New Ultralight tools from Multitasker

[J-sews]

I've had the distinct pleasure of playing with a couple prototype tools from Multitasker for the past month or so. Called the Ultralight, these tools are in some ways reminiscint of the Multitasker plier tools that we've previously discussed HERE and HERE. As has been the case with all Multitasker products I've sampled so far, these Ultralights have plenty of innovative features, have components that are all rock solid robust, and have a build quality that is absolutely top notch.







At this time I believe the blade arrangement for the tan-colored one is pretty well set, and should be available soon through various outlets like Brownells, etc. Like the current Multitasker plier tool, this model is designed specifically for the AR15/M16 enthusiast.





The black one however is a true prototype, intended to test out various blade and tool arrangements. It helps if you think of the Ultralight frame as a platform, and on this platform there is expected to be a number of different niche-specific models produced, including an EDC version.





The Ultralight is basically a two-layer folding knife, with two "blades" or "tools" built into each layer. The layers are sandwiched between scales of G10 material, and these G10 scales have cutouts in them that contain additional features like a pocket clip, lanyard attachment, and a removeable double-ended wrench. Future variations will see a removeable prybar tool and/or can opener replace the wrench, and perhaps a glass breaker in place of the lanyard ring. The possible variations are endless.

But I digress....

The black prototype is equipped with a 440C knife blade which snaps open smartly at the flick of a thumb, and stays open thanks to the stout liner lock built into the center layer. The action is silky smooth, thanks to bronze pivot washers, and there is minimal play. My only thoughts for improvement would be to the liner lock itself, which could probably stick up a little more so fat thumbed people like myself could disengage it a little easier.





Opposite the knife is an awl blade, which surely must be one of the greatest awls of awl time. It has a thumb stud for one hand opening, a liner lock, and best of awl, a fabulous chisel ground pointy profile.







The tan model doesn't get an awl. Instead, and in keeping with it's AR15-centric theme, it gets an industrial strength carbon scraper. Also liner locking, the scraper has a sharp edged tip bent at 90 degrees, and a long shank to get the crud out of those hard to reach locations.





Opposite the scraper is a spanner wrench for emergency tightening of the castle nut. (Note the screwdriver/pry tool added to the tip)





Both models have a hex driver with a magnetic bit receptacle, and come with a full selection of screwdriver bits. Also included is Multitasker's own 4-prong sight adjustment bit.



The bit driver locks open, and also locks open at the 90 degree position, which is nice for cracking loose those extra tight screws.

Speaking of locks, the spine lock mechanism on these Ultralights is just about the coolest thing I've played with in a long time. It consists of a rocker switch (machined from billet of course) which is spring loaded and engages in a notch cut into the pivot of the particular blade or tool (also machined from billet by the way)



Open the blade, and the rocker switch engages with authority, like the door on a bank vault. Press down on the tip of the rocker switch, and it releases, just that easily. The concept isn't new, but I've never seen it done in such a solid fashion.





Also included on both models is a removeable dental pick. It unscrews to reveal an 8-32 thread point, suitable for Otis cleaning kit attachments.





As mentioned previously, all blades and tools are seperated by bronze washers for silky smooth opening goodness.





The G10 scales are awesome enough, and I really liked how Multitasker cut pockets in them to add features to the tool. For instance, nobody likes a wiggly pocket clip, and this problem is solved entirely on the Ultralight by precisely inletting the clip into the handle scale.



On the other side, the scale is contoured perfectly to hold a removeable double-ended wrench. This wrench features 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch openings, specifically for AR15/M16 rifle scope and mount fittings. As was mentioned before though, don't be surprised to see a removeable multi-function pry bar on future EDC models.









In summary, the Ultralight promises to be one heck of a tool. Unfortunately (for me) my time with these prototypes is over and I'll be sending them back tomorrow, so hopefully we'll be seeing production models on the market in short order. And now that the basic platform has been established, it doesn't seem like it should take long to bring out additional variations. I'm especially excited about a couple of the other niche specific tool loadouts that I've heard mentioned.





