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- Jun 27, 2007
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I lately decided to pick up the Leatherman Free T4 since I have lately been more into multitools rather than just knives. I quite rarely need pliers, and most of the time when I do, they are available nearby. These facts and the one handed features and overall interesting design made me pick this particular knife up. I think this tool might be a little under appreciated and that is what I’m trying to write about in this review.
Leatherman Free T4
Leatherman T4 is easy to compare with the good old Swiss army knife: it is pocketable and has most of the common tools. Most common complaint seems to be the higher price that T4 sports versus the SAK. Biggest reason for the price difference is definitely Victorinox’s ability to produce their knives in very big automated batches that lowers the price. All the labor costs aside, what you however gain with the T4 are:
It’s completely one hand operated
It has lock for each tool
Stainless steel frame vs. aluminum and celluloid
Comes with pocket clip
A lot of features to get excited about! I understand that these might not be worthy points at all for traditionalist, but I think these features get overlooked when discussing the ”high” price of T4.
Do I think that the price is justified? Absolutely! Even with the high 80e price tag here over the pond I think the price is excellent for tool that is built this well.
Another criticism that the T4 gets is its bulk. It must be admitted that it’s tools don’t pack as closely as SAK’s does, but that is purely because of the mechanism that allows the tools to open one handedly and lock. Carrying the thing however has not been uncomfortable. In fact, I don’t feel the thing in the pocket at all! Maybe it’s the overall small size, the ergonomics or just me that makes this tool ”disappear” in the pocket. It does however open up a big gap to your pocket if that matters. If I compare the T4 to my every day carry light Fenix PD25, the flash light is in fact thicker than T4… and the PD25 is thin by it’s own right!
Leatherman T4 compared to Fenix PD25 flashlight in thickness
Pocket clip on the tool is fantastic, it’s deep carry clip that is thick and robust in Leatherman fashion and keeps the tool well in place.
Free T4 in the pocket
Now that this review wouldn’t be all praise, to my first criticism. The main blade is a little tricky to open at least at first. It might be either practice or the mechanism breaking in, but it has become a lot easier later on. Some lube also helped, since this tool came a little stiff with some gunky oil (or such). I think the opening challenge might also be the slightly small-is opening hole.
Blade thickness in the T4 is a little thick, so it’s not the best slicer but the thin hollow grind makes this knife surprisingly good cardboard cutter! The blade also came with great edge that has retained its sharpness very well so far even after some cardboard destruction. The 420HC steel is not the hottest steel, but still today makes a great user blade.
Lock-up on the blade and on the tools is very solid with no mentionable blade play!
Rest of the tools open up easily and pleasantly for me. This tool is fun for fidgeting! Sure, the tools open all at once, and then you have to bring the rest of the tools down while opening the needed tool. This might not be the best mechanism for clumsy people or for people who have disabilities, but for guitar pickers, piano players and one handed bandits it is very pleasant to use.
Big flat head screwdriver / pry tool / package opener is great little pry bar that goes along with the knife. Pretty self-explanatory. The tool is nicely hefty for light prying, but I haven’t found the ”package opener” that handy for packages. It would make nice scraper though.
Flat head / scraper / pry tool in action
The file is without doubt probably the least used tool for me. It’s very short and only has limited uses. It could come handy when rounding of sharp corners here and there and has medium flat head screwdriver on the tip.
Flipping the tool around you find the two dimensional cross headed screw driver that does good job screwing and unscrewing. It might not have the reach but then again we are talking about multitool here. The obligatory bottle opener found in the same screw driver has great bite on the cap and works really well!
Cross headed crew driver with the bottle opener
The awl has had it’s criticism for the small flat head on the tip. I have to say that I was weirded out by this design choice as well. But how often do you screw holes to things for it to matter? I tried the awl on planks and it made a hole through. Maybe it is not as fast as the fantastic Victorinox alox model awl, but it did it’s job! The micro-ish screwdriver on the tip of the awl works decently with eyeglass screws and that’s a great bonus for me.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's a hole!
Lastly there’s the scissors. If you have compared Leatherman and Victorinox scissors before you pretty much know where we are here. Victorinox’s scissors are finer, Leatherman’s are more robust. Apples and oranges. Victorinox can trim nose hair, Leatherman can cut zip-ties. Even though the scissors work great for most thing, they still cannot cut paracord really that well if that’s a problem for you. They seem to cut most strings well enough though.
As an added bonus the T4 comes with SAK styled tweezers. They are very discreetly nested in to the frame and are probably much harder to lose than the SAK counterpart.
All in all, I really love this little thing! I apologize if this review / writeup sounds too biased but I feel bad that this thing hasn’t really earned as much love as it deserves. There’s lot of emotional reaction out there for this tool and not actual testing. If you have been on the fence about this I definitely recommend it. The Leatherman T4 has very modern feel to it, it’s very well finished, smooth and well thought out. Like I implied before, I very much appreciate the one handed features and locking tools and I think Leatherman engineers really put their heads together to make this thing function well!
