although in a pathetic way) for being a collector.

I don't think I could justify paying double what I paid for this to get a Wave, and have a left hand deployable blade. Maybe I'll ask for one for Christmas or something.

Translation: Ten multitools? That's not too many, heh-heh. I don't have a problem. Heh-heh. I could stop any time I want, right? I simply choose not too!

You've got it bad, LL.

[Lynn LeFey]

Shut up, man! I can... I CAN QUIT WHENEVER I WANT!

Just... maybe a Gerber Dime... yeah. No harm in that...

Also, it's confirmed. I went out and got a #10 torx bit to take my Wingman apart. The blade and scissors are not swappable, as I feared. The blade won't close when swapped. Bummer. Some good news though. Loosening the torx screw a tad made the blade easier to deploy left handed. Not EASY, but easier.

I should note that it took a SOG Powerlock and Sheffield 1200E to take the Wingman apart. See? I NEED all these multitools... so I can tinker with other multitools... while dreaming about multitools... and...

Let's see here... total count...
2 SOG Black Oxide Powerlock B61-Ls
1 Leatherman Wingman
1 SOG Crosscut
1 Husky 14-in-1 Multitool
2 Husky Medium Multitools (they come in sets of 2, okay!)
1 Sheffield 1200E
1 Tool Choice mini multitool
1 Sheffield 12010
1 Coast mini multitool

So... I have 11.

And, I assume this conversation is limited to 'multi-tool' multitools, not including things like boyscout gadget knives. I have a few of those too...

[Lynn LeFey]

My review of the S.O.G. Crosscut (since I'm not hearing the love I think it deserves)

Okay, I was about to type something in a PM, and decided I should just put it here. I've mentioned before that I have a SOG Crosscut. I seem to be the only one who does. I'm a bit surprised at this, except that I understand it has a pretty specific niche.

What's on it? The main tool is a pair of Scissors. Inside, you have a tiny (eyeglass size) flathead/bottle opener, a toothpick, file/nail cleaner, knife blade, tweezers, and flathead screwdriver. It has a lanyard ring and a ruler stamped into the frame. I misplaced this tool for a few months, and replaced it with a Leatherman Micra, which was a poor replacement, let me assure you. So poor, in fact, that when I finally found this thing again, I gave the Micra away to a coworker.

There are 2 tools on this that are the best I've ever encountered on multitools.
1. The scissors. Hands Down. NO multitool matches up to these. The compound gearing used means they will cut through credit cards with ease! They are twice the scissor as you get with either the Gerber Splice or the Leatherman Micra/Squirt. And those tools generally beat the fold-out scissors on any other multitool. I have hands-on tested the Splice, Micra, and Squirt directly side-by-side with these. No contest.
2. The tweezers. These are as good as any eyebrow tweezers I've ever seen in their precision. The edges come together perfectly. If I had a complaint, it's that they're very sharp. This makes them good at getting at splinters (for instance), but bad at pulling a hair, since it might cut it if you're not at just the right angle when pulling. Also, unlike MANY tools, these tweezers are attached to the tool. You can't lose them, like with the Victorinox classic and the like.

The eyeglass size screwdriver is incredibly precise in its grind. If everything else on this tool failed, I'd keep it for that, until I can find its equal. I suspect that the Leathermans with dedicated tiny screwdrivers might match this, but haven't been able to test that. The toothpick is also permanently attached. I can't tell if I find that cool or gross. Judge for yourself. The nail file blows the Leatherman Micra's away by miles. It is right on the edge of too aggressive for being a simple nail file.

What they're missing? No phillips screwdriver, no can opener, and, I'll be honest, the bottle opener sucks. Possible bad? Some people really don't like the chisel grind on the knife blade. I've had the thing since about 1995 (mine actually says 'patent pending', not the patent number), and I've never needed to sharpen the blade, so I'm cool with it. (I mostly just use the blade to open packages)

EDIT: while reading another description of this tool in use, I also have to say that I carry it in the little plastic case it came with in my purse, not in my pocket. I've seen some discussion that the little gears can be a bit stabby if carried in a pants pocket, and I believe that's quite likely.

