- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,955
I've been a fan of the Swiss Tool since my wife surprised me with the first one which promptly replaced my SOG Tool Clip at the time. That Tool Clip was a neat tool and although neat it did not have the features and benefits the Swiss Tool brought to the table. After my wife gifted me the ST shown here with the worn off writing I carried that thing for many years. In that time for a while there I replaced it with the Leatherman Wave mostly due to liking the pliers of the Leatherman better. Quite simply put the features of opening one blade and getting just one and not a string of others you don't want right now was a big plus with the ST at the time. All the Leathermans I played with and even my SOG had this tendency of one tool dragging out all the others when you grabbed a blade or tool with your thumbnail to use it.
Of course this is not a real draw back for most but it was something I appreciated. The other thing I liked best about the ST was it was simply a tank of a tool capable of really performing. I've literally used this side by side with other family members installing my mother's chain link fence and watched as I continued to cut the chain link using these ST pliers watching my brother in law and my nephew both go through their own Gerbers doing the same job as they snapped apart about a quarter way through the job. The ST in the mean time has remained working doing not only several other chain link jobs but even recently installing my own cat habitat for my wife's spoiled rotten cats! Thats ten gauge wire and the ST cut it for me on two occasions. It was hard to do but the point is it went through the stuff! Amazing really.
Anyway, being such a fan decided I need I really wanted a pair of scissors. I was pleasantly surprised when my first replacement arrived. It did not have the metal file but a curved serrated blade but I did keep it only to order one with scissors and the metal file to compare. Now I have one of each model in the ST yet I still carry those original ones my wife bought me even after buying two new ones. I do however carry it in the newer more user friendly carry sheath. I did like that change but I must say I am completely disappointed with Vic over making what was already 'weak' pliers in the industry compared to other Multi Tool pliers with these new ones and well, no offense but they make the ones on my original look fantastic. One thing I've done repeatedly over the years is to remove the screw on cap screen on my faucets when the screen gets some grains of sediment and grit stuck in there. My old ST would simply be pulled out to give the cap a slight twist to start it and I'd remove it with my fingers to clean out the screen and reinstall. Imagine my surprise when my new ST with the scissors came with pliers that didn't even open wide enough to do that simple job I was already taking for granted as something my multi tool was good for. My Leatherman Wave and original SOG both can perform this task. Anyway, to put it bluntly that revelation sucked and this among other reasons having to do with the pliers is why I went back to my old one. I'd love to swap out pliers with the new one sporting the new thicker metal file and scissors but honestly I doubt it would work as it appears they have made changes there also.
So, my thoughts now are that the old ST is better than the new one at least as far as the pliers are concerned. As you can see here the old pliers not only open wider but they are narrower and less meaty at the tip by a slight amount also. I do like and wish I had the thicker metal file in my old one though as they have really beefed that up to make it a better tool compared to the very flexible thin example of this same tool on my original. Well, thats my thoughts. Here are some pics to compare. The new ones open a lot easier than my very stubborn and stiff original. I also note changes on the build and insides as you can see in these shots. Note the sheath difference also as that new one is a lot better for getting the tool out. The new sheaths are not quite as thick as the original and appear to be a more glossy sheen compared to the dulled nylon of the original.
STR
Of course this is not a real draw back for most but it was something I appreciated. The other thing I liked best about the ST was it was simply a tank of a tool capable of really performing. I've literally used this side by side with other family members installing my mother's chain link fence and watched as I continued to cut the chain link using these ST pliers watching my brother in law and my nephew both go through their own Gerbers doing the same job as they snapped apart about a quarter way through the job. The ST in the mean time has remained working doing not only several other chain link jobs but even recently installing my own cat habitat for my wife's spoiled rotten cats! Thats ten gauge wire and the ST cut it for me on two occasions. It was hard to do but the point is it went through the stuff! Amazing really.
Anyway, being such a fan decided I need I really wanted a pair of scissors. I was pleasantly surprised when my first replacement arrived. It did not have the metal file but a curved serrated blade but I did keep it only to order one with scissors and the metal file to compare. Now I have one of each model in the ST yet I still carry those original ones my wife bought me even after buying two new ones. I do however carry it in the newer more user friendly carry sheath. I did like that change but I must say I am completely disappointed with Vic over making what was already 'weak' pliers in the industry compared to other Multi Tool pliers with these new ones and well, no offense but they make the ones on my original look fantastic. One thing I've done repeatedly over the years is to remove the screw on cap screen on my faucets when the screen gets some grains of sediment and grit stuck in there. My old ST would simply be pulled out to give the cap a slight twist to start it and I'd remove it with my fingers to clean out the screen and reinstall. Imagine my surprise when my new ST with the scissors came with pliers that didn't even open wide enough to do that simple job I was already taking for granted as something my multi tool was good for. My Leatherman Wave and original SOG both can perform this task. Anyway, to put it bluntly that revelation sucked and this among other reasons having to do with the pliers is why I went back to my old one. I'd love to swap out pliers with the new one sporting the new thicker metal file and scissors but honestly I doubt it would work as it appears they have made changes there also.
So, my thoughts now are that the old ST is better than the new one at least as far as the pliers are concerned. As you can see here the old pliers not only open wider but they are narrower and less meaty at the tip by a slight amount also. I do like and wish I had the thicker metal file in my old one though as they have really beefed that up to make it a better tool compared to the very flexible thin example of this same tool on my original. Well, thats my thoughts. Here are some pics to compare. The new ones open a lot easier than my very stubborn and stiff original. I also note changes on the build and insides as you can see in these shots. Note the sheath difference also as that new one is a lot better for getting the tool out. The new sheaths are not quite as thick as the original and appear to be a more glossy sheen compared to the dulled nylon of the original.
STR
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