Leatherman Squirt - wow!

Some of you might remember I was looking for a small folding knife and/or multitool a while back. Well, I'm still looking for a smallish folder kind of (and I have pretty much settled for the Benchmite... now I just have to justify spending 30$ on yet another knife! ) In the meantime though I bought a Leatherman Squirt P4 and I just want to say I'm really happy with it.

I keep a Leatherman Wave in my backpack so it's basically within reach about 90% of the time. But there are times when I'm either too lazy to reach for it or need to fix something small right on the spot. That's exactly when the Squirt comes in really handy.

I wasn't sure at first whether such a tiny multitool could handle any kind of "serious" work. Had it not been for the positive feedback on this board and a few other places online I wouldn't have bought it. When I got the Squirt I was impressed by the build quality but still not totally convinced it would stand up to everyday chores.

A couple of weeks later I'm pretty sure it was money well spent. I've used it for all kinds of stuff, from tightening screws and bolts to disassembling a cellphone and fixing various electronic equipment. I actually find it more practical for smaller tasks requiring a bit of finesse. It won't replace the Wave for sure but as a gentleman's folder on steroids it's a great little multitool... And I can legally carry it even in places where larger/locking folders are prohibited.

In fact, I've been thinking about getting another Squirt for my girlfriend. At first I was meaning to get her a small SAK but the Squirt just seems to offer a lot more bang for the buck in exactly the same size range. Are the scissors on the S4 as good as the pliers? If yes, I'll go for it.

I do have the S4 Squirt in addition to the P4. I use the S4 on a daily basis. It has a great scissor on it, probably the best of any multi-tool I've used. A lot of multi-tools use a variation of the Fiskars scissors which I find mediocre for operability. I prefer the S4 over them all because of the blunted face which makes it safer to use and even though the handles are small they are adequate. The tiny blade is useful for opening packages, the nail file/cleaning tool and scissor are all handy for grooming. The tiny tweezers are very tiny and lack sufficient finger surface to effectively squeeze and hold something.

I used the Wave for the pliers and saw and as a backup blade. The S4 blade is a second backup.

I love my P4 but I remember spending some time filing all of the edges of the plier jaws to eliminate what I considered to be very sharp edges. I then took a "Red" wheel (an industrial type of scotchbright) to the edges and they are now what I think they should be out of the box. Mine is a pretty early model, perhaps newer ones are better in this regard. But the edges where bad enough for me feel like doing something about them.

I also filed a notch in the wire cutters so wire doesn't slip out during cutting. Larger Leathermen have this feature. I don't know why they didn't do this on the P4. Perhaps to discourage users from cutting wire that's too big.

After these modifications, I really like my Squirt. I keep it on a Nite Ize. small "S-Biner" hung off my BOB. It's funny how often people come to borrow my P4 at work. About as often as they want to borrow my Surefire P6.

I also loved the squirt, but ended up breaking the pliers on it- two times within a few months of buying it. Leatherman's warranty is awesome and they swapped it right out (plus having a friend working there is nice ). But I still haven't gotten around to having it fixed since the second time the pliers broke. No reason, just lazy. I liked having a multitool on my keychain.

I also have a Wave, but ended up getting a Juice for hunting and backpacking when I was a little concerned with the weight of my pack.

J

I have the squirt s4 and p4 (very cheap on ebay), as well as the wave.

But for it's size and weight, I think the Juice s2 is the best tool. Scissors are excellent - better then any leatherman except the 3/4 pound surge - pliers work for anything but the biggest jobs, and good selection of other tools. It weighs 4 ounces, and a little big for a keychain.

I keep an E4 in the tool pouch in my EDC. For those who don't know it, image the S4 scissors reenforced a little for wire cutting, with stripping notches and a little tiny bit of pliers at the tip, like a small hemostat. Best pair of tweezers I own, to, I think they are unique to this model which is a shame.

I've written LM asking if they'd make a version of the E4 without the wire stripping notches, just scissors with the plier tip. I think that might be the best trade off.

I EDC the E4 in my Mission Wallet, it's a great tool and not a toy. I like your idea of a combined scissors/needle-nose pliers. Not everybody uses/needs wire strippers, but a scissor/plier combo would be a valuable tool.

