Leatherman for survival??

cheung_victor said:
I find the pliers are very useful for picking up hot pots and fixing your gear.
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All right, embarrassing confession: last night, I used my multitool to fashion a hook out of some wood so that I could snag something out of a fire.

It didn't occur to me that I could have simply used the multitool pliers--would have been perfect--and saved myself five minutes of work. Duh.
 
O.K. Here is the real reason I posted this, I just got a new Ontario TAK and am planning on strapping either my Victorinox Locksmith (which comes with Large Blade, Large Saw, Large File, awl, can opener, bottle opener, BUT NO PLIERS), or my Leatherman Juice KF4 (which comes with pliers, a plain edge and serrated, also a woodsaw, awl, diamond file, and screwdrivers of various sizes, BUT NO CAN OPENER). Now obviously the Leatherman is smaller, but we are talking about a supplementary multi-tool for my TAK. So if given only a choice between these two models, which would ya'll choose??
 
This is a common ‘problem’ for us all whit more than one knife. Just take whatever you think you will be needing more. After a small field trip think about it and you will now what YOU need next to your TAK. I always use four categories for knifes/egged-tools when going hiking or out for a field trip. Just one or every category is enough and number 4 can be overkill.

1. Sturdy fieldknife,
2. Multitool or SAK,
3. Folding knife,
4. Hatchet or machete.

What will I take on a trip?
1. Mora, Howling Rat, TAK or BK7: how wild is the wilderness I’m going to?
2. LM new Wave or Victorinox OHT: fixing gear or more relying on outdoor skills?
3. A Spyderco (PE of SE) or Opinel (7 or 8): working with rope, food or wood? also a bit the ‘don’t want to get it lost factor’.
4. Bancho hatchet or ColdSteel kukri machete: what environment, hiking or building camp? and weight issue.

Personally I should take the Locksmith over the Juice-KF4. Because the Juice is missing a can opener, not-locking blade, has a smaller saw and not as strong as the SAK. You might considering to buy a bigger multitool like a LM Wave/Charge/Blast or Victorinox Swisstool, those are the complete package for hiking and outdoor.
 
bigtex005 said:
So if given only a choice between these two models, which would ya'll choose??
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Will you be bringing a long a lot of mechanical gear? (Guns, rods 'n' reels, etc.) If so, the pliers might come in handy.

But if not, I think the Locksmith would be a much better choice. Heck, even if you're taking a lot of gear, the Locksmith is probably the better choice, with its the locking blade and larger saw.

What do I take with me into the woods?

  • Fixed blade: Bark River Fox River, or SRKW Ratweiler
  • Folding knife/multitool: Victorinox One-Hand Trekker (blade, saw, screwdrivers, openers)
  • Multi-tool: Leatherman PST-II (pliers, blade, diamond file, screwdrivers, scissors)
  • Chopper: 10-oz. Vaughan Mini Axe (only if I'm packing the Barkie rather than the Ratweiler; total weight is roughly the same either way)
 
I would'nt get a Leatherman do a little looking on past threads about the problems with rusting.Also I had a Leatherman Pulse and the screwdriver rounded off the first time I used it and the can opener mechanism broke the first time I used that.I took it back got a refund and bought another Victorinox SAK.Have you seen the new buck knife with the pliers ?
 
I had a fish hook in one side of my finger and out the other (DOH!)

Only thing to do is cut the barb and slide it back out the way it came. Used a LM to do it.
 
Pietje010 said:
Watchful,

think before act, it works for me most of the time;)
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Hee hee! That made me laugh. I think we're alll guilty of violating the 'Try before you pry' rule at one time or another.

Leathermans rusting? Hmmm, I suppose so. My 1st gen Wave acquired a little bit of rust on a week-long kayaking trip in the Broken Island group off Vancouver Island. The wave was clipped to the front of my PFD in its sheath all week. It saw it's fair share of saltwater, and came home ever-so-slightly tarnished.

Me, I'll stick with my Leatherman(s). I carry a Charge XTi every day, and have my original Wave packed in a go kit. I have several SAKs. Prior to the Charge, I carried a Vic Tinker, Farmer, or Hiker. Now, my vics only see occasional carry. SAKs are great little tools, but the tool option found on the Charge and Wave suit my requirements better.

