Hi Chris,

For tools needed in the field I don't find any wire cutters on the multi tools work. You need more leverage than they supply and a much harder tool steel edge.For wire cutting look only to a good solid make of proper tools if your brother finds the military issue too big and clumsy. I have some old ones made by Stanley of Sheffield... they work really well but Stanley have since outsourced abroad and I doubt they are as good. If Snap On or some other make that professionals use is available I would get him some with at least 6-8 inch grips.

It depends on what your brother needs in terms of wire cutting. Electrical wire I do with the scissors on my SAK ... but I have need of wire cutters than can double as heavy secateurs for limbing off branches which interfere with a field of view/bullet path ... also need them to do with razor wire and fence wire and in an emergency as a Method of Entry set of bolt cutters for the smaller cheaper type padlocks you get in the third world. Mine are very similar to these ones from Germany in that they have telescopic handles to increase the mechanical leverage if needed. These ones I found have an overall smallest size of about 14 inches so are not small but will go through 1 inch cable... so my needs may be different ...but this type of tool works really well.



If your brother is a weapons technician on small arms check out a company called "The Chapman MFG Company" based at 471 New Haven Rd, Durham CT 06422 ( tel 860 349-9228 ) they do an excellent minature screw driver and ratchet socket set for gunsmithing ....absolutely brilliant ... I carry mine in my Bergan everywhere. Also look at the folding type of allen keys by a good maker such as Redding who make the re-loading equipment ...there are others just as good ...check out Sinclair International for their accessories.

Another good accessory is the pocket torque wrench for action screws done by Anschutz. Excellent portability and accuracy.

When it comes to cutting wire or stripping rifles multi tools just don't work IMHO and you need small compact good "tools".

As a general multi tool for personal admin etc I have carried a Swiss Army knife for years... they work brilliantly ...here is mine ... not sure of the name though ..."Champ" rings a bell ...it's been everywhere... it's over 20 years old!