Strictly Multitools

[sigboy40]

what fixed blade is that with your Wave?

http://www.leescutlery.com/joroycutahaf.html

Bought directly from John Roy many years ago, makes a great field knife. Like most knife makers, he hasnt made it big. Part of me wonders if he is still making knives at all, his website is down and it doesn't look like he has sold anything online lately. Which is a shame, i have two of his knives and wanted two more. I always did like the curve of his blades.

[marbhán marfóir]

that's too bad because I really like it and would've blown birthday cash on it.

[sigboy40]

that's too bad because I really like it and would've blown birthday cash on it.

It looks like the link I had listed has one for sale.

I wanted to get a small skinner of his,something like this one:


He married one of Barry Dawson's daughters, so you could probably find him that way if you really wanted. I'm planning on doing that when I have an extra $500 lying around for two knives.

On topic edit:

It looks like the laynard ring on the WAVE can either go behind the saw or the file. I am going to move mine over to behind the saw as it will work better there for my needs.

[ninja-elbow]

I've been using the Hell out of this thing the past year (bought March '11):



Office, outside, home, Xmas, parties... the most useful of all my Multitools. And yeah, I use the fuck out of the corkscrew and bottle opener. Anywhere I go I am "the guy that has a corkscrew or bottle opener". I bought a Juice C2 specifically because it has a corkscrew on it. In my pocket 100% of my waking hours. I don't even carry a folder knife anymore.

[majorhavoc]

Anywhere I go I am "the guy that has a corkscrew or bottle opener".

I learned long ago when I got my first SAK that while it's appreciated that you have a knife or a screw driver when someone needs it, you're a fucking HERO when no one else can produce a corkscrew.

I think I got laid once on account of that.

[ninja-elbow]

Anywhere I go I am "the guy that has a corkscrew or bottle opener".

I learned long ago when I got my first SAK that while it's appreciated that you have a knife or a screw driver when someone needs it, you're a fucking HERO when no one else can produce a corkscrew.

I think I got laid once on account of that.

I think we all did

[MyEvolution]

I've been wanting to share these since Christmas.....these are the first multitools I've bought and thanks to ZS I was able to pick out perfect (for me) first time tools. I bought 2 of the Wingman, one for me and my hubby (I did loose his leatherman while fishing in the mangroves a couple years back -). He uses his many times daily and loves the pocket clip, I like it too but found it was too bulky to carry at work so I bought the squirt ps4 and I love that little thing!!! I work warehouse/receiving so mainly use the knife/pliers at work but I have made it a habit to make sure it's in my pocket as soon as I get dressed....the Wingman I keep in my purse but might move it to the glove box....not ready to have it so far away from me yet though.....I'm going to try and insert pics...


off topic but the table you see is one that my husband made out of wood from pallets that I brought home.

[majorhavoc]

off topic but the table you see is one that my husband made out of wood from pallets that I brought home.

I'd be interested in seeing more pictures of that table built of pallet wood.

[MyEvolution]

off topic but the table you see is one that my husband made out of wood from pallets that I brought home.

I'd be interested in seeing more pictures of that table built of pallet wood.

if this needs to be on another thread please move it....I claim nube!!





This is his first one, we have another one similar but just a bit wider and a good friend asked for a triangle one to be used with her sectional, I just have to pick up more raw material for him.....

[MadMonkey]

I carry one of these every day over here. It gets a lot of comments



Also a cheap Gerber.

[airballrad]

Dragged all the full- and pocket-sized tools out today for a quick pic. This does not include the keychain-sized stuff, as they're scattered all over the place. Clicky for bigger pic.

[Lynn LeFey]

What follows is a post I made on another prepper board, but thought it was quite relevant here. This is the other (bottom) end of the spectrum from most of what's been discussed. I do now have a S.O.G. Power Lock as my primary Multi-tool.

Some time back, I was at a pawn shop, and in their display case, they had a number of Sheffield knives and small multitools for sale, pretty darn cheap. So I picked them up as beater tools. Since then, I have been looking at the absolute bottom end of multitools, those easily affordable options, and I'll be covering my opinions here. So far, that amounts to two Sheffields and two Husky/Coast tools from Home Depot. I may pick up some Ozark Trail tools later on.

Large Sheffield (model 1200E)
weight: 5.13oz
Cost (used): $5
Tools: pliers/wire cutter, blade, awl, medium slotted screwdriver, large slotted screwdriver/bottle opener, fish scaler/file, small slotted screwdriver, philips screwdriver, can opener.


