Leatherman PST chronology project

[David]

I had a SS PST which David has now That only had a datecode in one handle and this one would be in the date range where they might have been a few non dated handles still left in the bin

I still have that one Poncho! In fact its in front of me at the moment the date code in the knife blade handle is 0393. I have another stainless one that is 1292 in knife blade handle and no date code in the other. Date codes were started in late 1192. It wouldnt be unusual to have handles with and without on the same tool from that time period.   

[wowaboro]

I have another stainless one that is 1292 in knife blade handle and no date code in the other. Date codes were started in late 1192. It wouldnt be unusual to have handles with and without on the same tool from that time period.   

Yes, factory produced "One handle date" PSTs may have 1192 or 1292 code only.
If some PST has other date code on one handle only, it's means that item was repaired etc.

[Poncho65]

I have another stainless one that is 1292 in knife blade handle and no date code in the other. Date codes were started in late 1192. It wouldnt be unusual to have handles with and without on the same tool from that time period.   

Yes, factory produced "One handle date" PSTs may have 1192 or 1292 code only.
If some PST has other date code on one handle only, it's means that item was repaired etc.

Is that a fact from LM or a hypothesis of yours they pick the parts from a big bin and I can guarantee that some of the handles without dates would have been in the bottom for a few to several months If I remember correctly that PST was period correct with everything of an early 90's PST 

[wowaboro]

Yes, factory produced "One handle date" PSTs may have 1192 or 1292 code only.
If some PST has other date code on one handle only, it's means that item was repaired etc.

Is that a fact from LM or a hypothesis of yours

It's a fact. One handle dated PSTs (1192 or 1292) - it's transitional modification between both undated handles and both dated handles modifications.

[Poncho65]

Yes, factory produced "One handle date" PSTs may have 1192 or 1292 code only.
If some PST has other date code on one handle only, it's means that item was repaired etc.

Is that a fact from LM or a hypothesis of yours

It's a fact. One handle dated PSTs (1192 or 1292) - it's transitional modification between both undated handles and both dated handles modifications.

So your saying they threw out all the undated handles that were already made just to make sure that they had dates in both handles

I wouldn't think they would spend the time sending them back through just to put a date on them if they didn't have one

Have you emailed them and asked them this

[wowaboro]

It's a fact. One handle dated PSTs (1192 or 1292) - it's transitional modification between both undated handles and both dated handles modifications.

So your saying they threw out all the undated handles that were already made just to make sure that they had dates in both handles

I wouldn't think they would spend the time sending them back through just to put a date on them if they didn't have one

Have you emailed them and asked them this

I don't know what happened on LM factory and what they thought about
But all what I wrote above just a fact 

[Aberdrew13]

I'm going to need some help with this one....

I just got a JPST and it doesn't really fit any of the categories.



It's got the hollow rivets of a 3 (I think....this is my first hollow rivet PST)




It's has the lanyard attachment of a 4 and 5.

The knife blade is only stamped Leatherman.



It's got a right-hand cut can opener.



It's got staked plier pivots, and the plier head only says Leatherman.




It's has the handle stampings of a 5.



So, what do the gurus think?

[Poncho65]

I know it is a very nice looking old PST

[wowaboro]

I'm going to need some help with this one....

I just got a JPST and it doesn't really fit any of the categories.

It's got the hollow rivets of a 3 (I think....this is my first hollow rivet PST)
It's has the lanyard attachment of a 4 and 5.
The knife blade is only stamped Leatherman.
It's got a right-hand cut can opener.
It's got staked plier pivots, and the plier head only says Leatherman.
It's has the handle stampings of a 5.

I don't know how about 3,4,5 etc, my own JPST classification now counted 19 pcs 
Yours item is #16 (US REG’D TM 1325473, hollow rivets, lanyard attachment, LEATHERMAN on blade tang).

[gregozedobe]

I'm going to need some help with this one....

I just got a JPST and it doesn't really fit any of the categories.

So, what do the gurus think?

I'm not sure I'm qualified to be an official MTo "guru" but according to my version of the PST classification system I'd call that an early hollow rivet JPST v5.  All my v3 and v4 JPSTs have "hollow" rivets, and 3 of my 16 v5 JPSTs also have hollow rivets, so my theory is that fairly early in the production of v5 JPSTs they stopped staking the back side rivets, and from then on all v5 JPSTs had solid rivets (and this is by far the most common variant of JPSTs).  Of course I could be wrong

Congratulations on having a fairly rare variant JPST.

