Tool is a tool. How many freaking car wrenches do you need to buy? Unless you break it you very rarely need a new one. Now I’ve been told and it may be not true that a lot of home appliances like toasters, washing machines in 50s and 60s were build like tanks. I mean you had your toaster for 20 years or so and that thing still work like new. Companies realized that by making good product they may get recommendations but they will not get repeat customers since their stuff is not breaking. So they started using cheaper parts making equipment more prone to break in order to have people going out to buy replacements.

Now if by any chance above is true we may experience similar with Leatherman. I use wave since 99. And if it wasn’t for the fact that my original one was stolen in Africa I would have never bought a second one. I’m not planning to buy another tool unless I break this one. I think that Multi tool market is saturated with quality products. It’s time to start making things that are prone to defects so people go out and buy replacements, or more parts… Also a lot of people but muli tools because they are hip and look cool not because they are functional. Ex. My friend calls me up to borrow a saw. I say no problem I drop it off on the way to work. I bring it over and ask what sort of construction project he has. He said he needs to cut few sticks for his wife garden. I asked what’s wrong with his Leatherman. He didn’t even know that Leatherman that sits in his desk had a saw.

To support my theory a bit. I remember when Gerber tools pliers were secured in place using hex screws which made tools fully user serviceable. Now rivets are used for that purpose. If your tool breaks and you are in the hurry so you can’t send it to Gerber for repair I guess you have to go out and buy a new one.

Matt