Humans have been using edged tools for a long time; We first began to use sharpened tools around 2.6 million years ago and that honour goes to Homo habilis. For perspective, Homo sapiens, that's us folks, transitioned to permanent agricultural settlements only 10,000 years ago...So the other homo's that came before us had been using, and developing, edged tools for a long time!
The tools were basically sharpened stones called Oldowan tools and were used for cutting, scraping, chopping, and probably de-scaling fish I'd guess.
These progressed as human beings increased in intelligence and skill. They began to strike stone shards off larger rocks so the tools became sharper and thinner, much less rounded; More effective. That led to the hand axe.
Eventually knapping techniques improved (the striking of stone to craft the shards) and Homo neanderthalensis used this technique to craft tools of a predictable shape and size. This meant more efficient tools and a wider variety of uses.
I'll not go into the entire history because you probably don't care, but things progressed to the axes, celts and chisels of the Neolithic age which were even more advanced, sharper and able to be sharpened - This was around 12,000 years ago, and then came the more modern edged tools through working with metals like bronze, iron and steel.
A smart bunch of people, the humans, and by the time Homo sapiens hit the scene with their cognitive thought things were progressing quite nicely.
These days when people talk about knives it's often with a negative connotation; People see them as dangerous, but in truth edged tools play a vital role in day to day life and people that have them aren't all murderers...They're just people like you and I.
I'm a knife guy; I have many, and use them for their intended purpose generally, although I have some edged weapons for their historical-factor rather than utilitarian uses; My World War One bayonet is one such blade that was designed to stick human beings with - I haven't used it for that purpose.
Today I want to introduce you to one of my most useful tools and EDC knives. In truth it's not a simple edged tool but a combination of many tools rolled into one; A multi-tool.
Leatherman MUT (Military utility tool)
This combination tool is designed for practical and tactical functionality and is widely used by shooters in military, civilian and law-enforcement operations. It comes with a multitude of tools with primary and secondary purposes.
These tools are all readily deployed and easily replaced if damaged or broken - A few turns of a Torx wrench and the tool is back to its best...This makes the MUT perfect for field-use. It is constructed in 420HC stainless steel and heat treated for additional durability - It's a tough operator and will take a pounding. The tool is reasonably heavy at 11.2oz (317.5g) but that adds to its strength and durability.
👆The tool fits perfectly in the hand and finds a nice balance between too small and too large.
The tool comes in its own sheath which is MOLLE compatible so it can be carried on one's person or as part of the operators loadout, in or attached, to a pack. MOLLE means Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment. Most military folk, when in battle, would stow it on their first-line gear or the belt or possibly on their fighting rig; Civilians probably on the belt.
The tool has one-hand operable features which, in certain circumstances, could be required, and comes with a belt clip and a handy storage area in the handle for the screwdriver bits.
👆The pouch, scope adjustment tool and MUT
👆A snug little MOLLE compatible pouch to hold the tool. It can be attached to ones belt, webbing or pack.
Below is a list of the other features in standard trim but there's others available as accessories.
- Pointed-nose pliers
- Regular pliers
- Replaceable wire cutters
- Replaceable hard-wire cutters
- Stranded-wire cutters
- Electrical crimper
- 420HC combo knife
- Saw blade
- Replaceable cutting hook
- Hammer
- Bolt override tool (critical in battle)
- Replaceable bronze carbon scraper
- 8-32 cleaning rod/brush Adapter
- Replaceable firearm disassembly punch
- Carabiner/Bottle opener
- Large bit driver
I take my MUT whenever I go shooting, hunting, culling, off-roading, camping and hiking. I've found myself in situations when I wished I had tools and that tends only to happen once - I learn and adapt...I like to be prepared and this tool helps me to do that.
👆The wire cutters are replaceable as they will wear with use. The silver parts at centre of shot are the blades.
👆The threaded tool I mentioned. This will accept various tools that are available as accessories and allow one to set up the MUT to suit ones needs.
