Leatherman Charge?

Awww man, I get laid off and this beauty is coming off the production line in a couple of months :grumpy:

The only place where LM stumble is on their cases and carriers. If they could improve the eye candy appeal I wouldn't be using my TOPS CQB Magnum horizontal carry for the Wave. Something in Kydex would be nice.
 
Thank you for contacting Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.

The Charge Ti will be shipping to Leatherman dealers at the beginning of
August.

Thank you,
Alissa Rupp
Customer Service
Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.

sh
 
Does anybody know, why did Leatherman change the text on the tool from "Leatherman USA" to "Leatherman Tool", and then "Leatherman" ?
The tools still made from the USA, isn`t ?

Peter
 
peter2 said:
Does anybody know, why did Leatherman change the text on the tool from "Leatherman USA" to "Leatherman Tool", and then "Leatherman" ?
The tools still made from the USA, isn`t ?

Peter
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I quote from a post by dunc5. He got this mail from Leatherman:

'Regarding your first question about the Leatherman USA and Leatherman Tool. Due to a California law, it has been necessary for our company to remove the Leatherman made in the USA from all of our tools, because a few of the parts are made outside the US, or the sharpening of the knife blades are done outside of the U.S. The California law states that all items need to be manufactured in the U.S. in order for our product to say made in the USA. To avoid manufacturing duplicate items, we now have a product that reads only Leatherman Tool. It is the same fine product as always and only very few of the items are produced outside our factory. '
 
I've got the XTi here, I like it. Slightly different carry pouch, it's the black nylon but has an oval LEATHERMAN metal disk on the flap. No pockets anywhere for a flashlight, does have stretch sides and a small internal pocket for the plastic strip that carries six double-headed screwdriver & torx bits.
Handles are very comfortable, the thumbhole in the two blades is very convenient for one-handed use.
The whole package in the pouch is a bit bulky, close to a cell phone in size, but it's got enough tools to be useful and better main blade steel.
I'm assuming since this one was sent out, Leatherman is getting pretty close to shooting them through the regular dealer pipelines.
Denis
 
Hey DPris correct me if im wrong but are you the first charge owner to post on here .How does it compare to leathermans other tools , does it feel as strong as the supertool 200 or a bit sloppy like the wave .When the tool is closed up do the handles have sideways play in them ? What do you think of the lock system ?
sorry about the questions but your the first charge owner ive found . Also how did you manage to get hold of one this soon.

dunc
 
Well, let's see....
The Charge is about 1/8-inch thicker than my older Super Tool, about 1/2-inch shorter, 1/2 ounce lighter at about 8.5 ounces. Both blades are extremely easy to get out one-handed using the thumbhole and the handle scales are inletted well enough to give plenty of room to get at those holes.
Both blades are liner locks, there's zero side to side play other than the normal slight flexing of the blades, the serrated blade has zero notch play, the main blade has such a minute amount of notch play that you have to look hard for it.
Little bit of handle flex (or inward spring) in using the pliers, but that seems to be common with the multi-tools I've tried. Doesn't seem sloppy to me. Longer wire cutter sections than the Super Tool.
There is a tiny bit more play (trying to twist one side forward while trying to twist the other side backward, holding at the bottom end opposite the hinge end) when closed than the Supertool, but that's only noticeable if you look for it.
The blades use liner locks, and there are critics of those; the other tools all lock with a lever lock that seems to be pretty positive and very easy to release just by pushing down on the pivoting lever.
Any locking system can be defeated, I think these should hold up to reasonable use.
Like I said, the whole package is somewhat bulky, but I do like the extra driver bits, and the carry pouch looks pretty durable. The plastic strip that the extra bits are carried in rides upright with a "pull tab" that sticks up above the top of the inside pouch & it's easy to grab to pull the strip up and out.
It's pretty simple & comfortable to get the various tools out, easy to unlock & close up.
I'm keeping my Super Tool (it'll ride in the sheath pocket with my old KaBar), but the Charge looks like a much more refined tool than the Super Tool.
The price will throw some people off, but I think Leatherman's done a good job with it.
This one's a trade sample. But, by the time I get samples of new production items it usually means they're just about (or already) in the dealer network.
Shouldn't be too long now before they're widely available.
Denis
 
