Just a leatherman...

weech3

weech3

Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
478
So, it's late, I'm tired, and I'll try not to ramble (no promises though).

Long story short: A while back I thought about how I keep needing a screw driver, saw, etc.. when it's really a pain in the butt to stop what I'm doing to go get into my tools.

For the past 20 years or so I've only ever carried a multitool via belt pouch, when I knew I'd need it that day. Otherwise I've only carried a stout single blade folder that would now be classified as a "tactical/tacticool" toy. To lend a bit of perspective, my last edc was a ZT0301st. She's a beast that can handle anything...or so I thought. I then started taking into account how I was lugging around a 1/2lb of titanium that was fairly worthless on phillips head screws, 2in diameter branches, and such.

So, I looked to leatherman, after a master electrician friend of mine said that he would never carry anything except his wave.

I now have a leatherman charge ti (not tti) with the 154cm blade. I love it...I do, but...

At present, I cannot carry anything on my belt, it has to be in pocket...and I can only carry 1 tool/knife whatever. These are my requirements.

So you're probably wondering what the problem is, considering I carry my charge via the pocket clip.

Well...I'm use to having a primary folder; and while the leatherman is wonderful, and similarly sized to what I'm use to, she's a jack of all trades but master of none, especially a hearty blade. I just can't seem to push my charge as hard as I would one of my ZT's or even an old buck 110.

I do love my charge; I DO.

I guess I'm really just trying to ask

1) Does anybody else use their multitool as their only edc knife blade?

2) If anybody's abused the knife blade on their charge/wave...how did it hold up?

.... this is basically me trying to convince myself that the knife/linerlock/pivot on the charge is up for some heavy duty, or not...

So...help please?!

Thanks in advance guys. This is my first post here I think, I was a kai forum junky, but sadly that's gone now. So now I'll just bug you guys, lol.

Be well, and stay warm!
 
While mine isn't the only blade that I carry most work days, on my off days it some times is. The blades on my SOG S-66 has never let me down. I know, I know, you're asking about charges and waves. But this is my experience with using the blade on a multi-tool. How do you define "hard use"? About the worst I've done with mine that comes to mind is cutting CAT5E/CAT6. I've cut into some wood, and poked holes in drywall.
 
I like Leatherman multi-tools a lot but don't care for the knife blades on them. They are too narrow (spine to edge), I *loath* hollow ground blades for working wood and the ergos are all messed up.

My solution, which won't work for perhaps, is to carry an EDC knife and to off load the tools to a multi-tool. Here's my EDC pair. Opinel N9 in RFP and Micra in LFP. The Micra rides there with my money clip and is entirely unnoticable. And it handles everything I need in the office and around town.


EDC Pair by Pinnah, on Flickr

If not, I carry my full sized MT in my pack, which is minimally in the car, probably in my office or where ever I am.


EDC Back Ups by Pinnah, on Flickr


If I absolutely positively needed to get to a single tool, it would be a knife first and a multi-tool way, way, way second.

The Leatherman Crater line and the Victorinox Trekker style knives come to mind (though I hate the steel that Victorinox uses).
 
If you can find one still available, try getting hold of a Leatherman E55b. No saw, but the same bit driver as the Charge, space to hold 2 bits, and a nice stout 154cm blade. It's no ZT, but it's still .125" thick 154cm.
 
Consider maybe carrying a folder clipped to your pocket, and a Leatherman Rebar in the bottom of your pocket. I think it is quite doable. You get the security of your regular folder, and the utility of the Rebar. Just an idea.

However, if you just go for the one knife/MT, I think you are plenty good with just the Charge's blade - as long as you use it as a blade and not a pry bar, etc. And you have that 25 year warranty.

Rock on.
 
Yalius said:
If you can find one still available, try getting hold of a Leatherman E55b. No saw, but the same bit driver as the Charge, space to hold 2 bits, and a nice stout 154cm blade. It's no ZT, but it's still .125" thick 154cm.
Click to expand...

While mine has never gotten all the love it deserves, it has come in handy countless times in the years I have had it...
It might be just what you are looking for.
7dVN8nm.jpg
 
At work I only carry a Rebar, (and style ps for scissors) and I'll throw the leatherman at anything I'd use another knife for. Right now I've got a BK13 in my man-bag, but its more for fishing and such, so I don't have to expose my leatherman to too much salt. (not that it couldn't handle it, but fish-guts suck to clean)
I don't give my knives much abuse, I'll try to find the right tool for the job when I can, but at the end of the day, I do what needs doing. I did carry two knives for a long time with the whole two is one mindset, but I'm finding I do so less and less. If I carry two knives, its because each has its own job to do.
 