I'll admit that this tool isn't the cheapest thing around but I have a buy once-cry once ethos preferring to have something that will take the hammering I will give it and deliver results when most needed rather than a cheaper version that will let me down in the field or need replacing in a couple years. I've had this MUT for several years now and it hasn't let me down yet so the price is justified. It also comes with a 25 year guarantee so a person can't really go wrong. Add in the fact parts that wear are replaceable and one has a tool for life.
👆The saw and blade can be operated one-handed. Here you see a couple other features opened up and one of the screwdriver bits stowed in it's spot.
Sometimes I wonder what our ancestors would have made of the modern technologies we have these days. They made do with a sharp rock and here we are with the most modern of equipment...It would be interesting if we could hand them a Leatherman MUT I think.
Thanks for taking a look at my post, and don't forget to post your knives, edged tools and weapons posts into the knives community and if you don't want to have a think about supporting those who do.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised.
Be well
Discord: galenkp#9209
Wow, helpful information and sharing. How much the price of the knife?
Here in Australia they are somewhere between $330-$400 depending on location and the price of the US dollar. They are made in Portland, Oregon USA so the price here depends on the exchange rate.
!ENGAGE 25
Wow, I think that's vry expensive for me in Indonesia. but I know that's the best equipment that most people must have it in home, because its very useful. by the way, thank you. I hope sometime I can get that 😁
It's costly yes, but good equipment is, and I'll only ever need one. I tend to buy on a need, not want, basis so I don't waste my money on random things...It means I can spend it on those items I require, like my MUT.
Thank you very much @galenkp for ENGAGE token :)
would you like to share information with me about engage token?
It's a token that rewards engagement and is handed out by people like me who have 1001 or more of them. You can check your balance on Hive Engine via your wallet on Peakd.
Okay 😁 I want to know howuch we have ENGAGE token in wallet to meet requirement to give tip to someone?
Check your Hive Engine token wallet accessed via the wallet in Peakd.
ENGAGEtokens.I fucking love multi tools! Leathermans are the best. I need to get a new one as my old one got lost when I moved to this place a few years ago. I have a cheap one but you can tell the difference a mile away. This one looks good!
Great tools man, but there's no point preaching to the converted I guess; You know this already.
I'd be devo if I lost mine, not just because of the cost of replacing it, but because we've been together for so long...I get sentimental with some of my things.
There's different versions that do slightly different things, the EOD for instance, but this one does what I need. Love it.
Thanks for commenting, wasn't sure if anyone would care. 🤣
I was devo when I lost mine! I have been severely hinting to the good lady for the signal one a step down from the mut. Quite fancy it! Easy Christmas for her if she remembers!!
Santa better man-up this year bro, it's been a shit 2020, everything rests on him saving the entire year! I hope it happens for you.
!ENGAGE 25
ENGAGEtokens.Ok - when you visit I will swap you 3 FABULOUS local non-tourist travel experences for a hands-on machete sharpening workshop. Deal?? 😆 The bamboo is a bitch for the sharpness and it's impossible to find a good sharpener. I have a stone but need help on technique. 😊
Lol...This sounds like an offer I can't refuse!
We will call that a deal then - date TBC. 😊
!ENGAGE 15
ENGAGEtokens.Umm I care 😃
A good knife and multi-tool are two of the things I always have on me, one of those naked without them items that I use all the time for so many daily tasks.
Lol...Thanks for being a caring knife-guy.
I agree man, if I don't have the weight of a knife my MUT I feel a bit naked. The Multi-tool is such a handy bit of kit. I love it!
I also have a Leatherman still packed in the boxes here somewhere that we still have to get to since our move here not as fancy as yours, but it has always come in handy.
My problem is that I am a bit overweight in tools, as I have boxes full of all sorts and will soon get another 10 plastic storage containers full of tools.
Marian's uncle passed away and he was an engineer at an arms company, so the aunt decided to give me all of his tools lol.
