Leatherman LEAP - The next Leatherman multitool!

[Lynn LeFey]

Jothra: "Here's your test tool back"
(Jothra dumps a pile of metal and plastic fragments out of a grease stained paper bag)
 

[kirk13]

Really, I would pay money to watch that!

[Lynn LeFey]

Official word from Leatherman on whether i can get an early copy for review boils down to:

"Thank you for your interest. The tool is still being tweaked. It will be available in Summer 2014."

In essence, 'no'.

Unless you all want to start a 'Let Lynn review the tool' petition with Leatherman, I guess I've done all I could.

So, now we wait...

[rdub934]

Tweaking? Hmmm. Here is hoping for a purple or pink version and maybe an option to replace the saw with a file.

Fingers crossed...

[Lynn LeFey]

From the response... (I hope Leatherman is fine with me posting this)...

"We definitely have heard that folks are wanting to get more colors that will appeal to both boys and girls, like you mentioned.  We did research with both genders to determine what would appeal to them, which is where we came up with the three colors we’ll have available to start: red, green, and blue.  However, because so many people have asked for pink, purple, yellow, and other colors, we’ll certainly consider adding those to the lineup in the future!"

No word on replacing the saw, which was another point I mentioned in my message to them.

[rdub934]

Cool! Thanks for all the additional info Lynn! That is a bummer that they didn't hook you up with a test model for review-sake.

I don't hate the idea of having a saw on this tool, I just think a saw still represents plenty of opportunity to end up with a mangled kid. A file would be safer.

[Etherealicer]

I'm starting to like the Leap more and more, kinda grows on me.

Cool! Thanks for all the additional info Lynn! That is a bummer that they didn't hook you up with a test model for review-sake.

I don't hate the idea of having a saw on this tool, I just think a saw still represents plenty of opportunity to end up with a mangled kid. A file would be safer.

True, a file would be safer, but I doubt that I would have used a file when I was a kid. But between saw and blade you can build so many things in the forest. I also believe that safety comes from teaching the kid how to use the tool.

P.S.: I personally wrecked most havoc with screwdrivers. You know, thinking I wasn't damaging anything if I took it apart. But have you ever tried to put a mechanical clock back together?

P.P.S.: Just noticed that the Leap has a cap-lifter, now kiddies can open their own beer

[rdub934]

I'm starting to like the Leap more and more, kinda grows on me.

Cool! Thanks for all the additional info Lynn! That is a bummer that they didn't hook you up with a test model for review-sake.

I don't hate the idea of having a saw on this tool, I just think a saw still represents plenty of opportunity to end up with a mangled kid. A file would be safer.

True, a file would be safer, but I doubt that I would have used a file when I was a kid. But between saw and blade you can build so many things in the forest. I also believe that safety comes from teaching the kid how to use the tool.

P.S.: I personally wrecked most havoc with screwdrivers. You know, thinking I wasn't damaging anything if I took it apart. But have you ever tried to put a mechanical clock back together?

P.P.S.: Just noticed that the Leap has a cap-lifter, now kiddies can open their own beer

ROOT-beer

I just think LM could have hit a slightly younger target audience with a file instead of a saw. But you are correct, a saw would be more useful for a scout or while camping. At any rate, I think Leatherman is really on to something here.

[Etherealicer]

I'm starting to like the Leap more and more, kinda grows on me.

Cool! Thanks for all the additional info Lynn! That is a bummer that they didn't hook you up with a test model for review-sake.

I don't hate the idea of having a saw on this tool, I just think a saw still represents plenty of opportunity to end up with a mangled kid. A file would be safer.

True, a file would be safer, but I doubt that I would have used a file when I was a kid. But between saw and blade you can build so many things in the forest. I also believe that safety comes from teaching the kid how to use the tool.

P.S.: I personally wrecked most havoc with screwdrivers. You know, thinking I wasn't damaging anything if I took it apart. But have you ever tried to put a mechanical clock back together?

P.P.S.: Just noticed that the Leap has a cap-lifter, now kiddies can open their own beer

ROOT-beer

I just think LM could have hit a slightly younger target audience with a file instead of a saw. But you are correct, a saw would be more useful for a scout or while camping. At any rate, I think Leatherman is really on to something here.

Yes and not necessarily for children only. Now I don't know how they do that blade stunt. But think about it, you buy a frame and 4 tools of your choice, which you then can insert.

[Lynn LeFey]

And, in the event you have to go through an airport, you could, in worst case, ditch the blade, and not turn over the entire tool to the TSA, who then go on to sell it to folks on ebay.

Just sayin'.

[Etherealicer]

And, in the event you have to go through an airport, you could, in worst case, ditch the blade, and not turn over the entire tool to the TSA, who then go on to sell it to folks on ebay.

Just sayin'.

If I understood it correctly, once you put the blade in, you can't take it out anymore.

[Lynn LeFey]

I would say that I find that unlikely, but in fact, I find it impossible to believe. I think the only thing holding the blade from coming out is the liner lock. Although, I don't know this for an absolute fact.

Not supposed to come out, and not able to come out are two very different animals.

[enki_ck]

I would say that I find that unlikely, but in fact, I find it impossible to believe. I think the only thing holding the blade from coming out is the liner lock. Although, I don't know this for an absolute fact.

Not supposed to come out, and not able to come out are two very different animals.

It has screws. It will come out.

