Which Leatherman?

[skipmac]

Over the years I have used and carried all sorts of knives; basic riggers knives with one blade and a marlin spike, single fixed blade sheath knife, various Swiss Army knives, a Leatherman wave and a Gerber (forget the model but equivalent to the Wave).

First, I do have a very complete set of tools on board but I keep a multitool in a belt case and use it constantly as it saves running back and forth to get tools when I'm puttering about on the boat. Also going up the mast it is handy as it has most of the tools I would need all together. All that being said, one of my favorites knives is the Victorinox but for boat use I miss the pliers and locking blade.

The Wave I have had for years and overall love it. The Gerber is a much higher quality, better made knife but a couple of things make it less functional than the Wave. First the knife blades are much smaller than I prefer and occasionally not large enough for the job. Also not as easy to open one handed as the Wave plus the Wave you can tell by touch if you're opening the straight or serrated blade.

About the only thing I really hate about the Wave, if you aren't careful using the pliers they will hurt you very meanly. When you squeeze the handles tight there's no gap next to the hinge and if a bit of skin gets in there you will get a nasty pinch. The Gerber is designed with a gap between the handles even when the jaws of the pliers are fully closed so won't do this.

Has anyone tried the Wave Plus? Wonder if they have fixed that in the new version.

One final comment, while the Wave is excellent grade stainless it will corrode. I used it for something out in the dinghy and had to rinse it in salt water. Didn't think to rinse it in fresh when back on the boat and didn't use the knife for a few days. When I did there was a bit of surface rust on the knife that wiped right off BUT all the blades and tools were extremely stiff from corrosion in the joints. Some oil and working the knife for a while cured it but I'm more careful about salt water now.

 

[skipmac]

Gerber seem better than Victorinox. Years ago I had to choose what to stock in a retail chain and Gerber came out on top for us.

I've owned several Gerber knives and find them to be top quality.

 

[skipmac]

Giftware for poseurs.

Guess my cumulative 20,000 sea miles and the fact that I carry a Wave makes me a poseur? If so I gladly accept the title,

 

[skipmac]

Alright guys, you’ve got to stop these kind of threads. I’ve just ordered a SOG PowerLitre PL1001.
It’s small with two essential tools, corkscrew and scissors. The pliers have some sort of gearing to increase grip and there’s some kind of magnetic screwdriver bits (not included). €67 delivered
PowerLitre

Looks very nice. Do come back and report on how well it works once you get it and play with it a while.

 

[skipmac]

This my new SOG PowerLitre, just arrived. It’s a beauty so tiny but such an incredibly smooth action!
I am showing it next my Gerber which I’ve had for over twenty years and carried all over Africa. It got me out of a few scrapes and made me feel braver when things got intimidating.
View attachment 110514View attachment 110516View attachment 110517

Just saw your follow up. Looks like a very nice tool but from the photos it does look quite small. Maybe feed and water it and it will grow some.

 

[Bouba]

Just saw your follow up. Looks like a very nice tool but from the photos it does look quite small. Maybe feed and water it and it will grow some.

Yes it’s small, smaller than I thought. They make these things in three sizes, key chain size, mid size, full size. Obviously full size is best, but my logic is that the bigger it is the less likely it is to be in your pocket when you need it. And while a key chain would be very handy, you do have to question the functionality of something so small. That leaves midsize, but this SOG is the small end of mid size. But it fits so well in your pocket that you don’t know you’ve got it. And the pliers are needle nosed, not full sized but they are geared to create a mechanical advantage. So far I can’t stop playing with it?, the movement is amazing. I’m just encouraging my wife to drink more so I can test the corkscrew function ?‍

 

[skipmac]

Yes it’s small, smaller than I thought. They make these things in three sizes, key chain size, mid size, full size. Obviously full size is best, but my logic is that the bigger it is the less likely it is to be in your pocket when you need it. And while a key chain would be very handy, you do have to question the functionality of something so small. That leaves midsize, but this SOG is the small end of mid size. But it fits so well in your pocket that you don’t know you’ve got it. And the pliers are needle nosed, not full sized but they are geared to create a mechanical advantage. So far I can’t stop playing with it?, the movement is amazing. I’m just encouraging my wife to drink more so I can test the corkscrew function ?‍

Fit in the pocket is certainly an issue. For a while I carried a Wave in the pocket of my jeans but within a couple of months it starting wearing a hole in the pocket. Initially not actually inside the pocket but on the front of the jeans where the knife protruded. Then the inside of the pocket started going. So got down to a belt holster or a smaller knife. Since smaller was less functional I went with the holster which is occasionally in the way and seems a bit silly at times but works well.

I'll have to look at the full size SOG.

 

[Bouba]

Fit in the pocket is certainly an issue. For a while I carried a Wave in the pocket of my jeans but within a couple of months it starting wearing a hole in the pocket. Initially not actually inside the pocket but on the front of the jeans where the knife protruded. Then the inside of the pocket started going. So got down to a belt holster or a smaller knife. Since smaller was less functional I went with the holster which is occasionally in the way and seems a bit silly at times but works well.

