Multi-Tools

Leatherman Squirt PS4 Review

My Leatherman Micra review sparked some pretty excellent responses in the comments section. Great points were made about how much utility is packed into some of Leatherman’s smallest offerings, and how it’s sometimes more acceptable to whip out a multi-tool than a pocket knife. Knives will always be my first love (and main focal point of the website), but you can’t deny the practicality of a multi-tool.

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While the Micra is a great tool, it is based around scissors. I think most people associate multi-tools with pliers-centric designs. Enter the Leatherman Squirt PS4. It’s roughly the same footprint as the Micra, but based around a small set of spring loaded pliers rather than scissors. It seemed like a natural succession to my review of the Micra so I decided to pick one up along with a Gerber Dime to test out this segment of the multi-tool market.

General Dimensions and Pliers

The Squirt has an overall length of 2.25″ (closed), weighs 2.1 ounces, and is made in the USA. This tool is similar in size to the Micra. The Squirt is a little thicker, but the Micra is a little longer. The PS4 is advertised as a “keychain multi-tool”, and while technically you could carry this on your keychain, I’m not sure if you would want to.

This is a small tool and can be easily stowed in a pocket, or strategically tucked away in a tool kit, vehicle, or tackle box. That is primarily how I like to use these small multi-tools. They may not be a true “EDC” piece for me, but for around $25 most can afford to have this be a dedicated tool for their car, as part of a little tool kit, survival kit etc. Of course there is nothing wrong if you want to make this a daily carry object as well.

And on the subject of price, I still can’t believe how nicely made these small Leatherman tools are for the money. The pieces all line up nicely. There are no unintentional sharp edges. The action of the springs are all high quality. The tools themselves are all nicely finished. There are no stray tooling marks and everything goes where it should. The handle scales are hard anodized aluminum. The pliers close neatly together. This is a quality tool that is satisfying to articulate. It’s not a disposable object, and it feels like you actually get something for your money.

At the center of the Squirt is a small set of stainless steel pliers. The pliers come to a nice tip and are almost fine enough to be used as tweezers. They can certainly pluck hair, and could probably pull a splinter in a pinch, but they are strong enough to be used to pull staples and manipulate small bolts. The jaws open to over an inch wide but are better for smaller tasks. In fact, these pliers are great for getting into places that are too tight for my fat fingers.

Additional Tools

The Squirt comes with an assortment of 7 additional tools to the pliers. The toolset includes:

Scissors
Penknife
Bottle Opener
File
Flathead Driver
Phillips Driver (small flathead driver)
Wirecutter

This is a nice list of commonly used tools. All but the wire cutter can be accessed from the outside without opening up the tool. That may seem like a small detail in theory, but in practice being able to access the tools without opening up the pliers is huge. I think that feature is right up there with spring loaded pliers.

The scissors are very small. They cut, and can work for delicate tasks, but I wouldn’t want to use them for a lot of cutting. That said they are sharp, spring loaded, and certainly cut. They can be great for when you need to trim something small or make a delicate cut, like trimming away heat shrink from a wire.

The knife blade is small but serviceable. It is flat ground with a chisel edge, and comes sharp out of the box. It’s made from 420HC steel. It won’t win and edge retention competitions but in a pinch it will open a piece of mail or shave down a piece of wood. It’s a slip joint, but if you are smart with it you will be fine.

The file is possibly my favorite tool on the Squirt. It’s over an inch long and is double sided. One side is a single cut file, the other is double cut. Both sides are abrasive and work great for small jobs.

The screw drivers are adequate. The “Phillips” driver is not a true 3-D driver, but it can work in a pinch. The flat head driver is about a quarter of an inch wide and works well.

The bottle opener is small and shallow. It will get a bottle opened, but takes some work and is a far cry from the bottle opener on the Alox Cadet.

Leatherman Squirt vs. Gerber Dime

As I mentioned in the intro, I bought this along with the Gerber Dime. I think the build quality of this Leatherman blows the Dime out of the water. The Dime isn’t a bad tool, and it’s anywhere from $5-15 cheaper than the PS4, but I prefer the PS4.

I mostly prefer the PS4 for it’s slightly better build quality, and the bottle opener jutting out of the back of the dime turns me off, even if it’s a more successful bottle opener than the one on the Squirt.

That said, others have had great luck with the Dime, so if you are torn you can buy them both for under $50 like I did. If I could only keep one I like the PS4 more.

Leatherman Squirt PS4 – Final Thoughts

They say the best tool is the one you have on you. The Squirt isn’t going to replace a tool box, or even a full size multi-tool, but it’s handy in a pinch for small jobs. Given the size constraints I think it’s a great little multi-tool, and you get a lot for your money. That said, I prefer a full size multi-tool for working on bigger projects. The problem with a full size multi-tool is that they are tough to carry unless you can get away with a belt sheath.

I continue to be impressed with the fit, and finish of these inexpensive Leatherman tools. The stellar build quality combined with how they are legitimately useful, make this one a win for me. The fact that the Squirt is made in the USA is icing on the cake.

This is a great back up or EDC item. Even if it doesn’t get tons of use, at around $25 you can’t go wrong with it.