Above is a pic (Sorry for the shaky-cam work here). Model is listed as 1200E. These are almost all stainless steel, except for thin plastic scales on the outside of the handle.

Pliers are good, but the shape of the tool's handle is a bit painful when applying extreme force. At full grip strength, there is a slight flexing felt through the frame, but it doesn't seem like I could bend them no matter what force was applied. Wire cutters work okay. The spring used to assist in plier opening is bare, and could be taken out or lost, which I'm not keen on. All other tools are pretty well made. The slot screwdrivers have well defined surfaces, the awl is very sharp and it's a full phillips head screwdriver, not the flat phillips seen in some tools. My only complaints with this tool is that it comes with a fish scaler instead of a saw and that the blade was not sharp when purchased (although I seem to have managed to get a decent edge on it). Every tool but the fish scaler was tested, and works well. I should note that these are not locking tools, so care must be taken, particularly with the screwdrivers.

I'm VIRTUALLY certain this is the same multitool that Emergency Essentials sells as the 'High Uinta Multi-Function Tool' for $4.95 brand new.
http://beprepared.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_CU%20T200_A_name_E_High%20Uinta%20Gear%E2%84%A2%20Multi-Function%20Tool

Small Sheffield (model 12010)
weight: 1.85oz
Cost (used): $3
Tools: pliers/wire cutters, can opener, small phillips, tiny slotted screwdriver, scissors, knife, file, awl, small slotted, lanyard/lock


Again, pic above, and model number is 12010. This is the little brother to the previous tool listed. The same critique applies to this as to the previous concerning use of pliers: exposed spring and uncomfortable grip at high pressure. But again, I don't think any amount of force I could apply would actually damage these. Tools are again well crafted. The awl is REALLY sharp, the can opener looked dubious when I first got it, but it powers through cans pretty effortlessly and shows no sign of bending. Scissors are a little better than you'd get on a Victorinox classic, which is to say they work, if in a frustratingly slow way (good enough to trim errant strings and such, not much else). I should note that just with this tool, I made both an alcohol burning pop stove and a tin-can wood-gas stove. For light metal work (tin cans and aluminum) this thing is surprisingly up to the task. Maybe the best $3 I ever spent. One last feature: the lanyard ring has a hook that locks the tool closed, which I guess was made for key chain use. It weighs just a bit more than my SOG Crosscut (1.68oz), and is on par I guess with the Leatherman Micra (or maybe Squirt) and Gerber Clutch in size. I WISH this thing was available on every store shelf. It is every bit as good as the Gerber Clutch, in my opinion.

EDIT: I just spotted this tool in a blister pack with a folding knife at a Sears tool store for $10. I have no idea what the knife is like, so buy at your own risk. I'd call $10 more than the tool is worth by itself.

Husky Medium Multi Tool
weight: 6.78oz
Cost (new): $5 (2 for $10 pack)
Tools: pliers/wire cutters, saw, small slotted, can opener, medium slotted, blade, awl, phillips, file.



These are currently available at my local Home Depot in a pack of 2 for about $10. Thats a $5 brand new multitool. They have a skeletonized frame. The tool, in theory, comes with a lifetime warranty, but I've read that getting either Home Depot or Husky to honor it is a task. All tools work as promised, but the file is not good for much more than filing your nails, and the edges of all of the slotted screwdrivers are sort of rounded, which I suspect will cause undue wear to both the tool and the screw. It has a full Phillips head, which is nice. Pliers are good (enough). Saw is actually pretty substantial, if somewhat short. Can opener functions as promised. Awl is sharp and solidly made. As with the Sheffields above, this thing is uncomfortable when bearing down on the pliers. Unlike the Sheffields, it's partly due to these weird bumps on the handle. I guess they're supposed to be for grip, but they just make it more painful to use. Here's my big complaint: These things weigh 6.78oz, and are about half an inch shorter than the large sheffield (so less leverage on the pliers). They're about 50% wider, and about 20% thicker.

Coast
Weight: 3.3oz
Cost (new): $2 ($3 pack with multitool and knife)
Tools: Pliers/wire cutters, serrated blade, small slotted, awl, bottle opener, blade, small phillips, tiny slotted, file


A smaller cousin to the Husky, the multitool from Coast comes in a pack with a lock-blade knife. The Awl is good, but could stand to be sharper. The tiny screwdriver is terrible, and more-or-less pointless. The standard blade comes dull. Surprisingly, the file on this tool is good.

