While pretty and well made Victorinox MTs don't seem well used or carried.

[Kampfer]

Happy Anniversary. 

Awesome flipping gear Kam 

Thanks for stating the obvious. 

[Aloha]

Happy Anniversary. 

Awesome flipping gear Kam 

Thanks for stating the obvious. 

 

[Wanimator]

How do you guys like the Swisstool locks?

[Poncho65]

How do you guys like the Swisstool locks?

That is actually my favorite thing about them If I could flip it open and get the tools out easier I am sure I would carry it more

[Wanimator]

How do you guys like the Swisstool locks?

That is actually my favorite thing about them If I could flip it open and get the tools out easier I am sure I would carry it more

I carry a knife along with it anyhow, doesn't bother me too much. One less step than the Rebar and most other Leatherman to get tools.

[Aloha]

The Swisstool locks are good.  The knurling on them is just right for my wide fingers. 

[Kampfer]

OHO blade on MT is a moot point when a folder is part of the carry, at least for me.

[ThePeacent]

I have carried and used both Vic MTs, but for some reason I find LM and SOG to be in my EDC rotation every week. Wenger and classic SAKs are all I use for normal EDC.





I feel that the nail nicks do not work for me, as I often use the plier-based tool with gloves on. And when I am not wearing gloves, it is usually in a context where taking out a SAK to do something is much more appropiate.



So, Vics...I love them but the only ones that see actual use are the SAKs and OH Trekker

[zoidberg]

Me, I carry the Wave or Surge or ST300 because they IMO are really that much better and more versatile in what I do.  I do take my Swisstool out from time to time however.       

I've got a Surge. Just how is a Surge "that much better?" OHO implements, I'll give you that. Interchangeable saw blades; I haven't needed that yet. Bigger pliers? Unnecessary. Bigger flat-head screwdriver? Yeah, that's awesome.

ST300 isn't even in the same league. Everything's hard to get at. Doesn't matter how nice the tools are, if they take so long to get to. With the SwissTool series, everything is right there. The pliers are the only thing that is harder to deploy than a knife blade on a SAK.

I think you prefer the ST300 and Surge just because you already made up your mind that they're better, rather than for any practical reason. 

Many times bigger pliers have fixed what smaller pliers couldn't.

The ST300 is in the same league. Simple design counts. Lighter, easy to clean, less bits to break or lose.

I don't care how long it takes to deploy a tool if that tool is going to do the job.

[twiliter]

Spirit guy here too. My first MT other than a SAK was a Marly PST, mid '90's. I never carried it due to the way it felt in my pocket vs. a SAK. I felt back then that belt carry was cumbersome, and still do even though I have made an effort in recent years, most notably a Trailmaster, which is an excellent work knife, and the Spirit. Now in recent months I've had a chance to obtain and carry some LM's with pocket clips, this is more doable, but still there is that beast in the way of getting anything else out of that pocket, or hand into it, and the Spirit carries well vertically in the pocket, virtually disappearing like a medium sized SAK.

I like having the pliers on me and use them when I have them, including the 91's, my SwissChamp EDC pliers saw lots of use back in the day. I'm still in a minimal carry phase though, and a Climber or similar (now the Pioneer X) is fine for most things. I can go extended time without pliers but not scissors, I use them a lot. When I know having pliers will be handy, I tend to pocket carry the Spirit most often. I prefer it to the standard ST because of the lighter weight, smoother feel and pocketability it has while equaling or surpassing the functionality and quality of the ST. Also as much as LM has improved over the years and innovated in quite a few areas (OHO, clip, etc.), there is still the quality factor of Vic. This is the main reason for me and something I am very used to now, but still appreciate. It's always the deal breaker because when comparing, my question is always 'Is it as high quality as my SAK/Spirit?', which always leaves the same answer. 

[Wanimator]

Spirit guy here too. My first MT other than a SAK was a Marly PST, mid '90's. I never carried it due to the way it felt in my pocket vs. a SAK. I felt back then that belt carry was cumbersome, and still do even though I have made an effort in recent years...

