Leatherman: Super Tool (1996) -VS- Rebar/Sidekick (2021)

T

TakaBKK

Joined
Jun 29, 2019
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I would like to ask one more question, please.

Leatherman:
Super Tool (1996) -VS- Rebar/Sidekick (2021)

I have a Super Tool from 1996. Never used it. It was a warranty replacement for one where the wire cutters bent. Afterwards I was ‘afraid’ to use it.

Now it’s 25 years old and in pristine condition. So I’ve spent ½ my life without a multitool. Duh.

Should I start using my old Super Tool? Or is it something to hold onto and rather buy a new one? Will I be disappointed with today’s quality of Leatherman products? (I have to buy from an online seller, so I don’t have an opportunity to try/handle any new ones.)

I’m torn between the Rebar and Sidekick. Is there a noticeable difference in quality/strength between either? I’m not planning on using it “hard” but I also don’t want anything wobbly or flimsy.

Has Leatherman quality gone down over the years? (I hope not.) The Rebar was my first choice because I am under the impression that it is a bit tougher than the Sidekick. But some YouTube reviews said that the edges on the Rebar are sharp and uncomfortable.
I do like the outside accessible knife/saw on the Sidekick (and I don’t need replaceable wire cutters).

Also, I live overseas in a very humid environment. There’s not a spot of rust on my old Super Tool. Are the new models prone to rust? That would be a dealbreaker for me.

My local prices:
Sidekick $60
Rebar $75

Thank you for any comments or suggestions.
Much appreciated.
 
IUKE12 said:
I'd start using the Super tool yesterday:) If you're looking for a smaller tool, you can't go wrong with the Rebar.
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Thanks for your suggestions. The size of
the Super Tool is fine for me. I’m just hesitant to use something that I’ve mollycoddled now for ¼ of a century. ;) Maybe it’s time to put it to use.
 
Bob Denman said:
I've got a SuperTool from 1992, and it has proven it's worth many times over.
Put it to good use! 👍
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Awesome to hear that yours held up for so long. Thanks for sharing. Maybe I really don’t need to worry about damaging it. (It was my fault for damaging the first one: I tried to cut a small hex key and I should have known that the wire cutters couldn’t go through hardened steel.)
 
TakaBKK said:
Awesome to hear that yours held up for so long. Thanks for sharing. Maybe I really don’t need to worry about damaging it. (It was my fault for damaging the first one: I tried to cut a small hex key and I should have known that the wire cutters couldn’t go through hardened steel.)
Click to expand...
"Stuff" happens...
That Leatherman needs to make up for the long nap: give it a task... today! 👍
 
I still carry an original PST manufactured in 1993, and I also have a number of newer models dating from 2018 or later. Leatherman's build quality has not degraded, but one difference I have noticed is that their current blades seem far harder and more chippy. I'm guessing they've adjusted their heat treatment in an attempt to give 420HC a bit of edge retention, but they are no longer the buttery soft prybars they used to be. Whether or not that's a good thing will largely depend on your usage requirements.

A pristine Supertool from 1996 definitely carries some collector value. Using it will reduce that value.
 
If the old one is the perfect configuration for your purposes then use it.

If one of the new ones seems better suited by all means buy it with confidence. The quality has not diminished at all.

The original models were very compact but I never liked that you have to open the pliers to open the knife blade. The Wave is my top choice, but it is bulky.

Pros and Cons. Yours is collectible at this point.
 
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HP2114B said:
I still carry an original PST manufactured in 1993, and I also have a number of newer models dating from 2018 or later. Leatherman's build quality has not degraded, but one difference I have noticed is that their current blades seem far harder and more chippy. I'm guessing they've adjusted their heat treatment in an attempt to give 420HC a bit of edge retention, but they are no longer the buttery soft prybars they used to be. Whether or not that's a good thing will largely depend on your usage requirements.

A pristine Supertool from 1996 definitely carries some collector value. Using it will reduce that value.
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Thanks for sharing, esp your experience with LM build quality and heat treatment. I can’t see myself using it in a way that would chip the blade, so a bit harder should be OK.
True, I am weighing the possible collector’s value (and sentimental value) against the $$$ of buying a new one.
What bugs me is that I can’t go to a store and handle either the Rebar or Sidekick to make a decision. The challenges of living overseas. ;)
 
eveled said:
If the old one is the perfect configuration for your purposes then use it.

If one of the new ones seems better suited by all means buy it with confidence. The quality has not diminished at all.

The original models were very compact but I never liked that you have to open the pliers to open the knife blade. The Wave is my top choice, but it is bulky.

Pros and Cons. Yours is collectible at this point.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your comments. I am beginning to realize that my old model is a bit clumsy - the tools all lock, great, but one has to open another tool ½ way in order to unlock the ‘other’ one.

I guess it comes down to the framelock (if that’s a way to describe it) of all the Rebar’s tools vesus the linerlock of the Sidekick’s blade/saw. I’d prefer the Rebar’s lock, but I’d also prefer the Sidekick’s accessibility of the blade when closed. I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone wanted a Rebar, with one handed blade opening, when closed.
 
I have a modern Super Tool and it's great, it has the feel of a full sized hand tool. Not sure what the older one is like but if it's not as convenient as a newer tool then I'd just sell it or keep it as a collector's piece.
 
FWIW, I live near a major US city. I don’t know anyplace I could handle a Leatherman. The few places that carry them have them in Clam Packages. I buy everything online too.

Good luck with your decision. All Leatherman tools are great. There really isn’t wrong decision.
 
I recently retired my 1996 PST to the sentimental vault and started using a Rebar. Been loving it. No rust issues but it's only been a few months.
 
lieferung said:
I have a modern Super Tool and it's great, it has the feel of a full sized hand tool. Not sure what the older one is like but if it's not as convenient as a newer tool then I'd just sell it or keep it as a collector's piece.
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Thanks for sharing. No issues with quality and finish of my old S.T. The unlocking-mechanism seems out of date and feels cumbersome (and a bit dangerous, having to flip out another tool to unlock the blade). I’m torn whether to keep it as a collectible or use it. I like the locking mechanisms of the new ones, for sure.
 
eveled said:
FWIW, I live near a major US city. I don’t know anyplace I could handle a Leatherman. The few places that carry them have them in Clam Packages. I buy everything online too.

Good luck with your decision. All Leatherman tools are great. There really isn’t wrong decision.
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Thanks for sharing the good feedback about their quality. I guess it comes down to preference (tool-set and configuration).
Same here, everything is packaged. I also can’t buy and return where I live. :(
Which is why it is such a difficult decision between the Rebar and Sidekick.
 
sailfish said:
I recently retired my 1996 PST to the sentimental vault and started using a Rebar. Been loving it. No rust issues but it's only been a few months.
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Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m tempted to leave mine in the sentimental vault. For a while I was full-on decided on the Rebar, but then the spring loaded pliers and outside accessible blade/saw of the Sidekick caught my eye. Oh, the decisions.
Any chance you might know: is the blade thickness on the Rebar/Sidekick the same?
THX
 
I've carried a Rebar almost daily for the past two years. It's the only Leatherman I haven't broken. The best part about it is its size. It fits snugly in a fifth pocket so no need for a pouch on your belt.
 
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