LEATHERMAN, Squirt PS4 Keychain Multitool with Spring-Action Scissors and Aluminum Handles, Built in the USA, Black

LITTLE LIFESAVER: A colorful, keychain-size multitool with durable aluminum handles, spring-action pliers and more
9 TOOLS IN 1: With a knife, pliers, screwdrivers, wire cutters, scissors & a bottle opener, this lightweight mini-tool handles everything from snipping fishing line to wrapping birthday gifts
OUR GUARANTEE: We’re proud to stand behind every product that leaves our factory in Portland, Oregon; That’s why we offer our 25-year warranty, so you can be confident your Leatherman lasts a lifetime
ONE-HAND ACCESS: For those moments when you only have one hand to spare, the Squirt PS4 only requires one hand to open and use all the tools
ALWAYS ON HAND: The Squirt PS4 weighs just 2 ounces and is equipped with a key ring so it's always within reach and ready to work

I recommend purchasing the Leatherman PS4 Squirt at Amazon. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Boker Plus Tech-Tool Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

When I visited Smoky Mountain Knifeworks over the Thanksgiving holiday, one of my favorite parts of the store was the Boker booth. With a lot of production knife companies I already either handled most of their product line, or have a good feel for what their product line is like. Boker is a company I have less of a bead on.

Buy the Boker Tech-Tool at BladeHQ

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For starters, the breadth and depth of Boker’s catalog is a little intimidating. Boker is best known for making knives in Soligen, Germany, but they have their value-oriented Plus Line made in China and Taiwan, and are also making knives in Italy and the U.S.A. It’s just harder to know what you are getting into, especially when you compare this with all the other major knife manufacturers. For example, if I buy a Zero Tolerance knife, I basically know what level of quality I am going to get before the knife arrives. All of this is to say that I am less in tune with Boker’s offerings.

Also, Boker’s image was tarnished by a series of poorly executed titanium framelock knives. The Boker Anso 67 was a hot design a few years ago, made popular in part by guys like TuffThumbz. The Boker collab was a chance to get a faithful reproduction of the design for not a ton of money. The problem was that the knives were fraught with lock rock. That, and some spotty fit and finish issues on other knives, shook the confidence of the online knife community.

But Boker has been releasing all sorts of cool stuff over the past few years, and they have also been working on their quality control. The result includes fan favorites like the Kwaiken Flipper, home runs like the Urban Trapper, and a slew of other interesting collaborations and original designs. The Tech-Tool is another possible home run. This is Boker’s answer to the Swiss Army Knife.

According to Boker, this is actually a modern reinterpretation of their original Camp Knife. When the Tech Tool first came out I wasn’t sure what to make of it. After all, Swiss Army Knives have been around for decades. It seemed rather ambitious that a company like Boker was going to come in and change the game that the Swiss have dominated for so long. But then again, Boker has been making slip joint multi-tools for almost 150 years now.

Handling one of these Tech-Tools made me realize it was (once again) wrong of me to dismiss this knife. This is an interesting value proposition that deserves to be on more people’s radars.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

Being a multi-tool, Boker offers this knife in a wide range of configurations. Anything from a single blade slip joint, to a 4 layer, 10-tool load out.

I struck a compromise and selected the “2”, which has 2 layers, 8 tools, and is similar to my Victorinox Spartan (shown in some of the pictures for comparison). This is model number 01BO812. They call my version of the knife the “Outdoor” version thanks to the olive green handle scales. The knife is also offered as a the “City” version with black G-10 scales, and there is also a carbon fiber clad version. For ease of reading I refer to my Tech-Tool 2 as simply the “Tech-Tool” at some points the review.

My Tech Tool has an overall length of 6.5″, a 2.75″ blade, and it weighs 3 ounces. The Tech Tool is made in China. The Tech Tool 2 is aimed at the thicker celo-handled Swiss Army Knives (SAKs), and it compares favorably to those. It is the same length as my Spartan, and is just a hair thicker unless you include the pocket clip; in that case it’s a lot thicker. The Tech Tool also weighs a good .85 ounces more than the Spartan, thanks in part to G-10 handles, stockier tools, and a pocket clip. The Tech Tool has less tools than the Spartan, but the tools it has are thicker and more substantial. The whole knife feels heavier duty than your average SAK.

The blade of the Tech Tool is also more impressive than the blade found on your standard SAK. It is thicker and wider, and shaped like a more traditional drop point hunting knife. Aesthetically it balances with the handle a little better, although it’s the same length of your standard 91mm SAK. The blade has been given a thin hollow grind and something of a mirror polish. There is very little ricasso, so you need to be careful in closing the blade. This is a slip joint, so there is no lock. There is no half stop either, and the heel of the edge can come in contact with your finger as you close the blade if you aren’t paying attention.

This is a simple and functional blade shape. It’s perfect for packages and mail, for cutting up food, and for harder tasks like whittling, cutting rope, and breaking down heavy cardboard. A knife like this is great to have at a camp site, and reminds me somewhat of a Scout’s knife on steroids. The blade is wider than your standard SAK, but it’s still thin and great for tasks like cutting apples. The tip is fine and is ideal for tasks like clipping coupons and piercing through fabric and leather.

