I bought a couple of these knives as gifts for friends, but before passing one of them along as a birthday present, I decided to give it a serious look. I have written a few similar posts before, after all. I've been a fan of Leatherman tools for years. I carry a Wave almost every day, and I started with a PST II over 20 years ago. Sometimes a simpler knife-based tool like a Swiss Army Knife is more suitable than a balisong pliers system, though. How does this stack up?
The box is pretty basic. The front just has an embossed pattern and a few simple blurbs. "Made in the USA," "Quick Access," and "25 Year Warranty." The back has marketing claiming "magnetic architecture" ensures smooth operation. On a more practical front, I can affirm tool access as shown is quite easy compared to a Swiss Army Knife thumb nick in the knife blade or tool.
Inside, the knife is cradled in a nice display with the embossed Leatherman name. There is also a card with basic safety and care instructions, but my photos did not turn out well. I did get a shot of all the tools fanned open, though!
What we have: knife, awl, bottle opener, pry tool, package opener, Phillips screwdriver, medium screwdriver, and extra-small screwdriver
The good: The mechanism is nice, and as I noted already, I like the easy-opening thumb ledge on each tool. The knife is on par with Buck and other good made-in-the-USA 420 stainless steel options. Ergonomics are pretty decent, too. It feels solid, but not obnoxiously heavy, with all the metal. This also locks open nicely with an easy-to-use lever to unlock them all.
The gripes: I personally prefer a knife-based tool to have the knife closer to the center instead of along the outside. I think the "package opener" is more of a gimmick than a real feature. I also paid a lot less than the $49.99 price on the Leatherman site. That's steep, especially when compared to what you can buy from Victorinox in that range, although tools don't really lock in those.
This is a nice tool with enough features but no overkill. I like locking blades instead of slip joint systems, and the overall build quality is fine. If you want a knife with a few extra options, and you find a sale, it's a good choice. On the other hand, a Swiss Army Knife can offer more features for less money if you like gadgets, and a pliers-based multi-tool from either Leatherman or Victorinox offers a lot more utility if you can pay the higher price.
Whether this is the right tool for you depends on your needs. Having a variety of screwdrivers is nice in the tech world. It's a good gift for someone who wants more than just a knife every now and then, and the awl has real wilderness applications. It might be a good first knife for a kid, too. Share your thoughts in the comments!
I will have to look at these. I carry my Swiss Army knife in my purse daily. Never know when I might need to strip some wire, cut some string, or fix leather with a sewing awl. !BBH
If you're happy with the SAK, I'd say stick with the SAK. The locking system is nice, but not enough on its own to warrant switching tools.
That locking mechanism looks prone to collecting dirt is one puts the knife into harsher use. Looks cool though. I'll try to find the classic leatherman plier, would be usefuk for bikepaxking trips.
Lint, dirt, and grime are fair points. Finding out whether that's a real issue would take more than this cursory examination. A pliers-based took is perfect for my everyday needs, and would certainly be handy biking or backpacking. Apparently 100 years ago, hobos used pliers as improvised pot grabbers to pull their cookpots out of the fire when they weren't using them as intended in itinerant labor.
I am more likely to grab a pair of scissors than a knife for most cutting jobs I come across. Perhaps it's from years of sewing. But I did recently purchase a 2-blade Buck knife to carry in my car. Now and then, it comes in handy.
I love a leatherman but I don't like the look of this one, was you say the knife to the side feels kind of off, pardon the pun!
I'm not even sure this is legal for you in the UK with your weird laws against locking blades on knives.
Yeah, the laws are fucked in that respect. It's lethal to have them but not to carry them about I think which tenders them pointless. Although I still carry my big mean leatherman about with me as I ain't the demographic they are looking for
Titans must carry their Leatherman.
Oh yes indeed, nothing else will do!
True. A thought occurs regarding the asymmetric blade position, by the way. It does make it easier to open the blade one-handed using the thumb hole. It's not completely crazy to design it that way.
Yeah, I have had the odd knife that opens that way but I just love the symmetry of a central blade. I think that is why I had a practical fetish for bali song at one point. Annoyingly my missus made me hide mine away in the garage somewhere when the kids were old enough to toddle and i cant fecking find it!