Leatherman SIDEKICK / WINGMAN Owners Club

[Poncho65]

I only have the one myself but I will let you know that they are nice tools but depending on what tools you already have and use the most then it may be a bit of a let down Don't get me wrong they are very capable tools but they were created as an entry level/budget model along with the Sidekick and Rev Also there are others here that love them and some of the features they have Just not my cup of tea I guess

           

[Exeter]

I only have the one myself but I will let you know that they are nice tools but depending on what tools you already have and use the most then it may be a bit of a let down Don't get me wrong they are very capable tools but they were created as an entry level/budget model along with the Sidekick and Rev Also there are others here that love them and some of the features they have Just not my cup of tea I guess

           

Yeah, I'm not expecting the same feel and quality I got with my Pulse, Juice XE6, Rebar and Charge, that's exactly why I don't want to spend the silly prices I mentioned, but want to try a Wingman anyway, just to see it for myself. Reading reviews and watching videos is just not the same. ...and by now I read and watched virtually everything, so the only thing left is to have one in hand.

[Poncho65]

I only have the one myself but I will let you know that they are nice tools but depending on what tools you already have and use the most then it may be a bit of a let down Don't get me wrong they are very capable tools but they were created as an entry level/budget model along with the Sidekick and Rev Also there are others here that love them and some of the features they have Just not my cup of tea I guess

           

Yeah, I'm not expecting the same feel and quality I got with my Pulse, Juice XE6, Rebar and Charge, that's exactly why I don't want to spend the silly prices I mentioned, but want to try a Wingman anyway, just to see it for myself. Reading reviews and watching videos is just not the same. ...and by now I read and watched virtually everything, so the only thing left is to have one in hand.

With that said good luck in the search and I do hope you find one with a much more agreeable price

[ThePeacent]

I only have the one myself but I will let you know that they are nice tools but depending on what tools you already have and use the most then it may be a bit of a let down Don't get me wrong they are very capable tools but they were created as an entry level/budget model along with the Sidekick and Rev Also there are others here that love them and some of the features they have Just not my cup of tea I guess

           

Yeah, I'm not expecting the same feel and quality I got with my Pulse, Juice XE6, Rebar and Charge, that's exactly why I don't want to spend the silly prices I mentioned, but want to try a Wingman anyway, just to see it for myself. Reading reviews and watching videos is just not the same. ...and by now I read and watched virtually everything, so the only thing left is to have one in hand.

Are there no stores close to you that carry them?
I mean, having a Rebar, Charge or Pulse I would not "downgrade" especially at those prices!

Ebay and second hand apps for smartphones might be your friends in that, here they also go for 70EUR new in stores but I've found them for 30-35 on second hand selling apps (like Craigslist but in Spain)

Through that app I found an interested buyer, and sold my Wingman to that neighbor for 30 EUR 

[Exeter]

I only have the one myself but I will let you know that they are nice tools but depending on what tools you already have and use the most then it may be a bit of a let down Don't get me wrong they are very capable tools but they were created as an entry level/budget model along with the Sidekick and Rev Also there are others here that love them and some of the features they have Just not my cup of tea I guess

           

Yeah, I'm not expecting the same feel and quality I got with my Pulse, Juice XE6, Rebar and Charge, that's exactly why I don't want to spend the silly prices I mentioned, but want to try a Wingman anyway, just to see it for myself. Reading reviews and watching videos is just not the same. ...and by now I read and watched virtually everything, so the only thing left is to have one in hand.

Are there no stores close to you that carry them?
I mean, having a Rebar, Charge or Pulse I would not "downgrade" especially at those prices!

Ebay and second hand apps for smartphones might be your friends in that, here they also go for 70EUR new in stores but I've found them for 30-35 on second hand selling apps (like Craigslist but in Spain)

Through that app I found an interested buyer, and sold my Wingman to that neighbor for 30 EUR 

Well, there's a lot on ebay, but the shipping prices from the US make them almost as expensive as buying them new here, and used ones only pop up once in a blue moon on local listing/auction sites. To be honest I only remember seeing one Wingman (or Sidekick, don't remember) ever.

[pdolan]

I only have the one myself but I will let you know that they are nice tools but depending on what tools you already have and use the most then it may be a bit of a let down Don't get me wrong they are very capable tools but they were created as an entry level/budget model along with the Sidekick and Rev Also there are others here that love them and some of the features they have Just not my cup of tea I guess

           

Yeah, I'm not expecting the same feel and quality I got with my Pulse, Juice XE6, Rebar and Charge, that's exactly why I don't want to spend the silly prices I mentioned, but want to try a Wingman anyway, just to see it for myself. Reading reviews and watching videos is just not the same. ...and by now I read and watched virtually everything, so the only thing left is to have one in hand.

