Charge again?

Z

znapschatz

Joined
Jan 24, 2005
Messages
2,792
Addressed to Charge enthusiasts:

My first experience with a Charge Ti didn't go very well. I really liked the 154 cm blade, one handed opening, diamond file, interchangeable driver bits, pocket clip, and overall handling, but wasn't crazy about no awl, the tiny, useless small bit driver and dinky scissors. The deal breaker, however, was when the lock on the PE blade failed twice. I sent the Charge to Leatherman Warranty, which returned it unfixed, claiming everything to be within spec. So, in sorrow, not anger, I got rid of it and went back to my other, more reliable Leathermen. That was two years ago.

Lately, with the introduction of the TTI, I have been rethinking matters and am now considering another run at the Charge. Some of the issues that troubled me first time around have been addressed with bit extenders and simple mods (didn't bother first time around because of the blade lock problem). Due to the lack of complaints about the lock, possibly I got the one bad production sample.

So, what do you think? Would this be a good move, or am I trying to talk myself into something?
 
I have never had a leatherman liner lock fail on me with normal use. That said, I don't think that it would be too far out of a thought to be bearing down on something with the blade only to squeeze the liner in to cause the blade to slip down.

However, it sounds to me like you just got a bad LM tool.

For me, the premium blade steel and higher cost is a catch 22. I don't like exposed liner locks on my primary blades (liner locks that don't have a slab covering them up). I can live with them on a leatherman tool, because my major cutting is done with another stand alone knife. However, if I am going to upgrade my LM to get the better steel, then I would be more apt to want to use it as a primary knife...which would bring me back to the exposed liner lock.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
I have never had a leatherman liner lock fail on me with normal use. That said, I don't think that it would be too far out of a thought to be bearing down on something with the blade only to squeeze the liner in to cause the blade to slip down.

However, it sounds to me like you just got a bad LM tool.

For me, the premium blade steel and higher cost is a catch 22. I don't like exposed liner locks on my primary blades (liner locks that don't have a slab covering them up). I can live with them on a leatherman tool, because my major cutting is done with another stand alone knife. However, if I am going to upgrade my LM to get the better steel, then I would be more apt to want to use it as a primary knife...which would bring me back to the exposed liner lock.
Click to expand...

At first, it had occurred to me maybe I had activated the lock release with my work glove, but when the lock failed again a week later, I wasn't wearing gloves and all but certain my hand wasn't in a position to do that. When a weak "spine whack" closed the blade, I was pretty well sure it was the lock at fault.

I had never before considered the matter of an exposed liner lock. Since I'm looking at the Charge blade to be a primary, it's good this came up. :eek:
 
i have a charge ti too, but none of the locks failed me before, it all works fine and its a great tool imho, and i use it as an EDC.you really might have gotten a defective one
 
Hi,

You must have had a real strange one in your Charge. I have 15 different Charges in my collection. No liner lock problems.

I'd suggest you try again.

Joe
 
I've been watching my Charges like a hawk ever since you posted about your lock failing Znapschatz. Haven't had any similar problems. All four of the locking blades seem quite secure.

I agree, try again.


~Bob
 
I'm in agreement. My TTi's locks have always been great. The only real issue with mine is that the pliers were tighter than I would have liked them to be, but have never experienced anything like you're describing with the locks. Mine works just fine; give the Charge another shot.
 
I've also never had the locks fail. I have a few different incarnations of the Charge but I can't really say that I've put the locks to the test on all of them. I mainly use a camo Charge XTi. Its blade has been abused but it has never failed.
 
From the responses on this thread and general lack of complaint about Charge locks in these and other forums, I am now inclined to think mine was a defective sample, despite Leatherman Warranty's opinion. Now that a Charge TTi is on the wish list, all I have to do is wait for a blowout price :D

It's really interesting about how a bad experience with one sample can sour the brand, even when you know better. I know a guy who got a lemon Ford in 1966 and to this day will not consider buying another one, says they are all junk, won't accept that 40+ years might make any difference. That's not so unusual an attitude, either.

Thanx all for the commentary.
 
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