Leatherman Knives

J

JoeBW

Joined
Jun 12, 2004
Messages
274
Hello All,

I got my first Leatherman knife today. I got the e303 which has the partially serrated 420 SS blade with the phillips screwdriver, the flat ground regular driver and the caribiner/bottle opener.

The blade launcher takes a bit of practice but then it is really fast and a neat thing. The blade also has a thumb stud.

I think we are going to see some cool things come out of this line. Will play with this one and share more thoughts later.

BTW, the liner lock on this is the best design to date - locks on both the top and back of the blade. The caribiner lock is also cool. the two screwdrivers are slip-joint design with a serious torsion bar for locking. Great job, Leatherman!!!!

Best - Joe :p
 
I saw a few different models there. They seem like a reverse engineered SAK, with bits in the knife just making it a little bulkier.
 
Hello,

The Leathermen knives are just getting into the market. Try Cabela's, Gander Mountain, Bass Pro Shops and REI.

Joe
 
It's good to here that you like them, i wasnt to sure at first about getting one but i love my Wave so i'm going to look into their new knife line, and we'll see what happens.
 
I believe these knives are made in the Leatherman factory in Portland, Oregon. I recall a message on one of the threads that someone had a factory tour several months ago and saw finishing and assembly of the knives taking place.
 
I notice that Leatherman does these in straight-edge and serrated edge. Can someone please tell me what the advantages/uses of these different types of blades? Thanks.
 
Plain edge is used prodominately for most cutting jobs, espicially more dexterous jobs like wittling for example, to most chores such as cutting rope and opening packages.
Serations are not usually used as often , they specialize in cutting sythetic material and other tough things like bone. They act more like a saw and provide less smooth cuts.
Although both are good IMO serations are a bit harder to sharpen therefore if had to pick one I would pick plain edge.
 
>>>"I believe these knives are made in the Leatherman factory in Portland, Oregon."

========================

Hmm. I have their catalog for these knives and NOWHERE in it does it say anything about where they're made. Seems like if they were made in the USA, they would say so. Not saying you're wrong, JoeBW, just puzzled. (BTW, given the price of the model I'd want, the e306x for $79.85 at REI, I half wish they WERE made in Asia. That's just too rich for this young father's blood.)
 
dogrobber said:
They are USA made. It is the best kept secret around.
Click to expand...

I wrote to Leatherman once about another model once marked USA but later versions not. The response was that one of the implements, the file, was an Austrian import. All the rest and the assembly are US, good enough for the claim "made in USA." everywhere but in California, where they were fined. So now their products are marked "Leatherman tool" instead.

AFAIK, only the Micra is still marked "USA." Others may actually be 100% USA also, but Leatherman might be hedging in case that changes.
 
I recall reading that the Micra was the only product that fit California's requirements for "Made in USA".
 
Gatch asked about the use of serrated versus plain blades. Most people (including me) think the serrated blade is far more effective than a plain blade for cutting rope. This is especially true in the case of the synthetic ropes such as polypropelene and nylon weaves.

The reason for the effectiveness on ropes is the contact stress between the tip of the serration and the rope is much higher than the contact stress created for the same cutting load with a plain blade.

Leatherman gave us the best of both worlds. I have both the e301 and e303 models. The serrration accounts for about 40% of the sharpened edge.

Serrations are not that difficult to sharpen as long as you don't allow them to get too dull and as long as you have the correct sharpening device and good instructions. The Spyderco Sharpmaker is one of the correct devices and comes with a great DVD covering sharpening both plain and serrated edges.

Hope this helps.

As to the question of where the knives are made, I called Leatherman and was told "Portland, Oregon"

Best - Joe
 
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