I used to be sort of minimalist with what I actually carry on my person rather than in a pack but after using a belt that can carry weight comfortably I can't notice the Leatherman at all. Knives in pocket don't weigh me down either.

[metasyntax]

How do you guys like the Swisstool locks?

I've had a couple SwissTools pass through my hands with a fair amount of play in the smaller tools when locked open. Never in the big tools (knife, saw, file, scissors) though. That seems to be about normal from what I've read. Some just have a little wiggle.

As for the Spirit, they're rock solid.

Ergonomics wise, both are great. Easy to unlock, but not accidentally. Better than anyone else's design, IMO.

[Syph007]

I need to put a proper pocket clip on my spirit and then Id carry it way more often.

[texunjohn]

Look at "Hip Clip" by Nite Ize. I bought one on flea bay for $7.95 after seeing it used on you tube. I just put one on a PST II and it looks great.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[Poncho65]

I have not used the Hip Clip but I have heard great reviews on it

[Humppa]

I have a lot of MTs. A Spirit and a Swisstool and many LMs. No Gerbers and no SOGs. That being said...

Well, I´ve liked the Spirit in the past carrying and using. But I finally found out, that some of the drivers are almost a little loose and there´s wobble and rattle. The phillipshead screwdriver could need a replacement. And the pliers also loosen up during time.
Alright... it is a tool that gets used and not just looked at. So I wrote Vic an Email and eplained the issues that appeared during use - not abuse. Just using the tool within its reasons. I got finally a replie and they told me, touching up a Swisstool or a Spirit would cost me 17.00 €.

I´m just asking... where is the lifetime warranty?! I mean, they say they have warranty and then want to have 17.00 € for replacing and some spa treatment? 
I didn´t send in the tool and never used it again. I now lives in the drawer. That was a bad experience.

I also used a Wave much in the past. Used it harder than the Spirit. And sent it in for warranty repair or replacement. Two weeks later - I got a refurbished tool ... THAT IS REAL LIFETIME WARRANTY!
LM rocks the club there for me. 

I just use to carry a LM Tool lately. Trying to avoid the Vic tools - not their regular SAKs but their toollineup. No more Spirits or Swisstools for me now.

That really sucked from Vic. So my vote goes for LM here.

[Poncho65]

Sorry to hear about that experience with Vic Humppa I have sent a couple knives in over the years and have always had good service with them I have had a similar number of things go to LM and they have also done very very well Maybe email Vic again and you may get a different person and they may have you send it in and get your TLC down under warranty without a charge

[TheDude]

LM's Wave (12 years) and OHT (12 months) got kicked off thier pirch for my work EDC.
I carried the Spirit for a little while but now the Swisstool. After testing I found the wire cutters far superior and the latter has a nice great big flat head driver, great for prying.

[Top-Gear-24]

I have a lot of MTs. A Spirit and a Swisstool and many LMs. No Gerbers and no SOGs. That being said...

Well, I´ve liked the Spirit in the past carrying and using. But I finally found out, that some of the drivers are almost a little loose and there´s wobble and rattle. The phillipshead screwdriver could need a replacement. And the pliers also loosen up during time.
Alright... it is a tool that gets used and not just looked at. So I wrote Vic an Email and eplained the issues that appeared during use - not abuse. Just using the tool within its reasons. I got finally a replie and they told me, touching up a Swisstool or a Spirit would cost me 17.00 €.

I´m just asking... where is the lifetime warranty?! I mean, they say they have warranty and then want to have 17.00 € for replacing and some spa treatment? 
I didn´t send in the tool and never used it again. I now lives in the drawer. That was a bad experience.

I also used a Wave much in the past. Used it harder than the Spirit. And sent it in for warranty repair or replacement. Two weeks later - I got a refurbished tool ... THAT IS REAL LIFETIME WARRANTY!
LM rocks the club there for me. 

