Leatherman PST chronology project

[David]

Nice no date PST MR.           

[Monrogue]

Nice no date PST MR.           

Thanks:))

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[kirk13]

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.

Sounds like my SS Mini

[lowtech]

I have received a PST which is obviously made in Japan (Riveted, blade tang says Japan).
Is this Tool worth more than a US made PST of teh same age and condition?

I am asking because i received it in a trade, and if it is worth more, I´d liek to compensate my trade-partner for that.

Thanks.

[gregozedobe]

I have received a PST which is obviously made in Japan (Riveted, blade tang says Japan).
Is this Tool worth more than a US made PST of teh same age and condition?

I am asking because i received it in a trade, and if it is worth more, I´d liek to compensate my trade-partner for that.

Thanks.

I've paid a bit more ( +20 to 30% ) for my Japanese PSTs than for similar US made ones.  They seem less common.

[lowtech]

Ok, so I´ll think of a little extra to send over. Thank you!

[David]

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

This is just some random thoughts and I have no evidence to confirm any of this speculation. My thinking at the moment is this one and DaveK's may be some of the later Early Winters PST's. The first of the Early Winters Pst's had no markings and no USA on the plier head and Leatherman USA etched on  the knife blade. The later ones of these may be like the the one of DaveK and mine. The very early PST's went through a lot of rapid changes to fill orders. So maybe that is what we have here? What ever the truth may be it is an interesting peice of PST history               

[mr626]

I'll update this post with the textual info later on, but they say a picture tells a thousand words..

[Bibliojim]

My PST flea find this morning. Very nice condition.
Rivets or knurled screws? Knurl
•   Lanyard attachment? Yes
•   (Old) small diameter or (new) large diameter plier pivot? Old/Small
•   LEATHERMAN alone cast into plier pivot? Or with USA? Or TOOL? w/USA
•   A hard wire cutter notch? No
•   Handles stamped with what? (see pictures in next post for examples) Leatherman Tool   US REG TM 1325473   Portland OR
•   Inch ruler only, or inch/metric? Inch/Metric
•   Date codes? NO
•   Drop point knife blade or clip point? (saber?) Drop Point
•   Knife blade tang stamped LEATHERMAN alone? Or with USA? Or JAPAN? w?USA
•   Screwdrivers: pivot-in or pivot-out? Pivot In


Disclosure: I have more MT's than for personal use.

[gregozedobe]

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.

And now there are 3    

I just won one of these on ebay after paying much more than I hoped to - damn those PST collectors with bulging wallets (probably someone from MTo too    )

[David]

Great score there Greg! Even has the old brown sheath with no markings.            I bid on it earlier but got out of my price range real quick. Glad it is going to a good home.   

[gregozedobe]

Great score there Greg! Even has the old brown sheath with no markings.            I bid on it earlier but got out of my price range real quick. Glad it is going to a good home.   

Thanks.  I've asked the seller if she knows anything of the history of this tool and I'll pass it on if she has anything useful to say.

Yes, the PST sheaths had an evolution of their own -  I think the earlier ones I have go something like this (and I hope more knowledgeable people will correct any errors):

Brown Leather sheath - no markings at all, plain closure stud

Brown Leather sheath - "LEATHERMAN" no (R) for Registered Trademark,  plain closure stud (eg "US PAT 4238862" PSTs, some Japanese PSTs))

Brown Leather sheath - "LEATHERMAN(R)" , plain closure stud   (eg some Japanese PSTs)

Brown Leather sheath - "LEATHERMAN(R)" , "LEATHERMAN" on closure stud

Black Leather sheath - "LEATHERMAN(R)" , "LEATHERMAN" on closure stud

Black Nylon Sheath with red "LEATHERMAN (R)", "TOOL GROUP INC", "PORTLAND OREGON" and white tool logo, velcro closure.  This is on a NIB PST that appears to be a Japanese PST (except it doesn't have "JAPAN" stamped on the tang of the knife blade).  The box is marked (C) 1985

Green Camo Nylon sheath, no markings, velcro closure (on a BO CC PST dated 05/99/0799)


I advise caution in relying heavily on these examples, as most of these tools have been in circulation for many years, with plenty of opportunities for previous owners to mix sheaths and tools in any combination that suited them.

[bdAmmo]

Thought this might be of some interest. It came from a Spring, 1985 Cabela's catalog.

[J-sews]

Congrats on the logoless PST's David and Greg! I'd forgotten about DaveK's, and have never seen one myself. Man, those things must be as rare as rocking horse poo!

[detron]

The PST I got from Sazabi


Rivets or knurled screws? Knurl
•   Lanyard attachment? Yes
•   (Old) small diameter or (new) large diameter plier pivot? Old/Small
•   LEATHERMAN alone cast into plier pivot? Or with USA? Or TOOL? w/USA
•   A hard wire cutter notch? No
•   Handles stamped with what? (see pictures in next post for examples) Leatherman Tool   US REG TM 1325473   Portland OR   Back side is blank
•   Inch ruler only, or inch/metric? Inch/Metric
•   Date codes? 0195 / 0295
•   Drop point knife blade or clip point? (saber?) Saber  I think.
•   Knife blade tang stamped LEATHERMAN alone? Or with USA? Or JAPAN? With USA
•   Screwdrivers: pivot-in or pivot-out? Pivot In

If I have any of this wrong, please let me know, and if anyone has any further info on where the plier head USA was milled away (way back in this thread) I am curious.

