Leatherman or Gerber

cougarhunter · Post by **cougarhunter** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 8:00 pm

This question is for all you bush jockeys out there. Do you have a leatherman or a gerber hanging off your belt. For my first flying job, I proudly had a shiny new leatherman in its shiny new case hanging off my belt. I got grief from the others there as they were gerber affectionados. Fast forward to my second flying job. I showed up with a gerber on my belt only to recieve grief from the boys at that base as they were leatherman fans. Go figure!

phillyfan · Post by **phillyfan** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 8:35 pm

Neither, but it is fun when there are a group of newbie pilots around. You ask who has a knife? and out come the multi tools!!

bobcat18 · Post by **bobcat18** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 10:15 pm

well now it doesnt matter you have both! Like gerber knives myself.

4green · Post by **4green** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 5:04 am

started with a leatherman which was impossible to disengage after using the pliers with any modicum force (the only way it would finally come loose was from the lubrication of the blood running down from your hand where you were squeezing the handle). swear by gerber now as they're so much easier to use with one hand.

klimman123 · Post by **klimman123** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 6:59 am

I choose neither. Once you lose one or drop it into a lake you'll regret having put down $100 for one. I get a generic one from Canadian Tire for $15 that has all the same tricks as the top of the line jobbies and in my experience they are even easier to open. What else do you really need?

jimmyjazz · Post by **jimmyjazz** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 7:50 am

Hey Philly, are you one of those bastards that are always asking to use mine

CF-RYE · Post by **CF-RYE** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:09 am

Philly,

You don’t wear a leatherman on your belt??? I hope you at least wear tight straight leg black jeans and roll up your shirt sleeves.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 5:05 pm

In line with my Indian heritage, I carry a very sharp tomahawk.

Beats the hell out of either a Leatherman or a Gerber.

Cat

c_172pilot · Post by **c_172pilot** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 9:26 pm

I have never used the gerber or the leatherman however I am quite fond of the buck multi tool. Its pilers flip around so they never jam and the steel on the blades are quite good. Myne is always sharp and I have had many ocasion to use it.

C_172pilot

624 · Post by **624** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 9:45 pm

klimman123 wrote:Once you lose one or drop it into a lake you'll regret having put down $100 for one.

I could not let a $100 tool drop to the bottom of the lake without some kind of rescue attempt. I've gone in after 10.00 sockets and made return trips with the scuba gear to retrieve the hard to find stuff.
The longest time on the lake bottom for something of value was my seiko watch. After 3 yrs. I finally got it back. The date had quit but the time was still working and accurate.

snapped · Post by **snapped** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:42 am

There's nothing like jumping through that Jet B slik to get your multi-tool back.

624 · Post by **624** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:44 am

...or your $10 socket

bornagain1340 · Post by **bornagain1340** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 9:44 am

I was a Gerber fan for a while because you only need one free hand to get at the pliers...but it never stood the test of time. Swiss-tool is the way to go (much better quality), and you won't end up with battle scars from squeezing the pliers too hard (unlike the leatherman).

jimmyjazz · Post by **jimmyjazz** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 1:26 pm

I've had my Gerber for years and love it, beat the hell out of it and it still is great just broke the first piece trying to pry a seat cleat but the only thing I used the lanyard for was prying anyway. Wouldn't take a leatherman if it was free but those buck seem allright never seen the swiss tool. The wost that I had to do to get mine back after droppig it was 8' of water in May up near pikangikum on a freakin cold cloudy day then an hour and a half back to base soaking wet. (dropped it at the outhouse once and slapped it away from the hole just in time, still not shure if I would have gone in for it or not)

Murdoch86 · Post by **Murdoch86** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 7:52 pm

I am a Gerber fan...

I had the original gerber from MEC it lasted 6 years... got me out of lots of jams

now I have the new Gerber legend 800

http://www.gerberblades.com/products/vi ... model=8239

I think this thing it the Cat's miow...

My Freinds still rib me that I wear it on my belt... until they need it to fix something.

I also can't say enuff about my 4 cell mag light...

