The Arc Thread...

Murphy Slaw said:
Say what?

I disagree.

I think the "Free" series of knives and tools, such as the ARC, are the smoothest and best designed so far.

I guess opinions really ARE like arseholes.....
Click to expand...
I agree. The ability to flick the magnacut blade out is unlike any other leatherman I've ever had, and I've had many. The locking mechanism is virtually zero blade play, which is much better than my skeletool, wave, charge, surge, etc. I wonder if people have actually used an arc before they come to the opinion that there is no innovation? I doubt it.

Daniel Daniel

If I'm wrong and you have an arc and feel none of the above changes from previous generations count as innovation, I'll stand corrected, but will disagree. It's definitely innovation.

I know a big hang up is price, but I look at things from an engineering/fabrication perspective, there's a boat load more that went into bringing the arc into existence than the vast majority of fixed blades and folders that cost 5x the amount.

People kill me.
 
The New with the Old:

LOsKddF.jpeg
 
shinyedges said:
I agree. The ability to flick the magnacut blade out is unlike any other leatherman I've ever had, and I've had many. The locking mechanism is virtually zero blade play, which is much better than my skeletool, wave, charge, surge, etc. I wonder if people have actually used an arc before they come to the opinion that there is no innovation?
Click to expand...

All the tools are so easy to access. No digging around breaking fingernails.

It's a brilliant design.
 
Not sure where my charge al ran off to, I also have an original wave somewhere as well. So much crap accumulates I "lose" it lol I'll find it eventually.
20241013_144508.jpg
 
So I just acquired an arc. I was skeptical at first since I have a ton of other leathermans. But I can quickly see in just a weekend of using it that it could replace my dedicated folder. I used to carry a small squirt with a folder. Or a folder with a knife less rebar. But this arc seems to be able to take the job of both of those items.

Has this been the case with anyone else?
 
Gizler00 said:
So I just acquired an arc. I was skeptical at first since I have a ton of other leathermans. But I can quickly see in just a weekend of using it that it could replace my dedicated folder. I used to carry a small squirt with a folder. Or a folder with a knife less rebar. But this arc seems to be able to take the job of both of those items.

Has this been the case with anyone else?
Click to expand...

It probably could...

But, I'm not happy unless I have a Case slip joint of some kind in my pocket.

It's just an old habit.
 
What’s the largest hex head bolt/nut that the Arc’s jaws can grip? I know it’s not the ideal tool for that job, but a multitool gets called upon to do many things it’s not ideal for. Could it loosen a half-inch bolt with a 3/4” head in a pinch?
 
VTer said:
What’s the largest hex head bolt/nut that the Arc’s jaws can grip? I know it’s not the ideal tool for that job, but a multitool gets called upon to do many things it’s not ideal for. Could it loosen a half-inch bolt with a 3/4” head in a pinch?
Click to expand...

No. I don't think so. I don't have either on me right now, but that's a bit too large me thinks.
 
I received the ARC today. Im impressed. Its a little fatter than the P2 I was carrying.

Its perfect except my tool pivots were tight and the tools wouldnt fan out. I loosened them a tad and oiled and now its good.

The blade came with a burr and I knocked it off with a medium sharpmaker stone and strop and it is now hair popping sharp. I wish it was the hollow grind like the P4 blade and also noticed the thumb stud gets in the way of a stone, so to touch it up I had to modify my technique.

I ordered the full bit kit and driver extender with it and can say that when all that is in the sheath, its a brick. Probably will never sheath carry it. Sheath will be in my vehicle or my gear back/pack and the ARC will be pocket carried. This is my first leatherman with removable bits. I always worried about losing them so I carried a supertool 300 and then the P2. Time will tell if I warm up to the bit exchanger.

IMG_4067.jpegIMG_4069.jpegIMG_4071.jpegIMG_4070.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Murphy Slaw said:
No. I don't think so. I don't have either on me right now, but that's a bit too large me thinks.
Click to expand...
Turns out that in a pinch it will. I found myself at the top of a 15’ ladder yesterday focusing theater lights but without my crescent wrench — and needing to snug up a 3/4” bolt. The pliers just barely grabbed two corners of the bolt and held it enough to snug it up. I wouldn’t try to loosen a stubborn bolt or tighten anything critical, but it saved me a trip down the ladder yesterday.

I am very impressed with the Arc. The accessibility of the tools and the ease of deploying them are both great, as is the selection of tools. I haven’t used the bit exchanger much yet, but everything else has been quite satisfactory.
 
So is this model still interesting to anyone? Three and a half months and no updates or new owners?
 
CSG said:
So is this model still interesting to anyone? Three and a half months and no updates or new owners?
Click to expand...
Hasn't won me over. It's more one-hand friendly and has a new steel on it. I'm 110% fine with the wave, we'll i was. I don't carry leathermans anymore however
 
Absolutely. I've had mine since Jan 2024 and still carry it every day. Couldn't go without it.
 
12oj2i9.jpg

I'm very turned off by the absurd pricing on the ARC. But being an MT addict, that put me in a bad spot because I wanted what purports to be the flagship model from the industry leader. So I bought a used ARC. I'm neutral on the magnetic deployment, but really prefer the old school deployment on the Wave+, ST300, etc. In terms of actual utility, you get way more bang for the buck with an ST300 or Wave+. I tend to view the ARC more as man-jewelry than something you would see on the belt of a roofer or rancher. Those guys aren't going to pay $249 for an MT that is not objectively better than a $119 Wave+ or the awesomely priced ST300 at $99.

So if you are a real MT phreak and have to have the latest and supposedly greatest, then hold your nose and pay $249 for one. But most people are way better off with a Leatherman product costing half as much.

0dXgQeE.jpg

rLEfF2O.jpg

auGmBUs.jpg

kVaWoms.jpg

TnUApy6.jpg

31CPD6u.jpg
 
ShaiHulud said:
Hasn't won me over. It's more one-hand friendly and has a new steel on it. I'm 110% fine with the wave, we'll i was. I don't carry leathermans anymore however
Click to expand...
I never carry a Leatherman on my person except for rare occasions camping and such. But I keep them in my couple vehicles as a tiny toolbox for simple tasks. I have Waves in my rigs and a Wave + in my kitchen junk drawer. I have a wide range of proper hand tools down in the basement storage area and garage but for the little stuff, I use that dang Wave + most often. With my light use of multitools, I haven't been able to see a real benefit of the ARC in spite of the claimed better steel of the blades. Mostly wonder if I'm missing out over what have been proven reliable models I already own.
 
Last edited:
I have P2, amongst many other LM, Gerber, and Victorinox MTs. I like the P2 a lot, and considered upgrading to P4 or ARC because of that. But, unless I sell what I have now, I won’t be buying an ARC. Starting from scratch, I’d definitely give the ARC serious consideration.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top