I have had a Leatherman "original" for about 10 years now. I am obliged to tell this story, which is one of the absolute highlights of my career. I'll sum it up in as short a space as possible, otherwise, I could go on and on about it.

Summer 1996: My mother was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. She declined slowly but steadily until her death in 1998.
Christmas 1997: She has been bedridden for several months. I visited at Christmas time and she gave me a present. It was an original leatherman tool. Of course it was my father's idea and he actually bought it but it was "from" my mother. Naturally, I treasured it and wore it on my belt with pride. I am a shop teacher at a high school and it proved to be invaluable as I used it for one task or another daily.
DurIn February of the school year of 97-98, I used it while helping a student rewind a small engine starter rope and left it on the workbench momentarily. Someone picked it up and did not return it. I know you are wondering why I didn't hold the class until it was returned, but it was a quirky deal where 2 classes overlapped in the shop due to a scheduling snafu by the administration and I couldn't hold all 40 of them there until it was returned. Once I realized it was missing, I spoke to all of the students involved and told them that it was a gift from my dying mother and please return it no questions asked. No results.
I have always treated students firmly but respectfully and was extremely disappointed that it did not reappear in the next couple of days. I resigned myself to the fact that I should not have been so careless as to leave it and it was, at least, partially my own fault for it being stolen.
Flash forward to April 17 of 1998. I teach Vocational Agriculture (FFA) and it was the night of our annual awards banquet. It is customary for the students to present a small token of appreciation to their FFA advisors (there are 3 of us in my department) at the banquet. Usually, these items are of a prank nature (deodorant, a new tie, a funny T-shirt, etc.) and everyone gets a laugh.
When they called me up they gave me a small package. When I opened it, I nearly cried in front of everyone. The FFA kids (none of whom were actually in any of the classes responsible for the theft) had bought me a new leatherman tool.
My mother died on April 18, 1998; the very next day.
I carry that thing with me all the time and use it regularly but I never let it out of my sight.
That is my leatherman story. They are a great tool. I broke the file off it, but I don't want to be without it long enough to send it back to get it fixed.

 

I am another who carries the Wave. It was issued to us in the Fire Dept and I have found it so indespensible, that I carry it off duty as well.

 

I prefer my SOG over the original leatherman (more leverage for wire cutting, easier one handed opening) but have been considering the "Charge". It looks like the handles whould be more comfy when using pliers/wirecutters and easier knife blade access. I use my SOG quite often w/ 90% being the above usage. As for the Charge:

Do the extra bits store in the sheath?
Is it simple to open the pliers w/ only 1 free hand?

Thanks.

 

Leatherman....best for cracking a hay bale! My kids always tell people I am armed and dangerous.

 

I bought a used leatherman PST off of ebay a few years ago. It had been used quite a bit but was still a nice tool. About a year ago I was trying to cut some wire and the pins that hold the tool together must have bent slightly. I sent it back to the company and they sent me a brand new PST a few days later. Not a day goes by that I don't have that tool on my belt. Excellent product and excellent company.....jev

 

I have a leatherman G2 "juice." Yeah, kinda girly, but it's sharp enough to cut off my damn finger (grr) so it's sharp enough for me.

 

Yea I broke my file to but I sent it in and it they even stamped falkirk on it thats the Mine where my grandpa worked

 

I have the original leatherman, mostly been happy with it. My father and my brother in law, the cop, both carry the Gerber. For my uses their blunt nose pliers would have been better. My brother had the long nose Gerber, til he let his son use it.
I am looking at the Gerber Evolution 650, as the pliers heads are interchangable (comes with four). Although I have not used it as much as some, because I try to always have a pretty good tool kit with me, with all the times it has saved me (or my employers) it has both saved and made me money. Prime example, boss has a long drive home with a burnt out headlight, he asked how hard are they to change in that vehicle. I went to show him and it was the same number as mine, I swaped it with my spare and he was greatfull enough to give me a $20 and he gave me another one to pick up a pack and hide it in his vehicle.
Reason to carry one, I had a burnt out headlight and had picked up a replacement, then found out I needed a torx driver which I had left at my fathers, drove over there and got pulled over by a Raytown traffic cop (almost all they do), the cop made an illegal u-turn (no lights or sirens) speed and eventually pulled me over, two blocks from me fathers. He had me for nothing but the light and was pulling out the ticket book when he said, "know you have a burnt out light?". I picked up the bulb and said, "I have the new one right here and I am almost to my fathers to get the tool to change it", he did the standard run for warrants and came back with a ****ed and confused look on his face and said, "Oh, ok make sure you get that done."

 

I have a Gerber that I carry on my belt. The original sheath did'nt last long, so I bought a leather case for it and wear it pretty much everywhere I go. Both of my trucks have "knock-off" multi-tools in the glove compartments, but the Gerber is the one that gets the use. It was given to me for my 5 year service anniversary at my job in town a couple years ago. Before that I carried a knock-off to work, and carried a pocket knife (one bladed Estwing) and a pair of pliers on my belt for farm work. The knock-off's did'nt hold up too well, though.

I use the Gerber pretty often... handy for removing meta trailer seals without cutting your hands to shreds.

 

Leatherman "Super Tool"

I lost one and melted the end of the pliars off another. This is the 3rd one. I've always had one since I was 15.

 

I have the Leatherman "Crunch". Had it a couple of years. It has LOCKING pliers and still folds as small as a "standard" pair. I use mine everyday for work. I actually broke the blade off(using for prying) and wore out a couple of other tools. I was willing to pay to get it fixed but, they said to send it in and they would cover it under warranty. They sent me a whole new tool. How many other brands cover their multi tools like this?

 

My wife bought me a GERBER about 3 years ago. The nylon case is all tattered and the velcro's worn out but the darn tool still works like a charm. If it ever dies I would buy another in a heartbeat.

 

I've got the Leatherman Charge Ti. I find myself using it every day. My wife bought me some cheap knockoffs a few years ago, (might be more than a few), but I've never used them. I had a buddy tell me about how they replaced his when he broke the blade and I was sold. Zippo lighter has the same type of deal.

 

I carry what seems to be an experimental model from Coleman that is very comfortable and easy to use and the "tool packs" snap out of the handles so you can use multiple tools.

 

Must....pull.....mind.....out.....of.....gutter.

Are they anything like a Swiss Army combination knife? Never had a use for a combination knife, I could never get the implements out, so I always had a 3-3/4" lockback on my hip and a screwdriver or two close by in the truck.