Leatherman Signal - is LM making a survival multi?

[hiraethus]

Charge blade, Wave file and a large flat driver instead of the can opener please.

[babola]

The real question is, how can it be modded? 

It took me about 5 seconds to find the first thing to mod on it...the awl!  That misshapen thing begs to be re-profiled and modded to something actually more usable and attractive looking. 

the first thing I did was look at the pivot area on the blade to see if it can be easily swapped with one of the current 154CM or S30V Charge blades.

That should be a drop-in swap, I believe. Let's hope   If it is, TTC will run out of spare parts stock pretty fast 

[Breezy12]

The real question is, how can it be modded? 

It took me about 5 seconds to find the first thing to mod on it...the awl!  That misshapen thing begs to be re-profiled and modded to something actually more usable and attractive looking. 

the first thing I did was look at the pivot area on the blade to see if it can be easily swapped with one of the current 154CM or S30V Charge blades.

That should be a drop-in swap, I believe. Let's hope   If it is TTC will run out of spare parts stock pretty fast 

I had the same thought.

[Kampfer]

I will buy one

[Syncop8r]

There is more modding potential with the pivot at the bottom than Skeletool, MUT.
I can't agree with having a bit driver on an outdoor tool.

Otherwise, although it's not quite what I would want in a "survival tool", I am looking forward to seeing it in all it's glory...

[Etherealicer]

So, on second thoughts:

There is too much plierhead: Pliers might be useful in the wilderness but I would rather go with something smaller, similar to fishing pliers.
Bit-Holder: Considering they have integrated whistle / fire-starter etc. so you don't have to carry anything else. In that light a bit-holder makes no sense.
Can opener: NOOOOOOOOOOO
Serrations: Serrated blades are great, but more difficult to sharpen. I think if the diamond-file is intended for sharpening a non-serrated blade would have been a better combination.

In a survival tool, I would like to see at least some thought about first-aid. Scissors? Rescue Blade?
I think its too much focused on screws (bit holder / pliers), rather than more primitive building with rope / string. Marlin Spike? Extreme needle-nose pliers?

[Kampfer]

Only two outside tools, kinda like sidekick's setup.
+
Two bottle openers

[JPS_]

Size comparison:

[DazMechanical]

Only two outside tools, kinda like sidekick's setup.
+
Two bottle openers

Yep,  that's the first thing I thought! A New Sidekick

[AimlessWanderer]

Only two outside tools, kinda like sidekick's setup.
+
Two bottle openers

  Never spotted that

Quick thought ... this SHOULD be a fair bit cheaper than a Wave:
Half the number of outside blades.
Few inside tools (and simple ones at that).
Less assembly time

On the flip side - extra costs:
A minimalistic (much thinner and less surface area plastic mounted) diamond file
A metallic tasting  plastic whistle
That carabiner/hammer farce

What do you reckon? 70-80% of a Wave in terms of cost?

[BIG-TARGET]

To me,the only negative is the handle/chasis should be Hunter orange or "roadcrew"safety yellow(if dropped it can be found again).
On the positive, I'm happy about the can openner!!  Since there have been times, in the woods, I would have killed for a can opener!!!

[hellsing]

Maybe there is other blade, I hope scissor will be present, and we know there is a file. We need more pics. But for the price I hope you re right!

[Lichtbote]

First: I wouldn´t call myself a "Leatherman fan", but i´m definately generally more LM-fan than Gerber-fan. Due to the tools i own/owned from both companies.

I´m just a strong fan of some of the LM tools (Surge/OHT/Skeletool), and only a liker of less of the Gerber tools - but under the line i base my decision on each tool on it´s own, not on the brand. Most tools of both brands i don´t like (for my personal use, i´m no collector), esspecially the MUT is a complete NoGo for me.


While i like the look of the Signal, i probably will not buy one. From what we know now, i don´t think it´s a bad tool, it´s just that i don´t think its capable of anything i might need that my existing tools don´t (I ignore the firestarter/whistle thing). I don´t really believe in "survival needs MTs", and for outdoor activities i would use my slighly modded OHT, as i would prefer it´s 2 single serrated/plain edges over having just one partial serrated.

While i like the carbine of the Signal, i see no real use for such a tiny and brittle hammer and the included nut. Give it a massive hammer that can drive a good sized nail in wood ..... or leave it.

Tool load always depends on your activity - so i see the pliers differ on their useability from person to person. Going out on a light hiking you maybe only need a small plier head to fix small things on your fishing gear, or for pulling fishbones out of your catched trout. But if you are going out to trap some animals you might have a use for the slighly bigger pliers to fix stuff on your traps or cut wire for traps.

Can opener - something i don´t need on my "tool" MTs (those i use to fix stuff, like my Surge), but i would want it on a dedicated outdoor MT, as there are enough cans without a opening system build in.