Boker selected Sandvik 12C27 as the blade steel for their Tech-Tools. I have always been a fan of 12C27. It’s one of my favorite budget steels. It’s hearty, easy to sharpen, and holds a nice edge. It’s also fairly rust resistant. I am sure the mirror polish on the blade will further help with corrosion resistance. I consider 12C27 to be an improvement over the already capable steel Victorinox uses in their knives, and am glad to see it here on the Tech-Tool. My knife came sharp out of the box with a good edge.

The Other Tools

In addition to the main blade, the Tech-Tool 2 also features 2 flat head drivers, a bottle opener/cap lifter, a wire stripper, a serrated blade, a cork screw, and a carbide-tipped glass breaker.

At this point I want to say that the fit and finish and general construction of all the tools is on par with what you would find on a Swiss Army Knife. Boker did an excellent job here. Victorinox has really dialed in their production after making their knives for years (and making millions of them), so I wasn’t sure what to expect with this new Tech Tool. My expectations were exceeded. The only strange thing was a little red schmutz in the screw hole for the pocket clip. This turned out to be leftover red Loctite.

The cap lifter is basically a mirror image of the standard Victorinox cap lifter, only it has been made out of thicker stock. It has been mated to a nice back spring, and the tool makes a great snapping sound when you open it. It doesn’t have a true half-stop, but it comes close.

The serrated blade / screw driver tool is unique to the Tech-Tool, and it’s interesting for a number of reasons. First of all it’s obviously not shaped like a standard serrated knife. Instead, the profile of the edge features has a slight concave arch. That is coupled with the blade opening to a 135 degree angle rather than 180 degrees. The end result is a unique tool ideally suited to cutting rope and fabric. It could also be used as rescue cutter of sorts, or perhaps even to open up clamshell packaging without damaging the contents with the sharp tip of the main blade.

This serrated blade replaces the can opener found on most Victorinox models. I think it is an interesting choice, and is arguably more useful then a can opener. Thankfully the material in tin cans is soft, so you could still use the cap lifter and possibly this serrated edge to get a can open, although it will take a little more time.

The corkscrew is something I could live without. I’m not a big wine drinker, especially on the go, so a tool like this just won’t get much use. But if you find yourself at a picnic or party with no other corkscrew you will save the day. Another gripe is that the corkscrew is also quite bulky, and sticks out a couple millimeters past the handle scale. I’d much prefer a Phillips driver here or the awl found on some SAKs.

Boker includes a carbide glass breaker on every Tech-Tool. It’s an interesting addition, and combined with the serrated blade it provides the Tech-Tool with a rescue knife flair. Can’t say I have used mine on any glass yet, but “dry firing” it on some wood it appears to do a good job as a force multiplier. Although mine won’t get much use, its a nice addition and it doesn’t hurt to have it.

Finally, Boker included a fold away lanyard loop. I am not a big lanyard guy so I think this is a great feature. It is there if you want to use the knife with a lanyard, but if you don’t you can fold it away so it doesn’t interfere with the ergonomics of the knife. What a nice idea. Bravo, Boker.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The standard Tech-Tool comes with contoured G-10 handle scales that fit over steel liners. The handle is screwed together, and you can take this tool apart with a torx driver. As I mentioned earlier, fit and finish is excellent on this knife. The pieces all line up perfectly, there are no stray tooling marks. I think the finish is actually better than my Victorinox knives.

I did start to take my Tech Tool apart out of curiosity. It comes apart with a standard T5 driver. Inside everything is put together nicely. All the parts are precision machined and fit, there are even little phosphor bronze washers on the tools. It took some fiddling to get the liner off so I decided not to completely disassemble the knife. If I decide to do this again I’ll snap some pictures.

Rather than being a pill-shaped handle, the handle of the Tech-Tool has been given a more traditional shape. This offers the end user a slightly more ergonomic feel over your standard Swiss Army knife. The handle molds to your hand nicely. The smooth G-10 offers a little traction, and it’s definitely a step up over the plastic handled Victorinox models. There is no jimping, but you don’t need jimping on a slip joint like this.

One of the greatest draws to the Tech-Tool is the inclusion of a pocket clip. Lets face it, enthusiasts of modern pocket knives love pocket clips. They are great for a number of reasons. The clip on the Tech-Tool is a deep-carry clip, and it has excellent spring retention. The knife buries away discretely in your pocket and is there when you need it. If you decide to use the Tech-Tool as a secondary knife, or don’t want to use the clip for whatever reason, it’s fully removable. It’s also swappable for tip up or tip down carry. Finally, a SAK with a pocket clip. It only took us until 2015.

Boker Tech-Tool 2 – Final Thoughts

I think there is a lot to like about the Tech-Tool. First of all, it has been done really well. The build quality is easily on par with Victorinox. In some cases I think this knife is built better than a SAK. I think build quality is a big part of the charm of these little folding multi-tools, so if the quality wasn’t there that would hurt the success of this knife “bigly”.

There are also some thoughtful refinements to the Tech Tool. The use of contoured G10 for the handles, a bigger blade, screw together construction vs. pins, the inclusion of a pocket clip, the glass breaker, the fold away lanyard hole, and the serrated blade. All of these refinements add up to make the Tech-Tool unique and special. A lot of this stuff adds extra weight to the knife, but I think you get something for that additional weight. I certainly don’t mind it. Many of these features are things Victorinox should have offered years ago. It’s a heartier Swiss Army knife. I like it.

