Buck Xtract

Grant Lamontagne · **on:** February 16, 2012, 03:01:37 AM

While I am not a huge fan of the XTract, it does see the odd bit of action, and I can still appreciate the good ideas that went into designing and building it.

The plastic handles and fold out tools sort of remind you of a Swiss Army knife, but with the number of functions I have to think that a SAK would be about 1/4 of the size of the XTract. This thing is amazingly bulky for what you get.

One of the good points is that you get a very large, substantial blade, which is something most multitools are missing. It's not a great blade, but it's one handed opening and locks open reasonably solidly, so it's good enough.

The pliers strike me as next to useless- they aren't tiny enough for needlenose work and they are too flimsy feeling for any heavy work. The whole thing is cast and always seemed like they would only be good for picking up screws that fell in a crack or just a bit further behind the couch than your fingers can reach. Anything even moderate I feel would either break the head or the handle. Still, they slide out nicely and lock into place, and might not be too bad for pulling a hook out of a fish's mouth.

The sliding screwdriver is another concept I like, and while there are some clearance issues, this does have at least a medium amount of reach for a multitool. Not great in the screwdriver world, but pretty respectable in the multitool world. Slide it out one side and get a flathead, slide it out the other way and get a Phillips.

Last up is the one handed opening, liner locking can opener- ok, I understand there may be a need for a lock on a can opener, and I suppose everything else is one handed opening, so why not the can opener too, right? It seems silly to me, like they thought you may need to deploy it quickly while under attack from some canned goods gone bad. Ok, it's silly, but it's functional enough so I'll give it to them. Still, I'd rather have seen a Victorinox style bottle opener with the large flathead on it, then give us two different sized Phillips drivers on the slider, but that's just me.

All in all it's not a bad tool for the $25-30 it's going for. It's worth picking up in that range, but not at the $40 full retail I picked mine up for. Given the choice, in that price range I think I'd take the Zilla since it offers a standard 1/4" bit driver (perfect for us Canadians and all the Robertson screws we encounter) and much more solid pliers. Still, the XTract should handle most things well enough- not great enough to write home about but worth carrying if you are looking for a reasonably priced multitool.

Def

Dunc · **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2012, 03:37:06 AM

O you know I've never seen one of these in the flesh , I think I'm going to have to give one a try . Photos are coming along nicely too

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2012, 03:40:25 AM

Yup, a bit on the dark side, but passable I suppose. The new light tent is slightly larger than the old one and that seems to make a difference.

Def

Dunc · **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2012, 03:43:06 AM

I know nothing about light tents but would a bigger light help ?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2012, 03:45:00 AM

I know nothing about light tents either, but I think it has to do with the angle the lights are aimed at reflecting differently on this one than the old one if that makes any sense. I'll do some more experimenting over the next little while, that is, if you guys don't mind looking at the results!

Def

Dunc · **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2012, 03:58:20 AM

As long as there a multitool or SAK in the shot we'll look at your photos all day

tosh · **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2012, 04:15:26 AM

Could it be the opacity of the light tent material ?

Would using higher powered lights work or bringing them in closer to the tent?

Or metering for the ambient light as well as the fill flash? - increasing exposure time.

Just a thought.

By the way, I ordered the same knife about 4wks ago - c'mon postie get to it!

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2012, 04:19:52 AM

I have no idea, but I will spend a lot of time figuring it out, just like I did with the last light tent!

Def

edcgear · **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2012, 09:23:10 AM

I had an X model (732) with scissors instead of bottle/can opener, and I was very pleased with that one!!

Now you got me wanting that one again!

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2012, 09:34:06 AM

I'd agree on the bulk to tool ratio being on the poor side, also with the small pliers. I traded mine away. I do like the driver concept though. I almost bought an X-Tract Essesntial a while back to try that instead, but decided the big liner locking blade wasn't for me anyway so it would have been a waste of money.

MultiMat · **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2012, 02:38:18 PM

Yep I look at my X's linner locking can opener & go

, it does make me smile though

.

I think the X with scissors instead of the can opener would of been a better bet for me

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2012, 02:52:42 PM

As with many tools nowadays it seems designers don't pay attention to what they are doing. They think that a multitool is just a selection of components bolted to a pair of pliers, and that simply isn't the case. While some (many) admittedly are just a bunch of functions bolted together, the better ones actually have some thought going into the design of the whole tool. This is what made tools like the Spirit and Skeletool so revolutionary, as every piece on them is seamlessly connected to all the other pieces to create one great tool with many functions rather than a bunch of tools bolted together.

