What would be top quality? Do you own any variation of the SwissTool? That tool is 100% quality, I feel moreso than any other one tool in release at this time. Everything moves smoothly, has a high level of finish and actually snaps open
and closed with an audible click. Of course, their is not a tool around that will compare to a 200$ folder in terms of materials, and finish. There just isn't a market for them and the comparison isn't really valid anyway.
Leatherman- bead blasted everything, pliers that bind, tools that are roughly finished. The new scissors seem a little flimsy and don't have a proper set. The bits for the bit holders could be of a nice steel.
Addressing your issues:
Leatherman Tools are not entirely bead blasted, everything but the interior implements are finished to a medium polish. Leatherman also offers many of their models in a black oxide finish that makes the underlying polish irrelevant.
How are your pliers binding? The early Core had problems as did the Surge but in both cases the company has responded with alterations to new tools and will fix the problem on already owned tools. Also, both instances can be easily avoided by the end user if they are aware of it. I have had no problems in the couple dozen of modern Leatherman tools I've used daily since the line re-structured in 2004. I think the oval plier head is a big improvement.
I don't think the tools are roughly finished, they are just differently than in previous years. Certainly not rough, compare the implements to much cheaper tools for a view of what rough tooling is. Rough finishes are obvious on tools like the ol' Coleman Pro-Lock and the Chinese Schrade ToughTool, not on any Leatherman I have seen.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT4.jpg
The new scissors have shown no indication of being unecessarily flimsy. In my use they have proven to be less prone to binding and bending out of true than the older model. What's a proper set for the scissors?
Are the bits not of S-2 steel? I think this is a good choice for the bits, I used the full-set with my Wave at work and have found them to be resistant to rounding and breakage. I do wish they had a stronger finish, a few times in and out of the holder and the finish is already beginning to wear.
Gerber- burrs left on every blade I've seen. Sharp corners and edges. The handles pinch on the classic Gebers (the pliers wobble too). The RemGrit blade holder retainer breaks.
I had a burr on one of the three Freehands I bought last year, other than that all the modern Gerbers I have collected have been fine in this regard.
Looking at the current line-up of their mid-high line tools I see little sharp edges/corners. The Freehand and Flik are a little iffy when the pliers are used really hard but their edges are still soft. The most commom Gerber tools, the MP600 and the Diesel have smooth shaped handles and no exterior edges at all.
The pinch issue was resolved with the MP600 series almost a decade ago and has been improved on even more with the Diesel, Freehand and Flik plier mechanisms. This issue is similar to the uncomfortable handles on the old Leatherman PST, it's there and will always be mentioned because the tool has made such an impact but has been long resolved by the company.
These are tools, things break. Did you contact Gerber for a replacement or repair?
Victorinox- needs to calm down with the polishing of EVERYTHING. Needs to beef up the file and saw on the Spirit (too much flex for my liking)
The polish is there for a reason. Victorinox is founded on certain levels of finish, for them to move to a medium polish would be an affront to many users. Victorinox does offer at least one model of each of thier tools in black oxide, perhaps this is a better choice for you?
I hope they do not, the thinness of the saw and the file, even they are only fractionally thinner than comparable industry implements, is the strong point of the tools. They are hardened well enough that they can flex but thin enough to cut more efficiently than implements from other companies without undue breakage. Thicker saws and files are just more difficult to use without offering any real strength gains.
If you take the time to compare the offerings you are complaining about to lower-priced models or older models from the same line you will see an across-the-board improvement in quality, strength and finish. I routinely rotate older discontinued tools with their modern day counterparts and other than a slight increase in size and weight the modern tools are leagues ahead of their older siblings.
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I think the perfect multi-tool for me would have the locking mechanism and tool selection of the Victorinox SwissTool, the ergonomic handles of the Victorinox Spirit (but larger), the hollow ground flat drivers and Phillips driver of the Leatherman Core, the one hand opening blades and diamond file and removable pocket clip of the Leatherman Wave/Charge, and the pliers and wire cutter of the SOG PowerLock 2.0. But I don't think that multi-tool will be manufactured any time soon. All the multi-tools have their pluses and minuses. I pick what to carry based on which multi-tool I think is best suited for what I'm planning to do that day, e.g. Do I want the one-hand opening blades or the better wire cutters? I actually use quite a few older multi-tools as well as newer ones.