Screwdrivers - while i love the bitholder on my "tool-MTs", i would be afraid of loosing the bits outdoor. So i would prefer them to be fixed for an outdoor MT.

File - i don´t see the need for fine woodworking outdoor, so no woodfile is needed, the knife is good enough for any needed shapes. But a diamond coated file is good for (re-)sharpening any knife or axe, so i call that usefull.

I´m no big awl-user, but this seems stubby and wide. On the other hand nothing a light reshape can´t handle.


Altogether i call it (with todays knowledge) a good outdoor MT, which can be better with some mods to each persons own needs. I still prefer my OHT, but if i would be MT-less and start looking for one for outdoor activity, i would consider the Signal a capable one.

It would depend on the price, and the quality of the feel and handling.

Thanks for everyone that reads all my long blablabla up to the end. 

[Chako]

Am I seeing that correctly? Did they just mate a fire steel to a whistle?!?!

 

[TheDude]

Looks OK. But I thought it would be bigger. If its roughly the size of a Wave. They are cutting there own throats if it cost more than a Wave.
And Oh! S.I.G.N.A.L.

[NKlamerus]

I'm really excited. My current EDC doesn't have a saw. I think this might replace my skeletool as a edc pocket carry.

[glorn]

Fire Whistle!

 


 

[JAfromMn]

I got to take more time to look at it but I like what I've seen so far.

I like it.

My first thought is I wish it was more mut based.

I don't know.  It reminds me of a wingman  for some reason.
 

[sawman]

Same here, I'm digging it so far.

[NKlamerus]

Anyone see if it has a pocket clip anywhere?

[Crow]

Fire Whistle!

 


 

Yea. You blow it, and it spits sparks...

[glorn]

The Signal also comes complete with traditional Leatherman features like pliers, can opener, saw, awl, and removable pocket clip. In addition, it includes popular features like a hammer, replaceable wire cutters, diamond-coated file, and bit driver.

Sounds like there is one.

[glorn]

Fire Whistle!

 


 

Yea. You blow it, and it spits sparks...

Or.. you strike it and it blows the flame out.

 

[Crow]

Fire Whistle!

 


 

Yea. You blow it, and it spits sparks...

Or.. you strike it and it blows the flame out.

 

Maybe striking it, it whistles signal to the air.

[glorn]

Fire Whistle!

 


 

Yea. You blow it, and it spits sparks...

Or.. you strike it and it blows the flame out.

 

Maybe striking it, it whistles signal to the air.

Ha! A warning!

"Stand back, folks! Man making fire here!"

[metasyntax]

This doesn't seem practical to me at all.  If you're doing something where you might need these tools, like backcountry hiking, you're going to be carrying lighter and more effective versions of them on your person already.  I'm thinking I can do better with a Storm Whistle around my neck, and a Light My Fire ferrocerium rod and Vic Fieldmaster in my pocket; and it would certainly weigh less.  And since they're on my body, and not in my pack - where I carry a full size multitool - they're not as likely to get lost.  I guess in the situation of "I carry this with me every day for normal usage and something awful happened where I got stranded in the middle of nowhere with no way to get out for a few days" it would work, but doesn't make sense to me as an outdoor tool.  I'd rather carry a Freestyle for weight, since probably the only thing I need it for is pliers.

I think Leatherman is stretching, but I guess that's what happens when you are pressured to "innovate" when your products don't really need to change, except a little slow evolution (everybody wants a Wave w/ replaceable wire cutters).  I think about Casio with their fashion focus, Victorinox too: they're making the same products they always did, but they need that other part of their business to keep them going.  If Casio only made tough watches, I don't know if they'd still be around.  If Victorinox never made luggage or Wenger never sold their brand to be slapped on whatever, I'm not sure they would have survived.  I think that's what Leatherman is doing, trying to branch out and doing weirder things (my point will be proven 1000 times over if the watch is real) to stay relevant.  But all we really need are incremental improvements to the already good products.  Can a company even survive just doing one thing well anymore?

Seems like you used to hear more about somebody who made a good product and just kept making it that way for 20, 40, 80 years.  I guess in the global market, maybe it's not possible.  Inevitably, most of those companies are now just brands owned by some international mega-conglomerate making crap and slapping the old name on them.

Sorry, I got kinda negative there.  I think it's a novelty, nothing more.

[sawman]

This doesn't seem practical to me at all.  If you're doing something where you might need these tools, like backcountry hiking, you're going to be carrying lighter and more effective versions of them on your person already.  I'm thinking I can do better with a Storm Whistle around my neck, and a Light My Fire ferrocerium rod and Vic Fieldmaster in my pocket; and it would certainly weigh less.  And since they're on my body, and not in my pack - where I carry a full size multitool - they're not as likely to get lost.  I guess in the situation of "I carry this with me every day for normal usage and something awful happened where I got stranded in the middle of nowhere with no way to get out for a few days" it would work, but doesn't make sense to me as an outdoor tool.  I'd rather carry a Freestyle for weight, since probably the only thing I need it for is pliers.

