BEAR! Super Bear Jaws 156

J-sews · **on:** April 09, 2009, 04:38:12 AM

By request, the Super Bear Jaws model 156:

Compared to Leatherman Super Tool. About the same size and weight, but note outside-opening blades versus inside-opening blades

Original 156 above. Locking blade model 156L (below) was introduced in 2001

Differences in bolster area between early 156 models and more recent 156L's

156L, with knife blade locked open

Press lever to release lock

Super Bear-iations:

Crescent ToolZall Pro XL

Nicholson MultiMax Pro XL

J-sews · **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2009, 04:41:23 AM

A great tool, strong as an ox, and well built. Only it wasn't marketed very well (most folks have never seen or heard of it) and it hasn't been updated in going on 8 years. $:-\$

donvito · **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2009, 04:47:59 AM

Thx Bob great pics as usual

Anthony · **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2009, 04:52:00 AM

I have one of these (along a regular smaller Bear Jaws) and can attest to it's...solidness. It has probably the biggest overall plier head of any tool I've owned.

Poncho65 · **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:04:02 AM

Great pics Bob

I need to get a plier based Bear MT sometime or another

The Bears that I do have are very well built and seem very strong

rockyman500 · **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:29:08 AM

Thanks J-sews

DoughDTD · **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:30:28 AM

I think I'm gonna jump on board as well, I've heard great things about this company and would like to see what theyre all about. Plus I love HUGE multi's

-Dough

american lockpicker · **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2009, 05:54:36 AM

Jsews is there any multitool you don't have?

cliosguy · **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2009, 06:52:18 AM

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,9511.0.html

other than that, WOW its amazing Bob, how long have you been collecting MTs?

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2009, 07:16:35 AM

Great shots Bob

prime77 · **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2009, 07:45:05 AM

Great shots Bob.

Neil · **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2009, 12:34:40 PM

Personally I prefer the Super Bear Jaws to the Super Tool. Attested to by the fact that I sold the Super Tool and still have the Super Bear Jaws

Thanks for the pics Bob

Neil

MultiMat · **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2009, 12:48:39 PM

Nice pics Bob , what I really would like to see is the Bear Jaws next to a Swisstool. My Super Bear Jaws feels so much like a SwissTool when using the pliers & the actual plier head looks a lot like a ST(but have bigger wire cutters).

My ex Dennis , locking Super Bear is a ripper . If Bear made one of these with scissors I would buy it in a heart beat . One thing I have noticed is after adjusting the fasteners to optimise tool deployment , it has become even looser . I just have to use thread locker . The lock is also failing on 1/2 the tools , but I think this is due to the loose fastners

I will do it properly with thread locker & report back.

Neil · **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2009, 01:55:01 PM

MultiMat · **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2009, 02:00:33 PM

Quote from: NKB on April 09, 2009, 01:55:01 PM

(Image removed from quote.)

Neil

Thanks very much Neil

Some comments RE the Swisstool being more North American than Swiss

Or do I have a, over active imagination

David · **Reply #15 on:** April 09, 2009, 06:58:42 PM

One of the things I like about the 156L is the handles are very comfortable when using the pliers. The handles are nicely rounded, smooth and not to far apart.

rockyman500 · **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2009, 06:34:21 AM

Quote from: NKB on April 09, 2009, 01:55:01 PM

(Image removed from quote.)

Neil

wow! it certainly dwarfs the "Jaws of Death" doesn't it?

J-sews · **Reply #17 on:** April 10, 2009, 05:05:33 PM

Quote from: J-sews on April 09, 2009, 04:38:12 AM

(Image removed from quote.)

Notice the old box: A Division of Swiss Army Brands, Inc

rockyman500 · **Reply #18 on:** April 10, 2009, 05:08:40 PM

I know...they owned Bear for a while for patents...

anyway...how is the plier play? if any...

Neil · **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2009, 01:12:01 PM

Quote from: J-sews on April 10, 2009, 05:05:33 PM

Notice the old box: A Division of Swiss Army Brands, Inc

I noticed, that's just a bit

Neil

J-sews · **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2009, 04:14:13 PM

Sidebar: The only joint Bear/Victorinox offering I've ever seen is this one:

Neil · **Reply #21 on:** April 11, 2009, 04:26:42 PM

Time to dig out the cooler shades

Neil

Sean · **Reply #22 on:** April 11, 2009, 05:01:42 PM

Very nice pictures btw. A question, re: 7th picture down.

those little lock release levers can i call them? In one of your pictures it shows the blade deployed then one of those levers sticking out ready to be depressed to unlock the blade? I was wondering if they are always sticking out like that whenever a tool is in the locked position? If so, isn't that a bit dangerous when squeezing the handle could the blade become unlocked and close while using the tool?

