Gerber Dime is here

[Grant Lamontagne]

I probably shouldn't rub this in given the recent update in the Group Buy thread but I couldn't really help myself. I purchased the sales sample Dime from jchan and it arrived this afternoon and I decided to get a pic posted as quickly as possible for everyone's enjoyment.

I'm going to use this one a bit and try and get a review posted as soon as possible. So far my initial impression hasn't changed from my SHOT impressions and I think this looms like a good little tool.

Def

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[Grant Lamontagne]

Oops, forgot the picture!

Def

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[sawman]

Soon to be available at a Target near you?  I'm most interested in how the scissors work.  IMO, if those aren't up to par, then it's not for me.

[AimlessWanderer]

I probably shouldn't rub this in given the recent update in the Group Buy thread but I couldn't really help myself. I purchased the sales sample Dime from jchan and it arrived this afternoon and I decided to get a pic posted as quickly as possible for everyone's enjoyment.

I'm going to use this one a bit and try and get a review posted as soon as possible. So far my initial impression hasn't changed from my SHOT impressions and I think this looms like a good little tool.

Def

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

Grant, as it's a sales sample is it liable to be a pre-production model?
Just wondering if it will be a true reflection of the tool us mere mortals will receive 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Justin (the original owner) posted pics of it along side a production version and there were some slight differences:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,35514.0.html

Any other comments I could make are kind of pointless as I have yet to obtain a "real" one.

Def

[Gareth]

Look forward to your further thoughts Boss.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Look forward to your further thoughts Boss.

How about some further pictures? 



Here's a group shot of most of the key chain plier tools I have.  I didn't include the Clutch since it's pretty well the same as the Mini Suspension.



Plier wise the SOG CrossGrip has everything else beat, but sadly there isn't much inside the handles that can keep it in the running with most of the others.



You can see they are better made and more refined than the previous generation plier head.  No leftover parts here!



Paring it down to a direct comparison with the current top of the keychain tool heap, and the one everyone was asking about, here's how the pliers on the PS4 stack up.  Not too good- the Dime opens much wider.  Point Dime.





The blades are comparable, but the Squirt's is a tiny bit longer, so I'm going to give this point to Leatherman  For me personally I think the robust tip of the Dime is more favorable, but the Squirt has a slightly longer cutting surface.  This one is close, but it's a point for the Squirt.







If you didn't see the scissors right next to eachother like this you'd swear they were the same.  That having been said though you can see that the Dime has a slot cut on the backside to act as a stop and the jaws open wider, so the Dime gets this one.



For screwdrivers I am going to call it a tie.  The slightly bigger flathead on the Dime is slightly better than the flathead on the Squirt, but the slightly bigger phillips/eyeglass screwdriver on the Dime loses out by a similar narrow margin to the Squirt.  The score is now 3 for the Dime and 2 for the PS4.



Nothing here needs to be said.  Point for the Dime.



To even get in the same class of bottle opener you need a different Leatherman, and even then I think the Dime has it beaten, but I'll do some testing later on to verify.  Either way, the only way Leatherman will get this point back is if the Dime bursts into flames while I try and open a beer.





It looks pretty close so let's move on to the next implement- the clam pack opener.  Gerber's is better simply because the Squirt is out of tools.  It's actually the same design as the Octane's so it may have even won if Leatherman had one.  Either that or the Leatherman version would have to have an optically controlled laser cutting system.  Another one for the Dime.



Lastly we have the tweezers, and the best the Squirt can counter with is.... a folding lanyard ring?  This makes the total 7 points for the Dime, and 3 for the Squirt, and if I went on a purely personal preference tally it would be 8-2 as I would have scored the blade for the Dime as well.

Of course, this is all still preliminary- I will update this as the Dime gets a few miles on it.

Def

[Gareth]

OK, so now you've got me truly drooling over the thought of getting my Dime.

[AimlessWanderer]

For sure 

I've got to agree a preference on the Dime blade too (from the photo's at least).
Overall it just looks a better tool too

[Grant Lamontagne]

It looks like something got messed up when I was posting.  I forgot the clam pack opener picture:



And the part about me awarding points to Leatherman for the files is missing.  I could have sworn I typed that in, saying that the surface of the Gerber seems slightly better but is no match for the length of the Leatherman.

Def

[Syph007]

I'm still not sure what to think about the dime, still waiting for more fellow MTO'ers reviews.

So far all I know is that...

5 x



=

[Gareth]

While I'm certainly a Gerber fan, I do have to admit that I've always preferred my keyring sized Leatherman's to any of the Gerber offerings I've owned or handled.  The Clutch was good, especially for the price, but the Squirt is better IMO.  Now it looks like Gerber might have just gone one better.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I was never a fan of the original Squirts and to b honest, while I can appreciate the PS4 for what it is, it just doesn't seem like an "it" type tool.  It's nice, it has a lot of good points, but to be honest I just can't get on with it.

The Dime on the other hand is pretty sweet.