As far as cons to the Tech-Tool 2, I do miss the tweezers and tooth pick found on the celo-handled SAKs. Also, your Spartan does offer a couple extra tools, like the awl, and can-opener. You lose the can opener for the serrated blade, and you lose the small secondary blade on the Spartan for a bigger and thicker primary blade. I don’t think those are bad trade offs. I’m not a fan of the cork-screw and would like to see that go the way of the Dodo in favor of a Phillips driver, awl, or both.

There is also the price to consider. This Tech-Tool 2 is a good $15 more expensive than a Victorinox Spartan (~$35 vs. ~$20). I think the higher price tag is easily justified by the better primary blade, the G-10 handles, pocket clip, and screw together construction, plus I doubt Boker is employing the economies of scale Victorinox does, but I realize value is subjective.

If you were on the fence about the Tech-Tool, I think it’s a quality tool and it exceeded my expectations. I will always have a place for the ultra-thin, ultra-light Alox Cadet, but this gives the plastic handled SAKs a serious run for their money. I also think it’s better executed than the Spyderco ClipIt Tool.

Check out the Tech Tool if you want an upgraded Swiss Army style knife. I am glad I picked one up.

Boker Plus 01BO812 Tech-Tool Outdoor 2 Multi-Tool Knife with 2 4/5 in. Blade, Green

Multi-tool knife
Tools: glass-breaker, screwdriver with bottle opener and wire stripper, small serrated blade with screwdriver tip, corkscrew, foldable lanyard hole, pocket clip
Green handle scales
Weight: 3.1 oz.
Limited Lifetime Warranty

I recommend purchasing the Boker Tech Tool at Amazon and BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Leatherman Charge TTi Review

by Grayson Parker 18 Comments

Last Updated: July 27, 2019

I grew up with Leatherman tools. My dad always carried one, and to this day he still has his Leatherman Juice on or around him most of the time. In Scouting, most people carried a multitool of some kind. The first knife that I cut myself with was my dad’s Leatherman Wave. When we climbed Mt. Whitney, I didn’t take a bushcraft knife, I didn’t take a modern folder; all I had was a Leatherman Squirt PS4. If you can’t tell by this point, I’ve got a lot of love for Leatherman tools.

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Under those circumstances, it’s pretty obvious why I’d be drawn to the Leatherman Charge TTi. Full size, all locking tools, built like a tank from materials even a knife snob couldn’t turn their nose up at; you see where I’m going. Last Christmas I decided to take the plunge and purchase one. It’s less and more than what I expected, and I’ll let you decide if that’s a good thing.

I’m sure every gear nut knows this feeling: you only need a tool when you don’t have it with you. That’s part of the problem here. I’ve carried the Charge in the pocket, on my belt, or in a bag for more than a month, and all the tasks I thought I’d be using it for disappeared whenever it was around. Who knows, maybe the plumbing was intimidated into submission.

General Dimensions and Tools

The Charge TTi has a closed length of 4” and a blade length of 2.9”. It’s .8” thick, and weighs 8.89 oz. I haven’t done the math, but it’s approximately heavy enough to qualify as assault with a deadly weapon if thrown. Partially responsible for the dreadnought class tonnage is that all the tools lock while open, a design choice that I still don’t know if I agree with yet. On one hand, it’s comforting to know that the blades won’t be snipping my fingers off if I do something stupid. On the other, I don’t know why an eyeglass screwdriver needs to lock. There’s a bit of play in all the locks, but that’s par for the course with multitools.

You can check out all the tools on the Charge through this link, the below chart, or the picture below that. I can’t think of a tool they left out, and their inclusion of a flathead screwdriver when the Charge already has two bit drivers suggests they were running out of ideas. That, or they knew too many folks just used the flathead for prying open paint cans and wanted to make replacement easier. Either way, all appropriate tools are present.

Needlenose Pliers	S30V Blade	Can/Bottle Opener
Regular Pliers	420HC Serrated Blade	Wood/Metal File
Hard-Wire Cutters	Saw	Diamond Coated File
Wire Cutter	Spring-Action Scissors	Large Bit Driver
Crimper	Cutting Hook	Small Bit Driver
Wire Stripper	Ruler	Medium Screwdriver

As I noted earlier, the Charge frightened away most of the chores that I would have used it for, but I was able to reach for it a few times. The pliers (which are cast, not machined) are wide and aggressive enough to remove the aerators from sinks, yet come to enough of a needle point for splinter removal. I didn’t use the blade hard enough to push the S30V to its limits, but it worked fine on boxes, apples, and spreading condiments on a sandwich. More than a few bottles of beer were opened as well. The only complaint I have is the absence of replaceable wire cutters, which are common enough in other Leatherman tools that I can’t see why they weren’t included.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

The handles (if you couldn’t guess) are made of titanium. Well, the scales are. The non-tool guts of the knife are made of steel; I don’t even want to know how difficult the machining would be otherwise. By multitool standards the construction is pretty tight. Nominally, it’s held together with torx screws, but that would imply that you can disassemble it. This is not the case. For some reason that only the engineers at Leatherman know, these torx bits have little pins in them, which makes them incompatible with most torx drivers. A quibble, but a galling one. Before I get too negative, I will note that the finish left on the scales is truly beautiful, in a chipped stone kind of way.