I think Leatherman is stretching, but I guess that's what happens when you are pressured to "innovate" when your products don't really need to change, except a little slow evolution (everybody wants a Wave w/ replaceable wire cutters).  I think about Casio with their fashion focus, Victorinox too: they're making the same products they always did, but they need that other part of their business to keep them going.  If Casio only made tough watches, I don't know if they'd still be around.  If Victorinox never made luggage or Wenger never sold their brand to be slapped on whatever, I'm not sure they would have survived.  I think that's what Leatherman is doing, trying to branch out and doing weirder things (my point will be proven 1000 times over if the watch is real) to stay relevant.  But all we really need are incremental improvements to the already good products.  Can a company even survive just doing one thing well anymore?

Seems like you used to hear more about somebody who made a good product and just kept making it that way for 20, 40, 80 years.  I guess in the global market, maybe it's not possible.  Inevitably, most of those companies are now just brands owned by some international mega-conglomerate making crap and slapping the old name on them.

Sorry, I got kinda negative there.  I think it's a novelty, nothing more.

Interesting point about Casio and Victorinox but I don't see the LM Signal as 'branching off' at all. LM makes tools and this is just another tool. I think it looks promising.

[metasyntax]

This doesn't seem practical to me at all.  If you're doing something where you might need these tools, like backcountry hiking, you're going to be carrying lighter and more effective versions of them on your person already.  I'm thinking I can do better with a Storm Whistle around my neck, and a Light My Fire ferrocerium rod and Vic Fieldmaster in my pocket; and it would certainly weigh less.  And since they're on my body, and not in my pack - where I carry a full size multitool - they're not as likely to get lost.  I guess in the situation of "I carry this with me every day for normal usage and something awful happened where I got stranded in the middle of nowhere with no way to get out for a few days" it would work, but doesn't make sense to me as an outdoor tool.  I'd rather carry a Freestyle for weight, since probably the only thing I need it for is pliers.

I think Leatherman is stretching, but I guess that's what happens when you are pressured to "innovate" when your products don't really need to change, except a little slow evolution (everybody wants a Wave w/ replaceable wire cutters).  I think about Casio with their fashion focus, Victorinox too: they're making the same products they always did, but they need that other part of their business to keep them going.  If Casio only made tough watches, I don't know if they'd still be around.  If Victorinox never made luggage or Wenger never sold their brand to be slapped on whatever, I'm not sure they would have survived.  I think that's what Leatherman is doing, trying to branch out and doing weirder things (my point will be proven 1000 times over if the watch is real) to stay relevant.  But all we really need are incremental improvements to the already good products.  Can a company even survive just doing one thing well anymore?

Seems like you used to hear more about somebody who made a good product and just kept making it that way for 20, 40, 80 years.  I guess in the global market, maybe it's not possible.  Inevitably, most of those companies are now just brands owned by some international mega-conglomerate making crap and slapping the old name on them.

Sorry, I got kinda negative there.  I think it's a novelty, nothing more.

Interesting point about Casio and Victorinox but I don't see the LM Signal as 'branching off' at all. LM makes tools and this is just another tool. I think it looks promising.

I just think the Signal is embracing the stylish fad of survival, like all the Bear Grylls stuff from Gerber.  Sure, it's still a tool - Casio's "garish gold" watches are still watches - but I see it more as a way to make money than as a way to make a good product better, because I think it will suffer functionally compared to what people are already doing carrying dedicated whistles and ferro rods, etc.  Maybe I'll be wrong about that.

I'm also in a very "get off my lawn, I miss the good old days" mood this morning.  :-)

[Lichtbote]

This doesn't seem practical to me at all.  If you're doing something where you might need these tools, like backcountry hiking, you're going to be carrying lighter and more effective versions of them on your person already.  I'm thinking I can do better with a Storm Whistle around my neck, and a Light My Fire ferrocerium rod and Vic Fieldmaster in my pocket;


- but I see it more as a way to make money than as a way to make a good product better, because I think it will suffer functionally compared to what people are already doing carrying dedicated whistles and ferro rods, etc. 

Thinking that really to an end would lead to the point where each Multitool becomes redundant, as each function has a better working equivalent in the dedicated tool sector. 

[JBW1]

Anyone see if it has a pocket clip anywhere?

Says REMOVABLE POCKET CLiP. Hopefully the same as wave, etc.
So.....Thanks Leatherman for the canvas, now how can WE make into a good tool.
How About an alx gut hook/ strap cutter on the blade?
I foresee the next candidate for a BABOLA "single wing" mod. haha