Leatherman Signal - is LM making a survival multi?

[TheDude]

I'm still waiting for the LM with an MP3 attachment. You laugh now but Vic did it....

[Obi1shinobee]

leatherman Wave > Signal anyday.. garbage .. leatherman need do better then that..

[Obi1shinobee]

This Own > Leatherman garbage Signal anyday..  got firesteel and titanium whistle on that .. 120 db..

[Syncop8r]

I got a mut after seeing the signal.

I'm still going to get one but I'm less excited about it after seeing it.

I think it's the yellow plastic that turns me off

Same here.

The yellow plastic turns me on. I like it.

[Gareth]

I'm not quite a fan of the Signal, but I am a little surprised by the negativity here.  Remember, what we are seeing is a late stage prototype, not the final item.  Also remember that plastics come in many levels of quality, from cheap and nasty to the truly excellent.  Kind of reminds me of the heated debates the Zytel liners on the Blast kicked off, everyone hated the idea of plastic on a Leatherman back then as well.  Somehow the Blast family still managed to do OK.

[gadgetman7]

I agree but my issue is more with the part serrated blade and choice of steel. It looks like an excellent platform for several variations. I just wish they would put out options like better steel and bit holders. More of a concern is quality control. Leatherman seems to have gotten better recently, I just hope they continue to improve.


Sent from Tracy Island

[AimlessWanderer]

For a "survival" multitool, the choice of steel is perfect! A steel which might lose it edge and distort a bit if abused is far better than one which will chip/crack/snap.

A semi serrated blade might make more sense for the masses, who might not have knife sharpening amongst their skill set. Their production is likely geared around the many clueless users, rather than the few enlightened ones

[Syncop8r]

A semi serrated blade might make more sense for the masses, who might not have knife sharpening amongst their skill set.

Maybe, but then why include a sharpener? 

[enki_ck]

For a "survival" multitool, the choice of steel is perfect! A steel which might lose it edge and distort a bit if abused is far better than one which will chip/crack/snap.

Agreed. For sharpening on the go, a simpler steel is king. Better if you can do it with a sharpening stone or some sandpaper and not some fancy sharpening system.

A semi serrated blade might make more sense for the masses, who might not have knife sharpening amongst their skill set. Their production is likely geared around the many clueless users, rather than the few enlightened ones

A few years back one of Benchmade representatives explained this in one of the SHOT Show videos. Although most of us here prefer the plain edged blade, sales of combo edged blades by far surpass the sales of PE blades for most knife manufacturers so of course they're going to make blades that sell better. We might not like it but it's a simple busyness practice. Make what sells. And most makers do so. LM offers both varieties on their full size tools but opt for combo if only one knife is in the setup in the recent years, starting with the Skele. Now Gerber MPs mostly come with combo blades too.

[AimlessWanderer]

A semi serrated blade might make more sense for the masses, who might not have knife sharpening amongst their skill set.

Maybe, but then why include a sharpener? 

Because it will help sell them 

[Mercury]

A semi serrated blade might make more sense for the masses, who might not have knife sharpening amongst their skill set.

Maybe, but then why include a sharpener? 

Because it will help sell them

Exactly. 

[JAfromMn]

I like a combo edge blade .

[gadgetman7]

Interesting comment from Benchmade about combo edges. I spoke with Sal Glesser about that at Blade Show a couple of years ago. I asked him why Spyderco quit using combo edges on most of their knives. He said that they didn't sell.

As far as blade steel goes, if you have a diamond sharpener on the tool you should be able to sharpen a tool with better edge retention. I'm not talking about M390 or Elmax but maybe BD 1 or S35v. Either one of those should sharpen fine with a diamond sharpener. I've sharpened a Paramilitary with S30v on a river rock and it worked okay.

Also, if you're worried about sharpening a knife, serrations are almost impossible to sharpen without either a file or a dedicated system of some sort. Granted serrations hold a working edge longer but when they get dull they can only tear, and tear badly.


Sent from Tracy Island

[babola]

I like a combo edge blade .

+1

[Lichtbote]

I prefer having both on a tool, a serrated blade at first and a plain edge as second - but if i only can get one, i want a combo.

I also prefer those standard steels on knifes that are tools. Fancy steels are ok for me on specialized blades like cooking knives, but they are a stupid choice for me on workblades.

But i assume a lot of those knives with "better" steels are more pampered collector pieces than hard working tools. Used to fiddle them, sharpen them to show friends how awsome and capable they are, and then they are stored safely to don´t get scratched. 

[gadgetman7]

I think you'd be surprised. I carry and use a Skeletool with 154CM every work day. It's been sharpened and abused. On weekends I carry a Sebenza or Paramilitary. Both get used and have been sharpened many times. Sure, it depends on the user but most of my friends carry knives with higher end steels and really use their knives.