Imagine a brick. Now shrink it, make it a little slimmer along the way, and put it in your hand. That covers the essential points of the ergonomics here. Normally I wouldn’t be so dismissive, but compared to the Skeletool the Charge is lackluster at best. To be fair: the edges are rounded, and I’ve never felt a hotspot, but it doesn’t conform to your palm the way other Leatherman tools do. If you’re carrying the Charge with the pocket clip, then disregard my line about “never feeling a hotspot.” You should have a good idea why farther down.

Take that same shrunken brick and strap it to your belt. Honestly, it’s not that bad that way. If you’re working in an industrial setting, no one is going to care about a multitool, and even most offices won’t mind a Leatherman on your belt. The worst I can say is that it can compete for space with any bag you might have, depending on how you wear it. Mine came with the leather sheath, and I haven’t had any problems with it. The side pockets on it are nice for a AAA flashlight and a mini sharpie.

Are you feeling particularly brave? Clip it to your pocket.

Leatherman Charge TTi Review – Final Thoughts

If you walked away from this review with the impression that I don’t like the Charge, I’m sorry. I can see that in many ways it’s a great tool, and deserves to be on the shortlist of high end multitools. This is probably just a consequence of my expectations being in the wrong place. A carpenter, an electrician, or anyone that does a lot of work with their hands would probably love having this on their belt. In other words: “it’s not you, it’s me.”

Funnily enough, its stiffest competition comes from within the brand, in the form of the Leatherman Wave. The Wave shares most of the design language of the Charge: a full set of locking tools, outside accessible blades, and a nearly identical toolset. Of course, it doesn’t have the premium materials that the Charge TTi does, but it also costs half as much. Whether those materials are worth the premium is up to you. Leatherman isn’t the only game in town; Victorinox, Multitasker, Gerber, and SOG all make plier centric multitools. I imagine that I’d have similar complaints if I were to review any of their offerings, as they’re all near the same weight or heavier.

At the end of the day, who should buy this? Well, despite its staid design, it really is the top of the heap. If you want a multitool that has the same materials as a Spyderco Sage 2, this is your only option. The all-locking tools may be unnecessary to me, but a godsend to someone else. It’s a nice enough object that I’m not going to get rid of mine; this’ll just be consigned to the glove box, where it can do some real good in a pinch.

Next up – the ZT 0900. You bastards finally got to me.

LEATHERMAN - Charge TTI Titanium Multitool with Spring-Action Scissors and Cutting Hook, Stainless Steel with Nylon Sheath (FFP)

READY FOR ANYTHING: All the most requested features in one good-looking, functional tool. Take it everywhere, use it anywhere.
FIT MORE FUNCTIONALITY: A variety of pliers, wire cutters, wire crimper and stripper, serrated and regular knives, saw, spring-action scissors, cutting hook, can and bottle openers, files, screwdrivers, and a ruler.
LET’S BE PRACTICAL: Sometimes you only have one hand to spare. The Charge TTi only requires one hand to open and use all the tools, even the ones that aren’t accessible from the outside. And with a locking blade, you can cut with confidence.
ALWAYS ON HAND: Equipped with a pocket clip and quick-release lanyard ring, your Charge TTi is always within reach and ready to work.
GUARANTEED: Our 25-year limited warranty ensures that your Leatherman will give you many years of dependable service. Just send it in and we’ll fix it up. All Leatherman multitools are made and repaired right here in the USA.

I recommend purchasing the Leatherman Charge TTi at Amazon, or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this site helps support BladeReviews. Any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Leatherman Micra Review

by Dan Jackson 9 Comments

I have never been able to consistently Every Day Carry (EDC) a full size multi-tool. I have a couple, and they have come in handy, but I don’t regularly EDC them. They are great to have in a car tool kit, a tackle box, for camping, or possibly if you work a physical job. But as a desk jockey I get way more mileage out of a Victorinox Pioneer than with your standard multi-tool.

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And then there is the Leatherman Micra. I have owned one for a few years now. My father has one, and I picked one up on a whim after checking out his. There is something extremely satisfying about this little tool. The spring loaded scissors are unlike anything else in my gear collection. I thought it might be fun to switch things up and offer a review of my Micra.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Micra has a closed length of 2.5 inches, a 1.6″ blade, weighs 1.8 ounces, and is made in the USA. Closed it’s about the size of my thumb. An easy enough option to EDC. Some people carry this on a keychain, and there is a lanyard loop that you can fold away if you don’t want to use it. I already have enough on my keychain, plus as a lawyer it would quickly get confiscated if I forgot to remove it before going through court security. It is slightly thicker than an Alox Cadet and much shorter. It truly is a micro piece of EDC gear.

The main attraction to this tool is the spring loaded scissors, and man are they sweet. First of all, the spring loaded aspect of this tool is extremely satisfying. The fidget factor is off the charts, and I regularly find myself absentmindedly opening and closing the tool. The spring loaded aspect alone is worth the price of admission.

