Which Brand?

[SingleTool]

I'm looking for my first Leatherman style Pliers muti-tool. Which brand do you guys recommend? I want one is Black Oxide.

I have been looking at Leatherman and SOG.

[cliosguy]

what do you expect to do with it? any prefered feature that you wish to have? price range?

BTW welcome

[duckman1975]

Don't leave out the vic swisstool!

[David]

I`d suggest a BO Wave. For a bigger tool the SOG Powerlock comes in BO finish and you can get different componets to suit your needs.

[SingleTool]

Yes, please recommend me all black oxide tools.

I'll be away form home, I just need an all-in-one. Nothing special. Under $100.

[SingleTool]

Do Vic. offer tools in Black oxide?

[Grant Lamontagne]

If you stick to reputable brands, I doubt you'll really find fault with any of them.  My best suggestion is to think of the types of applications you might need it for, and what functions you'd like to have and maybe start looking from there.  Each manufacturer has their strong suits and their weak points and focusing on the ones you are most likely to use means that you are more likely to find a tool that you are going to carry and use for years to come.  And, unless you drop it overboard fishing or something, you will get years of solid use out of SOG, Leatherman, Victorinox, Gerber, Wenger, Bear, Columbia River and a few other brands.  In fact, with a little care, you'll be leaving them in your will, so don't skimp on price.  Not that you should spend needlessly, but don't look at price as a deciding factor.  Find what you like and it will happily earn it's keep.

You've taken the right first step- the guys here are not salesmen and won't push you into a brand or tool you don't need, and are well versed in almost every tool and/or brand imaginable, and have lots of real world experience to share, so don't be shy about asking questions!

Welcome to the forum, I hope we can help you out!

Oh, and yes, Victorinox offers the original SwissTool and the Spirit S models in black oxide.





Def

[SingleTool]

I like Vic. but their Swisstool seems to be just a regular SAK in a Pliers form- with the small blades, and flat drivers while other Leatherman or SOG seems to be how a pliers form muti-tool should be- with big blades and read screw drivers...

[cliosguy]

sounds like a BO wave/charge/surge might be for you then

also check the reviews of the main site: http://www.multitool.org/

[jzmtl]

I like Vic. but their Swisstool seems to be just a regular SAK in a Pliers form- with the small blades, and flat drivers while other Leatherman or SOG seems to be how a pliers form muti-tool should be- with big blades and read screw drivers...

The blades on swisstool are comparable in size with other multitools.

[sappyg]

Yes, please recommend me all black oxide tools.

I'll be away form home, I just need an all-in-one. Nothing special. Under $100.

my first "quality" MT was a BO vic spirit. so far i am very pleased with the performance. it's the only BO finished anything i have so i can only speak to the vic and it's finish.
the scales/ handles are somewhat glossy and tend to show scratches very quickly. this is not an issue for me however. the pins that hold the tools together look to be loosing the finish after some use and again is not an issue for me. i did not like the "tacky" feel of the BO finish on the tools themselves an a little time with some 1000 grit sandpaper took care of that. the fact that my spirit is BO really is a non issue for my needs. the BO s spirit does come w/o scissors and has the butter knife and a PE blade which i am fine with. i will always opt for more blades whether they are BO or not.
the tools lock up solid and stack up to the best anyone has to offer. in fact, i think the chisel/ wire stripper were the big plus/ surprise that is completely overlooked by other manufactures.
in the long run the choice may only come down to one hand opening (maybe scissors), in which the leatherman wave is the clear winner. 

[Mr. Whippy]

I like Vic. but their Swisstool seems to be just a regular SAK in a Pliers form- with the small blades, and flat drivers while other Leatherman or SOG seems to be how a pliers form muti-tool should be- with big blades and read screw drivers...

AH!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 

HAHahaha....ha

heh.

Cue the Victorinox mafia: 

[amw_billythekid]

I started with a Husky and used it for three years without concern for the tool I got it for $15. It was a standard medium size when it broke I started looking for another lager one. I went three days couldn't stand not haveing something so off to wal-mart I ran and got a gerber suspension not a bad tool medium size I've always liked gerber blades and this one was about $30. I just but it kind of to get me through so to speak(God Bless my wife for putting up with me, proving once again she is better then I). So after asking the guys here a great group and seemingly endless hours of online shoping(I'm weird I know). I purchased a SOG powerlock I had been looking at them and Leathermans for awhile I found a great deal on the SOG $32 including shipping. Once it arrived I loved it it hasn't left my side yet my wife now carries the gerber I geuss she has seen some use for them after a few years of me carrying mine. So I would suggest you look into Leatherman, SOG, and Vic. All strong and top of the line and will last you along time. Take the one that you like the tools and looks from those three and go you can find most online for under a hundred. But if you have some time go into a lowes or another store that carries them and hold a few to see what you think. If you like one better then the other check online for BO finish.

[SingleTool]

Thanks guys! I wanted one in BO but it just would not work out. SO I bought a TTi.

[Benner]

I like Vic. but their Swisstool seems to be just a regular SAK in a Pliers form- with the small blades, and flat drivers while other Leatherman or SOG seems to be how a pliers form muti-tool should be- with big blades and read screw drivers...

AH!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 

HAHahaha....ha

heh.

Cue the Victorinox mafia: 

I was surprised more didn't jump on that actually. 

[Nikos]

It was the guy's first plier-based multitool and it had to be a "leatherman-style multitool" in BO... He'll learn with time...

[Mr. Whippy]

I like Vic. but their Swisstool seems to be just a regular SAK in a Pliers form- with the small blades, and flat drivers while other Leatherman or SOG seems to be how a pliers form muti-tool should be- with big blades and read screw drivers...

AH!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 

HAHahaha....ha

heh.

Cue the Victorinox mafia: 

I was surprised more didn't jump on that actually. 

It is August.  Southern Europe is basically on vacation right? 

[Benner]

I like Vic. but their Swisstool seems to be just a regular SAK in a Pliers form- with the small blades, and flat drivers while other Leatherman or SOG seems to be how a pliers form muti-tool should be- with big blades and read screw drivers...

AH!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 

HAHahaha....ha

heh.

Cue the Victorinox mafia: 

I was surprised more didn't jump on that actually. 

It is August.  Southern Europe is basically on vacation right? 

That must be it.