- Joined
- Sep 15, 2013
- Messages
- 5,648
Hello everybody. Let me introduce myself. I am a fellow forumite from Barcelona, Spain, a young enthusiast of Knives, Tools and this hobby we share and enjoy here.
I have been collectiong and using all kinds of pocket knives, multitools and edged tools in general for years. I loved them since I was a kid. After great service and tough days, use and I must admit abuse as well, my old Leatherman Juice and my Leatherman Surge needed some maintenance and I decided to send them under the 25 Year warranty to see what could be done.
My Juice was the model Juice Pro, now discontinued, and I was afraid to send the tool and receive a replacement I didn't want, or never seeing it again (I really love that one tool that has taken me out of so many problems), so I went today to bring the tools in person. It was a remote industrial area, far away from my house and in the vicinity of a little town known as Sant Vicenç dels Horts.
To my surprise, I was told Mr. Leatherman himself, yes, the very creator of the company, was visiting Spain this week and not only was he in the country, or near the city where I live, but he was in the building itself at that very moment.
He was signing some tools and promoting the company, that kind of business and company stuff I know nothing about. I was kindly offered to meet him in person, and maybe even have an autograph or my tool signed by him.
I couldn't believe it, and I immediatly screamed "Yes, please! Please!". I, a young 19 y.o. enthusiast, the most average guy here, was going to meet the creator of some of my most trusted and loved possesions since I was a kid! AWESOME!
When I went upstairs I was accompanied to a room where Mr.Leatherman was engraving some multitools qith a drilling tool (I don't know how do you call that in English, sorry!). After being introduced to him, he kindly agreed to sign my new Surge replacement and the old Juice, that I finally decided to keep even if the jaws didn't close well and the pliers were loose.
He was so kind, and a real interesting person to talk with. We discussed about the company and our favorite models, and he showed me his tool as I showed him the problems my Juice had. He thought it was unacceptable and, to my surprise, left the office and the room and went with me to the workshop downstairs.
He explained me the process he uses when something like this happens. After handing him a peening hammer and other tools, he hammered the eye of the tool (the pivot) and precisely hit some points, using a chisel. After all this process and many attempts, the tool was almost perfect pliers-wise.
Now it has some battle scars but works much, much better and closes properly.
As busy as he was he had to go back to signing and promoting upstairs, with the "business people" and managers and so on. But he took a picture with me and after shaking my hand gave me some nice words, advice and told me about the beginnings of the company and what he thought when he started.
[video]http://vid1314.photobucket.com/albums/t562/ThePeacent/20151020_161953_zpsdcj3n3qw.mp4[/video]
It's the second time in 20 years that Mr. Leatherman visits Spain, and just today I was so lucky to be in the same place at the same time. I still can't believe it. Really, if you ever have the chance to meet him, don't give it a second thought. Great man, great company, I really can't find the words to describe this incredible experience and the man that made all this possible.
Thanks Mr.Leaterman, thanks BladeForums for teaching me most things I know about blades, multitools and the hobby and thanks everybody who read all this and all those who helped me so much in this awesome community!!!
Have a nice day!
I have been collectiong and using all kinds of pocket knives, multitools and edged tools in general for years. I loved them since I was a kid. After great service and tough days, use and I must admit abuse as well, my old Leatherman Juice and my Leatherman Surge needed some maintenance and I decided to send them under the 25 Year warranty to see what could be done.
My Juice was the model Juice Pro, now discontinued, and I was afraid to send the tool and receive a replacement I didn't want, or never seeing it again (I really love that one tool that has taken me out of so many problems), so I went today to bring the tools in person. It was a remote industrial area, far away from my house and in the vicinity of a little town known as Sant Vicenç dels Horts.
To my surprise, I was told Mr. Leatherman himself, yes, the very creator of the company, was visiting Spain this week and not only was he in the country, or near the city where I live, but he was in the building itself at that very moment.
He was signing some tools and promoting the company, that kind of business and company stuff I know nothing about. I was kindly offered to meet him in person, and maybe even have an autograph or my tool signed by him.
I couldn't believe it, and I immediatly screamed "Yes, please! Please!". I, a young 19 y.o. enthusiast, the most average guy here, was going to meet the creator of some of my most trusted and loved possesions since I was a kid! AWESOME!
When I went upstairs I was accompanied to a room where Mr.Leatherman was engraving some multitools qith a drilling tool (I don't know how do you call that in English, sorry!). After being introduced to him, he kindly agreed to sign my new Surge replacement and the old Juice, that I finally decided to keep even if the jaws didn't close well and the pliers were loose.
He was so kind, and a real interesting person to talk with. We discussed about the company and our favorite models, and he showed me his tool as I showed him the problems my Juice had. He thought it was unacceptable and, to my surprise, left the office and the room and went with me to the workshop downstairs.
He explained me the process he uses when something like this happens. After handing him a peening hammer and other tools, he hammered the eye of the tool (the pivot) and precisely hit some points, using a chisel. After all this process and many attempts, the tool was almost perfect pliers-wise.
Now it has some battle scars but works much, much better and closes properly.
As busy as he was he had to go back to signing and promoting upstairs, with the "business people" and managers and so on. But he took a picture with me and after shaking my hand gave me some nice words, advice and told me about the beginnings of the company and what he thought when he started.
[video]http://vid1314.photobucket.com/albums/t562/ThePeacent/20151020_161953_zpsdcj3n3qw.mp4[/video]
It's the second time in 20 years that Mr. Leatherman visits Spain, and just today I was so lucky to be in the same place at the same time. I still can't believe it. Really, if you ever have the chance to meet him, don't give it a second thought. Great man, great company, I really can't find the words to describe this incredible experience and the man that made all this possible.
Thanks Mr.Leaterman, thanks BladeForums for teaching me most things I know about blades, multitools and the hobby and thanks everybody who read all this and all those who helped me so much in this awesome community!!!
Have a nice day!
