PST II Question

[1jump2many]

I recently picked up a Leatherman PST II from another forum.  It's in mint/unused condition and I got it for $22 shipped!  The question I have is that it doesn't say PST II on the tool.  It has all the tools that a PST II would have and the date stamp on one handle is 02/97 and on the other is 01/97.  Did Leatherman ever make the PST II without PST II on the handles?  What year did the PST II start production?  Is mine an early version of the PST II?  Any information is appreciated.  Thanks.

[DaveK]

You've hit the nail on the head

The first PST IIs (released in 1996) used the PST handles, so what you've got is an fairly early one. Later, they started stamping the handles PST II.

[1jump2many]

You've hit the nail on the head

The first PST IIs (released in 1996) used the PST handles, so what you've got is an fairly early one. Later, they started stamping the handles PST II.

So then this would be more of a rarity then?

[Poncho65]

I would say that they r more rare than 1 stamped wit PST II yes   Saying that the only 1 I own is like yours Guess I need 2 pick up 1 that  has PST II on it

[DaveK]

That's a good question, and I don't really know the answer tbh. I've seen equal numbers of each myself, and have traded quite a few in and out!

Right now, I have 3 PST IIs, 1 is marked "PST II", the others are like yours. My daughter has one like yours too, so that's 3 out of 4.

My "PST II" marked tool, is dated 0903, which is a late model, as they were phased out in 2004, I don't have enough info to say when they changed to the marked handles.

[1jump2many]

That's a good question, and I don't really know the answer tbh. I've seen equal numbers of each myself, and have traded quite a few in and out!

Right now, I have 3 PST IIs, 1 is marked "PST II", the others are like yours. My daughter has one like yours too, so that's 3 out of 4.

My "PST II" marked tool, is dated 0903, which is a late model, as they were phased out in 2004, I don't have enough info to say when they changed to the marked handles.

It seems from your experience there are more without PST II stamped on them.  When I see a picture of one usually the PST II is stamped on them, on eBay etc.  I was happy to get this one on another forum for $22!  And when I got it I was even happier to see the condition it was in.  I was surprised that it didn't have the PST II stamp on it and wondered what the deal was.  Thanks to you guys I now know the deal.  Thanks for solving this riddle for me.

[DaveK]

If you dig back far enough through these forums, you'll find others solving that riddle for me too

What goes around, comes around as they say!

[Chako]

There are also a few out there that Leatherman decided to make out of spare parts and/or repairs. My fist PST II off of eBay, I bought because I thought it was a PST. It appears that Leatherman used half of a PST (dated 0297) and mated it with half of a PST II marked handle containing the scissors (dated 0802). I didn't know any better and saw the PST side labeled Leatherman Tool Portland Oregon on the eBay photo. When I got it in the mail, I was very confused as the other side was marked Leatherman PST II. Either it was a repair job, or it was made from misc parts. So there are even stranger matches out there to look out for.

[1jump2many]

There are also a few out there that Leatherman decided to make out of spare parts and/or repairs. My fist PST II off of eBay, I bought because I thought it was a PST. It appears that Leatherman used half of a PST (dated 0297) and mated it with half of a PST II marked handle containing the scissors (dated 0802). I didn't know any better and saw the PST side labeled Leatherman Tool Portland Oregon on the eBay photo. When I got it in the mail, I was very confused as the other side was marked Leatherman PST II. Either it was a repair job, or it was made from misc parts. So there are even stranger matches out there to look out for.

That was what I thought my PST II might have been at first.  Just because it didn't have PST II stamped on it.  But both of my handles are 01/97 & 02/97 respectfully so after reading what others are saying I'm thinking it was an early model.  Not that it makes it a rarity though.  It almost sounds as if the PST II was Leatherman's clearing house of parts as time went on.

[DaveK]

One theory I have on that is that the PST II was intended to replace the PST, as an upgrade (i.e. a PST with scissors). People forget that before 1996, there were only 3 tools. Although packaging of the PST referred to the "Pocket Survival Tool", there was no need to make a distinction on the tool itself. You have your "Leatherman Tool" (PST), Supertool, and Mini Tool. If the original plan was to simply stick scissors in the PST, then that would have been fine.

I wonder therefore if they tried to replace the PST, but buyers didn't migrate to the new PST II and eventually they realised that there was a market for both. Pure speculation on my part of course, but I've a feeling this is what happened with the Micra / Squirt S4 also.

It would be interesting to see the packaging from a 1996 PST II, to see how they described it.

[american lockpicker]

I'm glad they still make the micra.

[David]

I`ve got two PST IIs One of each. Unmarked date codes of 0398 and 0498. PST II marked date codes 1198 and 1198.      I`ve got another on the way marked PST II that I bought to give to my brother for his birthday. I`ll check the date codes on it when it arrives in a few days.

[1jump2many]

I`ve got two PST IIs One of each. Unmarked date codes of 0398 and 0498. PST II marked date codes 1198 and 1198.      I`ve got another on the way marked PST II that I bought to give to my brother for his birthday. I`ll check the date codes on it when it arrives in a few days.

You might have the evidence that shows an approximate time when they began to put the PST II stamp on the tool.  With all the members in here with PST II maybe we could figure it out.  Just from your two PST II's it appears like the middle of 1998.  That would be interesting if we could narrow down the time.  Of course there would be exceptions like the one Chako has with the handles that are years apart. 

[Smitty44]

Mine is dated 0596,one of the first one's they made,and only has leatherman tool in small print,and Portland OR. on the side,besides being one of my favorite tools,it is the same Month and Year that I quit smoking after 40 yrs.



 &

[1jump2many]

Mine is dated 0596,one of the first one's they made,and only has leatherman tool in small print,and Portland OR. on the side,besides being one of my favorite tools,it is the same Month and Year that I quit smoking after 40 yrs.
 &

That is what mine looks like too.  Do both of your date stamps match? As I mentioned above if all of us that own PST II's post our date stamps and whether PST II is stamped on the handle or not, we could narrow it down to when Leatherman started stamping PST II on them. 

That had to have been tough to quit smoking after 40 years.  I smoked for 15 years and quit in 1996 too.  To this day, every once in a while if I get in a line at a grocery store that sells cigarettes I'll almost flinch like I'm starting to grab a pack to buy.  I remember when I was stationed in Germany from 85 - 87 a carton of Marlboro's were $4.  The entire time I was stationed there Marlboro had a $2 coupon attached to the carton.  So a carton of American Marlboro's was $2!  Of course cigarettes were rationed, 4 cartons a month.  I'm sure during your career you remember cigarette prices at the PX/BX and Commissary being a lot cheaper than on the economy.