What will I do with it? God only knows lol.
One can never have enough tools...Or maybe they can. Seems like you'll have an excess soon.
I tend to buy what I need when I need it. Over the years I have built up a good amount and as my DIY projects evolve I get better with each and so use those tools again on similar jobs. Been doing that for over 30 years and so have a good array.
My multi-tool though...With me most of the time I'm not at work. Love it.
Amazing how one can gather tools over time and I have also kept at it since my apprentice days.
In fact I still have my original Diston saws that are collectors items nowadays.
But then again many have been spending time untouched over the years, like my brass gas blower soldering lamps. A lot of other very old stuff as well .
Maybe one day they will find a place in a museum :)
I have a similar one, if I can still find it. I think it was maybe a Gerber knockoff. It came with a belt sheath. My favorite part and what I really bought it for was it's compact size and the fact that the pliers kind of slipped out from the inside and snapped into place for use, then pushed a button to slide back in. It gave a very satisfying shhiiicckk sound when flicking the wrist to open it. Main use was for fishing and using the semi-needle nose pliers to remove the fish hooks. I'll have to find it, had it tucked away in fishing gear somewhere.
There's a few on the market, some really good ones including the Gerber version. I had one of those years ago myself. I like my Leatherman products though and this one has been a trusty companion.
Just on another note...I'm.shooting that CZ 515 22LR tomorrow. I may pick it up...Will see how it goes.
Nice! It would be very hard for me to not bring that baby home, just for it's uniqueness if nothing else. And after all, it's a CZ, I have yet to pick one up that shot "bad", only some that shoot better than others.
The stock for my new build finally shipped yesterday, so should arrive next week. Really excited about this one.
Yeah, I agree it'll be a good one I think. My mate who got it last week loves it so...Let's see what happens tomorrow.
I'm looking forward to your build. Won't be long now.
This is very cool
Thanks.
Wow, so you're not only knowledgeable in all things that go shooty, but you also know quite a few things that go stabby. That Leatherman kit looks pretty handy. I suddenly remembered that my dad has a Kalashnikov bayonet somewhere here at home that he bought while on holiday.
I'm 110% sure its not a legit bayonet from the USSR, but it's sharp enough that I could feasibly use it in the event of a zombie apocalypse. It's quite a long one, too!
Bayonets are pretty wicked looking things and have been used to great effect in wars for a long time. They are interesting as they are often weighted and balanced both for use in the hand and on the end of a rifle. The more modern versions were more of a knife than a long bayonet though.
Yeah, I think I've see some of the later bayonets that one would attach to a modern rifle, if that's even something that's done anymore. They do look more like combat knives stuck on the barrel, though I guess with how battles are fought these days, one might never use something stabby for that much.
Rifle-mounted bayonets are a bit redundant these days as combat tends to happen from greater distance. Knives are a thing though, and with particular branches of the military get well-used in certain circumstances. There was a time though when bayonets were an integral element of combat.
If I remembered correctly, the last proper bayonet charge was during the Falklands War. The Brits (specifically the Highlander regiments, I believe) charged straight at the Argentinians with the FALs and bayonets. Staring down modern semi-automatic rifles while running across a field must've been a petrifying experience.
One of my mates was a British Royal Marine and fought in the Falklands war. He fell out of a helicopter just prior to being inserted onto the battlefield. Had to fight off the enemy alone, stepped on a land mine and lost his leg...Kept fighting. He's a tough fucker.
The rest of the unit fast-roped down and joined the fight. Saved his life.
He's struggling now, after all these years, with the leg issue - Just having a new prosthetic made now. Good bloke though, fun to hang out with.
A bayonet charge isn't my idea of fun, I'll tell you that much.
Sounds like quite a tale, and a tough bastard. War is hell, no way to get around that, and I doubt anyone ever comes back home from war feeling normal. At least your mate did make it back, and hopefully gradually getting better.