Hi Dunc,
Is London still where it used to be?
Visited a few times years ago when I was living up by Huntington, always enjoyed it.
Good luck on the Charge when it sees your shores.
Denis
 
Well, this is my first time buying a multi tool. I've carried a swiss army knife (and old on my dad found in a customers pocket and was never claimed) that has severed me well. Even though the previous owner abused the blade and basically neglected the tool on a whole. I'm interested in buying a leatherman wave or charge. I've bot roughly 200 canadian and a bit more probably to spend on it. I like the new wave, although the new charge is *really* appealing, especially the fact it's titanium (I'm a bit paranoid on weight) and mostly duller in colour. I was just wondering what everyone else would advise, if I've got the money, should I just buy the charge ti?

Thanks
 
I think you could be quite happy with the Charge, if you've got the money.
Denis
 
like the new wave, although the new charge is *really* appealing, especially the fact it's titanium (I'm a bit paranoid on weight) and mostly duller in colour.
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I like the new Charge Ti also. But the new Wave (8.5 oz) and the new Charges (Ti 8.4 oz, XTi 8.3 oz) are all heavier than the original Wave (8.0 oz), but probably not noticeably.
 
DPris said:
Hi Dunc,
Is London still where it used to be?
Visited a few times years ago when I was living up by Huntington, always enjoyed it.
Good luck on the Charge when it sees your shores.
Denis
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To be honest ive only ever been to London twice , i tend to go north like Yorkshire or the Lake District for my holidays (vacation ) theres a lot less people and some lovely scenery . Hope your still enjoying the charge .

dunc
 
Hi Dunc,
Yes, but you miss all those lovely diesel fumes up there.
My favorites were North Wales & Scotland. Absolutely beautiful.
Have not had a chance to do much with the Charge yet, but the time is coming.
Denis
 
enkidu said:
I like the new Charge Ti also. But the new Wave (8.5 oz) and the new Charges (Ti 8.4 oz, XTi 8.3 oz) are all heavier than the original Wave (8.0 oz), but probably not noticeably.
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Well, I know I won't be getting the original wave, simply because I need the lock mechanism (I tend to be a bit rough on things, and I think I'd prefer to completely avert the situation than chance it). I've got a pretty active lifestyle, and I'm the type that likes to be prepared for just about anything. Besides the charge and the wave, any other multi tools you'd advise?

Also, I'm wondering when the new wave will be replacing the old ones in Canadian markets, anyone know? :confused:
 
Glad to see a fellow Canuck on board here!
Welcome to the Bladeforums.......

Hang in there it won't be long
The one BIG advantage of the Charge over ALL multi-tools is the 154cm blades that will be on that model.........first time superhigh quality steel has been used on a Leatherman!

Cheers,
Kap :cool:
 
Not until late november?!?!?! Guess that settles that I'm buying the charge when I scrape up the money! Thanks kaptain!
 
Laike said:
Well, I know I won't be getting the original wave, simply because I need the lock mechanism (I tend to be a bit rough on things, and I think I'd prefer to completely avert the situation than chance it). I've got a pretty active lifestyle, and I'm the type that likes to be prepared for just about anything. Besides the charge and the wave, any other multi tools you'd advise?

Also, I'm wondering when the new wave will be replacing the old ones in Canadian markets, anyone know? :confused:
Click to expand...

have you tried the victorinox swiss tool its a bit heavy but its bomb proof , ive had one for four years and its taken everything ive thrown at it , all the blades and tools are just as tight as the day i bought it .The pliers are a bit stubby but its is so strong . The LM supertool 200 is also very good but it might be worth holding out for the charge if its as good as it looks on paper then it will be the best multitool yet (just have to wait for some user feed back ).

Duncan
 
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