J-sews · **Reply #23 on:** April 11, 2009, 11:28:08 PM

Quote from: J-sews on April 09, 2009, 04:38:12 AM

156L, with knife blade locked open
(Image removed from quote.)

Quote from: Sean on April 11, 2009, 05:01:42 PM

Very nice pictures btw. A question, re: 7th picture down.

those little lock release levers can i call them? In one of your pictures it shows the blade deployed then one of those levers sticking out ready to be depressed to unlock the blade? I was wondering if they are always sticking out like that whenever a tool is in the locked position? If so, isn't that a bit dangerous when squeezing the handle could the blade become unlocked and close while using the tool?

The levers are indeed always sticking out. $:-\$ It's certainly not the slickest release system in the world.

To answer your question, I suppose it is theoretically possible to unlock the knife accidently during use, but its not very likely. The amount of force required to push the levers down is considerable; it usually leaves an indentation in my thumb after one use. Therefore I tend to unlock a blade by unfolding the next blade alongside it, just like the old Super Tool works. (If I were an everyday Bear user, I would probably just remove the levers altogether.)

DaveK · **Reply #24 on:** April 16, 2009, 07:13:32 PM

Quote from: J-sews on April 11, 2009, 11:28:08 PM

The levers are indeed always sticking out. $:-\$ It's certainly not the slickest release system in the world.

To answer your question, I suppose it is theoretically possible to unlock the knife accidently during use, but its not very likely. The amount of force required to push the levers down is considerable; it usually leaves an indentation in my thumb after one use. Therefore I tend to unlock a blade by unfolding the next blade alongside it, just like the old Super Tool works. (If I were an everyday Bear user, I would probably just remove the levers altogether.)

Spot on that.

Poncho65 · **Reply #25 on:** April 17, 2009, 03:57:51 AM

Quote from: DaveK on April 16, 2009, 07:13:32 PM

Quote from: J-sews on April 11, 2009, 11:28:08 PM

The levers are indeed always sticking out. $:-\$ It's certainly not the slickest release system in the world.

To answer your question, I suppose it is theoretically possible to unlock the knife accidently during use, but its not very likely. The amount of force required to push the levers down is considerable; it usually leaves an indentation in my thumb after one use. Therefore I tend to unlock a blade by unfolding the next blade alongside it, just like the old Super Tool works. (If I were an everyday Bear user, I would probably just remove the levers altogether.)

Spot on that.

Yeah the levers are a bit of a hindrance sometimes

but it is a little quicker to put things away

rockyman500 · **Reply #26 on:** April 17, 2009, 04:01:15 AM

could you just take the levers out and put some spacers in?

Biru · **Reply #27 on:** April 17, 2009, 03:53:36 PM

You can. I did just that with my carry Bear 155L. I personally find the locking tabs the most irksome feature of Bears. You can remove the tabs and install washers to make up the slack. One warning: if you plan on doing this, try each individual tool before removing the lock to see if you can unlock them as on the Supertool. I found that some of the 155's tools wouldn't sufficiently depress the lock tab to unlock whatever tool was opened (i.e. if the knife blade was open, pulling out the can opener might not let the knife close, but pulling out the saw might). I eventually ground the lock down (the tab which goes into the slot on the tools) so that it offered resistance to the tool closing, but did not totally lock the tool. I only did this on my worst-built Bear 155 (the tool's alignment was erratic). I actually use it almost every day and like it, but WOULD NOT do it to a good 155 or a Super.

Syncop8r · **Reply #28 on:** July 31, 2018, 11:43:56 PM

I wish I could see all the pics...

zoidberg · **Reply #29 on:** August 01, 2018, 12:06:04 AM

Quote from: Syncop8r on July 31, 2018, 11:43:56 PM

I wish I could see all the pics...

Looks like the links broke when the site was moved over to http://www.swissarmyknights.com/ - worth a search there.

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BEAR! Super Bear Jaws 156

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