- Joined
- Jul 15, 2004
- Messages
- 279
After hearing a lot of opinions on both I decided to sit down with a notebook, a pen, a caliper, both tools, a can, and a wood block. I compared the features of both and ended up with five written pages of observations and comparisons. Here is what I observed: ("L" refers to the Charge, "S" refers to the Swiss tool)
Weight:
S: Feels slightly heavier
Weight feels very close.
Size:
S: Longer (Taller), Wider
L: Thicker
Handles:
L: More Grip, Feels more positive
S: More flex when squeezed together
L: More flex when side scales squeezed together
L: Wider, Thicker
S: Longer
S: Steel handle scales
L: Titanium handle scales
Opening of handles:
S: Harder to open
S: Difficult to open and close one handed without assist of leg, side, ect.
S: One stop while opening (90*)
L: Can be opened and closed one handed
L: One stop while opening (greater then 90*)
L: Has kind of a V opening channel to keep pivots from becoming loose. (No more butterfly knife tricks)
Pliers:
S: Held into handles by pins (non adjustable)
S: Regular nose style
S: More steel around pivot pin at bottom/top
S: Large teeth grip better
S: Thicker at base
S: Better grip at tip
L: Held into handles by pivot screws (non user adjustable)
L: Needle nose style
L: Bigger Pivot pin
L: More steel around pivot pin on sides
L: Larger wire cutter
L: Spot to cut thicker wire without damage
L: Small teeth grip better
L: Wider at base
L: Opens wider
L: More small teeth in contact with object being gripped
Ruler:
S: Longer
S: Holding pliers head closed keeps it from folding
L: Used to aid in handle grip
L: Designed to not fold when pushed against object being measured
Both accurate
Carry options:
L: Pocket clip* (easily removable), Sheath, in pocket, and Lanyard (both built in hole and removable hole, paracord fits)
S: Sheath, In pocket
Both fit well in jeans watch pocket
*Pocket clip has a side to side movement of about 3 mm
Tool locks:
S: Near impossible to open tools one handed
S: Dead bolt style lock (similar to axis it seems) with back spring like a slipjoint to create a stop/snap open
S: Very difficult to identify tools blind
L: four main tools use liner lock, aux. tools use a lever style lock
L: Difficult to open inner tools one handed
L: Tools can be identified blind
L: Lock spring looks like it will last longer (comparing L: Lever lock to S: sliding lock)
L: Easier to work one handed (comparing L: Lever lock to S: sliding lock)
L: More thumb purchase (comparing L: Lever lock to S: sliding lock)
L: More thumb grip (comparing L: Lever lock to S: sliding lock)
Both locks can be worked one handed (comparing L: Lever lock to S: sliding lock)
L: Definite advantage with the liner lock (on 4 main tools)
L: Tools on average lock up tighter (especially tools using liner lock)
Tool/Implement selection (L):
1. Can opener
2. Wire stripper (triangle style) (on can opener)
3. Large Bit driver (with spring to hold bit in)
4. Large/Medium-Large screwdriver
5. very small screwdrivers in small bit driver (both standard and philips) (held in by compression)
6. Scissors
7. Build in lanyard hole
8. Knife (one handed opening) (clip point)
9. File (crosscut on one side) (diamond dust on other) (hacksaw part)
10. Serrated blade (one handed opening) (no stabbing point, but not completely blunt)
11. Opposing teeth saw (angled teeth)
Tool/Implement selection (S):
1. Regular SAK style blade
2. very large screwdriver
3. Wood Chisel
4. Wire stripper (Triangle and round) (on chisel)
5. Bottle opener
6. Medium screwdriver (on bottle opener)
7. Can opener (with small screwdriver)
8. Opposing teeth saw (straight teeth)
9. Full Serrated SAK style blade
10. awl
11. philips screwdriver
12. file (crosscut style on both sides) (hacksaw teeth)
Tool/Implement observations:
S: Most tools are too polished to get a good grip
S: File hacksaw teeth farther apart
S: File thinner
S: saw cuts equally on push and pull
S: saw thicker
S: no real lanyard hole
S: corkscrew attachment available
S: longer screwdrivers on average
S: 440A steel or its equal used throughout
L: Bits in large driver get an excellent grip (the allen bits are some of the best I ever used)
L: Better can opener, the S's can opener would not work on a few cans
L: Scissors can slip off spring of cutting under certain side pressure
L: File hacksaw teeth closer together
L: File Thicker
L: Less file flex
L: Saw works faster
L: saw cuts more on pull then on push
L: saw thinner
L: tiny screwdriver gets stuck if pushed to hard while using philips side
L: no real awl
L: short screwdrivers
L: 400 series stainless steel, 154cm steel main blade, S2 steel bits
L: bronze bushings on 4 main tools
L: When the pliers are open the main blade and serrated blade are locked closed (nice touch)
Both have optional bit drivers
Final observations/comments/opinions:
For my uses I prefer the Leatherman Charge Ti, and see it as the better tool. I find it easier to carry, the one handed opening blade of 154cm held by a liner lock means I can carry it as my only folding knife and feel comfortable, the ability to open things one handed I find very important, the needle nose is a must, and the lanyard hole is a must. The ability to change to allen bits and torx (which I use often) is a big plus. However, the two big things I like about the Swisstool are the longer screwdrivers and the awl.
