Not too long ago I did the "Leatherman Factory Tour" here in Oregon.

I'm the big guy in back, yellow shirt lol


A forum-friend who has gone to many shows and got to meet the Brass and Exec invited me (to my delight) and let me tell you what happened and how it went.


A small group of us met outside the Factory in Portland (it's not far from the airport) and let me tell you, LM rolled out the red-carpet for us!
They did it on a special day (normally done on Wed) and really went all out for us (because we are forum folk and they are smart people! lol)

They had bagels and coffee and juice all ready for us proceeded by the tour of the factory. We got to see how each tool is made, from the big-ole roll of steel to the punching, cutting, shaping, polishing, fitting, assembling and the quality control at every step!


It was so cool! Tons of CNC robots and people all through the process. The "smell" of machining and that; "new-tool" smell (drool)
They have 3 main sections to the factory, because over the years they have been adding to the Factory, "original" and "add-on" and "add on"! big place!

They said Tim Leatherman bought the land himself and bought a lot! (man thinks ahead) back then in the early 80's it was not much around, but today! what a "boom" area. So after almost 2 hours of the tour they brought us back to the "Lunch-room" sectioned off for us and guess who's there to greet us?

The Man himself! "Tim Leatherman"!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />


He shakes all our hands and they have set up a "round-table" like conference area and we all sit down and he tells the "Story" the whole thing, how it started, how he first came up with the idea(s) and how hard it was to do!!

What a good story teller and talker he is, it was so cool. He answered all our questions (and I had a few) and showed us his personal tools and pictures of the first prototypes and he has demonstrations and then they bring in Lunch! (BBQ ribs and chicken drool)


We spent another 2 hours eating and talking and joking and we got to meet the engineers and designers and other cool brass, wonderful people I'm telling you. As we were finishing up the day, they give us each a brand new Multitool, their new "SideKick" and Tim Leatherman himself engraves each one for us! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

and they also give us a super cool flashlight! plus a coupon to buy more at their retails store.

It was a fun and super interesting time. They really made us feel welcome and were so generous to us (helps to be in forums!) You may not get the same tour if you go but if you can check it out, do it!

ohh and as we were leaving (in the parking lot) I showed the guys my Busse/SwampRat/Scrapyards! So they can see/feel some real blades! lol

Oh man that is SO cool Dan. I would have given my left pinky toe to do that tour! I've got two of the "Regular leatherman, one that is only about 2 1/2 inches long and one my stepson got me for Christmas a couple years ago. I like em! PLUS mine were all free!!! YUP the taxpayers bought me one when I was Still Active duty AF, I found one and had the small one given to me and then the one my stepson got me.

Cool tour and great writeup. Thanks!

Always thought about doing that tour. Great tools and a great company. They stand behind their work. I have an original LM a supertool 200 and ST300 plus countless micros. The ST200 is my favorite!

Did you hit the Danner store while you were out that way?

That's very cool,congrats.

no Danner yet! or Gerber or Benchmade (dream)

Gerber and Benchmade are very close to each other. Don't forget about Kershaw too.

Dan, that is AWESOME!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Wow that is amazing I am so jealous. I love my Micra, 16 years plus of honest EVERY-day-carry. I have had the original Super Tool for 13 years and have EDC'd it for about 5 years. If it ever breaks I will be justified to get the new Super Tool 300, I think I still have a while before that happens.

I really don't care for leatherman because of his liberal politics, but I have a couple of waves, I suppose he must at least employ some decent people.


I still would like to see the facility. I don't really want to work in a plant again but it's interesting to see how things are manufactured.

I kind of want a Mut, but a Marine on another board said he liked the wave better.

yes it's so much better to buy products from conservative people who tell you how to live what to think, that's so much better! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />

I didn't intend for this thread to be "Political" please do not make it one, it's just me sharing my good experience at the Leatherman factory with Tim Leatherman and good friends.

Sounds like a great tour.

I haven't been over here to O&F for awhile and just saw this thread. I have one of the early models but for some odd reason I assumed that they were now made in China. Now I will make my next multi tool a leatherman. That tour sure sounds like a special day. I wish I had done it while I lived out there.