MT Continuum: A toolkit in your pocket. That’s what the revolutionary original Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool (PST) by Tim Leatherman promised its users. In many ways it delivered just that. It was small, lightweight, and fairly capable. Today’s MTs are even better and have improved on the innovative and original Leatherman concept. It is a good feeling being able to save the day with a multi-tool that you’ve brought along and an MT in your system gives you piece of mind. Cutting, driving, filing, opening, driliing, reaming, prying, grabbing and many other capabilities are yours if you have your MT with you. Current designs, like my reference medium-duty Leatherman Charge series, can replace the EDC blade with their quickly accessed and well-designed blade options as well. And yet, amazingly, few people carry the MT with high percentage. That’s a shame because an MT can also offer key capabilities in emergency situations as well. But of course and as discussed here, the multi-tool or MT is still a compromise for the better capabilities of a full sized, purpose-built hand tools. Successive generations in the MT arms race have come closer to approximating the functionalities of these full size tools, all while maintaining the ever-important compact size, elegant design, and light weight that makes the MT useful and portable. Also Style should be a part of the functional design and but never its own pursuit if the MT is to remain true to its mission of functionality …
The Leatherman Super Tool 300 possesses an outstanding plier head. It is streamlined and tough with replaceable 154CM cutter teeth. It offers excellent capabilities in crimping, wire and nail cutting, bolt removal, and detail work. In many ways the ST 300 is built around this industry-leading plier head. But many other capabilities come along for the ride in this 10.2 oz heavy duty multi-tool (HD MT). As shown the Super Tool 300 contains 420HC main plain edge blade (adequate, prefer 154CM), 420HC serrated sheepsfoot blade (rescue capable), wood/metal file, saw, 8mm, 6mm, 3mm screwdriver blades, one Phillips long shank driver, awl with thread loop, 9 inch/22cm ruler, bottle/can opener, wire stripper, and lanyard ring. Improving over the also HD MT “Core,” the ST 300 dispenses with any Zytel handle integration and is 100% stainless steel with no weight added. Comfort is high is this tough MT: no sharp edges show themselves in various tool usage; an advantage over some other designs like the SwissTool RS. Tool extraction uses the clumping methodology which same will hate, some will like. Lockup is tight and sure on all tools and the lock button is large and easy to actuate. Large cutouts in the handle permit glove usage. Fit and finish are excellent in the examples shown and Leatherman avoids the high polish finish on the tool and its implements. This may provide better traction on fasteners but may lessen rust resistance in high moisture/salt environs. The blackened Super …
The Victorinox SwissTool Is a homerun multi-tool and for a Victorinox lover like myself, getting one is like coming home. It gets many things right and would be the perfect inclusion into a time capsule to represent what Swiss quality was all about. In its compact 10.2 ounce, 4.5 inch (115mm) form you will find a excellent of save-the-day tools: clip blade, wire bender/crimper/stripper/scraper, 9 inch (230mm)ruler, 2/3/5/7/5mm screwdrivers, bottle opener, can opener, scissors, chisel, strong pliers and wire cutters (up to 40 Rockwell hardness cutting capability), serrated belt cutter, reamer/punch, long shank Phillips driver, and an effective wood saw. Shown in the video are the polished SwissTool RS which has a rescue belt cutter, scissors, but no file (#53935) and black oxide version (#53954) featuring a file, serrated and plain edge main blades but no scissors (forgot to show that). The SwissTool X (#53936, not shown) has a file, scissors, but no serrated belt cutter. All are excellent and well-designed. Every tool comes out individually (no clumping), deploying easily and locking solidly into position. Standouts in the SwissTool tool set are the strong crate opener, longer tool shanks, and the chisel/scraper which all add welcome capabilities. The locking mechanism is exceptionally smooth and easy to actuate. Also there is an impressive precision and fit and finish to the SwissTool that increase pride of ownership for the user. The pliers are strong and feature a hard …
hi, my husband just got the Victorinox Explorer Swiss Army Knife.
we haven’t figured out yet what the hook and the Reamer, punch & sewing eye are for. does anybody have a clue?