For me the swiss tool is too polished, the polished outside is annoying because it shows scratches like crazy and I constantly find myself wiping fingerprints off (Not really important, but it is annoying). The polished screwdrivers slip easily, which is very annoying (and could be dangerous). The lack of a real lanyard hole is very sad too, I find a lanyard to be extremely useful working up high or out in the woods.
One thing people often say about the Swiss tool vs. charge is the selection of tools, while the Swiss tool has more the only tool the Swisstool has that the charge doesn't that I find useful is the awl. The chisel and bottle opener (especially when there is already a can opener) I don't really find that useful for the amount of space they take up. I think the charge makes better use of space. If Victorinox would trade the chisel and bottle opener for scissors it would have probably the best selection of tools out there. As it is now I see it as being better then the Supertool 200, but not as good as the Charge.
Well, those are my observations and opinions. My only qualifications are I am user and collector of multitools (owning roughly 30). Therefore, take what I have written for as much as you think it is worth.
Weight:
S: Feels slightly heavier
Weight feels very close.
Size:
S: Longer (Taller), Wider
L: Thicker
Handles:
L: More Grip, Feels more positive
S: More flex when squeezed together
L: More flex when side scales squeezed together
L: Wider, Thicker
S: Longer
S: Steel handle scales
L: Titanium handle scales
Opening of handles:
S: Harder to open
S: Difficult to open and close one handed without assist of leg, side, ect.
S: One stop while opening (90*)
L: Can be opened and closed one handed
L: One stop while opening (greater then 90*)
L: Has kind of a V opening channel to keep pivots from becoming loose. (No more butterfly knife tricks)
Pliers:
S: Held into handles by pins (non adjustable)
S: Regular nose style
S: More steel around pivot pin at bottom/top
S: Large teeth grip better
S: Thicker at base
S: Better grip at tip
L: Held into handles by pivot screws (non user adjustable)
L: Needle nose style
L: Bigger Pivot pin
L: More steel around pivot pin on sides
L: Larger wire cutter
L: Spot to cut thicker wire without damage
L: Small teeth grip better
L: Wider at base
L: Opens wider
L: More small teeth in contact with object being gripped
Ruler:
S: Longer
S: Holding pliers head closed keeps it from folding
L: Used to aid in handle grip
L: Designed to not fold when pushed against object being measured
Both accurate
Carry options:
L: Pocket clip* (easily removable), Sheath, in pocket, and Lanyard (both built in hole and removable hole, paracord fits)
S: Sheath, In pocket
Both fit well in jeans watch pocket
*Pocket clip has a side to side movement of about 3 mm
Tool locks:
S: Near impossible to open tools one handed
S: Dead bolt style lock (similar to axis it seems) with back spring like a slipjoint to create a stop/snap open
S: Very difficult to identify tools blind
L: four main tools use liner lock, aux. tools use a lever style lock
L: Difficult to open inner tools one handed
L: Tools can be identified blind
L: Lock spring looks like it will last longer (comparing L: Lever lock to S: sliding lock)
L: Easier to work one handed (comparing L: Lever lock to S: sliding lock)
L: More thumb purchase (comparing L: Lever lock to S: sliding lock)
L: More thumb grip (comparing L: Lever lock to S: sliding lock)
Both locks can be worked one handed (comparing L: Lever lock to S: sliding lock)
L: Definite advantage with the liner lock (on 4 main tools)
L: Tools on average lock up tighter (especially tools using liner lock)
Tool/Implement selection (L):
1. Can opener
2. Wire stripper (triangle style) (on can opener)