But what puts things over the top is how sharp and useful the scissors are: they are indeed sharp and useful. And strong. They are so strong that I think calling them “scissors” is not giving them enough credit. They are almost shear like in their capabilities. I regularly use them to trim my fingernails. Hopefully that wasn’t too much information, but it goes to show that these aren’t the little scissors that come on the Swiss Army Knives or full size multi-tools. These are several steps above.

If you aren’t into using the scissors on the Micra as an impromptu grooming tool, then they can easily cut zip ties and plastic packaging. I could see them cutting through a shoe in a pinch (in a first aid situation), but ideally you would want something bigger. They don’t replace full size scissors if you have to cut a lot of cloth or paper, but they are stout, tough, and sharp.

Additional Tools

Obviously, the scissors aren’t the only tool on the Micra. You also get a penknife, a large flathead driver, a small flathead driver with a cap lifter built in, a “Phillips” driver, tweezers, and a combination nail file and nail cleaner.

The knife blade is a small clip point that is flat ground with a chisel edge. It’s sharp and serviceable, even if it’s about 1-5/8″ long. This isn’t going to perform like a full size knife, but you can cut stuff with it in a pinch. The blade doesn’t lock open, but there is a backspring and it snaps in place. The spring is weaker than a Swiss Army Knife, but this is not a knife you are going to want to use heavily any ways. It can open a box in a pinch, but probably the biggest draw to the knife is its needle fine tip.

Leatherman actually includes 420HC blade steel on the Micra. On a regular pocket knife 420HC is pretty ho-hum, but for a ~$20 multi-tool I think this is an outstanding choice. 420HC lacks the edge retention of higher end steels, but I think it’s a fine choice for the small blade on the Micra.

On the subject of steel, the steel that Leatherman has used here is pretty good. Mine occasionally spots with rust, but it cleans off easily and has never been a serious problem. Leatherman has been at this for over 30 years, so I imagine they have given the steel they use a healthy amount of consideration.

The 2 flat head drivers are nice enough. I can’t say either has gotten a ton of use, but the fine one is also integrated into a bottle opener. You can never have too many bottle openers, and the screwdrivers can be used in a pinch.

The Phillips driver is more of 2 dimensional driver, rather than a true “3-D” Phillips driver. It’s not perfect, but better than nothing. On a tool of this size and at this price point there will be compromises, and the lack of a true Phillips driver is one of them. There is no way you are going to replace a full tool kit with a Micra.

The file is really just a nail file. You won’t be able to use it for much more than that. With that said, I think including a nail file is nice, and it compliments the scissors. It has good abrasiveness and has held up well after several years of occasional use. No complaints here.

The tweezers are probably the tool I have used the least. I prefer the tweezers on my Swiss Army Knives. The tweezers on the Micra are kind of blunt, and I have never used them on a splinter, but they are fine enough to pluck hair.

Rounding things out is a ruler. It has been integrated into the back of the handle like most multi-tools. It’s awkward to use, but it doesn’t take up any additional space.

All told, I think the feature set on the Micra is robust given the size and price restraints. This is a nice assortment of common tools. You need to open the scissors to access the tools, but a small multi-tool like this is going to require some fidgeting.

Leatherman Micra Review – Final Thoughts

What impresses me most about the Micra is how nicely it is made. It’s a sturdy tool, but it is also nicely finished. There are no sharp edges (besides the blades of course), no tooling marks, the grinds are nice on the scissors and knife, and everything fits together as it should. The pivot is riveted, and my Micra has a small amount of play in it, but beyond that everything reeks of quality. It’s hard to believe that they make these in America and offer them at the price that they do.

For under $25, this is a multi-tool that I think pretty much anyone would enjoy. Sometimes mine ends up in the medicine cabinet, but it’s good for a tackle box, first aid kit, the car, or small tool kit. They manage to cram a lot of utility into a small package. This is the kind of tool where you can buy a couple and keep them stashed strategically, or have one that is part of your EDC. They also make great gifts.

As a knife guy this Micra won’t replace my Swiss Army Knives, but the spring loaded scissors are great, and the Micra is one of the more endearing pieces of EDC gear that I own. If you have never been able to justify a full size multi-tool then you may enjoy a Micra. If you already are a multi-tool guy then odds are you already own one. Either way I highly recommend it.

LEATHERMAN, Micra, Keychain Multi-tool with Grooming Tools, Mini Pocketknife for Everyday Carry (EDC), Hobbies & Outdoors, Built in the USA, Stainless Steel

A Leatherman for Everyone: For the last 40 years, Leatherman has been empowering millions to conquer the expected and unexpected, transforming everyday challenges into triumphant moments
Engineered to Withstand: From our Portland, Oregon factory and backed by our 25-year warranty, our multi-tools are built to last a lifetime, embodying the innovation and perseverance of our founder, Tim Leatherman
Mighty & Miniscule: Features 10 useful tools, including a knife, tweezers, screwdrivers, scissors and more; Easy to carry in your pocket, purse or tackle box; Attach to your keychain for convenient portability
Personal Care Tools & Daily Problem Solver: With a nail file and tweezers, the Micra is your grooming companion on the go; Whether you're handling quick fixes or fishing and camping, this mini-tool is a practical everyday carry (EDC)
Great for Gifting: Perfect for anglers, hobbyists or those always on the move, this ultra-portable keychain tool makes an excellent gift and is ideal for those new to multi-tools

I recommend purchasing the Leatherman Micra at Amazon. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Victorinox Pioneer X

by Grayson Parker 9 Comments

Last Updated: August 18, 2018

2016 is shaping up to be a damn fine year for gear geeks.

