It's started off great already!
One of the best parts of living in a college town is the Winter Break. Half the town population (students) leaves for 3 weeks and the town is pretty barren during that time. It makes for nice walks and wonderful afternoon drives, checking out the foliage and generally enjoying the emptiness of the town. I was having one such drive today when I decided to swing by my favorite PawnBrokers to see if I could score some new tools for 2008. They were fairly busy when I entered the store, eating a delicious smelling lunch from Applebee's and chatting it up with long-time customers.
I made a beeline for the display cases at the back of the store and was somewhat disappointed by the selection. Two rows of brand-new Gerber sheaths sat under the glass. Too thick to be the Multi-Plier series and priced to low to be anything interesting (24.95$) I figured the were probably new Suspension tools. Figuring I may as well take a look at the tool, being that I have read a few reviews on it but have yet to hold one I waved over a clerk. After offering me a few smoked almonds he opened the case and pulled out several different sheaths. I poked around with the Suspension, making a mental note to buy one if I could find it for @15$ somewhere else and then opened the other sheaths. Suprise! A battered red Buck sheath held a Gerber MPT in fair condition, the pulse quickens.
The next sheath, a dusty Gerber brand, held a Coleman Pro-Lock. A smile blooms on my face. I check the prices, 19.95$ for both. Hmm, a little high, I think. I scoot the two sheaths off to the side and check the last sheath on the counter. It holds a fairly beat down Gerber Urban Legend. Much smaller than I expected I like it and make another mental note, it's too high-priced here (39.95$) but I've seen some good deals for this tool on eBay. I push everything but the MPT and Pro-Lock back towards the clerk and tell him I'll take both. He checks the prices and smiles, "I'm sure I can give you a deal for both those." We move over to the register and he does some quick math on the calculator before announcing that he can let both go for 30$ even.
I do a little victory dance in my head and quickly pay for the tools, anxious to speed home and explore my treasure.
First up, the MPT. A little history of this tool, courtesy of J-Sews, can be found on these forums. Short version; this tool was designed and made for a military contract Gerber earned, somewhat of an embarassment for Leatherman since this tool Out-PSTed the PST for the contract.
The tool features a pretty typical tool arrangement. Files, drivers and a knife blade, as well as a very interesting awl adorn the tool. This tool is also one of the few Gerber tools with a metal saw ground into the file. The drivers are extremely short, odd considering there is almost enough extra room to double their length. This tool is considerably longer than the PST and slightly thicker but is still significantly thinner than modern tools.
The tools are typical Gerber quality, fit an finish are good and typical of that era the inner tools are accessed by pulling out one of the long tools and then selecting a shorter tool from the clump that folds out.
The pliers are some of the widest opening I have ever seen and feature a smallish wirecutters.
The handles have a bit of wobble when closed and don't line up exactly together when closed, as I understand it this is a function of the tool design and was typical of all examples.
Although the handles feature raised areas designed for comfort when using the pliers the opposite effect occurs. There are numerous hotspots caused by the combination of the circlular reliefs and the rolled edges, causing these handles to be the most uncomfortable I have ever used. The tool is held together with hex bolts, making disassembly and mods an easy task, should one desire.
Another area of interest is the open and closing mechanism for the pliers. Using a speed-bump variation of the butterfly friction ramps this tool is significantly more difficult to open and close than other tools. One has to defeat the impressive pressure of the speed-bumps when opening and closing, it's not a smooth system but is functional and a noteable variation of the most common feature found on folding tools.
I plan to EDC this tool for a little bit, it's always nice to step back in time to try a different design. It really makes one appreciate just how good modern tools are and how they got to be that way.
Next up, the Pro-Lock.
I am really excited about this tool. It's one of those tools that I wouldn't ever really hunt down but still would like to own for the sheer novetly of it's interchangeable cartridges.
The tool features two different philips drivers and two different knife blades as well as a big-toothed woodsaw, file and flathead drivers. The tools are arranged in sections that are removed by a neat little system.
Press this little tab her upwards:
Pop out the top of the cartridge:
And you have a replaceable section; or, if you wanted to get really froggy, you now have a very small stand-alone tool section.
It's a shame coleman never released any other cartridges, this form factor is ripe with potential.
The tool is very comfortable to hold in the hand. The handles are smooth and fat at the bottom, allowing a good grip on smaller items but making the gripping of larger items more difficult for those with smaller hands.
So, not a bad day after all! Two of the rarer tools added to my collection in good condition for a good price.
P.S. I love winter, here's the obligatory pocket dump when I got home. Nothing like toting around 3 multis, various knives, flashlights and other junk.
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