Big thumb up!
Leatherman Free T4
Leatherman T4 is easy to compare with the good old Swiss army knife: it is pocketable and has most of the common tools. Most common complaint seems to be the higher price that T4 sports versus the SAK. Biggest reason for the price difference is definitely Victorinox’s ability to produce their knives in very big automated batches that lowers the price. All the labor costs aside, what you however gain with the T4 are:
It’s completely one hand operated
It has lock for each tool
Stainless steel frame vs. aluminum and celluloid
Comes with pocket clip
A lot of features to get excited about! I understand that these might not be worthy points at all for traditionalist, but I think these features get overlooked when discussing the ”high” price of T4.
Do I think that the price is justified? Absolutely! Even with the high 80e price tag here over the pond I think the price is excellent for tool that is built this well.
Another criticism that the T4 gets is its bulk. It must be admitted that it’s tools don’t pack as closely as SAK’s does, but that is purely because of the mechanism that allows the tools to open one handedly and lock. Carrying the thing however has not been uncomfortable. In fact, I don’t feel the thing in the pocket at all! Maybe it’s the overall small size, the ergonomics or just me that makes this tool ”disappear” in the pocket. It does however open up a big gap to your pocket if that matters. If I compare the T4 to my every day carry light Fenix PD25, the flash light is in fact thicker than T4… and the PD25 is thin by it’s own right!
Leatherman T4 compared to Fenix PD25 flashlight in thickness
Pocket clip on the tool is fantastic, it’s deep carry clip that is thick and robust in Leatherman fashion and keeps the tool well in place.
Free T4 in the pocket
Now that this review wouldn’t be all praise, to my first criticism. The main blade is a little tricky to open at least at first. It might be either practice or the mechanism breaking in, but it has become a lot easier later on. Some lube also helped, since this tool came a little stiff with some gunky oil (or such). I think the opening challenge might also be the slightly small-is opening hole.
Blade thickness in the T4 is a little thick, so it’s not the best slicer but the thin hollow grind makes this knife surprisingly good cardboard cutter! The blade also came with great edge that has retained its sharpness very well so far even after some cardboard destruction. The 420HC steel is not the hottest steel, but still today makes a great user blade.
Lock-up on the blade and on the tools is very solid with no mentionable blade play!
Rest of the tools open up easily and pleasantly for me. This tool is fun for fidgeting! Sure, the tools open all at once, and then you have to bring the rest of the tools down while opening the needed tool. This might not be the best mechanism for clumsy people or for people who have disabilities, but for guitar pickers, piano players and one handed bandits it is very pleasant to use.
Big flat head screwdriver / pry tool / package opener is great little pry bar that goes along with the knife. Pretty self-explanatory. The tool is nicely hefty for light prying, but I haven’t found the ”package opener” that handy for packages. It would make nice scraper though.
Flat head / scraper / pry tool in action
The file is without doubt probably the least used tool for me. It’s very short and only has limited uses. It could come handy when rounding of sharp corners here and there and has medium flat head screwdriver on the tip.
Flipping the tool around you find the two dimensional cross headed screw driver that does good job screwing and unscrewing. It might not have the reach but then again we are talking about multitool here. The obligatory bottle opener found in the same screw driver has great bite on the cap and works really well!
Cross headed crew driver with the bottle opener
The awl has had it’s criticism for the small flat head on the tip. I have to say that I was weirded out by this design choice as well. But how often do you screw holes to things for it to matter? I tried the awl on planks and it made a hole through. Maybe it is not as fast as the fantastic Victorinox alox model awl, but it did it’s job! The micro-ish screwdriver on the tip of the awl works decently with eyeglass screws and that’s a great bonus for me.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's a hole!
Lastly there’s the scissors. If you have compared Leatherman and Victorinox scissors before you pretty much know where we are here. Victorinox’s scissors are finer, Leatherman’s are more robust. Apples and oranges. Victorinox can trim nose hair, Leatherman can cut zip-ties. Even though the scissors work great for most thing, they still cannot cut paracord really that well if that’s a problem for you. They seem to cut most strings well enough though.
As an added bonus the T4 comes with SAK styled tweezers. They are very discreetly nested in to the frame and are probably much harder to lose than the SAK counterpart.
All in all, I really love this little thing! I apologize if this review / writeup sounds too biased but I feel bad that this thing hasn’t really earned as much love as it deserves. There’s lot of emotional reaction out there for this tool and not actual testing. If you have been on the fence about this I definitely recommend it. The Leatherman T4 has very modern feel to it, it’s very well finished, smooth and well thought out. Like I implied before, I very much appreciate the one handed features and locking tools and I think Leatherman engineers really put their heads together to make this thing function well!
Big thumb up!
