DO you find the one hand deploy mechanism on Recoil to weaken the entire structure of the tool?

Matt

...anytime I contemplate applying any serious torque/force to a multi-tool, I figure I'm probably using the wrong tool. I generally have access to more substantial hardware if need be, so I try to avoid 'stress testing' them too much (though I have broken one or two in my day). I look at multi-tools as more of a convenience, rather than a substitute for dedicated - and beefier - individual tools.

Having said that, yes, I can see where the spring-loaded pliers could potentially be weaker than the pliers on the Wave, though I've never pushed them hard enough to verify that. The pliers on both the Recoil and the Pro Scout seem a little 'looser' than the Wave's' but I guess it really all boils down to how you intend to use the tool. I use my multi-tools quite a bit, but in more of a lite-duty fashion. I'm usually far more concerned with how well the knife (or knives) will hold up. Pliers are nice, but the knife (or knives) will probably bear the brunt of the workload.

'Gun People' will appreciate this more than anyone else. I see Gerbers as the Ruger handguns of the multi-tool world. Somewhat bigger and chunkier than the competition, but perfectly serviceable. A Wave might look a little sexier, but a Legend will certainly get the job done.

But they still really need to do something about those God-awful sheaths!

I'm not saying that Wave, Gerber or Swiss Tool should be used as a total substitue for your tool box. Owning Swiss tool and Wave I can see where one will fail vs another and I understand why they fall short. But my point is that more automatic functions you put on the tool more likely it is to fail you.

Example.
Gerber "inveneted" locks on their tools to keep blades/screwdrivers/files in open position so you wont loose your fingers. Now my old man who only uses Gerbers was cursing those locks out for first 3-4 month since they were breaking (problem with the spring). He got the tool replaced over and over again but still it took forever and he knew it's a week point. Gerber finaly realize the problem and altered design a bit making it full proof. I was just affraid that adding an automatic feature to a tool that can take a beating will make it a bit weaker.

Matt

Mike77, own a legend and love it but I also agree with the negatives raised by everyone in this discussion. Yes the pliers don't open as far but they work fine for me short of being channel-locks which is what you need to get a really great grip on anything bigger that 3/4".

The versatility of the legend in what drew me to it. Get one! they are cheap through Wal-mart online and just a few bucks more in the store. Yes the sheaths suck so I modified it on my sewing machine to carry a small flashlight and extra saw blades and also made a custom one out of leather to do the same.

In my opinion, part of having a tool is messing with it- getting to know it and learning to fit it to your lifestyle.

I think the analogy of gerber being the Ruger of the multi-tool world is a good one. I have to state that I have owned a Ruger and some rather "knock-offish" chinese made guns and all have performed well, given their weaknesses. You just have to know what you have. The gerber isn't the Glock of the Multitool world, I really don't think there is a glock of the multitool world yet. Leatherman has been close and Gerber wants to be and Sog thinks it's all in the mechanical advantage.

Well, enough said! Merry Christmas!!

well I would like to thank you all for the replies,I'm going for the Gerber 800 legend,

I went to my knivestore and they had just 1 legend and asked if I could look at it,now I've seen and handled it. I really like the features on it,it is kind of an upgrade of the swisstool and the wave I think-->you can open all tools from the outside and locking(swisstool),one hand opening blade(wave), and some really great wire cutters and the handles have a spring,the only drawback that I can imagine is that indeed the pliers don't open too far(but it is not a disaster), i'll use the tools more than the pliers.I had no problem with getting all the tools out(even not the file or crosshead).And in the local hardwarestore they have enough jigsaws that fit(used them for my gerber pro scout) I also liked the feel and the looks of the tool,very robust and big(the tool was huge in my girlfriends hands <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />),something that is going to last for quite while.
It is a good substitute for my wave or gerber pro scout <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />.
I probably going to have the tool in a week since my friend is already in the US and coming back next sunday,just one phonecall and he gets it for me.


Merry Christmas and a Happy Newyear to all, ho ho ho
<img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I do have to retract one thing I said about my legend. The jigsaw blades I got from the home improvement store didn't work out of the box. I bought one in a single package and it was an expensive brand, can't recall the name. It fit well. I went back and bought a pack of 10 various cuts and sizes and they needed a little grinding with the Dremel tool to get them a little thinner. That Brand was Blu Mol I believe. The one that worked may have been Skill, sorry I can't remember and I don't have it with me now.

For the price, I don't mind a little grinding though. It came out to be $1 per blade.

Good Luck and enjoy your Gerber. I love mine still.

I went ice climbing for the first time this season and sharpened my ice tools before I went. The ice was thin and while out I blunted the tip of one of my tools on the rock. Later while one of my buddies was climbing I busted out the Gerber and sharpened the point again. The rubber grips were nice with gloves on.

hi!, i'm thenew guy. i don't know much about the newer p-tools, accept playing with them in the store... maybe i'm ol'fashioned but i've been using the same, old original, Leatherman, for about 20+ years. i use it on a daily basis at work and at home AND on the trail when i'm hiking or fishing... it has never failed me, it has performed wet,dry,iced over in all conditions.. i've cut clothes off my patients in the E.R. like butter. while the docs and nurses fumbled with their jamming scissors. iv'e pulled wires out of a guys broken jaw (to access his airway) in under a minute . i daily use it to crack O2 tanks for my patients then i fix their glasses... this lil' puppy has never let me down... it aint fancy, it's barebones but heck i'm not gonna try to build a Boeing with it...

stevebdby, SWEET! That's the spirit! Use it 'til it stops working. I hope I get the same time and amount of use out of my new Legend.