It was in 1983 that Tim Leatherman's several prototypes were eventually honed down to a first production model, the "Pocket Survival Tool" or MkI. I bought mine in 1989 over the 'phone having seen one deftly employed by Mark Walker securing a loose rose joint on the Caesar Special. My very rash impulse purchase arrived about two weeks later and within a day or so was in regular use. I reckon it's been pressed into service at least three times a day, every day, for twenty years. I love the fact that it's made in Portland OR and that its US REG TM of 1325473 is proudly stamped into the handle. On first sight it did occur to me that I might have spotted a short-lived gimmick - as soon as I had it in my hands I realised things were different, I think it was the pliers that impressed me most. They include a very tough wire cutter, a jaw that really bites and perfectly engineered pointy nose pincers. All of this before I even owned one. This particular model has a very useful double sided file which has been used for everything from tidying up ignition points, rasping a chipped tooth to save on dentist's bills and even fettling a bit of valve seat damage in an emergency roadside repair on the G3L. All the screw drivers are great - the PH hasn't lost its shape yet - and the can opener was whizzing round a tin of bully only a few weeks ago. The knife's good too and only Wednesday was employed in squirrel skinning duties. I know the "multitool" is all over the place these days for few quid but I've yet to see one come anywhere near this bit of kit. I actually paid a (then) massive £49.00 for this one twenty years ago but it has paid for itself many times over. I'm celebrating its twentieth birthday because I like tools that stay with you. MORE LONGEVITY !
5 comments:
Yes, yes, yes. I have the Gerber equivelent. Only for the last ten years, but I did blag it for nothing on a job!
Does it have a thing for getting Boy Scouts out of Girl Guides?
What is it that's so seductive about American-made hand tools?..Blue Point, Snap-On, Channelock et al.
I have both the Leatherman and its SOG equivalent...excellent. The file on the SOG has received particularly hard abuse but still functions perfectly.
I've got one of these, used daily too. The last thing it did was to replace the bathroom lightswitch. I bought it to carry in the toolbox on my scooter but I'm never sure about the law with that blade. I've also got a Leatherman micra, given to me by an ex-squaddie. The army replaced their famous jacknife with them. But it's hard to imagine anyone in a shellhole amputating a gangrenous limb with one.
law, blades - just looked in my bag that I carry around with camera, wallet etc; swiss army knife, leatherman, gralloching knife, CK electricians knife, blade-tech sharpner, opinel No7, S&J pruning knife c/w saw. My brother is a scout leader and in the boot of his Merc can always be found a couple of machetties, an axe and a good skinning knife. Being a scout leader he will of course have been CRB checked, as have I for rugby coachinduties. MORE CONCERN !
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