MurtsAir · Post by **MurtsAir** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:17 am

I personally prefer my Beretta, light wieght, opens locks, fends off mosquitoes not to mention peace of mind when the natives are restless. oh and it drives nails

624 · Post by **624** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 2:23 am

I used to sport a 2 ft machete as my tool of choice. I'm not sure what brand it was, but the handle was black.
After my 2nd claim with the compensation board(stab wounds to the lower leg from getting into the right seat of the beaver), my employer made me stop wearing it.
Just as well anyway. It was totally useless. Have you ever tried poking a hole in a can of oil with a 2 ft machete? The doctor said I was lucky to still have a thumb.
But man did it look good.

onceacop · Post by **onceacop** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 8:59 pm

oldtimer · Post by **oldtimer** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 11:03 pm

I had an el cheapo but it broke and I was going to buy a good one but when I priced a Leatherman, I said wow. Now I just let my co-pilot do it. If I can't open it with a dime, it doesn't get opened. Old age and treachery thing.

HSG · Post by **HSG** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 11:29 am

Leatherman wave gets my vote, the pliers are easy on the hands and the blade part comes out without opening the whole thing. Tip for float guys- leave the leatherman in the flight bag in the plane and carry a box cutter around for cuting the knots you can't untie when the captains yelling at you over the howl of the engines in an offshore wind!

w squared · Post by **w squared** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 3:18 pm

I can't speak as to flying use (being a noob), but I've owned two Gerbers, a Victorinox Swisstool, and a half-dozen Ukranian Tire knock-offs. 6 years in the military, and 5 years worth of bush work...they've all seen some rough use.

The Gerbers are a good design, open easily with one hand, and are comfortable to use. I've had a problem with the central hing mechanism, though. The outer locking ring can loosen up, and prevent the jaws from sliding forward into place. (happened on one of two) The second Gerber went back to the Military when I got out.

I still like and use my swisstool. It's slightly larger and heavier than the Gerber, but all of the blades lock, the jaws are well thought out, and the blades are made from an excellent steel. You can also open it with one hand in a pinch (not as easily as a gerber).

The cheaper multitools I only bought because I was working around drilling mud, which has enough suspended solids to wear down and destroy just about anything with a hinge. They were all serviceable, but I wouldn't count on them not to break in a pinch.

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Sun Jul 04, 2004 2:52 pm

Only on this forum could you get 20 opinions on multi-tools. Could there be something in this?

Benwa · Post by **Benwa** » Mon Jul 05, 2004 5:31 am

How about a thread on Duct Tape now ?

I'm enjoying every minute of this !

By the way cougarhunter... grow a spine. Who cares what the other guys are saying... you spent way too much money buying both...

Benwa

624 · Post by **624** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 7:05 pm

I'm planning on getting this bad boy. It doesn't get any better than this!:D

Here's the specs.

Width - 2.5 inches
Length - 3.5 inches
Weight - 380g
Large Blade
Large Blade (wavy edge)
Gas lighter
Small Blade
Pharmaceutical spatula
Corkscrew
Can Opener
Small Screwdriver
Bottle Opener
Large Screwdriver
Wire Stripper
Electricians blade
Reamer & Punch (2 variations)
Sewing Eye
Scissors
Hook
Wood Saw
Fish Scaler, Hook Disgorger & Ruler
Pruning blade
Case & Wrench (number 1) with
- 4mm female hex drive (for bits)
- 5mm female hex drive (for D-SUB connectors)
- 4mm Posidrive 0 & 1 Bits
- 4mm Slotted Bit
- Phillips 2 Bit
- 4mm Hex Bit
- Torx 8 Bit
- Torx 10 Bit
- Torx 15 Bit
Case & Wrench (number 2) with
- 4mm female hex drive (for bits)
- 5mm female hex drive (for D-SUB connectors)
- 4mm Posidrive 0 & 1 Bits
- 3x1 Slotted Bit
- 4x1 Slotted Bit
- Hex 1.2 Bit
- Hex 1.5 Bit
- Hex 2 Bit
- Hex 2.5 Bit
- Torx 6 Bit
- Torx 8 Bit
Nail File & Nail Cleaner
Metal Saw & File
Fine Screwdriver 2mm (x2)
Mini Screwdriver
Phillips Screwdriver
Combination tool with
- Cap lifter
- Can opener
- Screwdriver
- Wire stripper
Watch opener
Magnifying Glass
Ballpen
Straight Pin
Chisel
Pliers & Wire Cutters/Crimpers
Wire bender
Keyring
Tweezers
Toothpick
Red Translucent handles

Piezo operated, refillable gas lighter
Gas level viewing window
Functions up to 1500m above sea level

29chev · Post by **29chev** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:42 pm

How do you guys get these things through security..

Leatherman or Gerber

Leatherman or Gerber

leatherman wave

Gerbers N Swisstools