[Aberdrew13]

Thanks for sharing some knowledge with me guys.

I've also got a 5, so I was a little surprised at the similarities and differences. 

Here's to tracking down some more! 

[wowaboro]

Another interesting PST, which I haven't seen before:





This is standard modification with stamps on handles: POCKET SURVIVAL TOOL / LEATHERMAN TOOL / US PAT 4238862 / PORTLAND OR and cast on pliers head: LEATHERMAN USA, but... with Hollow Screws on pivots.
I couldn't resist and immediately bought it 

[gregozedobe]

Another interesting PST, which I haven't seen before:

This is standard modification with stamps on handles: POCKET SURVIVAL TOOL / LEATHERMAN TOOL / US PAT 4238862 / PORTLAND OR and cast on pliers head: LEATHERMAN USA, but... with Hollow Screws on pivots.
I couldn't resist and immediately bought it 

Good find    Most of these very early PSTs with hollow screws seem to have "Leatherman" only pliers (the ones I've had a chance to look closely at, anyway), so this one may have been built at a transition time while they were still doing hollow screws, but were changing over to the "Leatherman, USA" pliers (as on all the later US PSTs).

[wowaboro]

Most of these very early PSTs with hollow screws seem to have "Leatherman" only pliers

I have one Cabela's stamped PST with hollow screws and "LEATHERMAN USA" on pliers.
But you're right, Greg, most of hollow screws PSTs has pliers with "LEATHERMAN" only 


And some strange eBay auction, мaybe I missed something 
Why this standard PST sold as expensive?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222203817161?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[gregozedobe]

And some strange eBay auction, мaybe I missed something 
Why this standard PST sold as expensive?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/222203817161?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Beats me. From the photos with the listing it looks like a standard USA PST v2 - not a very common variant, but to my mind certainly not rare enough to attract such high bidding prices.  I have seven the same that I'd be happy to sell for that price 

Maybe it had hollow knurled screws and the competing bidders had asked the seller for more photos ?

[Poncho65]

I would say couple people got in a bid war on it and drive the price up

The sheath is a bit different though so that may have also contributed to it

How many of those sheaths with the different looking gold lettering do you guys have

[SteveC]

There were two of those in this lot and they went for less.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leatherman-original-multi-tool-lot-of-6-plus-cases-/272325833028?nma=true&si=%252BpBzadE%252FnhyyU9aujtEtHW%252BRkoY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[Poncho65]

There were two of those in this lot and they went for less.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leatherman-original-multi-tool-lot-of-6-plus-cases-/272325833028?nma=true&si=%252BpBzadE%252FnhyyU9aujtEtHW%252BRkoY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Whomever got that lot did very good

[SteveC]

yes they did, I made a run at it but got outbid in the last seconds.

[Poncho65]

yes they did, I made a run at it but got outbid in the last seconds.

Snipers usually always get me in the last few seconds as well

Which they have probably saved me thousands of dollars over the years though

[Aberdrew13]

I had bid up to $130 on that lot, but someone wanted it more.

[Paolo Enrico Pasco]

1980s?

[Paolo Enrico Pasco]

[Huntsman]

1980s?

I am not an expert - But I'd say more likely to be early 90s -
Metric/Imperial ruler / sabre shaped blade / US REG TM stamp
Take a look at the table in the first post of this thread.

Has it got date codes stamped inside the handle? It is quite likely to have these - given its other features.

[Paolo Enrico Pasco]

Thanks for the reply.
Doesn't have date codes inside the handles... It has Leatherman USA markings on the pliers and blade base, wire cutters doesn't have the stripper provision at the bottom part and no arrows.

[gregozedobe]

Looks like a later version 7 to me (double cut file on the outside), so possibly 1990's to Oct 1992.  Nice clear photos BTW, makes it much easier to identify MTs when you can see the details clearly

[Paolo Enrico Pasco]

After reading the op, I think mine's on this?

[Poncho65]

After reading the op, I think mine's on this?
(Image removed from quote.)

That would put it to late 80's all the way up until they started date stamping them in October of 1992 A very nice PST to have

[Poncho65]

After reading the op, I think mine's on this?
(Image removed from quote.)

That would put it to late 80's all the way up until they started date stamping them in October of 1992 A very nice PST to have

Which is very close to what Gregozedobe dated it

[SteveC]

Nice one Paolo