Bob

[Smitty44]

WOW,great review Bob,looks real promising.

[MultiMat]

I love the look of that prototype  .
I can not wait to see more non gun versions of this tool

[David]

      I`ll take a black one with that awl.       

[Sazabi]

Those designs look to be very strong contenders against Leatherman's tool knives.  How are they in size compared to the Leatherman knives?

[thebullfrog]

Those look simply amazing. I especially like those locks. The EDC multitaskers really need to hit the market, like right now.

[Zed]

wow they look amazing, i wanted a mutt but now ant one of these instead 

[Chako]

I am a big fan of Multitasker. Those look very good. 

[ryan1835]

bring out the edc models already!

[J-sews]

I'll second those motions for an edc version. It can't come along soon enough for that matter either!

Those designs look to be very strong contenders against Leatherman's tool knives.  How are they in size compared to the Leatherman knives?

Here is a comparison pic with my one and only Leatherman knife, an h502 model:

front, fanned



back, closed

[MultiMat]

Bigger than I imagined  , they look a handy size  NICE.

[hawkchucker]

Welll We finally got a winner. I have looked at every AR tool out there and they just didnt do what I wanted. this is actually the winner for me. I could loose the carbon scraper, but this is the one.

Unfortunatly this is one that will  not be out soon according to FB, and that sucks. I would give my right pinky to put one in my bag for the upcoming 3 gun shoot events. It would be a lighter load, and just to tools that we use. Including the little wrench for my optics. Tell them  to get it to market before the end of the season.

[ICanFixThat]

WOW!!!   Those look Fantastic, I have no need for one... but they look Fantastic and I want one.

The design shows really good throught in getting the tools into the package, keeping them useful, and keeping the construction quality at the top. I think maybe they think about it as much as the Swiss. 

Now that the pictures are out they need them in the stores before the competition catches up.  There is no point in showing the competition what you have unless you can sell them to your customers.  I hope they are not making some fundamental business mistakes, I want to see this company sore!

Maybe having a single primary purpose it is easier to make design choices.  I also hope that one day we'll see some truely inspired EDC tools. 

[J-sews]

The only other competitor that I'm aware of for the AR15 model is the Gerber Effect. But compared to the solid Ultralight, the Effect feels like a toy. Too much plastic in the construction, and even though all the folding implements have locks, there is an annoying amount of "play" in each one.

Between the two, I'd definitely go for the Multitasker.

Gerber Effect (top, left) Multitasker Ultralight (bottom, right)

[Chako]

The Gerber is definitely micky mouse compared to the Multitasker.

[scrappy]

Looks nice.

[nuphoria]

Wow... that really is the perfect awl

An EDC version would be very interesting indeed. Thanks for a top review Bob

[hawkchucker]

Ok As for the gerber. A little brush like that is really rediculous. I have absolutley no need for it. If I get a issue with a gas tube or bolt requiring that little thing I would just give up and go home. It serves no purpose that the corner of your shirt can solve.

However I did notice something that bothers me a bit.. Nothing major, but it is kind of a little flaw.
I do shoot my ARS and build them. So i do use the sight adjustment tool. Now it looks to me that the tool screws on.

1.What about lowering my dope? its gonna unscrew instead of adjusting the inpact.
2. It looks like you store a bit in it. so that makes the dope tool useless until the bit is taken out.
3. I have no need for a Phillips on my Ar tool. I would just dump it.


Now what I do like is the castle nut wrench. Needed to use one last night, and that has the only driver on it you need for ar platform. Plus I do think the loop would act as a great bolt override tool. I just wish he would have asked a couple shooters about what they want. I understand he is trying to cross market it, but some issues just now make me thinkabout ar tools being carried. It just cant really be done effectivly if you want to cross market. so after really looking at it. na I will pass.