I actually just want a choice like the Skeletool offers. Then we would both be happy.


Sent from Tracy Island

[BASguy]

I think combo blades work pretty well for daily functionality in a multi tool.  When mine needs sharpening, it just takes a little more time and skill than a straight edge.  It's utility makes up for it IMO.  YMMV


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[JAfromMn]

I also prefer both serrated and plane edge blades but if I only get one I like it to be combo edge.

I still can't wait to get my hands on one of these.

I think it's got a lot going for it. Little mini mut.

[zoidberg]

Plain edge and better steels for me. 

[JAfromMn]

Plain edge and better steels for me. 

A choice of steels and grinds would be the best.

We all are picky about our knives.

[kirk13]

I'm not quite a fan of the Signal, but I am a little surprised by the negativity here.  Remember, what we are seeing is a late stage prototype, not the final item.  Also remember that plastics come in many levels of quality, from cheap and nasty to the truly excellent.  Kind of reminds me of the heated debates the Zytel liners on the Blast kicked off, everyone hated the idea of plastic on a Leatherman back then as well.  Somehow the Blast family still managed to do OK.

Good point about the Zytel models Gareth. But compared to the PST they had a short life,and to my mind,where replaced by two model lines that have been steps in the wrong direction.

The Wingman/Sidekick arn't as good as the Kick or Fuse,and the Rebar suffers from cost cutting to my mind.

I can't see me wanting a Signal...then,I did say that about the OHT,and I rate that very highly now

[GPDB]

I like a combo edge blade .

+1

+1

[zimchaz]

I've stayed out of this thread to try and be objective, but I have read all the comments so far.

My opinion for the peanuts it's worth is this.

At first glance would I buy this multi tool for its intended purpose ie:survival? No!
But my reasoning is this I already carry a Surge in BO with the blade exchanger and diamond coated file. To add a jetscream or equivalent type whistle and a cheap ferro rod would cost an extra £10 roughly.
And there is an old saying relating to eggs and baskets that springs to mind.
Being in the military has given me a somewhat different view on "survival" kits in general, In that I carry my survival items dotted around my body. A survival tin doesn't make sense to me because if you lose one item you lose it all.
People may say "be careful and aware of where your kit is" and I agree, but say you slip and roll down a hill and your LM signal "ejects" itself into the great unknown.Your survival capability is gone.
That's the only reason I wouldn't buy one, only because I don't buy into the "survival kit" mentality.

That being said everything is an evolution and this being a prototype, what we see might not be what we get.As always, ymmv but some people will love this and wonder why it wasn't produced sooner.

[rdub934]

Everyone keeps talking about survival... the description on the LM website says "outdoors". This is a great tool for a backpacker, hiker, hunter, or camper. For "surviving" after the events of a disaster, it is lacking. For instance, it is missing the necessary rocket-propelled chainsaw for a zombie apocalypse.

[ba-ta]

I have to admit that I wouldn't call this a "survival" tool, but as an outdoor tool I think that the tool set seems decent.  I would get this for my regular work tool though. Would replace the blade though with a plane edge and pop off the sharpener and whistle. Speaking of the blade looking at the shape of it it seems like.It should be similar to the blades in the wave/charge series.

[kkokkolis]

I've seen 1972's Alistair Cooke's "America" (BBC) and just now I understood this bond of America (North at least) with survival (amd weapons and stuff). In a country that had palaces 1000 years bc and great cities 500 bc with agriculture all around between these two milestones it was difficult to understand until I realized what a wilderness was the North American continent between the Atlantic and Pacific populated shores, up until the late 19th century. I like survival equipment too, but where to use it?

[Kampfer]

I am pretty sure I won't able to survive in in wildness with this MT and without a full case of MRE.
City boy has no idea where to find food.

[BASguy]

I also prefer both serrated and plane edge blades but if I only get one I like it to be combo edge.

I still can't wait to get my hands on one of these.

I think it's got a lot going for it. Little mini mut.

From watching your posts I can see you are using your EDC tools on as frequent a daily basis as I do, albeit different trades.  I'm curious as to if you think this particular tool merits the $120 price point?  Gotta be honest, I see this as a $30 dollar tool. 


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[rdub934]

I am pretty sure I won't able to survive in in wildness with this MT and without a full case of MRE.
City boy has no idea where to find food.

Check inside the nearest animal - filled with steaks, chops, burgers, bacon, and wings

Tie Signal to the end of long stick with knife deployed and poke until animal stops moving, lol

[Kampfer]

I am pretty sure I won't able to survive in in wildness with this MT and without a full case of MRE.
City boy has no idea where to find food.

Check inside the nearest animal - filled with steaks, chops, burgers, bacon, and wings
Tie Signal to the end of long stick with knife deployed and poke until animal stops moving, lol

Even I have a rifle I still don't know how to track animals down.
based on the skill I already have, hunting human is easier.