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I think this began when Benchmade unveiled a shake-up in their Griptilian line, offering an upgraded steel (from 154cm to 20CV) and handle material (from nylon to G10). This was something Benchmade fans had long been begging for; so much so that a market for replacement handles for the Griptilian emerged. It seems that Benchmade finally realized how much money they were leaving on the table and acted accordingly.

For a long time, it seemed that Victorinox was in the same position. Despite how wildly popular their Alox line is among gear aficionados, the number of Alox tools rarely (if ever) increases. Much like with custom handles for the Benchmade Griptilian, a small industry has grown around the concept of modifying stock Swiss Army Knives. If you can imagine a combination of tools, handle materials, and other perks, it can be made, assuming you can afford it. One of the most popular modifications is the addition of scissors and a pocket clip to the Victorinox Pioneer, but even that costs nearly $200.

I had honestly resigned myself to saving up for one of these custom Pioneers, as I was convinced Victorinox would never remedy the situation. While scissors aren’t technically necessary on a multitool that already has a knife blade, they are quite handy; especially in places where a knife isn’t kosher. Likewise, a pocket clip (while not necessary) would be a big improvement. Thus, I set the idea aside until I could actually afford it.

By that, I mean I set the idea aside for a week or two, because it turns out Victorinox was listening. Take a gander at the Victorinox Pioneer X.

Granted, that’s only half of the changes I wanted. But if I had to pick, it’d be the change I’d like to see first. The scissors add a function that many have been wanting to see for some time, and there are workarounds to the lack of a pocket clip. Most of the comments from my review of the Pioneer and the Electrician will hold true here, although I should note that because of the extra layer, the Pioneer X won’t carry quite as well. Still, this will be the go-to Swiss Army Knife for many gear geeks going forward, and for good reason. I’ll be purchasing one, and I urge anyone in the market for a multitool to do the same. Who knows? If this sells well enough, maybe Victorinox will expand the Alox line.

UPDATE:I’ve since purchased a Pioneer X. To say that I underestimated how much I would love this knife would itself be an understatement. It kicked most other knives out of my pocket for about a month, and even now I end up carrying it every other day. The value added by the scissors is hard to quantify. I use them about half as often as I use the knife blade itself. That may not sound like much, but somehow this combination of tools handles 99% of the tasks I run into any given day.

I will say that my one concern (that it would be difficult to carry) has turned out to be true. It’s not considerably harder to carry than a normal Pioneer or an Electrician, but I do have to juggle things around in my pocket more than I’d like. My work pants have a pocket that is perfectly sized for the Pioneer X, but normal clothing requires a bit of Tetris to make it ride comfortably.

But I love Tetris, so buy this knife even if you have small pockets. It’s even cheaper nowadays.

Victorinox Pioneer X Alox Swiss Army Knife, 9 Functions, Swiss Made Pocket Knife with Scissors, Reamer, Key Ring and Large Blade - Silver

A CUT ABOVE THE REST: Compact, agile and ready to face any adventure head-on. Our range of Swiss Army Knives have been established since 1897 and continue to be an icon of utility and smart design.
DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: Swiss made stainless steel construction encased in our popular scales offers a slimmer profile and is extremely resistant.
COMPACT CARRY: Bring this knife with you on your daily adventures without sacrificing space. It makes a great gift for any occasion or stocking stuffer for Christmas.
FIT FOR ALL TASKS: At their heart, all our pocket knives are a survival tool; multitaskers that deliver in any situation. At their most evolved they have surpassed basic function to pioneer space travel and restart engines.
TRUSTED QUALITY: Made in Switzerland; Victorinox provides a lifetime guarantee against defects in material and workmanship. Making a lifetime commitment has never been so easy. No assembly required, money back guarantee.

If you would like to buy a Victorninox Pioneer X, I recommend purchasing it at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Gerber Downrange Tomahawk Review

by Chad McBroom 4 Comments

The tomahawk is a North American hand-axe first used by the Algonquian Indians. Originally made from stone, the introduction of metal blades came with the arrival of the Europeans to North America. The tomahawk remains one of the most versatile bladed tools in existence. Modern uses of the hawk include breaching, rescue, survival, and close-quarter combat.

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The tomahawk has seen a huge surge in popularity over recent years. The Gerber Downrange Tomahawk is just one example of the modernization of this classic weapon and tool.

Purpose

From the moment you lay your eyes on it, it is evident that the Gerber Downrange Tomahawk has one purpose, and one purpose only—destruction! Sure, you can take this tool camping and use it to chop fire wood and drive tent stakes, but it would be like using a tank to drive your date to the prom. This tool is made for breaching—designed to remove unwanted doors form walls and unwanted walls from doors.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Downrange Tomahawk (DRT) has a three-purpose axe head designed to pack the most function into this breaching tool: A beveled edge for chopping through drywall, doors, vehicle skins, rope, etc.; a hammer head for busting locks, doorknobs, hinges, and the like; and a cutaway grip for controlling the pry bar end. Measuring at 19.27 inches, the Downrange Tomahawk is one of the larger “tactical” tomahawks on the market. While this makes it a little more cumbersome to pack around, it definitely adds to its leveraging capabilities when used as a pry bar.