My Thoughts
Let's be real here. If you went out and spent $10, you could get a 2-pack of the Huskies. Throw them into a barter bag, or a scout-kit fanny pack. Once the blade is sharpened, these are actually not bad survival tools: 2” blade, solid saw, can opener, serious awl, pliers.

If you spent that same $10, you could buy 3 of the Coast multitools (and also get 3 lockblade knives). Almost 1½” blade, serrated blade, awl, pliers. While it's missing a saw and can opener (which I'd like to see both here), It's STILL better than nothing in a survival situation. You can open tin cans with any blade, if you don't care what it does to your edge. Heck, use the blade on the multitool to beat up, and keep the folding knife included with it to do less damaging work.

I have to say at this point that the folding knife that comes in the pack with the Coast multitool is kind of crappy. However, it's not nearly as crappy as the $1 folding knife from Walmart. This knife is all metal, and has a decent locking mechanism. Blade length is 2 1/8”. As I said above, being that this is the longer of the blades, I'd keep this one for 'softer' work, and if punishment had to be done, delegate it to the blade on the Coast multitool.

So, are they worth it?
For EDC: I've chosen the small Sheffield (I also have a SOG Crosscut). Light weight, high function for that weight
For SHTF primary: Get something other than what's listed here (I just ordered a SOG Powerlock)
For poor kid/boyscout/glovebox/tacklebox: the Husky.
For SHTF lend/barter and affordable beater: The Husky.
For better-than-nothing or stocking stuffer: The Coast

I'm not a gear snob. I love good tools, but I understand that in the real world, there's only so much money you can invest in certain things. If you drop that awesome $100 leatherman into the lake, well... Guess you should have been using a Husky, huh? If you're a kid just learning outdoor craft, one of the Huskies would do you fine, I think. And, like with the lake example, kids are apt to loose things. Better it happen to 'Timmy's First Multitool' than with a Cabela Leatherman Charge TTI, huh? And finally, while I'd love to be able to afford a good multitool for car, house, purse, Bug Out Bag, and tool belt, and a handful to hand out to allies should SHTF... there's just no way that's fitting in the budget. I have a friend that I work for on occasion that's an electrician. That man loses tools at a startling rate. I considered getting him a multitool, then reconsidered. But, maybe one of these Huskies is a reasonable solution.

In closing, any situation where the destruction or loss of the tool is likely, I think cheap multitools are a good option. Also, in any situation where you have to outfit large numbers of folks with gear, while not optimal, cheap multitools are a more affordable solution. So, my recommendation is go to Home Depot, buy a couple $10 blister packs, each with 2 Husky multitools, stick them in all your packs, or give them to your nephew for a camping trip, and forget about them.

[Oneswunk]

Ive told the story of me and my SOG many times on the forum. Long story short ive beat it, abused it and even dropped it about 7 stories onto the turbine deck at work. It gets used and used hard when it breaks from the shit I put it through SOG fixes it no questions asked fast.

Its mine.....

[Lynn LeFey]

I just got a brand new powerlock myself. I have high hopes. One of the reasons I picked it in the huge field of contenders is that I occasionally do work as an electrician's assistant, and cutting runs of 12-3 wire kills my hands after a long day of doing runs for an entire new house (for instance). These things cut through wire effortlessly, as i suspected would be the case (I've owned a SOG Crosscut forever, and LOVE it).

[Makarov]

I've been EDC'ing Leatherman's since 1993, and have gone through several. Right now I EDC a Sideclip(going retro), have a MUT in my shooting trousers(Overpriced IMHO) and S2 in my scrubs at work.
I've spread all my other LM's into other gear and bags, and was happy with this setup until:

Leatherman Sidekick. Bought it six months ago. Love it.

So screw you for making me spend $$. I hadn't seen the Sidekick/Wingman before now, and you made me send a PM to "my Leatherman guy"...

I think I'll go for the Wingman though, as I really do need scissors more than a saw in my EDC tool.

[ROCK6]

I've have a few, but what I carry the most is the Victorinox Spirit multitool. It just seems to have everything I need; I only wish the pliers head was more "needlenose", but it's been my go-to tool for the past few years. I would also add that I often carry or have close by, Leatherman's Crunch multitool pliers...love the vice-grip option. I've been using multitools for the past 25+years in the military, including Leatherman's original PST. I will admit that when outdoors backpacking, my most common "multi-tool" is the original SAK (usually a Rucksack or Outrider model). Like Airballrad, I would need to wait until I redeploy to dig them all out as there are few new additions, mostly the smaller keychain variety...








