Gerber Multi-Tool VS. Leatherman

C

Colt

Joined
Nov 15, 1999
Messages
73
Would like to get some input as to what tool you like and why. Have been looking at the PST II and Super Tool and/or Gerber 600.


Thanks,
Colt
 
Hey Colt...

Go with the Leatherman Wave..

By far a superior tool over the Gerber...

i use to like the Gerber,, but when I got my Wave,, the Gerber is collecting dust...
smile.gif


ttyle Eric...

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On/Scene Tactical
Leading The Way In Quality Synthetic Sheathing
 
Go with the leatherman if you want a pretty finish on it. Go with the gerber if you want something to work with.
The leathermans aren't lacking quality but from my experience the gerber's are stronger overall. You'll be alot less likely to snap off screwdrivers or break the pliars off. And if your like me and mainly carry it for the pliars, then you definitely want the snap out pliars the gerber has. For one thing they are lot more convenient. And for another they will work like a regular pair of pliars instead of almost like a regular pair of pliars. The cold forged rivets that the leatherman is built on wear over time. After a while that friction that causes them to lock open no longer has the same effect if any. Then every time you go to open the jaws of the pliars the handles fold out and the plairs stay closed( I've seen it happen more than once on leathermans that saw lots of daily use). With the gerber theres no way for that to happen. Their built on a sliding locking mechanism that doesn't have to twist or anything so they stay solid forever.And on the gerber, the tools are on the inside of the handle when its open so they won't hurt your hands when your gripping something tight. I've heard people say that the gerber doesn't have enough bite to its jaws, but I've twisted 1/4" bolts in two with mine.
I really like the bolt action lock on all the gerber tools to. Its convenient and solid. It makes the screwdrivers and everything much better to use. The lockup on the blade has a little bit more play than I'd like to see, but I only use it for stripping wire and stuff like that, so the other aspects of the tool are worth enough for me to put up with it.And its pretty easy to sharpen by just stropping it on 240 grit sandpaper or using a diamond rod.
Maybe I'm biased, but I use multi tools a lot and am around other pople who rely on them also. ( I work on a farm) And gerber has been the best from my experience.

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It'll feel better when it stops hurting.
 
Go with the leatherman. I also have both, and when cutting medium to heavy wire with the gerber, I pinch my middle finger beteween the handles when the wire is cut. On the leatherman the handles are spaced apart, so you can use it like a normal pair if pliers. (aka: fencing tool) It's tough to put into words, but when you crunch a finger you'll know!
 
Go with the LM, especially if you are a Balisong fan, then you can flip it open a la a butterfly knife. I have an original Leatherman that has been used and abused for something like 8 or nine years now and is still going strong. But you really want the Wave. The handles are even more comefortable and you also have the advantage of one handed opening knife blades. Another advantage of the Leatherman is that you can have one or more of the tools out and use the pliers at the same time. This is not a reccomended practice, but it can be a real time saver when you are in a hurry.

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"I am not, really."
 
You may want to ask this question over on Jeff Randall's forum, too, at www.jungletraining.com Bladeforums is mostly Leatherman country, but Jeff & co. are Gerber fans. By checking both forums, you'll get the two different views.

Joe
 
I pinched my hand a few times on the original gerber and decided to quit holding it that way
wink.gif
With it the handles were spaced so closely you could pinch yourself very easily. I even wsaw a few people who has somewhat fleshy hands ( only way I can think of putting it) pinch their palms between the handles.
However, the 600 has better spacing on the handles and I have never pinched my hand on them. I see no reason to keep a finger between the handles, I know a lot of people who use tham that way ,but I just never do. Its all personal preferance.
For that matter, you could get a gerber legend which has the fan handle pliars, but they are spring loaded so the jaws open on their own when the pliars are opened.And they have a wide soacing on the handles. They also have a tungsten carbide alloy (may even have cobalt in there too, can't remember exactly) wire cutter teeth that can be rotated to give you 3 new edges on each tooth. It has a one hand opening blade also, so it would be comparable to the wave.
I really think gerber is the better choice all the way around if you ask me.And in general their cheaper.
If you have trouble finding one wiht the components in it you like, design your own at byo.gerberblades.com Also check out their webpage at www.gerberblades.com to see if they have a regular setup to your liking.

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It'll feel better when it stops hurting.
 
I used one of the screwdrivers on my Gerber to snap off an Opinel Knife locking ring....The only thing that snapped was my screwdriver!
frown.gif


Ive heard stories of both tools breaking though. And I wasnt using it as it was meant to be used anyway. But it did break quite easy.

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Keith D.Armacost
If The Women Don't Find You Handsome,
At Least Let Them Find You Handy. R.G.
 
I have a Gerber and many Leathermans (Leathermen?)

