(old) Waviness

[J-sews]

Despite some trivial complaints about its bevy of flathead screwdrivers, the original Wave is still one of the greatest multitools of all time. (and a pox on ye who say otherwise)  

The Wave was my EDC for years, an it still gets an occasional opportunity to get out and about. So you can imagine how thrilled I was to finally lay hands on the elusive 2HO (two hand opening) version of this classic workhorse! Thanks to some relentless scouring of the countryside on the part of Allan and a lengthy international journey, the object of my desire landed in my lap just last month. Rapture and joy thou art mine!

Here's a pic of it alongside my original 1HO model:



For the most part, the only difference between standard Waves and those sent to Denmark are the knife blades.



Notice both the regular blade and the serrated blade get nail nicks, instead of thumbholes. Hence the need to use two hands to open them.



But along with the obvious knife blade differences, I started noting several other minor differences. Not between 1HO versus 2HO, but between the "old" old Waves, and the "newer" old Waves. My standard model (on the right) is dated 1099, while the one I received from Allan is dated 0602. Significant changes were made in those three years, including:

- Plier heads (USA on the older, TOOL on the newer)
- Hard Wire Notch (plain on the older, tiny indicator triangle on the newer)



- Cutouts for saw and file access (are different between the two)
- Bolsters (rough cast on the older, polished smooth on the newer)



- Plier pivots (drag against the handle channel on the older, drag against a little spring steel tuning fork on the newer)



- Sheaths (both are fabulous compared to current model sheaths, but there are subtle differences in the snap and embossing. See second photo above)
- Date codes (newer original Waves have "A" and "B" designations on the date code)

Are there any other differences I missed?

[J-sews]

Ooops, almost forgot the class photo:

[duckman1975]

Congrats on the new aquicition! Its a beauty 

[Offroad]

Congrats Bob, that`s just   

[Benner]

"Old bendiness" would have been a more accurate description Bob. 

I loved it's concept, but felt let down when I got one. 

[prime77]

Really nice Bob. I Like the look of the one hand Wave for some reason. It looks more solid or something.

I sure wish LM would make sheaths like the one on the left in this picture. They don't make them like that any more. 

 

[Smitty44]

Always liked the old style better than the new style,and the sheath.
 &

[MultiMat]

Ooops, almost forgot the class photo:

(Image removed from quote.)

Bob congrats on your 2 hand quest success  . How many more do you need Bob  .

Bob I gotta ask the Wave in the middle looks highly polished like a 25th Anniversary Wave & the fancy pants bling on the fasteners  .
Is is a bit of Bob modding magic 

[J-sews]

I've very few clues about that one Mat. She came over from england, from a lady who said her hubby got it in the British Navy. (But there are no military markings of any kind)

The pivot screws are some sort of odd spanner style.

And the handles are polished to a mirror - even better than a 25th anniversary wave if you can believe it - and then chrome plated! The work is absolutely flawless, like it came from the factory that way.

It's a real bugger to get a decent photo of:





A couple years ago I posted pics of it in all the internet forums, but nobody knew the story behind it.

 

[DaveK]

Very nice Bob

You've gotta love the Wave. Possibly the second most important multitool after the PST.

That shiny one is a beauty.

[Pacu]

I edc one of the old ones i found hidden in a local wal-mart ealier this year . My new style wave got shunned for its older counterpart. I never got on with the new style bits.
 I sent the other two i found to a couple of gents on here.

[DaveK]

I got one of those didn't I Pacu 

I sometimes forget where I got some of my stuff from.

[Pacu]

yep you and WH867

[MultiMat]

I've very few clues about that one Mat. She came over from england, from a lady who said her hubby got it in the British Navy. (But there are no military markings of any kind)

The pivot screws are some sort of odd spanner style.

And the handles are polished to a mirror - even better than a 25th anniversary wave if you can believe it - and then chrome plated! The work is absolutely flawless, like it came from the factory that way.

It's a real bugger to get a decent photo of:

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

A couple years ago I posted pics of it in all the internet forums, but nobody knew the story behind it.

