I really can't argue with your reasoning Pit. Victorinox's Quality control is hard to beat. And Leatherman's QC is not what it used to be. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

The Victorinox Spirit is at the top of my list right now, I will own one soon. I have one of the older Swisstools and tons of SAKs, I never leave home without at least one SAK and one Multitool. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I've been really happy with my Ti Charge. Only thing I don't like is it's pretty heavy, like a half pound or so.





With some of my other EDC items

I, too, have the leatherman Surge. I think the complaints of some that it had over-large handles are justified, but these also allow you to get more leverage on the pliers. It also means that it can accommodate a folder-sized blade. The Surge has a bit of a rattle to it when closed, but this isn't present when the pliers are deployed. For an EDC, I would choose a Charge or Wave. But if you don't mind packing a belt-pouch or throwing the tool in a backpack, it'll serve you well as an absolute monster of a MT

Some links:

WD's rust test: http://www.scrapyardknives.com/ubbthread...ge=1#Post182708

A length discussion of multitools with lots of opinions and reviews
http://www.scrapyardknives.com/ubbthread...ge=1#Post180945

I carry the original leatherman Wave on a daily basis. I have not had problems with it, so far.
I also have one of the smaller folding leathermen, whatever they are called. Folding man or something....
I carry that one when I am trying to blend in with the untooled.

I have a Gerber Legend MP800: nothing to say, I really like it. It's not so heavy but rough enough. Suggested.

I like leatherman and swiss tool. I had a gerber I carried in Iraq and I didn't like it too much.

That's really good info to know. I've heard their customer service is good, but I've never had to send anything in myself.

The only knives I've ever broken were a Buck and a CS, and both companies took very good care of me.

I've gotten the same service out of Mag-Lite. I sent a 2 D-cell back that belonged to a friend that works private security. This had been used to break car windows, thrown at things, fallen out of a moving vehicle...you get the idea. It quit working. I sent it to Mag-Lite with a note "Is this worth repairing or should I just buy a new one?"

They sent me back a note that said, "After careful examination of the flashlight we have determined that the light was damaged by battery acid. The warranty expressly excludes battery acid. In the spririt of good customer relations we've enclosed a new flashlight anyway."

Funny you should ask...I was putting together my next order for the 2 sheaths you gave me quotes on and was trying to figure the pouch size and what to put in it and thought that a nice multitool would work nicely. If having a quality multitool means that it will be to big for that application, then I will need to figure something else out for the pouch, ie small survival kit, lighter etc.


Thanks for the help fellas, plenty of good information. I hadn't even heard of swisstools before.

Check out www.bladematrix.com for decent prices on the Victorinox Swisstool.

I was recently in your shoes....after much good advice recieved here I purchased BOTH Wave and Vic Swisstool X....

The Wave offers more "cutting" blades/one-handed opereation than the Swisstool however the Victorinox opens/closes up with a precision "click" on every single tool and ljust like every single SAK I've owned since I was 10 years old, Victorinox just screams quality and attention to detail.

I own a couple of Leatherman's- Wave and PST, a couple of Gerber's- Evo 650 and Legend, oh and a Kershaw molegrip multitool. The Kershaw is horrible junk don't bother.. I prefer my Evo 650 over any other tool I've tried, used or played with.. However- it is stainless steel but has acquired a couple of small rust spots on the handles! Came as a bit of a surprise as I figured they'd be packed with chrome.. BUT it is comfy to use, locks up well and the saw blades and wire cutter elements are replaceable! This, to me, makes it the best long term user proposition out there..

I don't own a SAK multitool but my Rucksack, Classic and Swiss Champ (all Victorinox) are very good for what they are- I never leave home without at least one of them..

for the last two weeks I have carried a charge, surge, and swiss tool. people ask why I have so many tools on me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> the charge in my opinion has been the most comfortable in the hand. I used to carry just a swiss tool and swore by them but about 3 years ago I switched back to leatherman. the handles feel better to me, the eye glass screwdriver is nice, but the clinchers are the diamond file, pocket clip, pliers open wider and one handed blades. the spirit is very nice though and I have not been dissapointed by it.