JamesKACF Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Hi all, I've been looking for a decent multitool for a little bit now and thought I'd see if any of you had any input. This knife is also going to be used while I am away with the Cadet as well so I need a good quality one. After a string of fairly useless knives and tools that were dirt cheap (the best knife I have owned has been the Bear Grylls compact scout knife, £20 and sharp as a razor, but its small and is only a knife) I want something more durable and of good quality, I am willing to spend a bit of cash on it as a decent knife is a bit of an investment. Anyway I've been looking at SOG multitools and Leathermans as well. But mostly because they are black... James Link to post Share on other sites
Jimmypie Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Gerber suspension and compact sport are good value for the money, leatherman for a bit more ££ , if you can, get yourself to a shop , either a camping/hiking style and try a few out, then find your best price online , a good place that is tried and tested is http://www.heinnie.com/Pocket-Tools/c-1-94/ , might also be worth checking out CRKT's line of pocket tools, good value and sturdy products. Link to post Share on other sites
abbadon101 Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Leatherman or Gerber. Only makes I would recommend. Link to post Share on other sites
JamesKACF Posted May 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Hmmmmm... I must say that Leatherman Wave is calling to me.... Link to post Share on other sites
Azubi Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 I've had a leatherman wave for years that has had extensive use all over the world and I still love it. Got a couple of the Gerber Suspension tools too which I kept in my cars and occasionally comes to skirmishes. In the desert, I found the Wave to have a much better locking system when it comes to sand ingress causing issues. I also found the Wave seems to keep an edge better on the blades. Link to post Share on other sites
JamesKACF Posted May 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Nice one. You know a knife is quality when it gets endorsed by a soldier (I'm guessing seeing as "desert" and "all over the world" came up just then ) Do you have the plain steel or oxide coated one? Seen a review that said it got "scratched" and I'm trying to figure out if he meant scratches that occur normally through use and just show up more because of the coating or what....... The word tacticool does spring to mind a little but hey Link to post Share on other sites
my_plague_666 Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 leatherman make lovely tools. it's pricey, but if you dont mind paying for it the charge tti is a lovely bit of kit. it doesn't bring that much extra to the table as opposed to the wave, it's got crimpers, S30V steel blades , a cutting hook on the serrated blade, a micro screwdriver and i think that's about it tool wise. the best thing about it is the titanium handles, they make the tool a bit lighter but more importantly they feel so much nicer in your hand. Link to post Share on other sites
JamesKACF Posted May 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Just spent a few minutes looking up TTI as a brand before I realised you were on about the Leatherman Charge... I feel like a bit of a knob. Link to post Share on other sites
Danke Posted May 9, 2013 Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 Are you a cadet leader or a cadet? You may not be allowed a sharp thing. I've had a Gerber for over a decade. It still works fine and the one hand opening is a top tip. Link to post Share on other sites
JamesKACF Posted May 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2013 I'm an instructor, so a multitool won't be an issue. And the rules are fairly flexible certainly when I was a Cadet, which was up until last year, some of them had knives that were probably illegal. there were certainly a few 3 1/2" locking blades. That was mostly younger, more immature cadets trying to show off though, the rest of use kept to more reasonable ones like my Bear Grylls knife. Link to post Share on other sites
shmook Posted May 10, 2013 Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 Get a leatherman. I've got 3, and they are ace. My wave I've had since 1999, and its been round the world with me, and still like new. I also have a MUT, which is a beast, but good for my work, and a squirt PS4 on my keys. I can't recommend Gerber, had bad luck with them. But also look at victorinox, they get nothing but good reviews too. SOG are also meh to me, at least with their knives. The quality doesn't match the price. Just get a leatherman! Be aware though, the black oxide finish will wear quickly... Link to post Share on other sites
Leon Kennedy Posted May 10, 2013 Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 Leatherman Wave in black. Owned an original Leatherman from 1989 until a few years back; got the Wave and I absolutely, positively love it. Leatherman is a great company; the pliers on my 89' model broke in 2005, and they STILL replaced it. Link to post Share on other sites
