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Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?

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gb Offline PST0500

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Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?
on: May 03, 2025, 12:03:17 AM
Hi all,

Just thought I would post a little story.... :) Almost 10 years ago, I got my first Leatherman of my very own - a May 2000 dated PST (hence my username). But I didn't go and buy it from a store, and it wasn't given to me either. I actually found it!

Near to my local area is a military training site, which has public access (only blank ammunition is fired, so there's nothing particularly dangerous when walking around the site). Every so often, the landowners of the site start deliberate controlled fires to keep down the vegetation and encourage regrowth, etc. These fires reveal a lot of old brass cartridge cases that have been built up over many decades of military training, but occasionally, something a little more interesting can be found...

This was exactly how I found the Leatherman back in June 2015. :D






The handles could open immediately after I picked it up. Once I got home and cleaned it, only the pliers needed a tiny squirt of WD-40, but it literally only took a minute to free it. All of the tools opened flawlessly (although a little stiff!) first time. From what I could tell, there was almost no wear whatsoever on any of the tools, not even a scratch on the screwdrivers or pliers. Going by this, I assume it was lost when it was brand new.

So, it sat outside in the ground for over 10, nearly 15 years, then it survived a fire when the vegetation around it was burnt. It's been in my pocket and used every single day for the last 10 years since I found it, and the only 'problem' in that time was the smallest screwdriver chipped on the corner after using it. It was only a tiny chip, which was easily filed square again. It looks like a brand new penny, works perfectly, and you'd never would have thought that it spent the first decade of its life in the dirt!






Now that is a quality tool.  Thanks Leatherman!  :salute:  8)

Best regards,

Simon

us Offline FolderBeholder

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Re: Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?
Reply #1 on: May 03, 2025, 12:51:38 AM
 :like:
Wow, great testament to the quality of Leatherman.  I bet they'd like to know this story.  :hatsoff:
Rest in peace ColoSwiss, you will always be remembered.
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us Offline Barry Rowland

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Re: Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?
Reply #2 on: May 03, 2025, 12:52:51 AM
Simon, I agree with you completely.  I've said it before on here: I could have stopped with a PST and not needed anything else.  That cleaned up well!
Barry
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Offline kaevin

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Re: Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?
Reply #3 on: May 03, 2025, 01:22:21 AM
That looks really great.  :multi: You did give it a little polish and it works out well
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us Offline LoopCutter

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Re: Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?
Reply #4 on: May 03, 2025, 03:08:59 PM
They are a durable tool.

Abuse will break it, it is not a HEAVY DUTY tool as the Super Tool line up.  But the PST will deliver performance if applied against common sense.

All of mine, 7, I recall, date prior to yours, as they have no date codes.   Except PST II, 0298 in both handles.

Acquired each used via Auction site, no issues, except usually without the sheath.

So yes, the PST is pretty close to being bomb proof.
If I start and end the day above ground, it is a good day!

Hope yours is as good!

A SMART man always knows what to say!
   A WISE man knows whether or not to say it!!!
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us Offline JonesE

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Re: Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?
Reply #5 on: May 03, 2025, 08:24:00 PM
Simon, Thanks for sharing your great story of how you found your PST. You did an incredible job of bringing it back to new condition. It just goes to show that with a little care and a bit of effort these tools will last many lifetimes.  :hatsoff:

JonesE
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us Offline Poncho65

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Re: Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?
Reply #6 on: May 04, 2025, 01:59:49 AM
 :o Cleaned up great :salute: :like: :like:
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us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?
Reply #7 on: May 04, 2025, 05:11:14 AM
If one only saw the after photo, one may never guess that PST was consigned to an indignant fate. I wonder why it wound up in that spot. Nice to see it went to an appreciative onwer! :salute:
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gr Offline ReamerPunch

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Re: Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?
Reply #8 on: May 04, 2025, 05:39:04 PM
That is just amazing, and it cleaned up so nicely! Fantastic job! :hatsoff:
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us Online IMR4198

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Re: Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?
Reply #9 on: May 04, 2025, 06:47:45 PM
Nice restoration.  It takes a long time for a sheath to get in that condition.  It's miraculous that the tool was in such good shape.  Since you already have several PSTs, it might be easier to find a beater PST that you could use to salvage parts from.  Who knows?  You might need some other pieces one day.  Best wishes.  G
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gb Offline PST0500

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Re: Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?
Reply #10 on: May 05, 2025, 12:50:05 AM
Thanks guys, thought you would find it interesting! It cleaned up super well, much better than I thought it would. I mean, who's going to put their cherished Leatherman in the dirt for 15 years as a 'stress test' to see how it holds up. lol.
 It was really just a light scrub in the sink with soapy water and a tooth brush, and a copper brush on the pliers. I give it a little polish with metal polish about once a year, just the keep down the slight scratches from use, but I try not to overdo it with that.

Quote from: Farmer X on May 04, 2025, 05:11:14 AM
If one only saw the after photo, one may never guess that PST was consigned to an indignant fate. I wonder why it wound up in that spot. Nice to see it went to an appreciative onwer! :salute:

I think it was an unfortunate loss for the original owner, which was probably a recruit while wading through the vegetation. Which begs the question - As the tool was still in its original sheath, why didn't they secure it on their belt? ???

Quote from: FolderBeholder on May 03, 2025, 12:51:38 AM
:like:
Wow, great testament to the quality of Leatherman.  I bet they'd like to know this story.  :hatsoff:

I did post it on Twitter some years ago. I sometimes post things that I find at the military training site, mainly the WW2 artefacts that I find. I posted it, and I didn't think much else of it, then a few hours later I saw Leatherman's official Twitter account shared it! There's only so much you can type in a 'tweet', but was cool that they saw it. :)

Best regards,

Simon


se Offline J2000E

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Re: Ever wondered JUST how durable your PST is?
Reply #11 on: May 05, 2025, 02:18:38 PM
Wonderful story of how it got to you, nice of you to try to find its original owner (edit - posting it online) - and I am happy you got to keep it.
« Last Edit: May 05, 2025, 02:52:09 PM by J2000E »

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