Paladin PT-540

[J-sews]

It just arrived yesterday!! Been salivating for one of these since they started showing up on the 'net earlier this year. Dang expensive though!   Price is still up over $110 everywhere I looked.

PT-540:


Jeez-o-petes is this thing ever a whopper! Somehow I'd assumed it was built on the same frame as the PowerLock? But nope, she's a full half inch bigger at least. (Imagine the jump from PST to Super Tool. Now jump that much more!)  

Here it is alongside a PowerLock:


I haven't done anything with it yet except to play with it, and take these photos. Boy, there sure are a lot of intricate features! Wire stripper notches in the jaws, gear covers, cast metal blade lock releases, new handle-flapper stops, hex drives, etc. Whew, I may have to break down and actually look at the user's guide! 

But I digress. Here's a pic of the PT-540 alongside some tools previously considered to be "big".


Another couple angles of the police line-up:




Okay, enough beauty shots, time for some real action. There's an electrical box downstairs that has just been begging for a 4-way outlet....

[Leatherman123]

Bob, I have one of those coming too! Now I wish I did over-night shipping!

[Grant Lamontagne]

No wonder they are so pricey- that monstrosity has more steel than most modern cars!

Def

[Anthony]

Wow that thing looks cool.  Great pics!

[Viper]

I've been wanting one of those forever. But I've also been wanting a PPP, so I might just get the smaller Paladin, to save some money!

[Leatherman123]

LOL, yeah they are pretty expensive- I bought mine for like a 110 usd

[Carthas]

Wow tht thing is awesome. If I could get one of those in australia, I'd be ordering one right away.

[I'm Still Bison]

And I thought the Powerlock was a hand filler,even for someone my size.I'm going to ask my daughter to check out the Menard's in her part of the world.

[Benner]

Mate that thing looks awesome!  I love big tools (oi oi!  ) and that thing looks huge.    In fact everything that attracted my to the powerlock is here but looks even better.

[WhichDawg]

that is niiice! who needs a tool box! and great pictures J-sews.

[edap617]

How much (more or less) is the cost of Paladin? I'm just curious. I may be able to buy that in the near future.

[Benner]

If you are comparing to the powerlock, Tim sells them for just under $70 I think which is quite a bit less than the Paladin.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Blimey, that really is one big tool aint it I remember saying to Dunc that I didn't like the Free hand because it was just that little bit too big for belt carry, well next to that it makes the free hand look like an MP400

[Grant Lamontagne]

Here's a picture of Bob with the PT-540 in it's handy sheath:



Def

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Here's a picture of Bob with the PT-540 in it's handy sheath:

(Image removed from quote.)

Def

Probably not that wide of the mark

[J-sews]

Here's a picture of Bob with the PT-540 in it's handy sheath:

(Image removed from quote.)

Def

That blue thing on top is the hex bit adapter!

[Mike D]

Very nice indeed! I too have been wanting one of those for quite some time. I'm kinda surprised at the massive size of the thing. Now its got me wondering if SOG is basing the yet to be released Powerassist on the "smaller" Powerlock frame or this larger Paladin one???

[joebw]

Hi Bob,

This is a great addition to your collection.  I got one some time ago and found it fascinating (and darn big). 

Merry Christmas to all.

Joe

[J-sews]

With all the holiday duties going on there hasn't been any opportunities to put the PT-540 to work. In the mean time I've been comparing it to a regular PowerLock. Lots of improvements, some obvious, some subtle. Here's two:

I'm not a real big fan of the SOG "flappers" - those grip protectors that are on the PowerLock handles. The PT-540 has them too of course, but they are much improved. The metal is formed into shape more crisply, there are detents that hold the flappers closed more securely, and there are little stop-tabs stamped out of the handle metal that prevent the flappers from being bent in too far. All worthwhile improvements!





Blade locks are made from cast metal instead of stamped. They now ride "inboard" on the handles, instead of hanging over the sides.

[supratentorial]

Somehow I'd assumed it was built on the same frame as the PowerLock? But nope, she's a full half inch bigger at least.

The PT-525 is based on the PowerLock but the PT-540 is another breed.  Here's a link to an old topic with a photo of the PT-540 next to the PT-525: http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,802.0.html  (comparison photo is on page two)

And here's an excerpt from that post:

Here's a photo of the PT-540 and the PT-525 side by side.

Whoa! I didn't realize the 540 was so much bigger than the 525! That thing must be approaching the Surge in the size and weight catagory.