I'll have to look at the full size SOG.

I’m not promoting SOG. My research tells me that they had a bit of a quality control problem in the past but are now over it. But everyone says Leatherman and Victorinox are best for quality

 

[Mistroma]

Over the years I have used and carried all sorts of knives; basic riggers knives with one blade and a marlin spike, single fixed blade sheath knife, various Swiss Army knives, a Leatherman wave and a Gerber (forget the model but equivalent to the Wave).

First, I do have a very complete set of tools on board but I keep a multitool in a belt case and use it constantly as it saves running back and forth to get tools when I'm puttering about on the boat. Also going up the mast it is handy as it has most of the tools I would need all together. All that being said, one of my favorites knives is the Victorinox but for boat use I miss the pliers and locking blade.

The Wave I have had for years and overall love it. The Gerber is a much higher quality, better made knife but a couple of things make it less functional than the Wave. First the knife blades are much smaller than I prefer and occasionally not large enough for the job. Also not as easy to open one handed as the Wave plus the Wave you can tell by touch if you're opening the straight or serrated blade.

About the only thing I really hate about the Wave, if you aren't careful using the pliers they will hurt you very meanly. When you squeeze the handles tight there's no gap next to the hinge and if a bit of skin gets in there you will get a nasty pinch. The Gerber is designed with a gap between the handles even when the jaws of the pliers are fully closed so won't do this.

Has anyone tried the Wave Plus? Wonder if they have fixed that in the new version.

One final comment, while the Wave is excellent grade stainless it will corrode. I used it for something out in the dinghy and had to rinse it in salt water. Didn't think to rinse it in fresh when back on the boat and didn't use the knife for a few days. When I did there was a bit of surface rust on the knife that wiped right off BUT all the blades and tools were extremely stiff from corrosion in the joints. Some oil and working the knife for a while cured it but I'm more careful about salt water now.

Matches my experience.

I've also had several other types of tool over the years and used the original Wave more than any other. I also have extensive collections of tools at home and on my boat.

I have also pinched myself when using the pliers and am much more careful for a few months before doing it again. Ouch.

I mentioned corrosion in post #25

The new one has shown the odd sign of rust whereas the old one never did.​

I rinse the new one with fresh water, dry it after use and that has stopped any rust.​

I only rinsed my old Wave from time to time. The new one does need a lot more care when used near salt water. It is still good quality but certainly not as good as the original. Perhaps the blades keep a good edge for longer, I haven't noticed any issue over the last few years. The old one did need to be sharpened but not that frequently.

 

[skipmac]

I’m not promoting SOG. My research tells me that they had a bit of a quality control problem in the past but are now over it. But everyone says Leatherman and Victorinox are best for quality

So have you used a Leatherman previously so you can compare that to the SOG?

 

[Bouba]

So have you used a Leatherman previously so you can compare that to the SOG?

No, i have an old Gerber Swiss Army knife and a cheapie Leatherman knockoff. I chose the SOG from online research

 

[mil1194]

Here is my Leatherman in use today. It has been used every single day for 10+ years. I have had two previously that have broken (sorry - stupidly abused) and have been returned and they’ve been replaced FOC. Fabulous tools.

 

[Bouba]

Fully tested

 

[skipmac]

Matches my experience.

I've also had several other types of tool over the years and used the original Wave more than any other. I also have extensive collections of tools at home and on my boat.

I have also pinched myself when using the pliers and am much more careful for a few months before doing it again. Ouch.

I mentioned corrosion in post #25

The new one has shown the odd sign of rust whereas the old one never did.​

I rinse the new one with fresh water, dry it after use and that has stopped any rust.​

I only rinsed my old Wave from time to time. The new one does need a lot more care when used near salt water. It is still good quality but certainly not as good as the original. Perhaps the blades keep a good edge for longer, I haven't noticed any issue over the last few years. The old one did need to be sharpened but not that frequently.

Also rarely rinse my Wave. Basically only when it has been soaked in salt water. Have not had a new Wave Plus so cannot compare but the original Wave does take a really good edge and holds it for a reasonable time under hard use.

Have slowly learned to keep my hands off the pliers. Now only pinch myself about once a year.

And, to introduce some thread drift, what do you use for sharpening?

 

[skipmac]

Fully tested

Who needs a corkscrew when you can buy excellent wine like this.

 

[Mistroma]

I have also pinched myself when using the pliers and am much more careful for a few months before doing it again. Ouch.

Also rarely rinse my Wave. Basically only when it has been soaked in salt water. Have not had a new Wave Plus so cannot compare but the original Wave does take a really good edge and holds it for a reasonable time under hard use.

Have slowly learned to keep my hands off the pliers. Now only pinch myself about once a year.

And, to introduce some thread drift, what do you use for sharpening?

I have a very, old whetstone (100 years?) at home and a diamond coated sharpening rod on my boat. The sharpening rod collapses to look like a pen and I have no idea when I bought it. Both work well enough on the plain blade and the rod is OK on the other blade. I don't sharpen the new Wave blades very often as they both seem to hold an edge longer than the original one.