locking pliers multitool overview

scrappy · **Reply #30 on:** October 23, 2010, 02:33:10 PM

Thanks chako. My collection will never compete with yours. When the schrade vise grips were made, I really liked them. I gave three away as gifts.

Chako · **Reply #31 on:** October 23, 2010, 04:20:31 PM

Well, when it concerns locking pliers and Craftsman products...I plead no contest.

This is what I have so far…

These 4, plus the Gerber Grappler, Leatherman Crunch, and a Schrade ST6P.

The Schrades (anything other than the ST6) are very rare, or I am looking in all the wrong places.

When it comes to collecting, the journey can be more fun than the destination.

scrappy · **Reply #32 on:** September 24, 2012, 12:39:05 AM

Thought I would update this with my most recent find. I was not aware of it till now. MAC Tools sold a Vise-Grip 6LC Toolbox with the visegrip branding on the tool and MAC Tools branding on the sheath. I apologize for the horrible pics on page one. These pics are a little better.
Here is the tool out of the box. Part ID is VG32-GAT

The sheath holds the tool and six extra bits. The sheath quality is superb. Thick construction similiar to the Craftsman sheaths sold with the Craftsman Professional tool. My guess is both are made by shcrade.

The belt loop can be worn vertical or horizontal.

It is your standard 6LC. Tool on the left came packaged as a visegrip and the markings are 8K. The MAC tool is on the right and the markings are 10*. I see no reason for the difference. I will point out some other differences.

The MAC has a clip point knife. The visegrip version could be purchased in either the clip point or a sheep's foot.

It also comes with this warnclif/sheep's foot blade. I see no reason for two sheep's foot blades, so, I prefer the clip point model.

In this pic you can see the word toolbox is engraved on the handle in different positions. The MAC tool is on top. The cutout in the handle to grap the knife is also in a different position.

The last difference I saw is that the bit driver on the MAC tool has a nail nick and to the right it has a small nail nick on the edge of the driver. The Visegrip model as a larger and more aggresive nail nick on the edge of the driver.

The bit driver can be used in the 180 or 90 degree positions.

A pic of the different sheaths.

David · **Reply #33 on:** September 24, 2012, 07:22:43 AM

Great good score there scrappy!

stealth007s · **Reply #34 on:** September 25, 2012, 05:13:04 AM

I did not realize the plethora of locking MTs out there. They are in a class of their own when it comes down to it. Nice collection

scrappy · **Reply #35 on:** September 27, 2012, 01:02:19 AM

Thanks David.
stealth007s, I do think they are a class of their own. I personally like the locking plier. Not for every day tasks but when I know I will be gone for a while or helping a neighbor move and what not, I take one with me. They seem to come in handy.

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #36 on:** September 27, 2012, 10:28:55 AM

Excellent thread, and great collection Scrappy

I have the ST6H and have occasionally considered getting a Grappler, but that's it. They do make great collection pieces, but I like to inflict real life on my tools, and I can't see them replacing a standard multitool for me personally. That said I do plan on giving my ST6H a workout to give it the chance to prove me wrong

Gareth · **Reply #37 on:** September 27, 2012, 02:25:54 PM

Only one I have is the blatant Crunch copy from Jack Pike. I have to admit it gets very little use but it is an interesting conversation piece at meet-ups.

J-sews · **Reply #38 on:** October 02, 2012, 03:49:21 AM

Wow, thanks for sharing Terry, I did not know about the Mac version either.

scrappy · **Reply #39 on:** October 03, 2012, 12:40:39 AM

Quote from: Gareth on September 27, 2012, 02:25:54 PM

Only one I have is the blatant Crunch copy from Jack Pike. I have to admit it gets very little use but it is an interesting conversation piece at meet-ups.

I think it is the most interesting copy cat out there. Not leatherman quality but I imagine it costs something to produce it, more than the usual chineese tools.

scrappy · **Reply #40 on:** October 03, 2012, 01:01:09 AM

Thanks Bob, I had no idea either.

Gareth · **Reply #41 on:** October 03, 2012, 02:01:34 AM

Quote from: scrappy on October 03, 2012, 12:40:39 AM

Quote from: Gareth on September 27, 2012, 02:25:54 PM
Only one I have is the blatant Crunch copy from Jack Pike. I have to admit it gets very little use but it is an interesting conversation piece at meet-ups.
I think it is the most interesting copy cat out there. Not leatherman quality but I imagine it costs something to produce it, more than the usual chineese tools.

Absolutely. If the Crunch didn't exist we'd be all over this as a superb tool, the quality really is pretty good (though not as good as the real thing).

scrappy · **Reply #42 on:** April 11, 2013, 03:48:20 AM

Another bump for my most recent find.
the ST6 and ST6H models are the needle nose versions. They were branded as schrade tools with vise grip as a tag line while the other tools were branded vise grip with schrade as a tag line.
The ST6 came in two configurations. One model came with saw, Phillips, flat driver, knife and can opener. The other model came with saw, Phillips, flat driver, knife and a small flat driver. Both models were most commonly assembled with the clip point blade. However, I just received one that was assembled with the sheep foot blade. I also noticed the saws are shaped differently.

scrappy · **Reply #43 on:** April 11, 2013, 03:56:21 AM

J-sews · **Reply #44 on:** April 11, 2013, 04:39:32 AM

Well dang, that's another new one on me!

I wonder if that one was from when Schrade was starting to wind down, and they just used up whatever blades were on hand?

J-sews · **Reply #45 on:** April 11, 2013, 04:50:35 AM

Well hang on a sec, it looks like there were at least four different blade arrangements.

Here's mine:

Looks like they made the ST6 and the ST6H with both clip point blades AND sheepsfoot blades...?

scrappy · **Reply #46 on:** April 11, 2013, 05:21:33 AM

Bob, I had no idea they came in four variations till now. The other tools usually came with the sheep foot blade. The ST6 is almost always a clip point blade. And most ST6 tools I see have the can opener. The ST6H seems rarer? Does that sound right to you?
Even more so with the clip point.

I wouldn't be surprised if the clip point was originally for the ST6 models and the the sheepsfoot was for the other models until schrade decided it didn't matter towards the end??? Looks like I am off to find an ST6H with the sheepsfoot blade