Leatherman PST chronology project

[MDC85]

it is on sale for €50 ,

did not buy it ( yet )

[hennypenny]

I got this one marked Pocket Survival Tool today.  Very good shape.  Check out the hole in the pivot.

Can anyone explain about the hole in the pivot? I have the same hole on my Mini Tool with no date code, so I assume it's a very early one.

[aeromys]

Hi, just joined and adding my old PST to the list 

•   Rivets or knurled screws? Knurled
•   Lanyard attachment? Yes
•   (Old) small diameter or (new) large diameter plier pivot? Small
•   LEATHERMAN alone cast into plier pivot? Or with USA? Or TOOL? Leatherman USA
•   A hard wire cutter notch? No
•   Handles stamped with what? (see pictures in next post for examples) LEATHERMAN(r) TOOL  US REG TM 1325473  PORTLAND OR
•   Inch ruler only, or inch/metric? inch/metric
•   Date codes? 1292
•   Drop point knife blade or clip point? (saber?) Saber
•   Knife blade tang stamped LEATHERMAN alone? Or with USA? Or JAPAN? LEATHERMAN USA
•   Screwdrivers: pivot-in or pivot-out? pivot-in

The Phillips has a small "I" cast into it

Cheers,
Dave

[Zed]

Welcome Dave  introduce yourself in the new member section 

[Gareth]

Welcome to the forum Dave.   Nice looking PST you've got there.

[Mercury]

I got this one marked Pocket Survival Tool today.  Very good shape.  Check out the hole in the pivot.

Can anyone explain about the hole in the pivot? I have the same hole on my Mini Tool with no date code, so I assume it's a very early one.

That hole is probably from a centering pin on the bucking bar they used to squash the rivet.  I would imagine they usually get ground off with the rest of the rivet tail after riveting, so finding one with the depression could be a rare thing.  Of course I could be totally wrong, that's just what it looks like to me.

[Monrogue]

Just got me a PST

•   Rivets or knurled screws? Knurled
•   Lanyard attachment? Yes
•   (Old) small diameter or (new) large diameter plier pivot? Large
•   LEATHERMAN alone cast into plier pivot? Or with USA? Or TOOL? Leatherman Tool
•   A hard wire cutter notch? Yes
•   Handles stamped with what? (see pictures in next post for examples) LEATHERMAN(r) TOOL  PORTLAND OR
•   Inch ruler only, or inch/metric? inch/metric
•   Date codes? 0797 & 0304
•   Drop point knife blade or clip point? I believe drop point?
•   Knife blade tang stamped LEATHERMAN alone? Or with USA? Or JAPAN? LEATHERMAN USA
•   Screwdrivers: pivot-in or pivot-out? pivot-in on flatheads/pivot-out on phillips

The Phillips has a small "D" cast into it

Here are some pics of the PST.  I'm a bit disappointed that it's a later model with the newer, larger pliers though.  The seller's pic showed the older style, but he had a few in stock, so I'd say he had some like mine.  Oh well.  I can eventually get another one if I really want to.  There's really nothing wrong with it, it's in great condition, but those pliers just don't seem to belong on a PST imo.  It's also got conflicting date codes.  One handle is 0797, and the other is 0304 (which I think is the correct one due to the pliers).  Second pic has PSTII behind PST.  Notice the PSTII opens slightly further than the PST.  Another odd note:  the Phillips driver is the older style, but it's on the handle with the 0797 datecode???  PST's has a D on it and PSTII's has a 6.  Not sure what that means.  The file isn't bad though.  I can use the finer side as a nail file, which I didn't think would work.

[Gareth]

Date codes? 0797 & 0304

  Those are some pretty disparate dates.

[Monrogue]

Date codes? 0797 & 0304

  Those are some pretty disparate dates.

Yeah they are.  I'm wondering if the seller had a few warranty repaired PSTs, which may explain the different dates on each handle, as well as the older style phillips being on the 0304 dated handle (which is what I meant to say in my post above, but stated the older dated handle instead).  I also didn't include the pic showing the pliers of both PST and PSTII opened, but I can't upload it right now, so I'll have to try to remember to do it tonight.  Also, I didn't mention that the medium flathead, with the pivot in (which I believe is the newer style) is on the older 0797 handle.  This PST seems to be a frankensteined version with parts from various PST eras.  I guess that makes it kinda cool in a way

[Monrogue]

Here is the open plier pic I mentioned, and the medium flathead (newer style correct?)