I've always wanted a multi tool. That one you got looks fantastic. That being said i am a knife guy too. I got rid of every single blade i owned before heading over to Australia. My buddy has them all now. I used to be pretty decent at silat and kali and edge weapons were a big part of that so i had an assortment of them. My everyday carry was a spiderco endura. Just a great knife all around. My kbar was probably my best tool. And my kukri from cold steel was more effective lobbing limbs and particularly dense roots than a hatchet. But the one that i spent the most time with was a Filipino talibong.
I miss my old blades. Too poor now to get any new ones. Not sure where my future will take me and if i keep up with my blade skills. For a few years i was teaching a little boy who loved pirates and swashbuckling how to spar with sticks wed find and i taught him basics of kali and pekiti tersia. He was a clever boy and memorised the 12 basic sword strikes. Not sure if hes kept any of it up though.
Sounds like you had some cool knives! I really like them, and I guess, appreciate the work that goes into making them (The hand made ones I mean). We have a big knife show here each year and I go along and have a look. Great to see the passion of the makers and they different techniques.
I believe it is smart to teach young people an appreciation of many things as later in life they can then develop and grow into the areas they most like...Expose them to many things and let them choose I guess is what I'm saying.
There's a pretty good bladesmith group on facebook i belong to. Its eye candy several times a day. If you've got facebook.
I'm not on FB...Can't stand it, although I know there's a few good groups on there. I'm ok about missing them though; Anything to not have FB in my life.
I don't blame you i moderate a group on facebook which s why im on there. And to keep in touch with some friends as that's the only way they communicate. But there's so much acerbic vitriol on facebook. Especially if you're in the states. Just never ending posts about politics. I purposely subscribe to astrophotography and flower groups so they fill up my board as much as possible in hopes they'll drown out all the shit posts.
I was on FB a while back, a couple years now but never posted anything. I used it to keep up with a few things I'm interested in. I decided to get rid of it though, just didn't see the point any longer. Best thing I ever did.
I'm close. I just have a lot of very valuable memories n my facebook page of the kid. Probably keep my page as is as a reminder of who i was. but not post to it anymore. Hive is so much better.
I exposed the boy to bushwalking. Astronomy. Sports. Swimming. Cooking. Martial arts. Gardening. Social skills. Geography. And the joys of playing in the rain. I was a good dad. A really good dad.
I agree, seems like you gave him the chance to experience a lot of things and that'll go well for him as he van choose what he's interested in. So many parents try to pigeon hold their kids, force them one way or the other. I'm not a parent, but that seems a little limiting.
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STOPI always learn new things from your post
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Hey there, thanks so much for the feature; It humbles me when I consider how many other great posts are out there.
I am very grateful. Thank you! 🙂
I actually liked all of the historical details. 25 years guarantee? Oh my this is something. I think this is almost indestructible if they offer so many years guarantee, nice!
Great write up, and tool. I enjoy the history too. The more the better for me.
Thanks mate, it's a great tool to have around and it's saved me a few times, got me out if a jam. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Personally my favorite Leatherman model is the Leatherman Wave because of its diamond file.
However this one I'm highly interested in getting specifically for the AR platform specific tool set that this model comes equipped with.
I've spent a lot more money on knives but for these they have a warranty that is completely unmatched.
I had sent back my Leatherman Wave and they sent me back a brand new version. Absolutely brand spanking new
I absolutely love Leatherman
Their quality is renowned and therefore they can safely offer the warranty to back it. They have so many variants of the tool that I think there's one for everybody. I know a guy who has a couple of different ones depending on his activities. Seems a good way to go. For my, the MUT is all I need. Thanks for sharing your story.
Nice. I have both a Gerber and Leatherman that we use all the time here on the boat. They are handy for sure. The MUT looks epic.
One never understands how useful a multi-tool is until one needs it but doesn't have it. The MUT is a beast and has helped me keep operating when things could have gone pear-shaped. :)
Sadly most don't even know what a tool is let alone a multi tool.