Multi-Tools

[Whiskey_D.]

I wasn't sure where to post this. I thought about Building/Tools but figured it would get more of a response here.

What brand and model do you guys use? Leatherman, Gerber, SOG or other. I just replaced my original 20+ year old black "well it once was black" Leatherman with a SOG Powerlock. I really liked the Leatherman but I've heard they have very bad left leaning political views so I decided to try something else. I had the Gerber brand but didn't care for getting the HELL pinched out of my hand everytime I used the pliers on it.
I think I'm going to like the SOG. It's bigger than the Leatherman but it is very comfortable to use.
Tell me what you think.

[tufhelp]

I glad you mentioned the Gerber pinching problem, I thought it was just me! I can't afford to replace them, so I hold them "funny" when I remember...

[gunslinger2006]

I like my Leatherman Wave, and I hadn't heard about their politics :-/

[Tightwad]

It's not fair to punish the Leatherman employees
over a rumor that may have heard about the owners
political leanings. Like it or not Leatherman still has
the best multi-tool's on the market. The Leatherman
employees have families just like you & I do so reward
their quality efforts with a sale of the products they
make. It's the right thing to do,mate.

That said, my favorite is the old style leatherman
supertool. I've tried all the others but still come
back to my Supertool.

[Whiskey_D.]

Well I see it a little differently there TW.

Mr. Leatherman wrote:

"Because I publicly stated how I am going to cast my vote, almost all of you have threatened a boycott against my company.

So be it.

I took a position, and now I will accept the consequences.

I am still going to do my absolute best to make great tools and hope that you and all Americans, of every political affiliation, will find them of value. If not today, someday. Tim Leatherman President Leatherman Tool Group, Inc".


If he had kept his mouth shut about his political affiliation then it would have been fine. But if you are running a company and don't know to keep you trap shut about politics then shame on you. I'm sure his employees will be fine because there are plenty of sheep out there that don't know or don't care about his politics. I on the other hand am not a sheep and it matters to me if I support a company that supports a politician that goes against everything I stand for. That being said I chose to take my money elsewhere, you are free to do with your money as you like.

[commonsense]

I have a Super tool 2000 it is great. I have not heard about his political views, I will check it out and if they are to far to the looney left I will take my business else where.

[lost1]

I agree with what Whiskey D said. and I'm glad he said it.

[Tightwad]

Well I see it a little differently there TW. *

Mr. Leatherman wrote:

"Because I publicly stated how I am going to cast my vote, almost all of you have threatened a boycott against my company.

So be it.

I took a position, and now I will accept the consequences.

I am still going to do my absolute best to make great tools and hope that you and all Americans, of every political affiliation, will find them of value. If not today, someday. Tim Leatherman President Leatherman Tool Group, Inc".


If he had kept his mouth shut about his political affiliation then it would have been fine. *But if you are running a company and don't know to keep you trap shut about politics then shame on you. I'm sure his employees will be fine because there are plenty of sheep out there that don't know or don't care about his politics. I on the other hand *am not a sheep and it matters to me if I support a company that supports a politician that goes against everything I stand for. That being said I chose to take my money elsewhere, you are free to do with your money as you like.

Well, Ok if you say so. However, Tim Leatherman has always been
his own man with the courage of his convictions. At least he had
to guts to say it plain for folks to pick at, or not.

I don't care one bit how he votes because he's only one man/one vote.
If you want to disagree with him that is your right. Just don't vilify
him for having the guts to tell his point of view.....publicly. At least
he doesn't hide like lot's of Republicans do.

It all comes down to......
If Tim Leatherman has no right to an opinion neither do you. We
must respect and protect it even if we don't like the others opinion.
That's just one price of freedom.

As far as sheep go.........I see that you've already got some to follow
your point of view here. I wonder how many more will line up to
tear at Tim's honest opinion.

By the way, the topic WAS about the best multi-tool...Wasn't it??

[Whiskey_D.]

I'm not looking to get in a pissing match here fella.

I didn't *"vilify" anyone. *And I didn't say he didn't have a right to his opinion. He can vote for Hitler for all I care. But I choose NOT to support who him because he voted for Kerry. Thats my damn buisness. AKA Freedom!

And Yes I do believe that Multi-Tools was the topic of conversation until YOU tried to tell ME that I was doing wrong by taking MY hard earned money elsewhere because of the way I feel about Mr Leathermans voting practices.