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 2

[Monrogue]

Oh and I just noticed that the small flatheads are different too.  PST in front.

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 2

[Bibliojim]

I will post my "Marlboro" pix asap. However, please explain the nuance "pivot in or pivot out"

Jim
dryfire@dryfire.is

[bmot]

I will post my "Marlboro" pix asap. However, please explain the nuance "pivot in or pivot out"

Jim
dryfire@dryfire.is

Newer screwdrivers on the PST are bent(?) so that the line the force down is given on is on the side of the pivot it doesn't turn to, so that it'll close less easy.
*some searching later*


this should help explaining it:

Here are some examples of the screwdriver differences. When pushed hard, the early screwdrivers tended to "pivot inwards" under pressure. This was improved on later models, which featured screwdrivers that pivoted outwards against the stop the harder they were pushed.    
Benner pictures
(Image removed from quote.)
(Image removed from quote.)
DaveK picture showing the three types of medium flathead screwdriver
(Image removed from quote.)

[Bibliojim]

Sooooooo, my Marlboro STRAIGHT screwdrivers are "pivot in"

Jim

[bmot]

I'm sure, when you post pics, we'll see it     But it could very well be that some of the screwdrivers in your pst pivot in, and some pivot out. On mine, only the large and medium flatheads pivot out, the Phillips and small flat pivot in.

[Monrogue]

Here is the open plier pic I mentioned, and the medium flathead (newer style correct?)

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 2

I may have misunderstood the whole "pivot in/out" thing as well.  So is the screwdriver I showed in the second pic of the above post that contains the text I quoted (couldn't quote the pic as well I guess) a pivot in or out?  I think I called it in, but now I think it's an out

[bmot]

Here is the open plier pic I mentioned, and the medium flathead (newer style correct?)

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 2

I may have misunderstood the whole "pivot in/out" thing as well.  So is the screwdriver I showed in the second pic of the above post that contains the text I quoted (couldn't quote the pic as well I guess) a pivot in or out?  I think I called it in, but now I think it's an out

That's a 'pivot out' screwdriver. It turns to the outside when you put force on it, hence the name. (it pivots out when under force) The older ones turn inside (they 'pivot in'). It all comes from the verb 'to pivot', not from the noun 'pivot'. (if I'm right, of course )

[Monrogue]

Here is the open plier pic I mentioned, and the medium flathead (newer style correct?)

Sent from my XT901 using Tapatalk 2

I may have misunderstood the whole "pivot in/out" thing as well.  So is the screwdriver I showed in the second pic of the above post that contains the text I quoted (couldn't quote the pic as well I guess) a pivot in or out?  I think I called it in, but now I think it's an out

That's a 'pivot out' screwdriver. It turns to the outside when you put force on it, hence the name. (it pivots out when under force) The older ones turn inside (they 'pivot in'). It all comes from the verb 'to pivot', not from the noun 'pivot'. (if I'm right, of course )

Makes perfect sense.  I was thinking of it in the noun sense of the word, which reverses what the intended meaning is here.  Thanks for clearing that up for me

[Bibliojim]

 knurled screws
•   Lanyard attachment? Yes
•   (Old) small diameter  plier pivot?
•   LEATHERMAN cast into plier pivot with USA?
•   A hard wire cutter notch? No
•   Handles stamped with
US REG TM 1325473   LEATHERMAN TOOL   PORTLAND OR
 Reverse side blank   Date 0594
Other handle: Very faintly etched Marlboro Country Store
Reverse side blank Date 0494

•   Inch ruler only, or inch/metric? Both
•   Date codes? See above
•   Drop point knife blade or clip point? (saber?) See pix and decide
•   Knife blade tang stamped LEATHERMAN  with USA
•   Screwdrivers: pivot-in or pivot-out?
Ay, there's the rub. Nouns, verbs, straight, bent, innies. outies, Bob Newhart.........

