Worried about possibly fake XTI

Agent X68 · **on:** October 22, 2011, 03:57:46 AM

I bought an XTI on ebay from a person who is the 2nd owner. What concerns me is the misalignment of the 154CM stamp, the lack of a gap between the R and the circle on the scales, the what look like drill holes beneath the blades, and the 0211 and 0711 date stamp. That means Feb and July of 2011, right?
Pics:
Misaligned stamp

Lack of gap between R and circle

"Drill Holes"

Date stamps

What do you guys think?

Sazabi · **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2011, 04:00:31 AM

The date code differences happen; no worry over that. Also, the R is probably due to die wear. Beyond that, I guess the 154CM stamp machine was slightly misaligned to the blades, and I have no clue about the drill mark on the blade. To be fair, though, I think it looks neat. ^^;

J-sews · **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2011, 04:06:01 AM

I'm certain your Charge is authentic Agent

The small R-gap is from a little more material being ground off the face of the titanium cast scale. And the drill hole is on all Charges and Waves. It's where the detent bump on the liner lock engages.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2011, 04:06:48 AM

I don't think it's a fake- it looks like a Monday morning or Friday afternoon tool at worst, but I'd guess it is legit.

Def

Agent X68 · **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2011, 04:07:31 AM

@Sazabi, my concern over the date stamps is that they retired the XTI in 2010 i believe and this date stamp says it was made in 2011.

J-sews · **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2011, 04:10:25 AM

Quote from: Agent X68 on October 22, 2011, 04:07:31 AM

@Sazabi, my concern over the date stamps is that they retired the XTI in 2010 i believe and this date stamp says it was made in 2011.

Hmmm, good point. Maybe it was sent in for warranty work, and they used some newer replacement parts?

Agent X68 · **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2011, 04:14:12 AM

Quote from: J-sews on October 22, 2011, 04:10:25 AM

Quote from: Agent X68 on October 22, 2011, 04:07:31 AM
@Sazabi, my concern over the date stamps is that they retired the XTI in 2010 i believe and this date stamp says it was made in 2011.

Hmmm, good point. Maybe it was sent in for warranty work, and they used some newer replacement parts?

Maybe, but the scales are the old LEATHERMAN "R" CHARGE "R", instead of the new LEATHERMAN "R" CHARGE "TM" scales.

Accujohn · **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2011, 04:56:17 AM

Could have also been slapped together by someone with extra parts

stack · **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2011, 05:32:24 AM

I think your tool may be refurbished. I believe the xti was discontinued in 2007. The xti also had a pat. pend. stamp on the outside of the frame. The xti and ti had problem's with the peg inside the handle. They would bend when you closed the tool and the plier head would press against it. Soon the peg would break. The newer tool (TTI) corrected this problem as the peg in the handle was much thicker. I think you may have a xti with a tti frame. Perhaps a warranty repair. I have a ti also with the tti frame. I use this tool and keep a standard ti in the collection. I do think it is a leatherman tool and not a fake.

Crouton · **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2011, 10:22:28 PM

The issue with the scales is common in my opinion. Every TTi I've ever had exhbited some small variance in the amount of relief of the "leatherman® Charge®" on he scales. The one I have with now is much more defined on one side than the other. The hole in the "a" in Charge is almost missing

I think this happens at Leatherman when it is buffed or grinded during manufacturing.

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