Leatherman Wave (1st gen) vs Victorinox SwissTool X

[Tim-Gabz]

I have had the Swiss tool for 10 years. It is extremely well made and easy to sharpen. I have had it with me most of that time but there are two real draw backs, weight and ease of opening some of the smaller tools. The weight is a big issue and when flying and walking sites with a load of equipment I had to leave it behind.

My eldest was given a Leatherman wave by his Granny, as my stepfather had died soon after getting it. Unused when he got it it has done some serious service this past 6 months. I have had used it on occasion and found it to be superb. There are areas, scissors, that the Vic out performs, but the thin nose pliers and a serrated second blade are very useful. When I got back to South Africa I went seaching for a small micro leatherman but found the kick on special and bought it.

The kick is fairly limited but nothing that isn't made up with my vic knife that I always have on me. The thin pliers are great. My Swiss tool is often in my bag or cubby hole. The leatherman is in my emergency pack.

I would guess that they are both great tools, something you choose between on basis of need. I have had the opportunity to try some of the other makes on the market and the free one of indeterminate name I gave to the kid next door, but the others just didn't inspire confidence for long term use.

I am still interested in the top leatherman,,, when $ permits.

(some years back I had a Sog Paratool, on special. Worked very well until stolen. Can't get them locally)

[lucky21]

Having had leatherman's for years, first the sideclip and now charge tti, I have a real feeling of brand loyalty to them. I've yet to come across a situation where they have failed while performing tasks for which they're designed. The vic looks to me, cheap and nasty in comparison.

Also why do Gerber get such a bad rep? Their knives were always a bit ropey but the slide out pliers model that I have used and abused for years has done everything I've asked. Granted it doesn't feel as sturdy as a LM but it's the fact that you can have it out of your pocket and open one handed to use the pliers that wins it for me. It has stood upto years of work on cars and motorbikes .

[Ropeman]

Odd, I've sent two Leathermen back in for issues (broke the plier tips on a Wave and a bad hinge wobble on an original Supertool) but the Swisstool is far better built, are you just gauging off photos or on handling them? The screwdrivers are not as good on the Vics, being overpolished but the build quality is superb.

I've got a Gerber in front of me and it rattles like a skeleton with malaria. The build quality is pretty poor but the functionality you identify is handy but everything about it feels sloppy and under-engineered.

I like Leathermen and have a few but I've really felt the lack of a Swisstool and I'm happy now I've got a new one.

[Tim-Gabz]

This neck of the woods Gerber is expensive, mediocre and as Ropeman notes rattle like a skeleton with Malaria.

I have a thing about reliability and confidence. Warrantees and the like mean little when you are in the kangen, shateen, sticks or bushvelt. My SAK is @9yrs old, carried most of that time. I accept that it is limited and have other things to fill the gaps. The Swisstool is @ 10yrs and well used. They still have loads of life left in them.

[JonathanD]

For those folks that leave their Swisstool at home because of the bulkiness, weight and sticky-out leather belt pouch which gets in the way. I highly recommend getting a decent pancake holster for it. Much more body hugging, weight dispersing and unobtrusive. A standard 1911 .45 mag sheath fits the SwissTool perfectly and is high riding and hidden beneath even a snug T-shirt....

[cave_dweller]

Well after reading this thread the dreaded 'I've got to get me one of those' syndrome set in, and I trotted off to buy one. Now I'm totally confused!

There seem to be 10 flavours - 5 in the Spirit series, and 5 erm... not in the Spirit series. None of them seems to have an 'X' in the name. What have I missed?

Better yet, which one should I buy?

Givvus a clue guys, I've got an itchy Paypal finger...

[africanex]

Spirit is a slightly lighter more compact version. Here is the 'X':
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Victorinox-3.../dp/B0001P15HG
Damn good price too!

[Ropeman]

That's where my replacement one came from, I was rather impressed at the price too

[Sabre Tooth]

I have a Leatherman Charge AL which is really good but is quite bulky in its leather sheath when it's in my pocket. I'm thinking about investing in a Leatherman Skeletool for when I don't need all the different tools.

[Saint-Just]

The Wave did a good job putting the shed together.
But Keith, you will not make me believe you put it there. Surely you set it up where you had room to move around, then moved it into place, no?

An exhausted Saint-Just

[filleep]

Interesting comparison for me, as I have both of similar vintage, but instead of scissors, my Swiss has another blade with shallow serrations..
Despite this, I also prefer the Swiss jobbie, by a small margin.
It feels much more comfortable in hand than the wave.
I like the metal file/saw that both have, but find 2 blades on a multitool a waste of space that could be occupied by something more useful.

Having just replaced the Spyderench I lost a couple of years ago, I'd love to see someone review that chimera.
My photography with the wifes phone would put folk off.

Edit, just seen Danzo's thread from 2007.

[cave_dweller]

Spirit is a slightly lighter more compact version. Here is the 'X':
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Victorinox-3.../dp/B0001P15HG
Damn good price too!

Thanks for the pointer. Still don't really know where the 'X' comes from, but I suppose it doesn't really matter - I'm just being a bit OCD. According to the Vic website the 30327L is the Swiss Tool III.

So is the 'X' seven better??

[Chris the Cat]

For those folks that leave their Swisstool at home because of the bulkiness, weight and sticky-out leather belt pouch which gets in the way. I highly recommend getting a decent pancake holster for it. Much more body hugging, weight dispersing and unobtrusive. A standard 1911 .45 mag sheath fits the SwissTool perfectly and is high riding and hidden beneath even a snug T-shirt....

Now that is very nice!
Any ideas were I might pick one up Jonathan ?
Best.
Chris.

[Tim-Gabz]

I felt sudden urge to find my old mag pouches and remembered they were not 1911 but glock....

Still I feel an urge to make a kidney holder for my Vic

[JonathanD]

Now that is very nice!
Any ideas were I might pick one up Jonathan ?
Best.
Chris.

D M Bullard in the States.