 

Wow Bob that sonds like a real one off special  . I wonder if the navy man was a tool maker or some kind of machinist with access too very specialized equipment  ..

BTW Bob very nice pics mate     

[Poncho65]

Very nice Bob

You've gotta love the Wave. Possibly the second most important multitool after the PST.

That shiny one is a beauty.

That's what I was thinking as I was reading as well Would LM be what they are today without this (at the time ) cutting edge MT If so what direction would they be in now Great pics Bob and thanks for sharing

[genevabuck]

If I was stuck carrying only one multitool for the rest of my life, I would have no problems carrying the original Wave.  I EDC'ed one for years, and it never let me down.  People complain that it doesn't have a leather punch, but I just used the scissors' blade and it worked great.

[Gareth]

Great walk through Bob.

[Dunc]

Really nice thread Bob , thanks for sharing . Have you thought about emailing Leatherman a pic of your shiny wave ? Just incase it did come from the factory like that . Is there any chance it could be some kind of prototype ?

Dunc

[David]

Thats alot of coool Waves there Bob.       

[AHB]

Awesome thread, Bob..
The 2HO Wave looks far better than I remember, so can we trade back..??
Nahh, I'm glad it found a nice home..

How many more do you need Bob  .

Uh uh I know, I Know.....
Click...

Sorry Bob, your'll be getting the XTI instead of the TI... Hope that's OK..
The reason is explained here: I just sent my Charge TI in for service...  

[J-sews]

Not a problem Allan!


As regards old Waves Mat, I'm not aware of any other versions.

[navihawk]

More old waviness. I won't buy the new ones. I thing these will ladst me the rest of my life. I like the one with the nail nick, and i miss my original original without the spring. it used to clack in the sheath when i walked.

[J-sews]

Hey Navi, great photos you've got there!

I see you have both an "old" old Wave, and a "new" old Wave. The bolsters on the end aren't quite the same. (old one is rough cast, new one is polished smooth) Have you noticed any other differences?

[AHB]

Excellent pictures, Navihawk..  
I would love to get my hands on a "old" style old Wave...  

[WhichDawg]

you know when Bob was a kid he had the coolest toys!

[navihawk]

Hey Navi, great photos you've got there!

I see you have both an "old" old Wave, and a "new" old Wave. The bolsters on the end aren't quite the same. (old one is rough cast, new one is polished smooth) Have you noticed any other differences?

Both have the springs that snap them shut. the only difference being the smooth bolsters and the date code.

[1jump2many]

Great thread, I can't believe I didn't see it sooner.  Great pictures.  It made me dig out my old Wave and check the date stamp on it.  I have one of the "old" old Wave's with the rough cast bolsters.  The date stamp is 0900.  The chrome plated one that J-sews has is very interesting looking.   

[navihawk]

Great thread, I can't believe I didn't see it sooner.  Great pictures.  It made me dig out my old Wave and check the date stamp on it.  I have one of the "old" old Wave's with the rough cast bolsters.  The date stamp is 0900.  The chrome plated one that J-sews has is very interesting looking.   

Hang on to it. It will be worth something if it already isn't.

[1jump2many]

Great thread, I can't believe I didn't see it sooner.  Great pictures.  It made me dig out my old Wave and check the date stamp on it.  I have one of the "old" old Wave's with the rough cast bolsters.  The date stamp is 0900.  The chrome plated one that J-sews has is very interesting looking.   

Hang on to it. It will be worth something if it already isn't.

Don't worry about that.  I collect them.  Although when I bought the old Wave I didn't collect them.  I think it was my second or third Leatherman.  I never used it much so it's in excellent conidtion, the sheath is too. 

[Shane769]

I love the old Waves. Two of my climbing partners have Waves, one with the new Wave and one with the old. I prefer the old one, due to the dedicated drivers. It gives you more reach on the phillips and is just a better workhorse. The girl that has the old Wave uses hers on her family's farm when she goes home, and the guy uses his for camping, so I guess it depends what you do with them too



*NOTE*:I have nothing against the bit exchanger, its a great concept, but the dedicated is super nice for heavy work.