I just use to carry a LM Tool lately. Trying to avoid the Vic tools - not their regular SAKs but their toollineup. No more Spirits or Swisstools for me now.

That really sucked from Vic. So my vote goes for LM here.

I've had a simular experience with Leatherman, bought a brand new Charge TTi at a Dutch online shop, and when it got home I noticed it had the same ruler on both sides (see pic).



Contacted the Belgian Leatherman Importer and they told me they would replace it, but they would charge (no pun intended  ) me 15 Euro "administration costs".  Later I found out that they have these "administration costs" for tools that aren't bought through one of their Belgian dealers, even if you bought the tool from an official Dutch or German Leatherman dealer, you'll have to pay "administration costs" ...

While Victorinox replaced a "my first Victorinox" knife for free, I do have to say that we did have to wait quite a long time (I believe it was about three months or so) for the replacement knife to get here.

I have a feeling a lot of these warranty cases are "hit or miss", especially outside of the U.S. or Switzerland ...

[Humppa]

I fear you are correct. When I called the LM shop, I got as answer, that LM´s warranty covers anything and they just need a list what to do on the tool, and they will do it. So they did.
However, I forgot to mention, that LM did the repair and spa duty for free. Except the cost for first shipping was on my wallet.

Strange things this warranty cases, indeed.

I think there should be a general rule for warranty or whatsoever and not every country making its own soup.

[Tomcat_81]

... not every country, and not every seller - much seems to depend on how the shop you consult reads the terms and how it values its customers.

[dks]

minimum 25Euro cost for any warranty claim here.


When these companies advertise their free world wide warranty they assume that the whole world is the US.

[Padre]

TTi just suits my needs better. My workmate has been using Swisstool for years and really likes it.  Its also in black oxide but there is not much of that left anymore. Really used swisstool.

[Wanimator]

How much smoother opening are the Swiss Tools vs A Leatherman Vs. A SOG? I'd think the Leatherman falls pretty short here.

[metasyntax]

How much smoother opening are the Swiss Tools vs A Leatherman Vs. A SOG? I'd think the Leatherman falls pretty short here.

I don't have any Leatherman pliers that are too stiff, but they rarely fall open like SwissTools do under gravity. Even though the Victorinox pliers open themselves, they are not loose at all, so I would call the opening action perfect. It's hard to compare with the compound leverage pliers which are kinda their own beast in my opinion. That said, all my SOG multis have very smooth action. Maybe they would fall open as well if they were more broken in.

ETA: If you mean the individual tools, again I think the SwissTools are the smoothest. Just like on a SAK, and no clumping because of the individual backsprings. All in all a very well designed tool!

[Padre]

Victorinox is the smoothest, but Swisstool scissors usually get stuck, Spirit scissors are better.

[ThePeacent]

Go Spirit all the way. I used to carry my LM Wave/Surge because of the pocket clip even though I liked the Vic better. Especially if you carry an alternative OHO knife. Many people (including myself) tend to carry other tools because of the lack of clip.



I learned this trick in the mod suforum and I can finally carry the tool I want, that I never carried because there was no clip available



(I like things either clipped or hanging in my pocket without touching the bottom of it)



It really is as nice as an MT gets, IMO. And very carriable, slim and compact. Ergos are spot on, too.



As far as smooth openings, my SOG all open really smooth, like a balisong. Especially the PP and PPP.



The LM tend to be rougher and "blockier" to open, some gerbers don't flick open easily (most do, though) and the four Vic I've had/have opened smoothly, without much effort to overcome the detent, and in a very positive, solid and nice way.



Like a SAK, if you know what I mean.

[Wanimator]

How about the impliments?

[Kampfer]

Spirit + a folder is a good combo.

[ThePeacent]

How about the impliments?

All but Victorinox are susceptible of clumping and sometimes you open many implements at once. That happens almost always with Leatherman and SOG, less frequently with my Gerber. Those last two are easy to tweak and adjust through the handle pivots but I find the LM trickier and they sometimes use security bits.