shot shot Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 seeing as I turned 18 last month, I've finally started buying the stuff that I've always wanted, but not legally been allowed to buy. Now it's the turn of the multi tool, and the choice is between Gerber and Leatherman. Both makes seem to have a loyal following, and I understand that the leathermans come with a lifetime guarantee (unsure about gerber). So I'm appealing to you lot. What would you have, and why? budget is £50 ish, and want something that will last a lifetime cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shade695 Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 was looking at them last night myself, Amazon has a huge selection to choose from and prices starting at around the £30 mark, just type in leatherman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mysecretlife Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 have a look at the leatherman skeletool, locking blade, pliers and looks cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 You won't be disappointed with either make. John Norris of Penrith have one on offer with a headtorch @ £37.99 - I have one and I'm very happy with it. Item code JJN400 You know because it's a locking blade you can't carry it around with you 'just in case'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shot shot Posted July 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 You won't be disappointed with either make. John Norris of Penrith have one on offer with a headtorch @ £37.99 - I have one and I'm very happy with it. Item code JJN400 You know because it's a locking blade you can't carry it around with you 'just in case'. that's not an issue, when the situation arises, I carry a pen knife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 A mate bought me one of these, http://www.shop4gerber.co.uk/gerber_suspension.html It is a fantastic tool,always make sure it is in my pocket when out in the field,has a real quality feel about it. The only thing that went wrong was the pouch had a tear start in the weave,so i emailed Gerber to ask for the price of a new pouch,they sent me two pouches free of charge good customer care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gloker Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 Gerber ftw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted July 16, 2010 Report Share Posted July 16, 2010 leatherman kick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 Had my Gerber just over a year and the blade is too blunt to cut anything-not been abused-just used for normal day to day caretaking duties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 I have had both. Leatherman wave and a Gerber legend. As has been said, you wont go wrong with either I lost the Leatherman some years ago so I cant really comment on how well it will last, but the Gerber is now 10 years old and is still in excellent working order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiemonsterandmerlin. Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 I have had my leatherman for 10 years been to iraq used with the most abrasive sand I have ever know. Still A1 in IMO very few things are worth the overpriced tag that goes with items but my leatherman is the best quailty thing I have bought. Cheers OTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 Its a Leatherman Wave for me. Sterling service over many years. I bought mine in Costco for around half the price the gunshops want. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Bb Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 Leatherman Blast for leisure, Fuse + screwdriver bit set for work. Both quality. Not knocking Gerber, just haven't tried one. Throw all the cheap ones out! Is the locking blade an issue? I thought that less than 3" wasn't. If I get stopped they're tools of my trade and I need a knife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 Is the locking blade an issue? I thought that less than 3" wasn't. If I get stopped they're tools of my trade and I need a knife. If it locks you need a good reason to carry it. You can't have it in your pocket 'just in case' From the BASC's knife guide: There is an exemption in law for folding pocket knives. These must have cutting edges of less than three inches and blades which do not lock. http://www.basc.org.uk/download.cfm/docid/...7ED46C927D34652 I agree it's daft, but you could end up with a criminal record and losing your guns by carrying a Leatherman. Madness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 Leatherman for me, had mine for about 12 years, never let me down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Fox Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 Leatherman wave for me - owned one fo 5-6 years now, quality item Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12borejimbo Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 Had my Gerber just over a year and the blade is too blunt to cut anything-not been abused-just used for normal day to day caretaking duties. sharpen it then haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 Its a Leatherman Wave for me.Sterling service over many years. I bought mine in Costco for around half the price the gunshops want. webber Another vote for Leatherman & Costco (free knife too ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiny tim Posted July 17, 2010 Report Share Posted July 17, 2010 leatherman and the after service is spot on as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shot shot Posted July 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2010 I think I'm liking the look of the gerber suspension. It's priced sensibly and gets a decent review. There aren't really any decent leathermans in my price bracket. If anyone has any horror stories of the aforementioned, please divulge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Sarakun Posted July 19, 2010 Report Share Posted July 19, 2010 You may want to look at SOG and Victorinox. I used to sell multi tools when I had a shop, and the four most popular were, in order of sales, Gerber, Leatherman, Sog and Victorinox. Victorinox was the most expensive but the options were phenomenal. You could buy one with the usual 7ish blades, right up to one with enough tools to service a Swiss watch or a Space Rocket, and it would still fit in your pocket. Some even had a mini torch. I did in fact sell these mostly to US. Servicemen. They are all good quality and at that time, they funnily enough, sold in order of price, the cheapest one at that time being the Gerber. If you want to use your multi tool for what it was initially designed for, then keep away from the cheap Chinese versions. Just my opinion, as I have seen these variants twist and break with the first real job they had, something as simple as changing your common household plug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shot shot Posted July 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2010 You may want to look at SOG and Victorinox. I used to sell multi tools when I had a shop, and the four most popular were, in order of sales, Gerber, Leatherman, Sog and Victorinox. Victorinox was the most expensive but the options were phenomenal. You could buy one with the usual 7ish blades, right up to one with enough tools to service a Swiss watch or a Space Rocket, and it would still fit in your pocket. Some even had a mini torch. I did in fact sell these mostly to US. Servicemen. They are all good quality and at that time, they funnily enough, sold in order of price, the cheapest one at that time being the Gerber. If you want to use your multi tool for what it was initially designed for, then keep away from the cheap Chinese versions. Just my opinion, as I have seen these variants twist and break with the first real job they had, something as simple as changing your common household plug. you needn't worry about me buying a cheapy chinese version, my father has gone through more than enough to put me off. There's one kicking around the house somewhere which has seized on one side, and gone all floppy on t'other. Same deal with all the tools, so yeh, the quality was lousy. The SOGs are about the same price as the leathermans, So if I was to go for one, I would have to be assured of the after sales support Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted July 19, 2010 Report Share Posted July 19, 2010 I've got a Leatherman ST200. It's heavy and hard but not as posh looking as some of the newer ones. It's a tough tool rather than a fashion statement! If you want something that works then it's pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted July 20, 2010 Report Share Posted July 20, 2010 Leatherman wave had it for 5 years now when it was newish someone at work borrowed it and snapped off the tip, sent it off and they replaced the whole tool with the new version!!!! great aftersales service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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