Along with a big pair of Fencing Pliers, I'm packing the Spirit and Crunch and I've got the awesome little PS4 Leatherman and Micra close by.




ROCK6

[majorhavoc]

I've have a few, but what I carry the most is the Victorinox Spirit multitool. It just seems to have everything I need; I only wish the pliers head was more "needlenose", but it's been my go-to tool for the past few years. I would also add that I often carry or have close by, Leatherman's Crunch multitool pliers...love the vice-grip option. I've been using multitools for the past 25+years in the military, including Leatherman's original PST. I will admit that when outdoors backpacking, my most common "multi-tool" is the original SAK (usually a Rucksack or Outrider model). Like Airballrad, I would need to wait until I redeploy to dig them all out as there are few new additions, mostly the smaller keychain variety...








Along with a big pair of Fencing Pliers, I'm packing the Spirit and Crunch and I've got the awesome little PS4 Leatherman and Micra close by.




ROCK6

Did you buy all those, or are they somehow reproducing?

[ROCK6]

Did you buy all those, or are they somehow reproducing?

Yeah, one of my fetishes is multitools and knives...it would be nice if they would reproduce though

ROCK6

[Lynn LeFey]

I was poking around the net yesterday, looking for info on cheap multitools, and came across this thread (right here on the ZS boards). It's another review of some inexpensive options.

http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=72916

ALSO: Can someone make a recommendation for a multitool with a blade that can be deployed without opening the tool, for a left handed user? I would prefer a non-assist open. Something more akin to the easy-to-open spyderco blades. I know there's a Leatherman that has two externally accessible blades (a straight edge available for right hand open, and a serrated for left), but I don't recall the make.

[majorhavoc]

I was poking around the net yesterday, looking for info on cheap multitools, and came across this thread (right here on the ZS boards). It's another review of some inexpensive options.

http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=72916

ALSO: Can someone make a recommendation for a multitool with a blade that can be deployed without opening the tool, for a left handed user? I would prefer a non-assist open. Something more akin to the easy-to-open spyderco blades. I know there's a Leatherman that has two externally accessible blades (a straight edge available for right hand open, and a serrated for left), but I don't recall the make.

It's likely the Leatherman Wave you're thinking of, LL. I don't own this tool but I admire the design and the particular blade selection. It gets very good reviews. As soon as I complete the mental gymnastics to justify the $60 - $70 purchase price, this is the one I have my eyes on.

ETA: The Leatherman Surge and Charge models also have external, one handed opening blades.

[phractal]

I was poking around the net yesterday, looking for info on cheap multitools, and came across this thread (right here on the ZS boards). It's another review of some inexpensive options.

http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=72916

ALSO: Can someone make a recommendation for a multitool with a blade that can be deployed without opening the tool, for a left handed user? I would prefer a non-assist open. Something more akin to the easy-to-open spyderco blades. I know there's a Leatherman that has two externally accessible blades (a straight edge available for right hand open, and a serrated for left), but I don't recall the make.

With a bit of practice, I can open my Leatherman Wingmans blade with my left hand. (It's originally designed for a righty) You could easily swap the blade and the saw on the Wingman. Could do it in a few minutes.


As it comes, the blade is opened with the right hand, the saw is opened with the left. Just swap the places.

[ForgeCorvus]

Does anyone rate the Leatherman Style CS ?
I've found a place I can get one for about half its normal cost (for here in the UK)

[airballrad]

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.

It's likely the Leatherman Wave you're thinking of, LL. I don't own this tool but I admire the design and the particular blade selection. It gets very good reviews. As soon as I complete the mental gymnastics to justify the $60 - $70 purchase price, this is the one I have my eyes on.

Buy once, cry once. It's a pretty awesome design for the whole series, which is part of the reason I have one Charge, one Surge, and three Waves.

Can someone make a recommendation for a multitool with a blade that can be deployed without opening the tool, for a left handed user?

It is very unusual to find anything made for lefties in the multitool arena. Several lefty multitool users that I have seen discuss this have concluded that they adjust by simply opening the tool with their right hands and then moving it to their left, or using a different finger to open the blade. Their discussion linked here: http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,26820.0.html

[ninja-elbow]

As others have stated, in the MT world, paying the "higher end" price has worked out for me. I only buy more MTs because I like to. I could've stopped back in in 1999 when I got my Super Tool.