[Etherealicer]

I would say that I find that unlikely, but in fact, I find it impossible to believe. I think the only thing holding the blade from coming out is the liner lock. Although, I don't know this for an absolute fact.

Not supposed to come out, and not able to come out are two very different animals.

It has screws. It will come out.

What I was trying to say. Its not intended to come out again, though sure it will come out. BUT you cannot simply take it out at the airport security.

[Lynn LeFey]

The hole that the pivot pin runs through is not a solid piece. It's like a U-shaped piece.  Unless they've devised some super-crafty locking system, then if it slides into place (which it DOES), then other than a simple lock, like the liner lock, there's nothing from keeping it from sliding OUT again, other than whatever catches to lock it into place when it's inserted. I'm about 90% sure all that's required is to press the line lock down (or something similar) and pull the blade back out.

EDIT: Hmmm. I drew up a quick illustration of what I'm talking about, but I can't upload the image because Photobucket is borked at the moment. Soon...

More Edit:

So, here's a rough sketch...


I know for certain that's the shape of the blade, where it's inserted into the tool. You can see it clearly in some of the videos. I also know for certain there's a side liner lock, also clear in videos and picks.

I ASSUME, that the way the blade is 'locked' into the tool is simply by sliding it over the liner lock. I don't think the plastic shell is the lock, but is used to press the lock, like the way Wenger Ranger blades use a push button to move a liner lock. Put a ramp on that button, so the blade slides past in one direction and Not in the other, and you have the only thing keeping the blade in place, which could be circumvented with a light pry tool, to push the metal liner lock out of hte way, and push the flexible plastic of the scale up.

I don't know it to be fact, but I'd bet on it, if i had to.

Sorry about the rough sketch. I'm in the middle of making dinner.

[Etherealicer]

You need to prevent the blade from sliding away from the opening (see arrow). And this has to hold true for a 180° rotation. Now I'm not an engineer but I imagine it would be simplest to make a groove into the blade (red marking) and then have a pin moving in the groove. So while it might be held there by a simple spring, question is, how easy is this spring accessible?

A little more complicated would be if the pin was not spring loaded, but the blade itself would hold it in place. I also attached a sketch of this mechanism, though I think that would be way to complicated.

[Etherealicer]

Oh I just found the best pic I have seen of the blade so far on THIS page:

My guess is that the hole in the blade is where the pin goes in, then the pin rotates with the blade.


Also a Quote from that page:

“The knife blade actually comes unassembled, so the knife blade is not installed when you buy the tool, so that when you decide that the kid is ready, you install the knife blade,” Boatman said. “It’s one-time install and it’s in forever.”

[Lynn LeFey]

That hole in the blade is just where the dimple in the liner goes to hold the blade shut. You can see that hole in the picture when the blade is open on the page you linked.

EDIT: However, the lower picture pretty clearly shows a ramp on the blade "U" itself, which I guess is where it's locked.

[ducttapetech]

Something is going on. It looks like the blade would fall out of the tool when open.

that's us mobile

[enki_ck]

Something is going on. It looks like the blade would fall out of the tool when open.

that's us mobile

Yeah.   Now I wanna see the lock without the scales covering it. I'm intrigued. With a regular liner lock the blade would just slide out.

[Gareth]

I notice that the bottom of the 'u' seems to be slightly wider than the top.  I wonder if the pivot somehow expands to fill the space, or perhaps is shaped to stop it coming away again?

[Syph007]

Ya it looks like a click on the pivot type of system.  That phrase on forever I take as a challenge... Id buy one just to examine the thing, or give it Ti or alox handles just for fun. 

[Gareth]

Ya it looks like a click on the pivot type of system.  That phrase on forever I take as a challenge... Id buy one just to examine the thing, or give it Ti or alox handles just for fun. 

that's the easy answer I suppose.   That being the case I guess it could come out again, just not easily.

[Lynn LeFey]

Right. Only one way to settle this.

We need to send in the MTO Super Secret Ninja Team into Leatherman HQ, to acquire one for close examination.

I mean... we DO have a Super Secret Ninja Team... right?

[enki_ck]

Well if we talked about it in the open forum it wouldn't be Super Secret anymore, now would it?

[ducttapetech]

Mto can neither comfirm or deny the existence of the secert MTO Tactical Deployment Squad Or the Secret Ninja Assault Teams.
Nor can we comment on the use or the deployment of the Punshment Chicken.

that's us mobile

[Etherealicer]

Mto can neither comfirm or deny the existence of the secert MTO Tactical Deployment Squad Or the Secret Ninja Assault Teams.
Nor can we comment on the use or the deployment of the Punshment Chicken.

that's us mobile

Wait, no Space Pirate Amazon Ninja Catgirls?

[kirk13]

Can we at least send the Mall Ninja?

[ducttapetech]

Mto can neither comfirm or deny the existence of the secert MTO Tactical Deployment Squad Or the Secret Ninja Assault Teams.
Nor can we comment on the use or the deployment of the Punshment Chicken.

that's us mobile

Wait, no Space Pirate Amazon Ninja Catgirls?

Where did you hear that at? That is classified information.

that's us mobile

[Lynn LeFey]

Yeah... uhhh... I was put in charge of getting the Space Pirate Amazon Ninja Catgirls, and... well...

All I could get were Spaced Out Pyrite Niki Minaj lookalikes in Catsuits... from Amazon.com.

I blame the search engine.

Sorry.