Define abuse. Im a electrician too and I edc a leatherman for a while and I used it pretty hard. Now it stays in my tool pouch b/c I didnt like the bulkiness of it in my pocket. Theres not a better tool when your 100ft up in a lift and realize you left your screwdriver in your gangbox.
 
Alright guys, I can't thank you enough for all of the input. I think you've convinced me to go ahead and use the leatherman up or out. If she busts, I'll warranty her and have my answer. If she lasts, then, I'll also have my answer.

Per all of your suggestions...they had already, or have now been considered and researched and declined for some obscure reason (I'm picky). Such things include weight, too much real estate in pocket, lack of specific tools, lack of my only desired carry option (right hand tip up), etc.

Yes, I know...I need to have something custom or modded...I'm actually waiting on someone particular to try his hand at a linerlock one hand, main bladed sak with pocket clip.

I also seriously considered the emerson edc-1 tool...but just can't justify the price, and no saw...

Again, MANY THANKS TO YOU ALL!.
 
I'm pretty sure swiss bianco sells scales with pocket clips for the one handed SAKs if you don't want to wait for someone else to mod one for you.
 
I used to carry solely my Charge TTI after I got a fine (dumb spanish knife laws...) due to getting searched and being found a Delica clipped to my pants. I also carried a Leatherman in a handbag and they didn't even blink at the sight of it. So, I started carrying my multitool clipped in my pocket. It is heavy, so it doesn't work so well with a suit in the office though...
 
Didn't see if anyone mentioned it yet or not but I really love the Wingman. Has a pocket clip, easy carry in the pocket and has most of the tools other Leatherman tools do. I typically carry my Wingman, SAK Tinker, and a SAK Classic SD on the key chain. Between those three, I'm covered for most situations I come across and not one of them is on my belt.
 
It really all depends on your uses and needs. Personally, I used to EDC a multitool and/or a SAK every single day. After awhile, I realized that I never really needed all of the tools on a multitool or SAK. Now, I mainly carry a folder clipped to my pocket.But, I always have a multitool or SAK within reach in my truck or in my backpack. Ultimately, it just depends on you. If you find yourself regularly needing a screwdriver, pliers, file, small saw etc then a MT is better suited for you.
 
Leatherman Freestyle inside my waistband is very comfortable for me. It never even dawns on me that I have it until I realize I need it... don't feel it when sifting thru my pockets for whatever.

My keychain has a Gerber Artifact and an Inka pen, tho. Freestyle + Artifact make for a very, very powerful combination. My only gripe is that the screwdrivers aren't the best (due to the "wide" nature of the Artifact), but they work about 50% of the time.

I've got a Leatherman Crunch that rides in my backpack for something a bit more extended than "EDC". But the Freestyle is the first "non-keychain" multitool (or "non-keychain" blade, even) that I've been able to carry with me all the time. The pliers definitely have something to do with it for me. I already had the Artifact. And a good pair of pliers and one-hand open blade were my week spot. Actually got the Freestyle and the Style CS for like $10 at a salvage store, mainly being attracted to the keychain friendly Style CS.... but lo and behold, the Freestyle was my missing link to true EVERY DAY carry.

Keep calm and carry on...
 
weech3 said:
Alright guys, I can't thank you enough for all of the input. I think you've convinced me to go ahead and use the leatherman up or out. If she busts, I'll warranty her and have my answer. If she lasts, then, I'll also have my answer.

Per all of your suggestions...they had already, or have now been considered and researched and declined for some obscure reason (I'm picky). Such things include weight, too much real estate in pocket, lack of specific tools, lack of my only desired carry option (right hand tip up), etc.

Yes, I know...I need to have something custom or modded...I'm actually waiting on someone particular to try his hand at a linerlock one hand, main bladed sak with pocket clip.

I also seriously considered the emerson edc-1 tool...but just can't justify the price, and no saw...

Again, MANY THANKS TO YOU ALL!.
Click to expand...
Leatherman Juice? They can be found with a saw, moderately large pliers, and can handle medium/light-ish-hard use.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top