The Arc Thread...

swamp_rat63 said:
I don't understand people who don't bat an eye at 250 dollars for a Benchmade, but complain about the same price for a far superior tool with a premium steel blade and many other functions, whatever.
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Exactly how I feel. I'm sure that any of the other Leatherman models are very nice especially depending on what you need it for but $250 for a multitool of that quality and materials is not that bad
 
At first I was hesitant because of the price of the Arc compared to other Leatherman models like the Wave, then I considered the difference in materials and design. I got a $100 gift card for last Christmas so I used it to put towards purchasing the Arc. I’m glad I did, it took me a while to get used to the different lock mechanisms but it’s so much smoother and all the tools are outside accessible. You don’t have to open the pliers handles to get at them and that’s so nice and easy. The Magnacut blade is icing on the cake. I have used it a lot and it’s my favorite now. I wasn’t sure at first if it would push the Wave out of my pocket but it has.

I’ve bought other tools of all kinds including knives and paid more , some I rarely use but they are necessary for specialized projects that can’t be done without them. I figured that I would be using the Arc more often and on a regular basis so to me it’s worth it. The jobs I’ve done with the Arc so far have paid for itself a few times over. No buyers remorse for me !
 
I love mine. Dont always carry it on me now (I did for over a month straight) when I first got it. I do wish they would have kept the blade grind and opening hole of the p4, but made it in magnacut. P4 is thinner. Other than that I love it
 
I've been carrying my Arc daily for a bit over a year and a half now and I still love it. I carried a Charge TTi on and off for 14 years and a Free T4 for a while, and before that, my first Leatherman was an original Wave, which I still keep in the basement for guitar tasks. The Arc outperforms them all. Love the blade, love the tool set. The Free's redesigned outside-access/one-handed/locking group of features might not seem important if you're used to the older designs, but in practice it makes the tool easier and safer to use, and if you use it multiple times a day, the ease of use and lack of hassle adds up to a noticeably better experience. The Magnacut has much better edge retention for my daily use than the S30V on my old Charge, which means less maintenance, and the smoother curve of its profile is easier to use across the entire edge. No problem using this as my main folding blade. The Free clip is also better than the kludgy insert clip for the Wave series tools - weight is one thing, having the tool sling around your pocket as you walk because of a loose clip is another thing entirely. I do keep it in my pocket, not really a sheath guy anymore. I keep the bit extender and a full-size bit in my wallet for those special moments.

Worth it? Well, it certainly has been to me. I don't buy stuff like this very frequently and I use it all the time. I plan to still be using it 20 years from now. If I was choosing a new multi-tool, I have to say (for me) the Charge+ TTi looks like the odd one out in the Leatherman lineup now. The Curl feels a bit clunky in the hand but has a nice basic tool set, the Wave+ is a classic and still a banger at a good price point, the regular Charge+ seems like a worthy upgrade for the extra $40... but then the TTi really functionally offers nothing extra. If you're already considering dropping two hundo on a multitool, $50 more for the improvements on the Arc is money well spent.

One thing I think I'd be pretty interested in would be an Arc-ish update to the T4. A thumb stud and Magnacut blade with drivers and scissors in a smaller format.
 
SharpBits said:
I wonder if the S30v has a poor heat treat. S30V, in edge retention, should beat Magnacut, assuming a good heat treat on both and similar geometry. See here for Larrin's ratings (under stainless steel ratings): https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/10...ness-edge-retention-and-corrosion-resistance/
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Is it possible I messed up its edge retention by sharpening it at too narrow of an angle? I didn't know much about sharpening when I first got the Charge. It was my only S30V knife blade and I was always frustrated by it. The edge on the Arc blade holds up really nicely.
 
I've watched about two dozen videos on this tool on YouTube and comparisons with other tools. I currently own the Wave (which I got when it came out), the Pulse and the original Victorinox Spirit. I'm intrigued by it due to the Magnacut blade, a fantastic steel and a major upgrade over the 420HC.

I started by considering the Skeletool CX because of the 154CM blade and light weight but its very thin on tools. Then went to the Charge and Charge Plus because of the 154CM/S30V blades.

A head-to-head comparison against the Arc is where the rubber really meets the road. My thoughts:

1) Where the Charge and Charge Plus are superior IMO is with the blade design which provides a longer cutting edge and the length of the file which doesn't have a slot in it.
2) Where the Arc wins is the separate bottle opener/prybar and can opener. I find the combo can/bottle opener on the Charge/Wave to be ineffective.
3) Magnacut is a superior steel to S30V. How important that it is you depends on how much you care about blade steel. I find it compelling.

So, you decide if the Arc is worth the premium, given the above. To my mind it is, when you factor in the 'free' style opening mechanism.
I just wish they'd designed the blade to have more cutting edge. The Magnacut blade is the most important reason to get one and they should have optimised this feature.

If you already have a Charge Plus or TTi I don't think it's that compelling.
 
SharpBits said:
It’s possible, do you remember the angle you used?
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I don't know exactly. It wound up a little shallower than 15 degrees per side.

Buffalohump said:
I've watched about two dozen videos on this tool on YouTube and comparisons with other tools. I currently own the Wave (which I got when it came out), the Pulse and the original Victorinox Spirit. I'm intrigued by it due to the Magnacut blade, a fantastic steel and a major upgrade over the 420HC.

I started by considering the Skeletool CX because of the 154CM blade and light weight but its very thin on tools. Then went to the Charge and Charge Plus because of the 154CM/S30V blades.

A head-to-head comparison against the Arc is where the rubber really meets the road. My thoughts:

1) Where the Charge and Charge Plus are superior IMO is with the blade design which provides a longer cutting edge and the length of the file which doesn't have a slot in it.
2) Where the Arc wins is the separate bottle opener/prybar and can opener. I find the combo can/bottle opener on the Charge/Wave to be ineffective.
3) Magnacut is a superior steel to S30V. How important that it is you depends on how much you care about blade steel. I find it compelling.

So, you decide if the Arc is worth the premium, given the above. To my mind it is, when you factor in the 'free' style opening mechanism.
I just wish they'd designed the blade to have more cutting edge. The Magnacut blade is the most important reason to get one and they should have optimised this feature.

If you already have a Charge Plus or TTi I don't think it's that compelling.
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I suppose the blade issue will come down to personal preferences, but in practice I find the shape of the blade on the Arc to be easier and more natural to use. The edge also sits slightly more forward than the Charge blade so it feels better positioned in the hand. The length difference feels negligible to me. I don't find myself missing the blade on the Charge... or really anything else about that tool. For all the time I had it, I never bonded with it. I liked my original Wave better.
 
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