[Monrogue]

Hey Detron,
Yours sounds an awful lot like the one I got, shown below with all the info.  Your blade does look like mine.  I consider mine to be the Saber point blade as the info would indicate that this is the version with the saber point.  It hasn't been confirmed by anyone here, but I think it is.  Mine also has no dates on it.  Gotta love the incredible variations on the PST

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

[detron]

Hey Detron,
Yours sounds an awful lot like the one I got, shown below with all the info.  Your blade does look like mine.  I consider mine to be the Saber point blade as the info would indicate that this is the version with the saber point.  It hasn't been confirmed by anyone here, but I think it is.  Mine also has no dates on it.  Gotta love the incredible variations on the PST

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

one of my date codes was so faint I almost missed it several times.  also, my date codes are under all the tools, not in the middle of the handle.

[Monrogue]

Oh really?  I'll have to check mine out again to make sure I just didn't miss some very faint date codes.  Cool PST you got there anyway   Is this your first PST?

[detron]

Oh really?  I'll have to check mine out again to make sure I just didn't miss some very faint date codes.  Cool PST you got there anyway   Is this your first PST?

Yes, it is my first ever.  in the mid to late 90's I had a few Gerbers here and there, but this is my first PST.  My first Leatherman was a Kick in 2008 or so. (Never used) and then I bought a Surge in the Summer.  the Surge did it for me, I was hooked.  (I still have that Kick, not a bad MT)

[Monrogue]

Oh really?  I'll have to check mine out again to make sure I just didn't miss some very faint date codes.  Cool PST you got there anyway   Is this your first PST?

Yes, it is my first ever.  in the mid to late 90's I had a few Gerbers here and there, but this is my first PST.  My first Leatherman was a Kick in 2008 or so. (Never used) and then I bought a Surge in the Summer.  the Surge did it for me, I was hooked.  (I still have that Kick, not a bad MT)

Ah...so do you like it?  I find them interesting, and there's just something about the classic, tools on the inside look that I like

[detron]

Oh really?  I'll have to check mine out again to make sure I just didn't miss some very faint date codes.  Cool PST you got there anyway   Is this your first PST?

Yes, it is my first ever.  in the mid to late 90's I had a few Gerbers here and there, but this is my first PST.  My first Leatherman was a Kick in 2008 or so. (Never used) and then I bought a Surge in the Summer.  the Surge did it for me, I was hooked.  (I still have that Kick, not a bad MT)

Ah...so do you like it?  I find them interesting, and there's just something about the classic, tools on the inside look that I like

I do like them.

[Mango808]

Here is my 2nd PST info bought early 1996, as my first PST bought in 1993 was stolen. I actually lost this one once at Edson Range Camp Pendleton, CA in 2000 during the Crucible (one of many). Got it back 2 or 3 cycles later from a Field Hat who remembered seeing my last name on it.


Does your PST have:

•   Rivets or knurled screws? Knurled
•   Lanyard attachment?
•   (Old) small diameter or (new) large diameter plier pivot? Small
•   LEATHERMAN alone cast into plier pivot? Or with USA? Or TOOL? LEATHERMAN with 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? 1195/1195
•   Drop point knife blade or clip point? (saber?) clip point
•   Knife blade tang stamped LEATHERMAN alone? Or with USA? Or JAPAN? LEATHERMAN with USA
•   Screwdrivers: pivot-in or pivot-out? pivot-in

[gregozedobe]

Just won a rare PST on fleabay. 

From looking at the seller's single photo it is:
Japanese PST
with a (small) lanyard attachment,
no "Pocket Survival Tool" or "Portland OR",
in nice condition (well the handles look OK, it wasn't opened so I won't know about the components until I get it). 

According to the seller it has
hollow rivets   and
US PAT 4238862 ,
with just "leatherman" stamped on the knife tang.

So maybe a version 4 but with hollow rivets from v3 ?

[derekmac]

Nice find!


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[J-sews]

Yes that does sound like an unusual combination. Congrats!

[David]

Greg does it have large font LEATHERMAN on one handle?

[gregozedobe]

Greg does it have large font LEATHERMAN on one handle?

Yep, also "US PAT 4238862", "(R) tool" in smaller font (no "Portland OR"), while the other handle is blank (so no "Pocket Survival Tool", which is why I thought it might be a version 4 even though it has hollow rivets).

Have a look (you'll need to zoom in to see any details):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/351002155313

[David]

Okay I remember that one now. I have a couple of those if you'd like I can post some pics for you to study and over  while you wait.     

[David]

Here ya go buddy. These could give you an idea of what you have coming. The only difference is the can opener. The one on the left in pic three has the older left hand cut. I consider these to be transitional models of the riveted PST.   

[David]

This one arrived today