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I was a big fan of Victorinox growing up but I find Leathermans more useful to have around because they have pliers and Philips screwdrivers built in. I’ve done

by wenc 6y ago

I was a big fan of Victorinox growing up but I find Leathermans more useful to have around because they have pliers and Philips screwdrivers built in. I’ve done various home repair and auto stuff with it, which I doubt a Victorinox would be capable of. I picked up a Leatherman Wingman for $25 in Canada over a decade ago. It’s less portable than a Swiss Army knife (about twice as big) but If I had to pick a one tool, it would be the Leatherman. https://www.leatherman.com/wingman-11.html https://www.leatherman.com/wingman-11.html

nmlnn 6y ago
I actually switched from a Leatherman to a Victorinox because the pliers were more comfortable to use. https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/SwissTools/SwissTool-Spirit-X/p/3.0224.L https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/S...
- wenc 6y ago
  That does look more comfortable than the Leatherman -- I wasn't aware Victorinox made multitools. I was a fan of Victorinox in the 80s and 90s so this must have been a more recent addition their lineup. Also it seems like higher-end Leathermans (similar to the price point of your SwissTool) have more comfortable grips. https://www.leatherman.com/surge-3.html?dwvar_3_color=10&cgid=multi-tools#start=1 https://www.leatherman.com/surge-3.html?dwvar_3_color=10&cgi...
Lio 6y ago
Not to contradict your opinion or the usefulness of Leathermans but I’ll just point out that the Victorinox Swiss Champ has both pliers and a Philips screw driver. Victorinox also make Leatherman style multitools. That must mean Leatherman are on to something though. Personally I prefer a SAK because it’s small and doesn’t have a locking blade. In many parts of the world simply having a locking blade in your pocket “without good reason”[2] will get you in trouble, whereas a SAK like a Swiss Champ is ok. 1. https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Medium-Pocket-Knives/Swiss-Champ/p/1.6795 https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/M... 2. https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives
- fatboy 6y ago
  Regarding [2], I asked a copper in Liverpool about this. The passport office threatened to call the police when I turned up with a french folding-knife on my keychain. I was annoyed enough to go ask someone. He said my reason of "I need it to cut the tomatoes for my sandwich" was good enough. There's also the comment David Cameron made about that aspect of the law: "Police must exercise common sense. This is about kitchen knives being stuffed down the front of tracksuits" [1] But it does feel a bit like one of those laws that can be applied selectively to get people if the police really want to. https://police.community/topic/272735-jail-knife-carriers-says-cameron/ https://police.community/topic/272735-jail-knife-carriers-sa...
  - Lio 6y ago
    Yeah you're taking a gamble on the good will of the police officer that searches you. The way it was explained to me was, you take lock knife to and from a fishing trip but you can't divert to the local super market on the way. Interestingly your car counts as a public place so you can't just leave a Leatherman in the glovebox (either locker or unlocked) for emergencies. A Swiss Army knife with a sub 3" friction folding blade won't break that rule. I think the only places you can't really take one are the airport or a football match. You still can't wave one about like a nob but that's a different set of laws.
- wenc 6y ago
  Ah yes, the pliers on the Swiss Champ are mini-ones though. Leatherman pliers are more or less full size. Victorinox does make multitools as you say (the SwissTools line) -- they look very nice.

by wenc 6y ago

nmlnn 6y ago

I actually switched from a Leatherman to a Victorinox because the pliers were more comfortable to use. https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/SwissTools/SwissTool-Spirit-X/p/3.0224.L https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/S...

wenc 6y ago
That does look more comfortable than the Leatherman -- I wasn't aware Victorinox made multitools. I was a fan of Victorinox in the 80s and 90s so this must have been a more recent addition their lineup. Also it seems like higher-end Leathermans (similar to the price point of your SwissTool) have more comfortable grips. https://www.leatherman.com/surge-3.html?dwvar_3_color=10&cgid=multi-tools#start=1 https://www.leatherman.com/surge-3.html?dwvar_3_color=10&cgi...

Lio 6y ago

Not to contradict your opinion or the usefulness of Leathermans but I’ll just point out that the Victorinox Swiss Champ has both pliers and a Philips screw driver. Victorinox also make Leatherman style multitools. That must mean Leatherman are on to something though. Personally I prefer a SAK because it’s small and doesn’t have a locking blade. In many parts of the world simply having a locking blade in your pocket “without good reason”[2] will get you in trouble, whereas a SAK like a Swiss Champ is ok. 1. https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Medium-Pocket-Knives/Swiss-Champ/p/1.6795 https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/M... 2. https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives

fatboy 6y ago
Regarding [2], I asked a copper in Liverpool about this. The passport office threatened to call the police when I turned up with a french folding-knife on my keychain. I was annoyed enough to go ask someone. He said my reason of "I need it to cut the tomatoes for my sandwich" was good enough. There's also the comment David Cameron made about that aspect of the law: "Police must exercise common sense. This is about kitchen knives being stuffed down the front of tracksuits" [1] But it does feel a bit like one of those laws that can be applied selectively to get people if the police really want to. https://police.community/topic/272735-jail-knife-carriers-says-cameron/ https://police.community/topic/272735-jail-knife-carriers-sa...
- Lio 6y ago
  Yeah you're taking a gamble on the good will of the police officer that searches you. The way it was explained to me was, you take lock knife to and from a fishing trip but you can't divert to the local super market on the way. Interestingly your car counts as a public place so you can't just leave a Leatherman in the glovebox (either locker or unlocked) for emergencies. A Swiss Army knife with a sub 3" friction folding blade won't break that rule. I think the only places you can't really take one are the airport or a football match. You still can't wave one about like a nob but that's a different set of laws.
wenc 6y ago
Ah yes, the pliers on the Swiss Champ are mini-ones though. Leatherman pliers are more or less full size. Victorinox does make multitools as you say (the SwissTools line) -- they look very nice.