Some comparison pics of the old Wave, the new Blast, and the Gerber Pro-Scout...

[allenC]

Some pictures just for the heck-of-it.
And a few opinions as well:

I like the Blast the best.
It has just the right tools, and all of the tools lock, yet it's not too heavy.
And the tools are longer than the stubby bits on the newest Wave.
The cheap sheath is nothing to rave about...luckily, the Blast also fits nicely in my old style Wave sheath.

The old wave has the better leather sheath.

I added my 710 just for size comparison.

Gerber jaw width.

Wave.

Blast.
It has the most wire-cutting portion.

 

[allenC]

Gerber's blade.

Wave.

Blast.

Gerber's largest standard screwdriver.

Wave.

Blast.

 

[allenC]

Gerber's phillips.

Wave.

Blast.

Gerber's woodsaw.
Small teeth, but it cuts very well...and it can be replaced when it wears out.

Wave.

Blast.

 

[allenC]

Gerber's metal file.
It does not have teeth on the edge and so it really cannot be used as a metal saw.
This may have been intended since a metal saw blade can be placed in the woodsaw's adaptor, who knows?

Wave.

Blast.
No diamond file, but it has the sharpest teeth that I've ever seen on a file.

 

[allenC]

 

[[digidude]]

Nice pictres. How is the Blast? Im thinking of getting one.

 

[kmcrawford111]

I've been thinking of getting a Fuse for awhile now... I really like the way the handles look, but I haven't held one myself yet. What is your opinion of the Handles on the Blast (which are similar). I'm specifically referring to the Zytel inserts. Holding me back are the lack of one-handed knife opening and a pocket clip ala my Wave and Charges. Also I was considering the knifeless version which has the same file as the Blast instead of the blade, and carrying a folder with it or a single-layer SAK. Also I'd like to be able to use the file on fingernails... I know the Blast doesn't have the diamond file but do you find it can get the job done on nails? I love my Wave and my Charges but they have a little more than I need for EDC... my Wave is perfect for work though. The Fuse comes awfully close to my ideal EDC toolset. So does the PST II, but the new models seem like they would be stronger and more comfortable.

Would you mind measuring the small slotted screwdriver on your Blast (not the tiny one)? I'm curious as to whether it would be small enough to meet my requirements.

In any case, thanks for the great pictures!

 

[SouthDakotan]

Great job on the photos. Just one question. What is up with the different colors on the gerber?

 

[sparkee]

Great job on the photos. Just one question. What is up with the different colors on the gerber?

I was curious about this too, it looks like it used to be all red, there's some color-residue left on the non-red piece. Was that because you decided to scrape it all off but hadn't finished the job yet?

So the coloring come's off that easily?

 

[allenC]

[digidude]

Nice pictres. How is the Blast? Im thinking of getting one.

I like the Blast very much.
I like better than my old Wave because all of the tools lock.
And I really don't miss the one-hand blade access of the Wave since I always carry a locking folder anyway (my Pacific Salt or my 710)...I suppose if I only carried a multi-tool I would prefer the one-hand opening of the Wave.

kmcrawford111

What is your opinion of the Handles on the Blast (which are similar). I'm specifically referring to the Zytel inserts.

I actually like the zytel inserts.
They're very comfortable and seem strong enough for a multi-tool.
Only time will tell if they will hold up, but I have only heard good things about Leatherman's warranty and customer service.

Holding me back are the lack of one-handed knife opening and a pocket clip ala my Wave and Charges.

If I did not also carry a dedicated one-hand folder (like my 710) then I would probably prefer the one-hand blade access and the pocket-clip. But since I rely upon my folder for nearly all of my daily cutting, I really don't need a one-hand blade or a clip on my multi-tool.

Also I'd like to be able to use the file on fingernails... I know the Blast doesn't have the diamond file but do you find it can get the job done on nails?

I would have to say NO.
I don't think the file on the Blast would work very well on fingernails.
It's more like your typical bastard file.

I love my Wave and my Charges but they have a little more than I need for EDC... my Wave is perfect for work though. The Fuse comes awfully close to my ideal EDC toolset. So does the PST II, but the new models seem like they would be stronger and more comfortable.

I know exactly what you mean.
I had a SwissTool, which is a very nice multi-tool, but it was just too heavy and too much to carry around as an EDC.
It spent most of the time in my truck or in my garage...and what good is a multi-tool if you can't carry it everywhere you go?
In my opinion, the Blast has all of the tools that I actually use the most.
And they all lock.
And they're long enough to get to recessed screws too.

Would you mind measuring the small slotted screwdriver on your Blast (not the tiny one)? I'm curious as to whether it would be small enough to meet my requirements.

I'll try to get take some more pictures later today.

SouthDakotan

Great job on the photos. Just one question. What is up with the different colors on the gerber?

Yep, the red paint flaked and chipped on one side of the handle, so I scraped the rest of it off.
But the other side never chipped at all and I decided to just leave it alone.
The two-tone does look a bit weird but I don't mind.

 

[allenC]

Here's the medium and small screwdrivers:

The Gerber (med. screwdriver/bottle opener combo).

The Wave.

The Blast.

 

[kmcrawford111]

Thank you much.

 

[houdini28]

Great photos and write up. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through it!

 

[Schmecky]

The small screwdriver on that Wave looks twisted a bit- is it really twisted or is that just the picture?

 

[allenC]

The small screwdriver on that Wave looks twisted a bit- is it really twisted or is that just the picture?

Yep, just a little bit.
But I am not the original owner of this Wave and so I don't know what it has suffered.
It might have come from an abusive home.