The slide out pliers are cool on the Gerber but I woudl say the Wave is the overall best. My Gerber still has rust marks on it even though I give it the same care as my Leatherman, some older than the Gerber.

The Wave, IMHO, is probably the best general purpose multi-tool out there. The PST or PSTII is smaller, the Crunch is special purpose (really like it) but the Wave is hard to beat overall.

Happy tinkering.
 
Check out that new Gerber. It's so expensive you could buy two good Leathermans for the price.
 
What new Gerber is more expensive than 2 Leatherman's?

I carry the Gerber original. I had a Leatherman before I bought the Gerber, but after snapping off the plier jaws on two DIFFERENT Leatherman's, I got my money back and bought the Gerber. I have been carrying the same Gerber since 1991, and it is still performing well, under hard use. I like the Leatherman Wave, but I like the new "design your own" Gerber better.
Since the general opinion here is the Wave is better, I'd like to see some more opinions describing WHY the Wave is better than the Gerber.
I'm ready to replace my Gerber with a new model, but I'll seriously consider the WAVE if I can see some valid reasons why it's so much better.


[This message has been edited by CODE 3 (edited 09-22-2000).]
 
The new Gerber is not really that good overall. I like how the pliers are spring loaded. The grips in the handle. The wire cutting edge that can be rotated when you dull the edge is a good idea. But the actual tools on the thing suck. They are not easy to pull out. They are kind of flimsy when extended. They didn't fit very well on mine. I couldn't put the scissors back with out pulling out all the tools in that handle. I broke the scissors the first day. I was very disappointed. I'll probably send it in for the warranty on the scissors and then give it to someone I don't like very much.
If Leatherman took these new features and incorporated it into a new tool it would be one bad ass tool.
 
As a multi-tool addict, I can assure you that whatever you buy will be missing a feature of another tool, but itself will have an outstanding feature to itself.The Gerber and Leatherman are two favorites,so are Victorinox Swiss Tool and the Buck 360.The Gerber Sport is fun but the Schrade Tough Tool is too.Buy,them all,then buy more!
smile.gif


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"Just me and my multi-tools."
 
I've used and reviewed most of the Leatherman tools and would find little fault with them. Personally, I carry a needled nose blackened Gerber Multi-tool which I've carried on most of my field assignments. Love the handling and feel and I've used it many times in hairy situation. Most branded multi tools are made to meet the most demanding situation and its really hard to say which one is the best. Given the choice, I'll have em all..
tongue.gif


Sam

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have spydies
will travel...
AKTI Member #A001148
 
I go for Gerber over LM because the one hand operation is critical when you're holding onto summat else for dear life. That said, I only use the pliers and Phillips head. The LM is standard issue at work and I found it uncomfortable and heavy, but then again that's the non-wave. Plus we had a few cuts as people opened one thing to put something else away...not sure what the current state of play is with LM but that's only 'cause I lost interest after getting the Gerb
 
Am I the only black sheep or haven't any of you guys tried the CRAFTSMAN PROFESSIONAL yet? I've used the Leatherman and the Gerber Multi-Plier. Of those two, I like the Gerber, but it does have a nasty habit of pinching the crap out of your hand when the jaws of the plier slip off of whatever you're grabbing with them.(Hey, I have permanent scars from that Gerber!).

The CRAFTSMAN PROFESSIONAL is hands down a better multi-tool/plier. The pliers are adjustable just like regular pliers with the slip joint design. A very positive wire cutter too. And the indivudual tools lock solidly at 90 and 180 degrees. The screwdriver is excellent too. Like one of those 4-way jobs you can get at hardware stores. Love my CRAFTSMAN PROFESSIONAL. So much so that I gave my last veteran Gerber to Chang so he can pinch himself for a while.
biggrin.gif


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M.Ogg

"It's better to be thought a fool and remain silent, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"
 
I'm not putting down Gerber. I like their knives, and I'll take anyone's word that the multitools work fine. But this price comes off the Gerber Legendary Blades website http://www.gerberblades.com/

"The Multi-Plier® 800 Legend™ come with a sheath, has a suggested list price of $136.00, and is backed by Gerber's Limited Lifetime Warranty. Legend™ will be available in June, 2000."
 
Owning both Leatherman(s) and Gerbers, I like my Swisstool best of all. Wave has better handles, Gerber cool pliers... but the SAK Swisstool is the best quality. I guess I need to add the Craftsman to my Tool stable... I have too many tools, but WTH... one can never have too many knives...

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"Life's tough, it's tougher if you're stupid."
copfish@aol.com
 
You'll be fine no matter which one you choose. When I was in the army I carried a Gerber everyday, and so did a lot of other people. But just as many people carried Leathermans. I guess it's just all up to personal preferance. I just wish one of them would have made a military model with a sight adjustment tool and some kind of scraper tool for cleaning weapons.
 
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