There are lots of great tools that fit into that category, and many of them don't last long simply because the designers don't think about how components can compliment each other rather than just accommodating each other. Maybe that's a distinction that only crazies like us would make, but since crazies like us buy a lot of tools it still goes to show that there's something to it.

Def

badwolf · **Reply #12 on:** February 16, 2012, 07:52:32 PM

Not sure why but the pic with the pliers out is not showing for me so I added it here

Interesting tool, would like to have a play with one

Heinz Doofenshmirtz · **Reply #13 on:** February 16, 2012, 09:34:54 PM

Nice review boss!

I've toyed with the idea of getting a Fin, because I have to have scissors to find my tools truly useful, but I've shied away from an X-tract because of the bulkiness of them. Seems like your impressions are right in line with what I was thinking about them...

I've got enough tools that I don't need to run out and buy one of these, but it would be nice to have a Fin for my toolbox, or my fishing box.

Gareth · **Reply #14 on:** February 16, 2012, 10:59:13 PM

I got to play with one a couple of years back and I have to say I was pretty impressed with the quality.

While it's not a tool that appeals to me, I'd certainly say it was worth a play with if someone was interested.

I also think there must be a case for this being the first ever MT that is all OHO (you listening to that LM?

).

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #15 on:** February 16, 2012, 11:53:46 PM

Unless you are a lefty, in which case you can open the pliers and screwdrivers, but you are out of luck if you want to open the blade or a can. Apparently lefties can't be trusted with sharp things according to Buck and Leatherman!

Def

dks · **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2012, 03:05:55 PM

It is a funny tool.
On mine I get the feeling that when using the blade if I squeeze hard, the linerlock will be pushed and disengage...

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2012, 03:13:57 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on February 16, 2012, 11:53:46 PM

Unless you are a lefty, in which case you can open the pliers and screwdrivers, but you are out of luck if you want to open the blade or a can. Apparently lefties can't be trusted with sharp things according to Buck and Leatherman!

Def

Quite right too!

dks · **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2012, 03:46:24 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on February 17, 2012, 03:13:57 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on February 16, 2012, 11:53:46 PM
Unless you are a lefty, in which case you can open the pliers and screwdrivers, but you are out of luck if you want to open the blade or a can. Apparently lefties can't be trusted with sharp things according to Buck and Leatherman!

Def

Quite right too!

I though that was a political decision......

Beerplumber · **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2012, 06:39:05 PM

I looked at one just the other day. I kept turning it over looking for more tools. I'd be all over it if the tool to size ratio was but more sane.

Stay multi my friends

Gareth · **Reply #20 on:** February 17, 2012, 07:20:38 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on February 17, 2012, 03:13:57 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on February 16, 2012, 11:53:46 PM
Unless you are a lefty, in which case you can open the pliers and screwdrivers, but you are out of luck if you want to open the blade or a can. Apparently lefties can't be trusted with sharp things according to Buck and Leatherman!

Def

Quite right too!

Oi!

OK, you may have a point

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #21 on:** February 17, 2012, 07:58:52 PM

Quote from: Gareth on February 17, 2012, 07:20:38 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on February 17, 2012, 03:13:57 PM
Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on February 16, 2012, 11:53:46 PM
Unless you are a lefty, in which case you can open the pliers and screwdrivers, but you are out of luck if you want to open the blade or a can. Apparently lefties can't be trusted with sharp things according to Buck and Leatherman!

Def

Quite right too!
Oi!

OK, you may have a point

Sparky415 · **Reply #22 on:** February 17, 2012, 08:48:56 PM

Quote from: Dunc on February 16, 2012, 03:37:06 AM

O you know I've never seen one of these in the flesh , I think I'm going to have to give one a try . Photos are coming along nicely too

Quote from: badwolf on February 16, 2012, 07:52:32 PM

Not sure why but the pic with the pliers out is not showing for me so I added it here
(Image removed from quote.)
Interesting tool, would like to have a play with one

There might be one at this years Meet

Its cool to be a lefty

powerring · **Reply #23 on:** February 18, 2012, 12:31:35 AM

Try the Xtract Essential for a version that's lighter (4.4 oz.) and thinner, if you don't need the pliers. I love the scissors on it. Think of it as a nice knife for the price with some extras.

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