Like Mike D, I've also wondered whether the PowerAssist (see photo below) will be based on the PowerLock or a larger frame like the PT-540.  The pliers on the PowerLock 2.0 are nearly identical to the pliers on the PT-525.

I've had my PT-540 for about a year now and I'm happy with it overall.  Here are a couple of quibbles:  1.  The wire cutter isn't as good as the wire cutter on the PT-525.  2. The cast lock releases are prone to rust (I recommend putting a light coat of RenWax on them to prevent rust).  3.  The hex wrenches on the handles require a lot of clearance.  4.  The hex wrenches stick out from the handles so the handle isn't as comfortable to grip when using the internal tools (in comparison to the PT-525 and the SOG PowerLock). 

[J-sews]

Yep, all is not wonderful with the PT-540. 

One thing that I found disappointing is the blades and tools. Despite having LOTS more room in those oversized handles, the blades are all standard SOG length. The knife blade, the file, the saw blade: each one of them should be about 1/2" longer than they are.

What's the sense of having longer handles if the blades inside them are all standard length?

[Grant Lamontagne]

The ability to use off the shelf parts?

Def

[J-sews]

The ability to use off the shelf parts?

Def

The PT-540 will accept any of the off-the-shelf SOG implements.

But its so BIIIIGGG!! It just seems like they should have put some bigger-than-standard tools in it. Y'know, like screwdrivers with extra long reach. Or a saw blade with an extra half-inch of stroke. Important things all.

[Mike D]

Good reports on the PT 540, thanks!

I too wish they would do away with the flappers completely, why not just go Swisstool like and put all of the tools on the outside of the handles where they should be so you don't have to open the plier to access them. It looks like from the picture of the Powerassist that half the tool is going to be like this anyway, so come on SOG just make both handles the same and ditch the flappers once and for all. AND, if I'm going to wish for things why not take the whole powerassist idea one step further by putting not just one blade, but two blades (one straight and one serrated) on the outside position of the handles with thumbstuds and powerassist, and on the other handle rig up a very long bladed saw and some big usable scissors with the same setup?? Sound good? Does to me...I would love to be able to just flick open my most used tools

[edap617]

I don't like multitools with flappers. Can the flappers of SOG MTs be easily remove?

[Sea Monster]

not just one blade, but two blades (one straight and one serrated) on the outside position of the handles with thumbstuds and powerassist, and on the other handle rig up a very long bladed saw and some big usable scissors with the same setup??

Like a Surge you mean? 


Does SOG make special run designs for any other companies?
I don't have a lot of use for electrical tools.

Except maybe crimpers and wire strippers, for 12v stuff, and I suppose I could use a drywall cutter once in a while, and maybe I'd use those Punchdown blades more often if I knew what they were

REGARDLESS, the question stands.


In other issues - I've never had flappers. They seem somewhat inconvenient for the hasty gentleman, (as do inside opening blades) - still, all that "used by the military, Yay!" advertising is getting to me...maybe I need one?

(I've yet to see anyone on a .mil site mention them though, they seem to spend more time talking about the most comfortable boots, and whether or not moustaches should be allowed)

[supratentorial]

I don't like multitools with flappers. Can the flappers of SOG MTs be easily remove?

The covers are easy to remove and replace without any tools.  They just snap into place.  But without the covers, the pliers will have the same ergonomic flaw as the old Leatherman tools.  The predecessors to the PowerLock, the Power Plier (e.g. T52 and T65), lacked the covers.  The Power Plier is in the middle of the photo. 



It was also available in stainless if gold isn't your style. 

[supratentorial]

...I've yet to see anyone on a .mil site mention them though, they seem to spend more time talking about the most comfortable boots, and whether or not moustaches should be allowed...

Are you going to keep us in suspense?  What are the most comfortable boots? 

[Mike D]

not just one blade, but two blades (one straight and one serrated) on the outside position of the handles with thumbstuds and powerassist, and on the other handle rig up a very long bladed saw and some big usable scissors with the same setup??

Like a Surge you mean? 

Well yes and no. All the tools accessible without opening the pliers, with the blades, scissors and saw all being powerassisted.

[J-sews]

Well yes and no. All the tools accessible without opening the pliers, with the blades, scissors and saw all being powerassisted.

Seems like one flaw in the PowerAssist is that there are only two blades in the one entire handle. 

Must be the powerassist mechanism takes up a lot of space?