And Pitman, I would have contacted Leatherman with those problems. I have opened a gazillion cans with my Wave, and never had a problem. I will say that the Phillips screw driver could be easy to round, which is why I try to use it carefully. The Charge and newer Waves are nice, as the screwdriver bits can be replaced if it gets 'screwed' up.
 
bigtex005 said:
Let's say you are considering a good companion to your fixed blade, which is better, a Leatherman or a Swiss Army Knife? The crux of my question is whether pliers are actually useful out in the bush. Any instances where they proved useful would be interesting to hear.
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Depends. If you drove a vehicle out into the bush and it breaks down. Though I'man SAK fan, a leatherman may be worth its weight in gold!!!:thumbup:
 
bigtex005 said:
The crux of my question is whether pliers are actually useful out in the bush.
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As others have mentioned, a LM or other plier-based multi can be really handy if you have a lot of (manufactured) gear with you. If I was stranded with just the clothes on my back, I might resent the extra weight of the pliers, but at the same time, there are so few places that have truly never been trod by a human foot, you never know when you might come across some 'thing' that might aid your survival after being modified in some way by an implement on your multitool...
 
bigtex005 said:
The crux of my question is whether pliers are actually useful out in the bush.
Click to expand...

As others have mentioned, a LM or other plier-based multi can be really handy if you have a lot of (manufactured) gear with you. If I was stranded with just the clothes on my back, I might resent the extra weight of the pliers, but at the same time, there are so few places that have truly never been trod by a human foot, you never know when you might come across some 'thing' that might aid your survival after being modified in some way by an implement on your multitool...
 
I'd go with the Multi-tool without a second though.

I've used 'em to pry back windows out at accident scenes (gave neck support without shattering glass all over the patient) to dig fishhooks out of fish...and hands...and heads....:o Used 'em to tighten the pivot on a folder, fix a battery cable, Dig rocks and debris out of a jetboat impeller (on numerous occassions,some of them a little hairy)

The further out you are and more gear oriented the more heavily I'd recommend a Multi-tool. My father is a mediocre outdoorsman, but a hellacious mechanic. I'd take him and his Leatherman tool over just about any survival know it all in many of the transportation related tight spots I've seen. (snowmachines, jetboats, planes, etc.) 'ta hell with eatin' them worms and grubs, lets fix that fuel pump on the jet boat and get home in time for some steak and a beer!

They're kinda like knives themselves in that it's hard to sit and categorize each and every thing it's used for, ya' just know life is much simpler when you have one with ya'
 
Ask Aaron Ralston.

He's the climber who used a Leatherman like copy to cut off his arm, and the clippers of it to cut his tendons and ligaments.
 
This is probley a different use for a leatherman.A while back my wife and I went stream fishing for trout.When we finally got to where we was going we realized we forgot the bait.I begain turning over rocks and rotten logs to find natural bait but alot of the insects I found I did not want to pick up with my hands to put on the hook.So in a survival situation the pliers worked good for that.
 
Bigtex, if your Leatherman has no can opener, you could supplement that with one of those little P-38 can openers that the US Army used to issue with C-rats. It's two-piece, stamped out of sheet metal, about 1-1/2 x 1/2, folds flat, would fit very nicely into a compact survival kit. It also has a lanyard hole for a keychain or string, and the square end could be used as a stubby screwdriver. I have four, two stamped US (apparently government issue). They seem to be the best made. They're a bit slow compared to something with a heftier handle, but they do work. You can often find these at surplus stores, hardware stores, etc. Just my .02
 
Coldwood said:
Bigtex, if your Leatherman has no can opener, you could supplement that with one of those little P-38 can openers that the US Army used to issue with C-rats. It's two-piece, stamped out of sheet metal, about 1-1/2 x 1/2, folds flat, would fit very nicely into a compact survival kit. It also has a lanyard hole for a keychain or string, and the square end could be used as a stubby screwdriver. I have four, two stamped US (apparently government issue). They seem to be the best made. They're a bit slow compared to something with a heftier handle, but they do work. You can often find these at surplus stores, hardware stores, etc. Just my .02
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My thought, too.

BTW, I still carry an original wave every day - ex wife bought it for our anniversary right as they hit the stores. I just haven't found a better combo of tools for the size and weight.

But, since my pocket feels empty without a knife, I usually have a SAK of some sort in the pocket along with my ever present BM 710 HS.

However, I would feel WELL equipped with just about any combo of name brand multi-tool and/or any SAK with a wood saw, and a "decent" fixed blade big/tough enough to baton.

Of course, my regular field carry is a Camp Tramp, My 710, LM Wave, trekker in pocket and my SAK Ranger or Champion in my bag... And if fire wood is involved, I add my Gerber hatchet.
 
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