Leatherman, best model to buy?

[Joe Bob]

I am looking to make my first purchase and would like to get input on the PP referred model. I like that they are USA made and have a 25 year warranty. I see a lot of china knock offs....I am guessing that the build quality is an issue as I see comments onlne of the real ones gong in for repair due to hard use.....but the US made ones are pricey.

I currently carry a folding Gerber skeleton knife. It goes dull quickly and is not always a tool that I can use for every day fix it stuff and will constantly have to hit the garage for a screw driver, pliers or scissors.

Opinions and recommendations are appreciated.

[vash]

i have old ones and new ones. the old ones say, made in Portland OR USA or something.

the others..nothing. silent. the knives all get razor sharp.

[Joe Bob]

The holsters appear to be made in China, the website shows the owner on the factory floor in Oregon....but he was a Kerry supporter....

So batting .333 so far.

[Evans, Marv]

I have a couple, but I don't use them much. I have easy assess to my regular tools. One is the Super Tool with Portland stamped on it. I like the plyers on it, since they are very sturdy. I use cheap but sturdy folding knives I buy for next to nothing for general purpose. I can use, sharpen, and abuse them and not worry about breaking & replacing them. The knives on the Leatherman are generally too small and delicate for my general use, but like Cliff says, they are sharp.

[Dantilla]

I've got a handful of Leatherman tools. Highly recommended.

I still prefer the original that is no longer made. Perfect compromise between size and usefulness.
With such a variety available, it's simply personal preference. Big ones offer more tools, but small ones disappear nicely in any pocket.

Gotta determine what will be needed on a regular basis. For me, that is the regular knife blade and pliers. Flat blade and phillips screwdrivers also are commonly needed. Scissors come in handy occasionally. I've never used a bottle opener.

YMMV.

I visited the Leatherman factory a while back. Interesting to see Tim Leatherman's original prototype.
Obviously better at ideas than fine craftsmanship!

The factory store has since moved to a retail strip center a few miles away.
The store sells at full retail as to not undercut the many stores that carry their tools.

[Fast Freddy 944]

Try SOG brand, R Lee Ermy, Was in a ad for one, so it has to be good.

[chuckr]

Carried this for years. Has replaceable hacksaw blade and very sharp knife.
Would not leave home without it !

[vash]

nice!!

isnt there one dedicated to servicing Glock handguns? i cant search it or some alarms go off at headquarters that i am searching "weapons".

[varmint]

[Wetwork]

Just some back ground first. I'm on a cattle ranch.

A real cattle ranch that's been in the business since 1908. I also did twenty years with the USCG. Over those twenty active duty I pretty much used every multi-tool made. First gen Leatherman, Gerber, SOG to name a few. I retired and now back to ranching.

So far the Leatherman Wave has held up the best, but I did break the tip off the needle nose pliers. I know I was doing work with it past what it could endure but in the heat, you just go for it and cuss breaking it later. I was my fault, its not a set of fencing pliers. Still useable but the tip broke none the less. The big sell for Leatherman is they don't pinch the pads on your fingers if they close tight. Hated that with other brands, and you'd get pinched pretty good with a lot of them. My father, on his belt, just carries a small pair of Vice Grips (TM), and has for forty years.

For hard use no multi-tool is perfect. In my head it's just a quickie fixer, half-way, better than nothing deal. If you can get the right tool for the job, take the time to do it. However, if and when my Wave gives up the ghost I will be getting the same thing.

As far as pocket knifes...my hands down, best ranching knife is my Model 1 Ontario Knifes RAT. Its AUS-8 and holds a edge longer, and is easier to sharpen than any other knife I have, or ever had for hard use. Like most of us I have a lot of knives, and I like this one so much I bought a couple of extra's to put in the gun-safe for back-up. Mostly in case they stop making them or they get discontinued. Its relatively cheap for what you get. The only, and I'm talking only down-side to the RAT for a rancher is the scales are poorly colored. They need bright colors so when you put it down you can find it again. Coyote, Flat Black, Olive Drab are poor colors on small objects, for someone who has to set the knife down a lot. The shape of the blade, the fit in my hand is perfect for what I do here. -WW

[wildthing]

I got one from Groupon and keep that in my bag. Use the pliers and screwdrivers most.

Leatherman Skeletool is what it is.

[Charles Freeborn]

They're made here in Portland. I know Tim Leatherman well. We play tennis together. Outstanding person and company.
The Wave is a good choice.

[Charles Freeborn]

Originally Posted by varmint

Send that back to them and they will replace it free of charge no questions asked.

[Pazuzu]

My favorite Leatherman is the one that says Gerber on the size

Sorry, the Gerber 600 series is the only one with an actual usable pliers, and has the tools sit inside the handle when using, so they don't pinch. I have both Sog and Leatherman tools in the garage, but the Gerber is the one I actually use.

Oh, it's also the only one I've seen that allows you to remove it from the pouch and open the pliers with one hand, since you'll be on the ladder holding up that piece of conduit or whatever with the other hand.

[Tobra]

I can open my Leatherman with one hand, no problem.

[Joe Bob]

The one accessory I would like is a wire stripper. Don't seem to find that option on any of the multi tools I have looked at. The SOG seems like an interesting option to the LM....

[Pazuzu]

Also, the Gerber is US made and has a good lifetime warranty, just like the Leatherman.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

The one accessory I would like is a wire stripper. Don't seem to find that option on any of the multi tools I have looked at. The SOG seems like an interesting option to the LM....

Joebob,

My leatherman has a couple wire strippers on it- built in with the pliers mechanism. I've had both the Leatherman and Gerber, both have good and bad points. Original Leatherman didn't have locking tools, but newer ones do. The Gerber Phillips screwdriver doesn't seem to be a decent size for any screw.

Go to the website and they list tools on each one. I also bought direct and had them put my name on it since the tool I was replacing I left somewhere at work and of course no one would no who it belonged to if they found it, which someone did and I saw it on a Sergeant's desk and claimed it back- officer found it, get this, right where I used it last!

Rutager

[rwest]

I got the surge and am happy with it.

https://www.leatherman.com/surge-3.html?dwvar_3_color=10#Tools

[sand_man]

Originally Posted by vash

nice!!

isnt there one dedicated to servicing Glock handguns? i cant search it or some alarms go off at headquarters that i am searching "weapons".

https://www.leatherman.com/mut-29.html