Steel in Multi-tools, 100% stainless?

J

JayAndersson

Joined
Nov 28, 2006
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When it comes to regular knives there is usually quite a big deal what particular steel is being used. When Multi-tools are concerned I quite often find "100% stainless" or something non-informative like that.

Is the steel choice not important in Multi-tools? What do you think? Why is it so hard/impossible to find out what steels are involved? is it the same in all tools includeing the knife blade?

I have a Victorinox "Swiss tool" myself. It's overall ok, but the knife blade just dont hold an edge. I'd like to know more of what material it's being made of.

//Jerker
 
Thats a very good question and I have wondered also. I know that some blades are 420J and the newer ones may be 154cm in the new Ti and XTi leathermans, but no idea what the rest of the units are made of.

anyone?
 
I'd say most multitools like the wave,blast, core and gerbers mp series and others make their blades from 420hc.Multiools arent really oriented towards the blade, just the tools. Theres only a knife on the tool for a "just in case" But I dont know about the swiss tools, im not sure if they use the same steel from their saks or not, cant see it though. The only tools that have above avrage blades are the Ti, and XTi
 
The steel in my Swiss tool is soft, I know that much. The edge retention is not good at all. But as you say Fonly, it's for "just in case".

I do think that it would be a step up quality-wise to go for a good knife steel in the blade and scissors.

I dont know about you guys, but the blade is my main concern with the Swiss tool, otherwise it's a nice tool.

Whats the blade made out of in the Ti and XTi (they are Leathermans, right)?

//Jay
 
I checked the "in box" paper work on my wave and there was no mention of blade material at all. It seems like I did see something on the New Wave blade steel but I can't seem to re-find-it. It was on the net... probably a distributor and they do not always agree with the manufacturer anyway.
WOOK
 
For sure Jay I agree with ya, I wish my wave had a 154cm blade on it. But the 420hc is gonna have to do, but that doesnt make it all that bad, my wave blade will take a shaving sharp edge nicly. Cant say the same about my gerber though, but I bought that as my first multitool. The went to a Blast and now I'm on the wave. Mabye someday ill get a Charge XTi, but I need to space out the purchases If you know what I mean.
All I know is that I find my multitool being used mostly only for the pliers, and wire cutters. Then I carry a SAK for my pocket knife. The Wave and a SAK make a fairly nice edc.
 
Thus far it's probably the magically termed *surgical-steel put in use for ease of fabrication of parts; as soft steel is easier on the wear 'n tear of production machinery as is the time taken to put on the final finishing by hand. It's a fact that 420 is widely used for cheap knives, but it has that stain-LESS quality needed for tools which require a high resistance towards rusting in environments like the ocean for one. In dive knives, the surfaces are highly polished to a mirror sheen to prevent rust pits from forming. So why should it be any different for a multitool?

*you guessed it right - 420.
 
I see no reason why the steel in the swisstool is different to the steel used in other victorinox SAK's , yes the steel is soft and doesnt hold its edge for that long but it is easy to sharpen and is very sharp .As for large prolonged cutting jobs ? well thats what Sabenzas are for ;)

Dunc
 
I personally like the idea of offering a better steel for the blades, like the Charge series. A lot of people don't carry 2 or 3 knives, and sharpen them as often as they need to. (cough cough)
 
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