Early riveted Leatherman PST's

J-sews · **on:** November 19, 2007, 08:33:46 PM

Supratentorial has a very early model Leatherman PST for sale in the trade forums. The discussion got interesting enough that it seemed worth moving here:

Quote from: supratentorial on November 09, 2007, 07:54:13 AM

marked "LEATHERMAN" in large block letters on handle
marked "Leatherman, Japan" on the drop point blade.....

Quote from: supratentorial on November 17, 2007, 05:12:42 PM

.....Here are some photos:

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For comparison, here are some shots next to an unused PST with a full blade:

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Here's a shot that's overexposed with the flash to better show the grind marks on the blade:

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The previous owner did a really bad job attempting to grind the edge. The blade has grind marks and the edge would need to be reground if it is going to be used. Of course, these aren't common in any condition so it may be better to keep it as is.

J-sews · **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2007, 08:34:17 PM

Quote from: J-sews on November 19, 2007, 01:45:06 AM

Neat that you've got two of the large-font PST's Supratentorial. I wish there were some way to know exactly when they were produced. 1984 maybe? (Leatherman didn't date-stamp their early tools)

J-sews · **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2007, 08:34:53 PM

Quote from: supratentorial on November 19, 2007, 03:45:59 AM

They're a pain to find but I've managed to collect a few early PSTs. I had intended to keep this one as a user but I thought someone else would appreciate it more. You're correct that it was produced before Leatherman started dating their tools. I think they started adding a date sometime between 1991-1993. Do you have a more exact date?

I can't give a better guess than yours (1984) for the date of manufacture. But it's something that interests me.

I think the basic order is:
"Pocket Survival Tool"-->"LEATHERMAN Tool"-->"Leatherman Tool"-->Blade Change

I've noticed some mixing and matching between the different logos. For example, I was recently outbid (Joe got me again! ) on an early model PST marked "POCKET SURVIVAL TOOL" on one handle and the common small lettered "Leatherman Tool" logo on the other handle. I don't know if it was a factory repair. But I doubt it was. I also have some PSTs with the early drop point blade and the common "Leatherman Tool" logo on the handle. It suggests that a few of the logo changes may have occurred within a short time frame. Do you know more about it?
......

J-sews · **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2007, 08:43:54 PM

I've seen some mixing and matching on these early tools myself. It makes sense I suppose; at assembly, if they had plenty of old handles (for instance) but ran out of new plier heads (for instance) the resulting finished tools would be a mix-match.

I've got a large-font LEATHERMAN with a Japan drop point blade like you have pictured, and another one with a USA drop point blade. Must be in between sometime Tim Leatherman was bringing his blade production back home.

Benner · **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2007, 08:46:21 PM

They look better rivited imo.

J-sews · **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2007, 09:03:25 PM

Quote from: Benner on November 19, 2007, 08:46:21 PM

They look better rivited imo.

At first they didn't. The very earliest ones (bottom tool pictured below) had rivets with hollow bases. It must have been easier to flare the ends over and peen them that way. In any case, it left a cavity in each rivet.

Benner · **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2007, 09:05:33 PM

Quote from: J-sews on November 19, 2007, 09:03:25 PM

Quote from: Benner on November 19, 2007, 08:46:21 PM
They look better rivited imo.

At first they didn't. The very earliest ones (bottom tool pictured below) had rivets with hollow bases. It must have been easier to flare the ends over and peen them that way. In any case, it left a cavity in each rivet.

I agree with you there. $:-\$

supratentorial · **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:05:29 AM

Quote from: supratentorial on November 19, 2007, 03:45:59 AM

I think they started adding a date sometime between 1991-1993. Do you have a more exact date?

I previously thought they had added the dating system earlier but I bought an undated PST (common logo) that was boxed and the paperwork has a 1990 copyright. If they didn't start labeling the tools until then, it would mean that some of the Mini tools also lack a manufacture date. Based on conversation with the seller of the PST, it seems unlikely that the paperwork is a mix up from another PST. What's the earliest date that you've seen? Do you have a better estimate of when they started adding the manufacture date?

J-sews · **Reply #8 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:11:09 AM

I've no idea on exactly when they started dating their tools.

My earliest date code is 0993

Anybody else? What's the earliest date code you've got on a Leatherman tool?

NeitherExtreme · **Reply #9 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:18:49 AM

1293 on one handle, and 1193 on the other, looks like you beat me by 2 months.

