Leatherman Wave "Alpha": Opinions from Users?

[VorpelSword]

I am late to the game on this, but now I have seen a few videos on the new Wave Alpha. Some like it and some don't.

I have never been an early adopter of anything, but. wth Christmas coming, I am looking at possible gifting gear for our son and grandson . . .

At the $200+ MSRP, it will have to really be something better to get me to drop my own Wave Plus.

Anyone with hands-on experience with this new offering?

 

[ShaiHulud]

It is a good multi tool. The g10 seems to hold up to what you'd expect g10 to handle. The g10 handles are not coming into contact blunt force so as a handle and scale its fine. I personally prefer steel handles. The knife blade came sharp, still is sharp and handles what you'd expect a premium knife blade on a multitool to handle. I wish it came in an uncolored variant, maybe soon it will. If you are getting it as a gift id buy with it either a sheath or a clip so it can be carried.
I have heard some say that if you have used a wave + for years then spending 200 dollars for a wave + "plus" isnt necessary as the changes in the alpha dont justify the purchase, but those are opinions of a few. I have the wave+ and alpha and I appreciate the serrated blade offering as the saw blade wont get much use. The alpha is a solid tool and I dont mind owning them both, especially since im considering the arc as well.
The scissors on my alpha took a couple cycles to break in but they are working much smoother now, I didnt buy the alpha for thr scissors and would have preferred a serrated blade and scissors in place of the saw, and the saw instead of the file, that would be my ideal set up.
To your question, since I own both I think its worth it for the reasons above mentioned

 

[VorpelSword]

ShaiHulud: Thanks for that.

I am coming to parallel your opinion on the Alpha. While I am pretty sedentary now, my work experience includes taking down trees in the 1970s and working around drilling rigs in the desert and offshore in the 1980s. For that reason I am wary of G-10 as a structural component of a multitool.

Later on in life, I worked in a hospital setting and would have appreciated the larger, more functional scissors then. However, your remarks on the two blades is spot on for me. I have used the serrated blade in lea of a plastic knife at fast food places and at back yard paper-plate gatherings. The "reverse tango" profile blade is off-putting to me. Looks to be less taint inspired and more box-cutter inspired. My impression that it will be less functional or less utility oriented than the standard Wave Plus blade.

Seems that the executive design team at Leatherman listened to user suggestions, but still missed on the blade profile. I like the scissors, but really like both blades too. I do not need to one-hand either there file or saw (does anyone?).

I am seeing entire Alpha parts sets offered on e-Bay. If this is so "portable", I would like to see Leatherman offer accessory or alternate blade shapes that can be swapped out . . .either at home or at their shop. I would just like the option of having the Wave's standard blade profile myself. I would suggest that Leatherman Co. license the blade technicals to a few third party knife makers to do this in their own signature style . b. . .in Damascus or other high end steels. How much extra would some of the aficionados on this forum pay for a signed blade from Chris Reeve or Medford (or someone else?)

Oh . . .and is it still "Made in The USA"? I did not see that in pictures online.

 

[ShaiHulud]

G10 is pretty sound material
Unless people plan on hammering the handles of the alpha i dont see an issue with it being a handle choice albeit not preferred. As to whether its born and bred USA i can't answer for that, I believe there are a few globally sourced parts. I feel a second serrated blade in magnacut would have really excited customers but seeing the price jump from wave to arc and wave to wave alpha 2 magnacut blades would have made them want to price it somewhere north of 275 or something like that. I'd have wanted a second serrated blade over file because ill be doing next to no file work, however I have found the smoother side of the file works great to sharpen my mora basics i use as kitchen knives. Enough about my crybaby tears, the wave alpha is a good buy and honestly time will tell to see how it holds up.

 

[VorpelSword]

(1). I have used my Wave (the current one or a previous one) to bang on something or other at times. I prefer steel or, possibl, Titanium.

(2). I stand by my suggestion for supplemental or optional blades in different profiles and steels as a valid business model with potential.

(3). I prefer that my Leatherman products be made domestically.

(4). I would like to see a Wave-like Leatherman multitool that is 10% or a bit more larger . . .to provide larger or more robust tools and perhaps additional functions (though I don't know what they might be).

(5). I disapprove of introducing special limited editions or small run variations to create scarcity in a desirable product. . . .the "Garage" thing.

 

[ShaiHulud]

(1). I have used my Wave (the current one or a previous one) to bang on something or other at times. I prefer steel or, possibl, Titanium.

(2). I stand by my suggestion for supplemental or optional blades in different profiles and steels as a valid business model with potential.

(3). I prefer that my Leatherman products be made domestically.

(4). I would like to see a Wave-like Leatherman multitool that is 10% or a bit more larger . . .to provide larger or more robust tools and perhaps additional functions (though I don't know what they might be).

(5). I disapprove of introducing special limited editions or small run variations to create scarcity in a desirable product. . . .the "Garage" thing.

5. --- that's how the knife industry gets so many people, more collectors than users and the industry leaders know this; now, based off of these answers you may be happy enough with a wave plus. It makes a great gift too.