Question for you multi-tool folks

I

Idunno445

Joined
Jun 11, 2005
Messages
19
This is a question purely for the sake of my curiousity. I'm not totally sure the best way to word this, but I'll try to make it as clear as possible. In my opinion, most multi tools tend to fall into two design categories, regardless of brand. There's the "knife with other tools folding out of it" type generally associated with SAKs, and the "pliers or scissors with other tools folding out of the handles" type generally associated with Leathermans or even the Swiss Tool. Which design do you guys prefer and why? Both seem pretty popular in this forum, just trying to figure out why you guys use what you do :) Thanks in advance for the responses and helping to quench my curiousity. Have a great day :D

Nick
 
For me its the pliers thing , i really couldnt do without them and i have two leathermans (ST 200 and Charge Ti ) and two Victorinox Swisstools (original and an X model ).Ive just realised they are all fullsize/large multitools i own but i have no desire to get a small model .I spend a lot of time in a marine enviroment being a volunteer rescue crew member and the plier based type get used loads , mostly on repairs and maintenance on our RIB (rigid inflatable boat )but i edc it everywhere i go .

Duncan
 
I've had a SAK since I was in high school (30 yrs. ago) and in 1995 discovered "plier-type" multi's. To be perfectly honest, I could probably get away with a SAK both at work and at home, but I'm hooked on "plier-type".
There are a variety of configuration choices (ie;how implements are stored,deployed,etc.) where the SAKs are pretty standard. For some reason,if I had my choice, I'd rather wreck a "plier-type" multi than a SAK. Also, having the pliers adds a few more possibilities in terms of jobs you can perform. ;)
 
Hey Idunno445,

I never really subscribed to the philosophy of many that Leathermans are plier based and Victorinox multitools are knife based. I DO agree that Leathermans are plier based, but to say Victorinox and Wenger SAKs are knife based seems silly to me. I would say that much of the Victorinox/Wenger lineup sacrifices the blade for other tools (note: I'm not saying anything bad about Victorinox, I think they run circles around Leatherman in terms of quality and design and standing behind their product). But let's be realistic. When you're holding a Cyberbool, SwissChamp, Ranger, Angler, Craftsman, Classic 30/51/67 etc. etc. or any other 4/5+ layer SAK, you're not getting much precise use of your knife because the handle is so awkward. And Victorinox makes Swiss Army Knives without....knives! :D I don't QUITE think that traditional SAK's place focus on the blade so much as all of the tools combined, where Leatherman knives are based on being pliers or scissors with other benefits, although I would agree that Victorinox and Wenger do make a more ergonomic multi-tool that can be used as a knife much better until you hit 4-5 layers or more. Most people who carry a swisschamp aren't carrying it for the knife, they're carrying it for the other tools. Most people who carry a Wave seem to really need the pliers and prefer the wave to regular pliers because A) They fold, B) They have other toys inside, and C) They can make their coworkers/friends jealous :D
 
Quite possibly what the answer is here is that we use what we use because that's what we are used to. If I can perform tasks a-z with a Leatherman, and someone else performs the same functions with a SAK, if we're both satisfied with the results, then neither can be considered better or worse. Why do we each use a different tool?...it's what we want to use :confused: I guess ;)
 
Needle Remorse: "I DO agree that Leathermans are plier based, but to say Victorinox and Wenger SAKs are knife based seems silly to me. I would say that much of the Victorinox/Wenger lineup sacrifices the blade for other tools"

I referred to SAKs as being "knife based" only for the sake of clarifying what I believed the two primary designs of multi-tools are. I definitely agree that the knife on an SAK won't perform nearly as well as a folder. SAKs (and all other multi-tools) are, as I've heard on this forum, just compromises. Not as good as the real tool for any job but a handy thing to have around. Thanks for pointing out this flaw in my original post :)