With the exception of the welded on hammer head, the DRT is made from a solid piece of 420HC steel and finished with a black Cerakote™ coating. A sweeping beard that comes to a point at the heel gives this hawk excellent hooking capabilities, which can be used for ripping out the busted shards of its target, or for hooking onto stumps and logs when climbing up difficult terrain.

One of the major complaints that I have heard voiced by customers is the DRT’s lack of a sharpened edge. This usually comes from those who fail to understand the intent of this breaching tomahawk. A sharpened bevel is great for chopping wood and other cutting tasks; however, when it comes to breaching a door or cutting through the skin of a downed UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, a sharpened bevel tends to over penetrate and get stuck, making the task more difficult. Gerber’s thought process then, was that their tomahawk could easily be sharpened for survival and bushcraft use, but with breaching and rescue being the primary focus of this design, a less aggressive bevel was ideal.

Handle and Ergonomics

The DRT has integrated tan G10 handle scales that contour with the jimping on the upper and lower portions of the handle. The bottom portion of the handle has jimping on both the front and back, whereas the top portion of the handle has jimping only on the front. The aggressive jimping makes for a very secure grip, especially when wearing gloves. The location of the jimping on the bottom portion of the handle is in the perfect location for gripping the tomahawk for maximum chopping leverage.

As mentioned earlier, the head doubles as a handle for the pry bar via a cutaway in the center. The addition of four finger groves creates a nice home for your hand inside the handle. There is also a small guard where the head and the handle meet. This guard protects your hand from getting smashed when you are choking up on the hawk.

Sheath

A tool like the DRT is rendered useless if it is not accessible when you need it. The best breaching tool in the world won’t open a single door if it is sitting back in vehicle you drove to the objective. The DRT is made packable through a MOLLE-compatible sheath system that incorporates a molded pry bar sleeve attached to nylon webbing. Two snapping retention bands secure the tomahawk in place. Two side-by-side MOLLE attachments at the top and a centered MOLLE attachment at the bottom of the webbing can be used to attach the DRT to a pack, standard webbing, or body armor so that the DRT goes where you go.

There is a separate portion of the sheath system that covers the tomahawk’s head. The head cover slides over the head and secures in place with a snapping nylon strap. This cover leaves the hammer head and the cutaway handle exposed so the pry bar and hammer can be used with the head cover in place. This reduces deployment time by eliminating the need to remove the cover unnecessarily, while acting as a safety measure to keep the edge covered during prying.

Testing

I took the DRT out to a building that was scheduled for demo and put it through the paces. Doors, drywall, and sheet metal were no match for the DRT. I was able to turn an interior door into splinters within a matter of seconds and the bevel worked like a can opener on the sheet metal. The pry bar also worked like a charm for separating doors from their frames. Using the hammer head, I was able to remove door knobs and hinges with a few whacks. Cinder block also proved to be of little consequence when it came to stopping the DRT.

Gerber Downrange Tomahawk Review – Final Thoughts

The Gerber Downrange Tomahawk is an extremely versatile breaching tool that performs as advertised. I was actually a bit surprised by its performance. I am a bit of a steel snob and 420HC is not one of my favorite steels. While 420HC is on the higher end of the 400-grade stainless steels, it is a low-grade blade steel generally speaking. I have learned, though, that I am often surprised by the performance of some of these lower grade steels when they are properly hardened. I have not tried putting an edge on the DRT, so I do not know how well this 420HC hawk will retain an edge, but as it is out of the box, it performed well.

Compared with offerings from boutique brands like Hardcore Hardware, RMJ Tactical, and Dawson knives, the DRT is priced appropriately at under $200 retail. I definitely recommend the Gerber Downrange Tomahawk for anyone looking for an effective breaching/rescue tomahawk.

Gerber Gear Downrange Tactical Tomahawk - Multi-Tool Hammer Head Survival Axe with Steel Prybar - Tactical Gear with Included MOLLE Sheath

DURABLE CAMPING GEAR: Features a multi-purpose breaching tool, with axe head with beveled edge, hammer head, and integrated pry bar for ultimate control in tactical situations
INNOVATIVE DESIGN: USA-made from 420HC steel with a corrosion-resistant Cerakote finish, ensuring this survival tool won't bend or break under pressure
VERSATILE OUTDOOR ACCESSORY: Combines the functionality of a tactical tomahawk, hammer, and pry bar in one compact multi-tool, perfect for various tactical and survival scenarios
COMPACT AND CONVENIENT: Includes a low-profile MOLLE-compatible sheath for easy attachment to your pack, standard webbing, or body armor, great portable tactical gear
OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS: Ideal for hunters, soldiers, tradesmen, and outdoor enthusiasts; a crucial addition to any tactical load-out or essential survival kit equipment; Backed by the Gerber Guarantee, a limited lifetime warranty

I recommend purchasing the Gerber Downrange Tomahawk at Amazon or BladeHQ.