Are there no stores close to you that carry them?
I mean, having a Rebar, Charge or Pulse I would not "downgrade" especially at those prices!

Ebay and second hand apps for smartphones might be your friends in that, here they also go for 70EUR new in stores but I've found them for 30-35 on second hand selling apps (like Craigslist but in Spain)

Through that app I found an interested buyer, and sold my Wingman to that neighbor for 30 EUR 

I have several LM's and I love them all. But I carry the wingman more than anything else because of its size.  I am always surprised though, about the high prices in the resale market.  I broke a Wingman blade and thought I would just by used to swap, but it ended up being just a few US dollars shy of a new one.  I guess that goes to show you there is a value to investing in these, regardless of how much they appear to cost.  If I keep it in good shape, I believe I could recoup a substantial portion of my investment.  I think it is driven by LM's warranty policy.  Even if you buy a piece of junk, it may be redeemed by Leatherman

[Exeter]

I'm in! I found a used Wingman at an acceptable price so I pulled the trigger. It had some rusting at the base of the package opener and around the pivot area of the scissors, but after a trourough cleaning only some "scars",spots left which do not interfere with the functionality at all.

I got rid of the pocket clip, it was a nightmare to put the pivot back because of the spring tension, but for me the clips was useless, and I think its on the "wrong" side to be carried efficiently and comfortably in the right pocket. The knife blade had some side-to-side play but I remedied that by adding a brass washer to the top as well. The edge was factory sharp, and some light stropping made it scary sharp.

The play of the closed handles is an annoyance, especially when opening the knife one handed, but I can live with it.

As I read and watched dozens of reviews and comments, there weren't any real surprises about the quality, and I find this an okay tool, with some appealing qualities but with a couple of (design and production/fit&finish) flaws.

All in all, I'm satisfied with it, but I don't think I will ever call it my favorite MT. Anyway, my curiosity is satisfied now that I own one.

 

[pdolan]

I actually have two Wingmen.  The used one I bought several years ago is still my go to.  The newer one needs breaking in, but the older one as my EDC is just smooth and broken-in enough that I can't find the time to break in number two.  Used LM's have a lot of value.

[Poncho65]

Congrats on the new one Exeter They are great MTs in their own rite and I have both a Wingman and SideKick that gets used ever now and again

[Exeter]

Thanks Poncho!

Question to all of you guys: Does the knife get stuck on your Wingmen if the blade gets pushed too deep into its slot? On mine it does that, if the knife is closed as deep as shown on the pic below, it becomes virtually impossible to open it one handed, I'm just ripping my thumb off when trying. I try not to close it that far, but simply by just handling the tool it inevitably gets pushed down eventually. Any similar experiences?

[Poncho65]

Not thinking mine has this problem I will have to check when I get home this evening

[ThePeacent]

mine didn't have that problem when i had it, at least not that I noticed 

[Sam Lim]

Thanks Poncho!

Question to all of you guys: Does the knife get stuck on your Wingmen if the blade gets pushed too deep into its slot? On mine it does that, if the knife is closed as deep as shown on the pic below, it becomes virtually impossible to open it one handed, I'm just ripping my thumb off when trying. I try not to close it that far, but simply by just handling the tool it inevitably gets pushed down eventually. Any similar experiences?

Have u opened up the pivot on the tool side before? Or exposed it to some heat? There will be a plastic bushing/washer in between the scales and frame. It seems to be missing. Giving u lesser/tighter space for your blade.

[Exeter]

Thanks Poncho!

Question to all of you guys: Does the knife get stuck on your Wingmen if the blade gets pushed too deep into its slot? On mine it does that, if the knife is closed as deep as shown on the pic below, it becomes virtually impossible to open it one handed, I'm just ripping my thumb off when trying. I try not to close it that far, but simply by just handling the tool it inevitably gets pushed down eventually. Any similar experiences?

Have u opened up the pivot on the tool side before? Or exposed it to some heat? There will be a plastic bushing/washer in between the scales and frame. It seems to be missing. Giving u lesser/tighter space for your blade.

Thank you, thank you! You just solved this "mystery"! 

Yes, I did remove the whole panel and it must have fallen out. Strangely enough just last evening I stepped on a black plastic thingy (my carpet's black, so it was easy not to notice before), and now I know what it was. I took a look and I saw that there's one on the scissor side, so I already put it back on the knife side and now everything works perfectly!

Thanks again, superb help! 

The little smurf:

[Sam Lim]

Thanks Poncho!

Question to all of you guys: Does the knife get stuck on your Wingmen if the blade gets pushed too deep into its slot? On mine it does that, if the knife is closed as deep as shown on the pic below, it becomes virtually impossible to open it one handed, I'm just ripping my thumb off when trying. I try not to close it that far, but simply by just handling the tool it inevitably gets pushed down eventually. Any similar experiences?