Old, OCD, collector of things, new to Leathermans, more than pleased with this flea market Marlboro Leatherman purchase. Found this site, well there you go.
Sent a Blast for repair, received a new Rebar in it's place. Not for this pilgrim, PST forever. Who needs a new Rebar, will trade?
Hello everybody.
Your friend Jim

“Where is everybody?”           Enrico Fermi 1950

[bmot]

That looks like 'pivot in' screwdrivers 

[Aloha]

Black Oxide Non Cap Crimper

•   Rivets or knurled screws?
Knurled screws.

•   Lanyard attachment?
Yes

•   (Old) small diameter or (new) large diameter plier pivot?
Old

•   LEATHERMAN cast into plier pivot, along with USA or TOOL?
USA

•   A hard wire cutter notch?
No

•   Handles stamped with what?
Leatherman Tool, Portland OR, US REG TM 1325473

•   Inch ruler only, or inch/metric?
Inch/metric

•   Date codes? What are they?
None

•   Drop point knife blade or clip point?
Saber

•   Knife blade tang stamped LEATHERMAN, JAPAN, or USA?
Leatherman USA

please correct me if I made a mistake pictures included. Im excited this is my first PST 

[David]

This PST has no markings on it except the Pat. number and a former owners initials. DaveK has a pic of one in post #149. Even the sheath does not have Leatherman on it.  Any one care to speculate on where these fit into the chronological order.          

[Gareth]

This PST has no markings on it except the Pat. number and a former owners initials. DaveK has a pic of one in post #149. Even the sheath does not have Leatherman on it.  Any one care to speculate on where these fit into the chronological order.          

Interesting.  Dave seemed to think that the markings had possibly been ground off his, but with yours being the same that seems less likely.


@Aloha; nice BO PST mate, it looks like it's in great condition as well.   Nice nails too.

[David]

This PST has no markings on it except the Pat. number and a former owners initials. DaveK has a pic of one in post #149. Even the sheath does not have Leatherman on it.  Any one care to speculate on where these fit into the chronological order.          

Interesting.  Dave seemed to think that the markings had possibly been ground off his, but with yours being the same that seems less likely.

I have a idea but wanted to wait to see what others thought about it.     

[Gareth]

Go on, what are you thinking?  Employee special?  Pre production?  

[enki_ck]

Military issue? I think I read somewhere that the US military issue gear has/had to be free from any branding/manufacturer names. Or was that just for watches?

[Nhoj]

This PST has no markings on it except the Pat. number and a former owners initials. DaveK has a pic of one in post #149. Even the sheath does not have Leatherman on it.  Any one care to speculate on where these fit into the chronological order.          

That's the same as my minitool. Except mine doesn't even have a patent number.

[Monrogue]

I'm hoping to have a PST to add later tonight

[Monrogue]

I got my PST today, and it looks to be in great condition, and I think it's an older one.  Here's the info:

Rivets or knurled screws? Knurled
•   Lanyard attachment? Yes
•   (Old) small diameter or (new) large diameter plier pivot?  Old small pivot
•   LEATHERMAN alone cast into plier pivot? Or with USA? Or TOOL? Leatherman USA
•   A hard wire cutter notch? No
•   Handles stamped with what? (see pictures in next post for examples) LEATHERMAN(r) TOOL  US REG TM 1325473  PORTLAND OR on front; nothing on the back
•   Inch ruler only, or inch/metric? inch/metric
•   Date codes?  None
•   Drop point knife blade or clip point?  Saber (I think)
•   Knife blade tang stamped LEATHERMAN alone? Or with USA? Or JAPAN? LEATHERMAN USA
•   Screwdrivers: pivot-in or pivot-out? pivot-in

Here are some pics.  Can anyone confirm if the blade is a Saber point for sure?

Left is my other PST, and right is this new one


Saber blade?

Pliers

[Aloha]

@Gareth
thank you I fancied up a bit for the picture 
the PST I received was in near mint condition other than some wear marks on the plier which looks to be only from it being opened.  all others implements are unused as far as I can tell.