Shane makes a great product. It will sell well and will work great.But I think I will just stick with the original. I hope no one takes the above as a slam, it does look good but upon further thought I cant really justify adding it for me. But I do love the wrench! That would be great For my LaRue mounts. Can I get one seperate?

[scrappy]

Ok As for the gerber. A little brush like that is really rediculous. I have absolutley no need for it. If I get a issue with a gas tube or bolt requiring that little thing I would just give up and go home. It serves no purpose that the corner of your shirt can solve.

However I did notice something that bothers me a bit.. Nothing major, but it is kind of a little flaw.
I do shoot my ARS and build them. So i do use the sight adjustment tool. Now it looks to me that the tool screws on.

1.What about lowering my dope? its gonna unscrew instead of adjusting the inpact.
2. It looks like you store a bit in it. so that makes the dope tool useless until the bit is taken out.
3. I have no need for a Phillips on my Ar tool. I would just dump it.


Now what I do like is the castle nut wrench. Needed to use one last night, and that has the only driver on it you need for ar platform. Plus I do think the loop would act as a great bolt override tool. I just wish he would have asked a couple shooters about what they want. I understand he is trying to cross market it, but some issues just now make me thinkabout ar tools being carried. It just cant really be done effectivly if you want to cross market. so after really looking at it. na I will pass.

Shane makes a great product. It will sell well and will work great.But I think I will just stick with the original. I hope no one takes the above as a slam, it does look good but upon further thought I cant really justify adding it for me. But I do love the wrench! That would be great For my LaRue mounts. Can I get one seperate?

I don't know on the ultra light but on the multitasker the sight adjustment tool does not screw. It is held in by a magnet and ball indent

[hawkchucker]

I am kinda hoping this is the same. that is why I didnt really notice it the first time I looked at the pics. But if ya look at them it looks like it. i hope I am wrong, but the phillips also looks like it will keep you from using it if it is inside of it. It wont allow the front site to fit in it without removing the bit.

I know that you cant get everything perfect,but sometimes on the tool, ya just got to ask yourself if you really need to go that route and live with it or just carry the seperate parts individually. I carry the site tool and a tiny wrench in my Harness for this reason. However what is killing me is the castle nut wrench. I really like the Idea of having a smaller one to carry in the harness, but cant really in my mind justifying it without actually touching and trying it out in real life.


I guess what I am trying to put accross is for me to carry a dedicated to use in the field for ONE purpose I really got to have it as perfect as I can get for its purpose. this isnt a tool for everyday. It is a dedicated tool for my weapon. that makes it more important to be a peice that replaces the small tool kit I carry.

Now as I said if they just made it  Sans blade, with the castlenut wrench, the LaRue tool the scraper and site tool I would be all over it and clip oit to my vest. But It would make me change too much.

Dont get me wrong. Everyone knows how I feel about Gerbe,r but this is a Quality made tool MultiTasker put out. and it actually pains me that I wont be putting it on my list, but it just for me isnt going to work. Everyone else it might, but that is why we are here. to Exchange info and if it was just tweeked more for the shooter in me I would snap one up in a minute.

However Shane needs to be commended for putting this tool out. It looks solid and robust. It looks like it will work for most, but just isnt for me. Remember I lothe the MUTT. But this is waaaaaay better if I had to choose between the original MT, this tool or the mutt. My order would be Multitasker, this tool, My teeth, then the MUTT.

[J-sews]

Not being an AR owner (yet) I can't answer all those questions. But on the sight adjustment tool, it does have a hex shank that fits in the hex driver. It won't come "unscrewed"



The upper tool in the picture has the sight adjustment bit installed. On the bottom tool I popped it out and put in the phillips bit.

The phillips and other hex bits come in a seperate plastic carrier. You can choose to leave them home if you want. And those threads on the outside of the hex driver are for other accessories that haven't been brought out yet. Again though, they are not in the way of anything

[hawkchucker]

Cool!

[glorn]

These look very nice. I think other manufacturers need to pay attention here.