housemartins Posted May 11, 2013 Report Share Posted May 11, 2013 You should seriously look at SOG multitools, build quality is at least as good as the other big brands but they're around half the price http://www.amazon.co.uk/SOG-Specialty-Knives-Tools-S44-N/dp/B00004U9IX Don't buy it from Amazon though obviously, tax dodgers innit Link to post Share on other sites
JamesKACF Posted May 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2013 Ha! Saw that last post just after I ordered a Leatherman . Leatherman have a good reputation and I had the money so I went with a Wave. Thanks for the posts guys they did make me rethink a little. Link to post Share on other sites
Deve Posted May 12, 2013 Report Share Posted May 12, 2013 A good investment with the Wave is to pick up the lanyard ring (if it doesn't come with one as part of a expanded set) and use it, especially if you are taking it out into the field. Black Leathermans like to try and escape at night... Link to post Share on other sites
jimmythetool Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 In case you needed any further encouragement - I've had a Leatherman Wave for about 12+ years now. Never had a single problem, edge has kept well on the blades, 000's of uses... couldn't recommend it more. Enjoy! Link to post Share on other sites
housemartins Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 So did you get the Wave, OP? Somebody got me the classic Leatherman survival tool for my birthday, seems pretty sturdy. Link to post Share on other sites
JamesKACF Posted May 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 So did you get the Wave, OP? Somebody got me the classic Leatherman survival tool for my birthday, seems pretty sturdy. Yeah I got the Wave in black, the thing is built like a tank, very nicely oiled as well. The one handed opening is a little stiff but that should loosen up a little with use. The blades are scary sharp and the whole thing is very comfortable to use. All in all I'm very happy with it. Oh and I got a free Leatherman karabinar tool thingy and it was laser engraved for almost nothing! Link to post Share on other sites
Deve Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 The thick flat-bladed screwdriver also acts as a handy alternative for the combi tool for adjusting sights on the L85/L98/LSW. Link to post Share on other sites
JamesKACF Posted May 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 ha! I may or may not have 'acquired' a combi tool a year or so ago Link to post Share on other sites
gisburn20 Posted May 21, 2013 Report Share Posted May 21, 2013 The issue combi tool can be made slightly more useful for Airsoft if you remove the gas block reamer (drill bit) and replace it with a cut down allan key of which ever size (3mm / 2.5mm) fits your scope mounts. I've been using a Leatherman for a long time, I had a Leatherman Supertool probably 12 years ago and bought a Black Leatherman Charge about 7 years ago, the Charge is much more useful as a knife because of the direction which the blades open out, the supertool blades open towards the inside of the opposite handle so making it hard to cut down onto a flat surface.. The harder steel of the Charge primary blades holds a better edge longer than the Supertools soft stainless as well. The Supertool however is much easier to clean rabbit and fish cuts out of! Jim Link to post Share on other sites
my_plague_666 Posted May 21, 2013 Report Share Posted May 21, 2013 Yeah I got the Wave in black, the thing is built like a tank, very nicely oiled as well. The one handed opening is a little stiff but that should loosen up a little with use. The blades are scary sharp and the whole thing is very comfortable to use. All in all I'm very happy with it. Oh and I got a free Leatherman karabinar tool thingy and it was laser engraved for almost nothing! the blades will loosen up with a bit of use. my skeletool CX was quite stiff at first but i can now do a rather satisfying one handed flick with great ease one hand opening blades are the way forward. Link to post Share on other sites
QQexDERA Posted May 21, 2013 Report Share Posted May 21, 2013 I swapped from Leathermans to Gerbers a few years ago, and won't be going back anytime soon. The Gerber Diesel has pretty much exactly what I want, with superb build quality. Link to post Share on other sites
Touchette Posted May 22, 2013 Report Share Posted May 22, 2013 I'm a Gerber fanboy, I prefer the way they open versus Leathermans, but bother are good quality multitools and you can't go wrong. I actually have my eye on a Leatherman MUT EOD at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites
kojak Posted May 23, 2013 Report Share Posted May 23, 2013 Used to like Gerbers, but recently two sets of pliers failed me during light use. Gerber replaced the Diesel (snapped needlenose tip) with no issues, and I haven't sent the dime (complete lock/hinge failure) yet, but I'm shopping for something more reliable to replace both despite my cheapskate nature. The whole point of a multttool is that you depend on it when your toolbox isn't around, a lifetime warranty isn't much use in the field. In their defense I got to fondle the pricey Downrange Tomahawk, and it's a pretty awesome hard-use multitool of sorts. Link to post Share on other sites
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