Def

[Beerplumber]

I'm surprised with how you feel aboot the bottle opener. While the style CS is not even close to being as good as its big bro the skele I really like the push down design of the skele/style. I like the style's opener better than anything else I've found on a keychain tool so far so I'm pretty stoked if the dime really one-ups the competition. If you get around to testing Grant can you compare to the style instead of the squirt? Also what was the news on the group buy I missed the update? Damn I'm excited! Other than the bottle opener the style CS I carry leaves me wanting something better!


Stay multi my friends

[Grant Lamontagne]

Check the Group Buy thread- that's where the update is.

I won't even bother trying the Squirt bottle opener.  I have tried it before, and to be honest it's not worth the effort to try again.  It's poo.  The Style on the other hand may be a contender.  I just opened a beer with the Dime and it actually worked better than a lot of full size multitool bottle openers, and about as good as a dedicated bottle opener.  It's pretty sweet.

I'll open my next drink with the Style and see how it compares.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

I just opened a beer with the Style.  No contest, game set and match to Gerber.

They have come a LONG way in bottle opener designs.

Def

[scattergun13]

Great comparison and review Boss. Looking forward to getting mine thanks to Travis. Well done to both of you.
Stew and Ajo...

[Grant Lamontagne]

No problem man- as I always say, those who can, do.  Those who can't, teach.  Those that can't even do that start websites and criticize everyone else! 

Def

[MultiMat]

I had wondered about your take on the files , the Squirts although small is usable the Dime's looks kinda ornamental  .

That said I can not wait for my green Dime to arrive  .

Def have you found any 'cheapness' in your Dime  , I can not believe the bang for your buck you appear to get with the Dime 

[Grant Lamontagne]

The Dime file is functional for your fingernails or as a match striker, but that's about it.  Build quality is about 98% of the Leatherman Squirt.  That may be a false estimation based on the Leatherman looking a lot cleaner without the fancy handle design, protruding screws etc.  Again, anything can look good "out of the box" so we'll see for sure in the coming weeks.

BTW, as I was posting above I felt I may have been talking out of my rump when I said it could be used as a match striker, so I just tested it and a few others out.  It took some technique, but I did manage to get the match to light on the first strike with the Dime, although it was a bit more difficult than the files on the Wenger Swiss Clipper, Leatherman Squirt PS4, Gerber Mini Suspension and the small strip on the back of the hook on a Victorinox Compact.  I used Red Bird brand strike anywhere matches.

The Vic took a few strikes as well due to the thickness of the file and the Mini Suspension was the best due to the large, wide file surface on it. 

In short, the Dime will work, just make sure you have a few matches to practice on as you may end up wearing off the "strike anywhere" part of the match on the Dime trying to get it figured out!

Def

[MultiMat]

Coool  .
I had concerns that the Dime's pricing might of put it into the Schrade/Taylor's build quality league .

Really hoping the full production versions maintain the same quality 

[Grant Lamontagne]

No, it is a darn site better than Schrade. 

That having been said, there is the possibility that since this is a pre-production version there may be some downslide by the time the production version was finalized.  As we saw from JChan's thread, there were some changes made to the tool.  I doubt very much that the quality would have dropped off, and not to a significant amount if it did, but this is a well made little tool.

If it was crap I'd happily call is crap, but on paper it's a better tool (more and better functions- see above) than the Squirt, and in person it's a better tool than it appears on paper.

Def

[Beerplumber]

I just opened a beer with the Style.  No contest, game set and match to Gerber.

They have come a LONG way in bottle opener designs.

Def

That's good news! I think a decent cap lifter is important on a keychain tool. I like the 'biner set-up of the style CS for quick disconnect from the keys but that's about it. Bring on the Dime!


Stay multi my friends

[Eciton82]

The main problem with the Dime I've got is that it's stiff enough to tear fingernails off! But other than the fact that I can't open the tools without mechanical assistance, I love it

[sawman]

If the scissors work well to cut fingernails then I'm in... Any way you might test that for us Boss?

[Grant Lamontagne]

The main problem with the Dime I've got is that it's stiff enough to tear fingernails off! But other than the fact that I can't open the tools without mechanical assistance, I love it

That's a warranty issue if it doesn't let up.  Mine is nowhere near being a nail ripper, although the flathead is a little on the stiff side. Not significantly, but since you mentioned it...

If the scissors work well to cut fingernails then I'm in... Any way you might test that for us Boss?

Give me a few days on that- I just trimmed mine yesterday or the day before. 

Def

[jzmtl]

I actually prefer scissors without stops, just so I can sharpen the dang thing.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Good point- I really hadn't thought that far along with this tool yet.

Def

[DeezNittles]

Do you have a weight on the Dime? is it too heavy/bulky for keychain carry? I'm hunt for a keychain multi with a good bottle opener.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I just dug out my scale to answer this question.  I have the Squirt PS4 weighing in at 56.2g (1.98oz) and the Dime is slightly heavier at 66.2g (2.34oz).

I wouldn't say it's too heavy for keychain carry, but then everyone has their own opinion of what the right weight is.

Def