3. Large Bit driver (with spring to hold bit in)
4. Large/Medium-Large screwdriver
5. very small screwdrivers in small bit driver (both standard and philips) (held in by compression)
6. Scissors
7. Build in lanyard hole
8. Knife (one handed opening) (clip point)
9. File (crosscut on one side) (diamond dust on other) (hacksaw part)
10. Serrated blade (one handed opening) (no stabbing point, but not completely blunt)
11. Opposing teeth saw (angled teeth)
Tool/Implement selection (S):
1. Regular SAK style blade
2. very large screwdriver
3. Wood Chisel
4. Wire stripper (Triangle and round) (on chisel)
5. Bottle opener
6. Medium screwdriver (on bottle opener)
7. Can opener (with small screwdriver)
8. Opposing teeth saw (straight teeth)
9. Full Serrated SAK style blade
10. awl
11. philips screwdriver
12. file (crosscut style on both sides) (hacksaw teeth)
Tool/Implement observations:
S: Most tools are too polished to get a good grip
S: File hacksaw teeth farther apart
S: File thinner
S: saw cuts equally on push and pull
S: saw thicker
S: no real lanyard hole
S: corkscrew attachment available
S: longer screwdrivers on average
S: 440A steel or its equal used throughout
L: Bits in large driver get an excellent grip (the allen bits are some of the best I ever used)
L: Better can opener, the S's can opener would not work on a few cans
L: Scissors can slip off spring of cutting under certain side pressure
L: File hacksaw teeth closer together
L: File Thicker
L: Less file flex
L: Saw works faster
L: saw cuts more on pull then on push
L: saw thinner
L: tiny screwdriver gets stuck if pushed to hard while using philips side
L: no real awl
L: short screwdrivers
L: 400 series stainless steel, 154cm steel main blade, S2 steel bits
L: bronze bushings on 4 main tools
L: When the pliers are open the main blade and serrated blade are locked closed (nice touch)
Both have optional bit drivers
Final observations/comments/opinions:
For my uses I prefer the Leatherman Charge Ti, and see it as the better tool. I find it easier to carry, the one handed opening blade of 154cm held by a liner lock means I can carry it as my only folding knife and feel comfortable, the ability to open things one handed I find very important, the needle nose is a must, and the lanyard hole is a must. The ability to change to allen bits and torx (which I use often) is a big plus. However, the two big things I like about the Swisstool are the longer screwdrivers and the awl.
For me the swiss tool is too polished, the polished outside is annoying because it shows scratches like crazy and I constantly find myself wiping fingerprints off (Not really important, but it is annoying). The polished screwdrivers slip easily, which is very annoying (and could be dangerous). The lack of a real lanyard hole is very sad too, I find a lanyard to be extremely useful working up high or out in the woods.
One thing people often say about the Swiss tool vs. charge is the selection of tools, while the Swiss tool has more the only tool the Swisstool has that the charge doesn't that I find useful is the awl. The chisel and bottle opener (especially when there is already a can opener) I don't really find that useful for the amount of space they take up. I think the charge makes better use of space. If Victorinox would trade the chisel and bottle opener for scissors it would have probably the best selection of tools out there. As it is now I see it as being better then the Supertool 200, but not as good as the Charge.
Well, those are my observations and opinions. My only qualifications are I am user and collector of multitools (owning roughly 30). Therefore, take what I have written for as much as you think it is worth.
? Most places I see them at are selling them for 99 dollars. At this site: 