This is a competition, right?

supratentorial · **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:20:47 AM

0793 on one handle and 0893 on the other.

NeitherExtreme · **Reply #11 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:24:10 AM

Someone on this old thread metioned having a '91 with no date stamp. Not sure how he knew it was a '91 though...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3859612#post3859612

J-sews · **Reply #12 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:30:52 AM

Quote from: NeitherExtreme on November 20, 2007, 03:24:10 AM

Someone on this old thread metioned having a '91 with no date stamp. Not sure how he knew it was a '91 though...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3859612#post3859612

Yes I remembered that thread as we were posting here. Seems like a lot of evidence pointing to 1993 as the start of date coding.

supratentorial · **Reply #13 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:32:48 AM

Quote from: NeitherExtreme on November 20, 2007, 03:24:10 AM

Someone on this old thread metioned having a '91 with no date stamp. Not sure how he knew it was a '91 though...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3859612#post3859612

Someone's using their noggin'. Thanks for the link! I think we may have reinvented the wheel.

If I read the topic correctly, it was narrowed down to "November 93, and after 91"

Based on the info we've come up with thus far...it looks like we can narrow it down to: 1991 - July 1993. That's another 4 whole months!

NeitherExtreme · **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:34:22 AM

Every little bit helps!

By the way, has anyone asked LM directly?

supratentorial · **Reply #15 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:35:40 AM

Who?

...no, that'd be the smart thing to do!

NeitherExtreme · **Reply #16 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:38:27 AM

Might ruin all the fun and teamwork...

supratentorial · **Reply #17 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:47:23 AM

Here's a photo of my '93 PST. Similar ones are commonly for sale on ebay.

J-sews · **Reply #18 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:51:12 AM

I see it has the sabre blade. (Do we know when they changed to the smaller 'clip' in the clip point?)

NeitherExtreme · **Reply #19 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:51:42 AM

While we're on the topic (uh, well sort of), has anyone been able to find any 1983 Leathermans? Its my birth-year, and I'd love to be able to get one, but I have the sneaking suspicion it'll never hapen.

J-sews · **Reply #20 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:57:12 AM

Here's a picture of the earliest one I've got. (Dunno if it is a 1983, no way of telling)

Notice the 'Pocket Survival Tool' stamping, and no lanyard attachment.

Mike D · **Reply #21 on:** November 20, 2007, 07:07:41 AM

Interesting discussion.

I have a black oxdide PST that is date stamped 1292 if that helps. It was given to me as a gift and was also my first multi-tool. I carriied it for 5 years before I was given my next multi, a Super Tool, that is stamped 0897.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #22 on:** November 20, 2007, 08:16:54 AM

Quote from: Mike D on November 20, 2007, 07:07:41 AM

Interesting discussion.

I have a black oxdide PST that is date stamped 1292 if that helps. It was given to me as a gift and was also my first multi-tool. I carriied it for 5 years before I was given my next multi, a Super Tool, that is stamped 0897.

Welcome to the forum mate

Any chance of a picture

, it's great to see a tool with a bit of milage on it

Benner · **Reply #23 on:** November 20, 2007, 11:47:53 AM

Quote from: Mike D on November 20, 2007, 07:07:41 AM

Interesting discussion.

I have a black oxdide PST that is date stamped 1292 if that helps. It was given to me as a gift and was also my first multi-tool. I carriied it for 5 years before I was given my next multi, a Super Tool, that is stamped 0897.

Welcome

Please do send in some pics of your PST. Sounds interesting.

Mike D · **Reply #24 on:** November 20, 2007, 03:36:48 PM

My old PST isnt any showpiece, I havent abused it by any means, but looking back I probably could have taken better care of it. If it could talk though... the stories it could tell!

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #25 on:** November 20, 2007, 07:27:29 PM

Thats none too shaby mate

, at least it's carrying it's history, and not being locked away as a draw queen

Mike D · **Reply #26 on:** November 20, 2007, 09:08:17 PM

No its seen tons of use, mostly outdoor type stuff. Raft trips, dirt bike outings, and fishing. The finish got screwed up on it from spending more then a year in its leather sheath inside my salmon fishing tackle box outside in my driftboat., doh!

Still, everytime I look at it I imediately get taken back to memories of one grand adventure or another.

It dosent see much use at all nowadays, living a life of leisure with a light coat of gun oil on it. My TTI, Spirit or Powerlock get the abuse most of the time now.