My personal preference is to pair this thing with another keychain sized tool, one with pliers as the main tool, a phillips screwdriver, and can opener (I carry a Sheffield 12010 with my SOG Crosscut, for a perfect tool compliment).

On the SOG site...
http://sogknives.com/store/CC50.html

[moab]

THANK you all for this thread. Its hard to find a good multitool that isnt just a copy of every other multitool ever. (WTF do some still have bottle openers and corkscrews on them??)

Because most of us like opening bottles and cans without carrying a second con-opener or bottle opener.

Word. As for corkscrews, some of us like wine (a lot).

And here I thought I had the most undesirable - girlish Leatherman of them all. The Leatherman Flair! With a full size wine bottle corkscrew on it. My brother gave it to me years ago. Got it for free in some contest or something. I've used this thing ever since. For EVERYTHING. Except opening a bottle of wine. LMAO!

[Lynn LeFey]

It is a sad admission I must make: I don't think I've ever bought a bottle of wine that didn't have a twist top. I'z all classy-like! Never once needed a cork screw, but then I'm not a big wine-drinker. I drink micro-brew beer frequently, though, and those require a bottle opener, so that's one of the things I look for in a multitool.

I was watching a tool review on a Victorinox multitool (The Swisstool Spirit), and really disliked their corkscrew design, which was detachable, and slid into a slot on the tool. If you're going to have one... at LEAST make it sturdy as all get out.

On the Juice C2, the Corkscrew is labeled as 'with assist'. I'm guessing the notch at the end of the can opener is used like the lever on a Waiter's Tool to pull the cork out. I think that makes it the best bottle opener out there on a multitool (now that the Flair is discontinued).

Moab: the Flair is listed as having a spreader knife and cocktail fork on it. Have you ever found a use for either of those? They both just seem so utterly bizarre on a multitool.

[moab]

It is a sad admission I must make: I don't think I've ever bought a bottle of wine that didn't have a twist top. I'z all classy-like! Never once needed a cork screw, but then I'm not a big wine-drinker. I drink micro-brew beer frequently, though, and those require a bottle opener, so that's one of the things I look for in a multitool.

I was watching a tool review on a Victorinox multitool (The Swisstool Spirit), and really disliked their corkscrew design, which was detachable, and slid into a slot on the tool. If you're going to have one... at LEAST make it sturdy as all get out.

On the Juice C2, the Corkscrew is labeled as 'with assist'. I'm guessing the notch at the end of the can opener is used like the lever on a Waiter's Tool to pull the cork out. I think that makes it the best bottle opener out there on a multitool (now that the Flair is discontinued).

Moab: the Flair is listed as having a spreader knife and cocktail fork on it. Have you ever found a use for either of those? They both just seem so utterly bizarre on a multitool.

Oh yes! For my pate' and organic Vienna Snausages I take with me on every camping trip! LOL! Hell no. All I use on it are the pliers, screw drivers (a lot) and the knife. The corkscrew is brass I think. And it also has a bottle opener that is brass. My brother got this thing from some contest he entered or something. He's to cheap to actually buy me something like this. LOL! Besides I can always open a bottle of wine with a shoe lace? Ever heard of that trick? You push the cork into the bottle. Tie a knot in one end of a shoe lace. Slide the knot down into the bottle below the floating cork. And pull up. The knot catches on the cork and pulls it out of the bottle. I've impressed more than a couple sweeties with that trick. LOL!

Is there a comparison site of all the different advanced multitools? Like the SOG assist and the comparable Gerber and Leatherman model? I'd like to get a more advanced multitool. But my mind boggles every time I look at a pic of one. So many choices. Or a review of the top ones by each manufacturer?

PAtrick