Nick
 
I would think that the tool with other tools folding out would be a good bit stronger than the knife with other tools folding out. The construction requirements for the tool would make it a more heavy duty tool than the requirements for a knife with extra tools......does that make sense to you, cause I lost myself somewhere in there!! :D :D :D
 
i also lost to explain but i owned 1 leatherman wave, 1 swisstool x, 1 wenger (dont know the model), 1 swisstool spirit plus with ratchet (order placed) , 1 squirt p4 (also ordered placed)
 
I've been a SAK user since about 1980, and the assorted folders and fixed blades when I got into the Scouts. I bought my first Leatherman in '90 and settled in with the Wave around '99. I rotate them regularly, but the multi tool wins out. I prefer carrying the Wave in my front pocket, I like the one-handed working of the knives. I still like folders, fixed blades, and SAKS, but the multi tool with pliers, screwdrivers, scissors, file, wire stripper/cutter, can opener, bottle opener, and a saw just seems to do it all. "Be Prepared" is the Boy Scout motto, and I feel the multi tool fits the bill. It doesn't hurt to have a good folder in the back pocket either. I won't even go into keychain accessories, and the other goodies I've got in my wallet. A good belt helps keep the britches up. ;)
 
I lean towards the pliers-based multitools since I usually always carry a dedicated pocket knife around. Having said that, I do own several SAKs and find them very useful also. :)
 
I usually carry either a SwissTool RS, Spirit, or LM Wave mainly for the pliers capabilities. The pliers on a SAK are just don't seem substantial enough. However, along with my pliers-based tool, I always carry either an Explorer or more often a Cybertool 29. I love the screwdriver on the Cybertool - it works in a lot of places that a multi-tool based screw driver won't. Plus the bit storage (although not as many) is much more convenient.
 
Wow, I was expecting people to say that they prefer SAKs for whatever reason. Seems like when just one multi-tool is carried, a Leatherman or SwissTool wins out. I'd have to agree with carrying a Leatherman if you only carry one, however. The Leatherman seems to be somehow more versatile than the very versatile SAK. That being said, the SAK definitely has its place and carrying both does have the two tools compliment eachohter. Thanks for your comments guys :)

NIck
 
For years before the time of leathermans I carried a small slipjoint pliers is addition to a SAK and a stockman knife, now I carry a SAK, a stockman and a leatherman. I used them all, I would not care if the leatherman or the SAK came without a knife blade, my stockman cuts better than either, I wish the leatherman had only screwdriver blades or bits in the handle, I have scissors, can opener, saw, etc. in the SAK (by the way I also carry a separate bastard file).

Truth is I don't want a single tool with everything, separate tools are more comfortable in use, and are often needed separately, don't you ever have to hold a screw on on side of something while you turn a nut with the pliers on the other ?, or use the pliers in one hand to hold something while you file, cut or saw it with the other hand ?.

Luis
 
Don Luis said:
...
Truth is I don't want a single tool with everything, separate tools are more comfortable in use, and are often needed separately, don't you ever have to hold a screw on on side of something while you turn a nut with the pliers on the other ?, or use the pliers in one hand to hold something while you file, cut or saw it with the other hand ?.

Luis
Click to expand...

Exactly. Generally wirecutters (on the pliers tools) are very useful, sometimes more so than the pliers.

I almost always use a combo, sometimes the heavier item goes in a nearby bag...
Combos:
1. SAK Cybertool 41/Leatherman Crunch (most complimentary tools for the size/weight)
2. SAK farmer/SOG Powerlock (better cutting with the farmer, custom tools on the SOG).
3. Huntsman Lite/SwissTool Spririt Plus (led light and straight-on phil on the huntsman, ratchet and many bits with the Sprirt Plus).

Number 3 is current, but they are all good combos.
 
I use to have with me a Leatherman Wave ( right side ) and other folder knife in my ( left side ), because I am lefty I used to use more ofen the folder for a cuting jobs than the LM Wave.

I prefer the Leatherman Wave than a Sak I like to be prepare and I feel that the Leatherman Wave is better than a SAK.

But I can not live with out a SAK so I have the Swisscard and the little signature all the time too.

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:D :D :D :D
 
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