I've been thinking about adding a Squirt to my multitool arsenal for a while, and this thread jump started that interest again. I just picked up a lot of 4 used Squirts (2 with scissors, 2 with pliers) for under $40 shipped. I love eBay.

I carry a Squirt P4 and a Leatherman Micra tool (replaced my S4 because of different tools) with a small "Sparky K-1 ferro/mag rod, a modified Vaughn pry bar (I took the hook end off, leaving a flat bar with a nail puller end), a Bison capsule filled with petro cotton and a large Bison whistle on a length of keychain as a alternate EDC to my Swiss Tool Spirit multi-tool rig,

A squirt with scissors and a pliers tip. That would sell!

Call it the squirt SP4.

I agree, the file/cleaning tool on the S4 and the Micra are the most comfortable and usable of any I've ever tried. I would love to carry a P4 for the pliers, but I just can't give up the nail file.

I have a couple of spare Micras now that I've worn out the scissor springs on, I may remove the bulk of the tools to make one of those key carriers, but I would definitely leave the nail tool.

The P4 has a file. I've got two and like them for their small size but being so small they aren't all that useful. I think the steel (based on one of the screwdriver tips) is a bit soft.

Yes, the P4 has a file, but its not really a nail tool. It doesn't have the cleaner/scraper that I find so comfortable on the S4/Micro.

The E4/L (used to be called EL now they call it an E4) has a nice file on it.

I have a P4 sitting in my glove box. My new LM Micra (Xmas present from GF) is in my pockets everywhere. In fact, I might have to add a little fob or somthing cuz it has a tendency to fall out when I change at night.

Truth be told, I never got into the P4. Used the Micra much more than it (or the SOG Cross cut I have... and am selling)

?

Oh great... you got cursed by the same witch that did Fiona in Shrek? Dude...

LOL!
Nah, I tend to change a lot. Get off work, then go to the gym. Come back, get into usually a pair of jeans and a sweater. That's 2 changes in 2 hours.

No, only curse I have is the werewolf on full moon types. Waxing gets pricey, I tells ya.

Herbie, it has an awl that would serve that purpose.

I have both a Wave and Juice s2. The s2 I have on a keychain look on small leather Palm Pilot case. It also has a red and white Photon, a Fox wistle, a small alumnium pill case for my meds, a BSA Hot Spark and a CPR shield. In the case I have additional items (besides my Palm) (sewing kit, transit card, phone calling carde, changed, etc.) I usually carry it to meetings with me and it does draw attention. But they know I'm in the Scouts so it's not abnormal for me to have a knife. So I do occaisionally get requests for my knife. BTW, the case is small enough to slip in my front pants pocket. This is important during fire drills (and an actual emergency) as the you should have both hands free when going down the stairwell (I'm on the 32 floor).

Besides every day use, I selected the Juice s2 to take with to Philmont for a 10 fay backpacking trek in the mountains of NM. It was well used by the crew. The scissors got the most use to open the plastic food bags and dehydrated food packets. It has a good mix of tools and is not to bulky or heavy.

But if I were in a survival situation, I'd rather have my Wave. Better blades and beefier.

Yes I agree with everything you've written billvann. The s2 is a good walking around tool the wave would be better in a survival situation.

And the surge - which you didn't mention - would be even better. Bigger, better blades, etc.

But I'm giving my surge away to someone who can use it in his work, since I never carry it. At 12 ounces, vs. 4 for the juice s2 and 8 for the wave, it's just not worth the extra weight.

One problem with the Wave is you never have a real reason to replace it. I know some folks collect and accumulate knives as a hobby. But for my functional needs I don't foresee any reason to get a different knife.

BTW, I do have a couple of Mora for car kits and a Helle Fjelkniven from Ragweed Forge for my camping pack.

Bill

Members may remember Bill as the resource for pottasium permanganate from tropical fish supplieres and the great condom field study.I'm glad the knives have worked out.catch anything fishy with the TRACON? - no politics ROFLOL. Welcome back

"Condom field study"? Something to do with how much they can hold?