As I stated earlier, you spend your money as you see fit and I'll do what I damn well please with mine. I don't need anybody telling me what I should do. THAT IS TRUE FREEDOM!!!

Now for the love of Christmas can we please get back on the subject bud!

[mkh100]

Leathermans "RIGHT" to say things only reminds me of my "RIGHT" to buy from someone else if I think his politics suck !

Just because someone has a right to do something does not mean I have to support it, nor does merely possessing and exercising a right mean its moral.

Ask a dixie chick if speaking your mind fills up concert halls.

Maybe its time for a new gerber tool.......I'll buy it for myself just cause I can :)

[scoutinlife]

Ok 2 Gerber Compacts 400's one w/ tool adapter and a Leatherman which is older from when I was in the service had a crimper for blasting ;D caps ect really never use that one anymore but use the gerbers all the time.

[Archangel]

I've bought/been given a few I still like the orginal Leatherman. My 2 cents Michael

[hilltopdude]

I have both a Gerber, and Leatherman Wave
I prefer the Leatherman though and just keep the Gerber in my pack as backup

[American_Infidel]

I had the Gerber, got tired of pinching my hand, so it is in the BOB. The Gerber is easier to open in my opinion. I replaced it with a Leatherman Kick. I like it's size so I carry it in my pocket rather than in the sheath. It seemed I was always hanging a sheath on something.

[Tightwad]

And Yes I do believe that Multi-Tools was the topic of conversation until YOU tried to tell ME that I was doing wrong by taking MY hard earned money elsewhere because of the way I feel about Mr Leathermans voting practices.

To clear the air......
I respect your right to an opinion of your choice and will fight to
protect that right in order to protect my own rights. However,
when a person tries to get others to follow their view point to not
buy, or support, another person because YOU don't like them is
plain wrong. It would be Ok is the subject were allowed equal
time to defend their opinion but that won't happen here in this
case.

All that said. One can say I don't like , or care for, this product or
or that product/person, and let the reader or listener decide if
they agree with the point of view stated. This is the right way.

If I said that you were a low down scamp and then tried to enlist
others to agree with me is wrong. That's my point. (I don't think
you are any kind of scamp BTW)

[Whiskey_D.]

Well I've had a few days to use the SOG tool and so far so good. I decided to modify it slightly. It had a couple of covers I guess is what you would call them over the opening where the blades come out that must have been a after thought or a solution to a problem that didn't exist. I think they were meant to make the plier feature easier on the hand but they just got in my way. Anyway I took them off "they just snap off" and it even made them fold up better.
I used the wire crimper yesterday and was amazed at how well it worked.

[Tightwad]

How well do the 'cog' teeth help in opening on the Sog?

The SOG would be my second choice if my Supertool ever died.

[Rama_das]

i got a gerber, it's the one the CF uses, but there are better models out there. i'd rather have the one where you can open the knife without having to open up the pilers

[Whiskey_D.]

Well Tightwad the cog teeth are very smooth opening and really give you gripping strength when using the pliers. I like the teeth because the pliers open when the handles are spread open. My old Leatherman had gotten so loose that the plier jaws stayed shut when you worked the handles to open them. It had the right to be worn out though since it was carried and used every day for over 20 years.

[rassd71]

ok, back to the original question... ::)

I've had a couple of leatherman and a gerber. My first one was a letherman supertool that I had for a few years, unfortunately it was stolen when some kids broke into my old vw bus. When I replaced it, I thought I'd check out the Gerber as an old friend worked in a machine shop that made them for Gerber. Well, I too didn't care for the pinching and after two days and the first use, the flat head screw driver tip stripped! So, I returned it and bought a leatherman, the quality sure seems to have gone down since my old one! I lost that one and have replaced it with knock offs that seem to be the same quality for a lot less money.
So sorry, I don't really recommend any of them. But best of luck with whatever you get!

[762xIan]

I have a brand new Leatherman super tool, use it seldom, bench tool at the reloading area.

I carry the smaller leatherman standard? Carried one for 10 years, was torqueing up on a screw way to hard and snapped a rivet head on it. I sent it back figuring they would just throw in a new rivet, but they sent me a brand new one as a replacement. :)

Been carrying this one around now for 4 years. Shame the owner has bad politics, doesn't take an idiot to see that the class of people buying your product aren't the helpless "sheeple" or "nanny government" types. ::)