Have u opened up the pivot on the tool side before? Or exposed it to some heat? There will be a plastic bushing/washer in between the scales and frame. It seems to be missing. Giving u lesser/tighter space for your blade.

Thank you, thank you! You just solved this "mystery"! 

Yes, I did remove the whole panel and it must have fallen out. Strangely enough just last evening I stepped on a black plastic thingy (my carpet's black, so it was easy not to notice before), and now I know what it was. I took a look and I saw that there's one on the scissor side, so I already put it back on the knife side and now everything works perfectly!

Thanks again, superb help! 

The little smurf:

  glad to be of help!

[Poncho65]

Nice catch Sam

I never did find mine Glad it was figured out though

[Exeter]

Wingman (Sidekick) pocket clip - why, just why?! 

I put the previously removed pocket clip back, but this annoys me to no end. I mean the placement/orientation of it. It's just the opposite of how it should be, sits much better in the left pocket than in the right.

(I'm a mixed-handed person, so this is absolutely not against lefties, but seriously, they/we are a minority, how could LM design this so bad?)

[Valkie]

Bought my first wingman 4 years ago in Canada when I was working there.
Found it a very comfortable and useful tool.

I liked it so much I bought 5 more when I came back to Australia
One for each of the brothers in law and one for my son

Later, I misplaced my tool and was lost for it
Searched everywhere, lost it good.

So I bought another and then one more to use when I'm working in marine rescue.
It's been a great tool on the boats.just have to remember to wash it regularly to get the salt off it.

Then I found the one I lost, in the wall unit where I had been using it to tighten up a screw and then put it down
Still had the screwdriver open.

I have not got a sidekick yet, perhaps later

[Gareth]

Cool stuff mate.   Glad it turned up.

[Glockfan]

      

[Valkie]

Funny story about my wingman.

Just before xmas last year, my son asked me to come around and set up his inverter on his caravan.

Id just finished running all the wires and making everything secure when the power from his house cut out and I couldnt drill into the wall to fit the socket.

Brain wave...use the inverter to power the drill, worked like a treat.

Put the drill down and grabbed the wires to trim them so I could wire up the powerpoint,

Cut into the cable and got a hit from the 240 volts from the inverter.

What happened next is difficult to describe without laughing.
My son was sitting on the bed, I was on the floor.
when I copped the hit i yelled and threw my hands away from the voltage.
the wingman flew across the floor and the point went straight into my sons big toe.
He was more concerned about me copping a charge and jumped up to see if I was ok.
He felt the knife hit his toe, but ignored it.

Only when we were trying to work out where all the blood was coming from did we discover that it had opened up his toe beautifully.
I made sure the inverter was off before I did any more work.

And why did the power from the house cut off?
His son wanted to play the play station and pulled the plug.

Life is a real laugh sometimes.

[Poncho65]

  Glad everyone is OK after all that from last year

[SteveC]

^ +1  Yikes   

[Gareth]

Funny story about my wingman.

Just before xmas last year, my son asked me to come around and set up his inverter on his caravan.

Id just finished running all the wires and making everything secure when the power from his house cut out and I couldnt drill into the wall to fit the socket.

Brain wave...use the inverter to power the drill, worked like a treat.

Put the drill down and grabbed the wires to trim them so I could wire up the powerpoint,

Cut into the cable and got a hit from the 240 volts from the inverter.

What happened next is difficult to describe without laughing.
My son was sitting on the bed, I was on the floor.
when I copped the hit i yelled and threw my hands away from the voltage.
the wingman flew across the floor and the point went straight into my sons big toe.
He was more concerned about me copping a charge and jumped up to see if I was ok.
He felt the knife hit his toe, but ignored it.

Only when we were trying to work out where all the blood was coming from did we discover that it had opened up his toe beautifully.
I made sure the inverter was off before I did any more work.

And why did the power from the house cut off?
His son wanted to play the play station and pulled the plug.

Life is a real laugh sometimes.

Hard to read without chuckling a little as well.   I hope you don't think too poorly of me.

[Valkie]

To be honest, once we cleaned up the blood and patched up his toe, we all had a good laugh.

It could have been a lot worse, and Ill bet we don't forget to turn off an inverter before we play with the wiring again, lesson learned.

Most importantly, the tool was undamaged.

This is the offending tool

[badwolf]

Leatherman Wigman black and silver. Engraved with a John Candy part quote.

[SteveC]

 

[Poncho65]

 

[vwb563]

I'm in with two Wingmans and one Sidekick.

[Poncho65]

Nice vw and welcome to