knives

[lxskllr]

The two main contenders were the Rebar and the Bond(which I got). The Rebar has replaceable wire cutters and locking blades. The replaceable cutters were a little interesting, but I had my main Leatherman > 20 years, and though the cutter wasn't pristine, it still worked fine. Having screws there adds a failure point for dubious gain. If you're really using the cutters that much where you'd have to replace them, it might be a good idea to carry a dedicated tool.

The locking blades are a good idea, but I don't use the tools aside from the pliers much in a leatherman. I have a fixed blade knife I typically use for cutting, and a Swiss army for various tools. The leatherman steel is also too hard. It was on the originals anyway. I had broken almost every tool in it from abuse. If I tweak my Swiss army, I can hammer it back in shape. I buy these things to abuse. They're the tool you have with you, and get adapted to the task. I need something that can stand up to abuse.

 

[stikine]

Note to self... don't loan any of my tools to John. (grin).

 

[Czed]

Picked up another petrified fish beluga front flipper
I got the tanto version

the actions on these are very smooth with solid lockup.

 

[Tree09]

I find a pair of channellocks and an easily sharpened case knife are best for me most of the time vs a Leatherman. I like the old fashioned slim and more or less rounded knives, they are very comfortable in a pocket and don't wear your pants out as fast. Channellocks act as a small hammer, can cut wire super easy by pinching and bending it back and forth, and perform most all tasks i encounter easier since it's bigger. They make all different sizes and types, i have 3 different ones i carry in my tool bag at work depending on what I'm doing or likely to encounter, a 410 (the best one on bolts since it grabs so well), 420 (i prefer the slightly bigger 430s), and a double vee one that i use for bigger bolts that i can't remember the number.

They make baby ones too if you want something smaller, at first glance they look silly but they are super handy for smaller stuff since they get in tighter spaces. You can sharpen the end of one of the handles into a screwdriver, it's kinda awkward but really works well since you have a handle to apply torque to it. You can crush things with the jaws, use it to straighten/ clean up threads, and you can knurl stuff with it, like threads to kinda lock a loosely tightened nut on by messing the threads up slightly so the nut has to straighten the thread before it can come off. You can grab something small and then put the pliers in a vise to act as a baby vise, or even just secure them with a lashing to something in a pinch. You can use them on smaller pipes as a pipe wrench, and can even use a cheater pipe over the handles. For me that's much more than a Leatherman can do.

 

[lxskllr]

I keep a tiny vicegrips in my work belt. The primary purpose is to hold a piece of hacksaw blade for marking concrete, but it's generally useful to have around.

 

[cory]

Great post, 09.

My thing is I want to like a multitool but I haven't found one I can carry all day every day. I carry a nice swiss army that has everything I need except pliers. Pliers etc are always fairly close at work and in tool bag. And beyond that, I keep 2 pliers and one wire cutter in each vehicle and also in my back pack/day pack when walking the dogs etc so I feel like I'm covered should issues arise. Swiss army with me 24/7 and 3 pliers nearby basically all the time. And a multi tool in each car.

Agreed, channel locks are the chit. I have 2 sizes, plus a third giant one which I've used approximately once

 

[Billhowe1]

I always keep a little old timer in my pocket, when I'm out hunting I'll usually keep 3-4 good sharp knives on me.

 

[cory]

that's alot of knives on you

 

[Eric H-L]

I find a pair of channellocks and an easily sharpened case knife are best for me most of the time vs a Leatherman. Channellocks act as a small hammer, can cut wire super easy by pinching and bending it back and forth, and perform most all tasks i encounter easier since it's bigger.
They make baby ones too if you want something smaller, at first glance they look silly but they are super handy for smaller stuff since they get in tighter spaces.

Cory replied: “I want to like a multi-tool…”
I agree with both of you. I like the idea of always having a multi-tool on me but I have not been able to make that commitment . SOG knives was trying to bring a multi tool with diagonal cutters called power-cut to market. I pre-ordered but they ran into production problems and gave me my money back after a couple years. . Channellock pliers are super! The baby locks/foreman locks are better pliers than most multi tool pliers I have tried and lighter. I worked with one electrician who had made belt sheath for the tiny channel locks and so he always had them and his single blade knife. Part of my reluctance to go EDC on a multi-tool is that I usually have all my tools with me or in my truck. I don’t encounter too many situations where I am away from tools and need them.

 

[cory]

electrician who had made belt sheath for the tiny channel locks and so he always had them and his single blade knife.

That is exactly what I'm hoping to do, since I haven't found the right sheath online. Then I'd still have to see if it is going to work out/be comfortable for full time carry. But if it does work out, I'd probably try to carry these small pliers:

 

[Cobleskill]

I have a Leatherman that I never really found I needed to carry. Scout type swiss army does most all I need. I do find small channel locks useful. Maybe some kind of rubberish slip cover would make them pocket friendly. I have a extra large pair too. Well used through the years. Work good on some oil filters.