Thread: Leatherman tragedy

I carry my "classic leather man" everywere while working.. I refer to it as the "lazyman tool" its the tool you use when you can't be bothered with getting the correct tool from your box. I alway giggle when people refer to swiss army knifes and lazymans as wepons, how on earth could you draw the it at any kind of speed? it takes me five minutes to figure out witch fingernail is long enough to open the blade, hehe

Originally Posted by crump

we had a guy on a road camp i was working on once stroll off into the scrub to commune with nature and whilst he was squatting his brand new Leatherman fell out of his shorts pocket and into his errr.. deposit. He flicks it out of the crap with a stick, leaves it there and comes back into camp to fetch his waterbottle to wash it off with, trouble was he couldnt remember where he had been, its still out there somewhere.

CRUMP!......Have you got a GPS reference for the camp?

Originally Posted by Thommo

I am a self confessed "geardo" and quite proud of all my knives, multitools, torches and other "gadgets". I frequent many knife, torch and back pack forums and always willing to trade tales on knives, multitools etc
I import most of my gear and seldom have any issues getting past customs even after making full declarations therefore these items are legal to possess and if you are using them for intended purpose and without criminal intent. THEN NO GENERAL STATE LAWS can prevent you from using them. Local bylaws, rules and regulation etc may prevent carriage into certain places but can not be a blanket rule. Heck I am only a barrack room lawyer but I am willing put my knife where my mouth is!

I have and always will have a leatherman, SAK, Gerber, CRKT or similar in my possession. (Except when flying but there are some bits of survival kit which are now allowed to be carried, there is even some multitools that are designed to meet carry on requirements). I had to "check" my wave the other day when going into a court house but got it back from security on exit no problems or questions asked.

I have regularly interacted with Police etc in all States and at various levels and NEVER been questioned or challenged other than for someone to borrow my multitool. Its all about common sense (sometimes lacking in our legal system).

Most of the places that one can not carry a knife (late night pubs and clubs in the city) I would not want to go anyway The day I am challenged or prevented from carrying a multitool or SAK as an EDC then I am afraid I will be leaving this fair country of ours

Had a few beers the other night at both the Prairie and Blinman pubs and I recon 1/2 the patrons had a multitool or knife visible hanging of their belts.
Heaven forbid if the Knife Nazis had searched my pockets or vehicle and found the mother lode of my survival gear!

Perhaps I am a criminal but I just don't know it yet

I'm with you Thommo.
The sooner more people wake up to the fact this country is being ruined by lawyers & insurance companies the sooner we can move on.

OK My list at present, not counting past knives :
1 x leatherman Wave
1 x Leatherman Super Tool 200
1 x Gerber Legend Tool with Mini Tool Kit
3 x Eickhorn Solingen PRT Rescue Knives
4 x Eickhorn Solingen PRT1 Resccue Knives Rounded End
6 Assorted Rescue Knives (do not have brands and models on me as are at home, but include CMC etc)
4 x Swiss Army Knives of varying degree
2 x Victorinox Swiss Army Style Knives
Complete set of Victorinox Chefs Knives
1 good fishing knife - brand escapes me at present
Assorted dive knives.
A dozen or so assorted other knives of no brand or no known brand and varying quality.
Pluse all generic blades, knives etc in the shed and kitchen.

The Gerber Legend goes with me everywhere out of work and is my personal choice, I find more robust and easier to use than the Leatherman. The Leatherman is with me at work. Hardly ever use the swiss army knives anymore. The kids mainly use them.

Always have an orange or an apple with you - that way, when asked, you use your leatherman/gerber/sog/multitool for cutting fruit - perfectly reasonable and lawful

Is there an online shop for getting these multitools cheaper?

All this talk of multitools reminds me that mine is MIA as of last week. I remember bringing it into the house but the rest is a mystery (lives in the glovebox).

For years I was a SOG Paratool man and thought Leatherman's were like the Troopy of multi-tools, too numerous, but as I learned that, as Thommo wisely said, it is different strokes for different folks.

At the time I preferred the SOG because the blades opened from inside the handle and when you used the pliers, (which could work at various angles to the handle), it was easier on the hands. I did not like the way the blades and tools did not lock into position.

Years later, I took a look at a mate's Leatherman Wave and was converted, I like the way they had addressed the handle comfort issue and how the tools locked in position when opening. Also it had the tiny optical screw-driver. Ended up getting a Blast which had all the things I wanted but was cheaper not having a few things i didn't need.

At my work I am in contact with theatre techies, the Lighting dudes prefer Gerbers as they are easier to open one handed while hanging on up in the gods. Different people different needs. Just working in an office i find myself using it often. Other people who laugh at my "geardoness" always ask to borrow it too.

Carry my Leatherman with me 80% of the time, and it seems like it is always the 20%, when usually because it's on the pair of pants I'm not wearing, that i don't have it that's the time I'll need it.

I really miss the old Power Pliers, (they seemed beefier/tougher than an equivalent Leatherman, and the pliers generated more power), they were easy to 'flick' open, but I don't miss the lack of blade locking !!!

SOG have addressed this a couple of years back now, and the blades lock, but they've dropped the blunt jaw pliers, which I really, really liked.
I notice Gerber have some blunt jaw pliers, possibly a replacement for my old Power Pliers ? (my b/day is in 3 weeks )