E306x knife

[Benner]

In a recent trade with Mikko (thanks again buddy  ) I received a Leatherman E306x knife.  The knife has a 154cm PE blade with thumb stud and blade launcher, Carabiner clip which doubles as a bottle opener, bit driver with 2 spare bits carried in the handle and a pocket clip.  The build quality is superb and so far I am really impressed with this knife.

Below are a few quick pics that I took earlier and a video which shows the blade launcher which is really smooth and quick...













And the video...

[nezza33]

Nice knife mate. Looks like a bloody good user to.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

No blood on the blade , Ben your learning

Looks like a nice little knife that, and having the bit driver's might make it a bit more acceptable for edc

[Tarrodemierda]

glad u dig it man

i think its the finest leatherman,judging by smoothness in action and overall finish.

[DaveK]

Very nice Ben. That (I think) is the one I tried to trade with Flash at the meet, but he was having none of it - lol. The one he would part with I can't identify. Flash told me it came as part of a box set with a Charge.

Basically it seems to be this knife:



..but with these scales:



I'm very pleased with it - but the one you have there is very much on my list

[Benner]

One thing I did notice with my one is that the blade launcher doesn't move without the blade moving.  I am sure the ones at the meet were different and the launchers could be moved with the blade closed  .  This I am sure resulted in some launcher "slip" which made it far more difficult to open than the one I have.

May have got that all wrong though.    There were A LOT of tools there.

[DaveK]

^^ No you're dead right. When the blade is closed the launcher thingummy will rotate freely (on this one at least), but it isn't loose - i.e. it won't move unless you force it too. I think it's deliberate, as you can actually use the same thingummy to close the blade one-handed too, whilst keeping your fingers safely out of the way. It also allows you to fold it out of the way so it doesn't protrude when closed. To use the launcher, you need to slide it back first but as there's no real play in it, it doesn't impare the launching action.

You might also recall that the one I had didn't launch too well either, but a bit of WD40 and a bit of wearing in and it works the same as your video now!

[Benner]

This launcher doesn't move at all unless it is actually launching the blade.  It certainly feels like it gives a more definate force to flip it open with than the ones I previously played with.

I wonder if they changed your design to mine, or the other way round? 

Anyone got a new one?

[Flash]

Benner,

I have 3 of this style left after my trade at the meet.

You are right in that all of them had movement in the blade launcher in that it could move in one direction without affecting the blade.  However, push it to the opposite end of the blade and it almost "engages" at a bite point.  From here the launcher works just like the on in our video.

Hope this helps,

Flash

[Benner]

Benner,

I have 3 of this style left after my trade at the meet.

You are right in that all of them had movement in the blade launcher in that it could move in one direction without affecting the blade.  However, push it to the opposite end of the blade and it almost "engages" at a bite point.  From here the launcher works just like the on in our video.

Hope this helps,

Flash

Thanks for that Flash.

Are all yours of a similar age?  Are they relatively new?

[DaveK]

I can't find a date stamp or anything on mine - so have no clue how old it is!

[Benner]

I can't find a date stamp or anything on mine - so have no clue how old it is!

Same here. 

[DaveK]

I can't find a date stamp or anything on mine - so have no clue how old it is!

Same here. 

It all depends on how good Flash's memory is then!

[Benner]

I can't find a date stamp or anything on mine - so have no clue how old it is!

Same here. 

It all depends on how good Flash's memory is then!

He's a copper so we will be fine.

They never forget. 

[DaveK]

I thought that was elephants 

[Benner]

I thought that was elephants 

It applies to elephants as well. 

[WhichDawg]

Congrats Benner!

blade launcher, isn't that illegal over there!

[jzmtl]

I thought in uk the blade is illegal to begin with, let alone launcher...  

[joebw]

Hi Benner,

The e304X and e306X are among my favorite Leatherman knives.  I've been carrying the e300 for a few weeks now and like that as well.  All of the first generation knives will be discontinued this year and replaced with the more rationalized Crater and Expanse series (20 new knives to collect).  See the Leatherman images page for more info. 

If you are interested in getting any of the first generation families, I wouldn't wait to long as the major retailers appear to be running their inventories down.  Oh by the way, potential collectors shouldn't forget the C301 with green FRN scales, the C308 in the gift set with the Surge (a c304 with c302 gray scales) and the e301, e303 and k500x in black oxide.

Cheers - Joe

[jzmtl]

I see your blade launcher, and I raise you... 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Before making a video like that you should count your fingers, then count them again when you are done, and hope you have at least a similar number both times!

Def

[Poncho65]

No blood on the blade , Ben your learning

That can only mean 1 thing Our little Global Tuffy is growing up

[Dunc]

Ben on my c303 with the blade closed you can rotate the flipper forward so it sits on top of the blade .why i dont know ,maybe it just notes it out the way if you choose not to use it .the date on the box is 2007 and it flips really smoothly ,cant use the flipper to close the blade though .                        Dunc 

[Benner]

Congrats Benner!

blade launcher, isn't that illegal over there!

Nope, launchersand assisted opening are perfectly legal to own in the UK.  It's just flick knives and gravity knives that are illegal to own (plus a lot more but they are irrelevant to this topic).  Infact, it's only the locking mechanism that makes these illegal to EDC (and if the length of the blade is over 3"). 

This I am sure will all be changing again soon though. 

[Benner]

Ben on my c303 with the blade closed you can rotate the flipper forward so it sits on top of the blade .why i dont know ,maybe it just notes it out the way if you choose not to use it .the date on the box is 2007 and it flips really smoothly ,cant use the flipper to close the blade though .                        Dunc 

Didn't think to look at the box  .  Mine is dated 2004, so it looks as though they decided to change the flipper to the one that can be moved whilst the blade is stationary.  I wonder why 

[DaveK]

Ben on my c303 with the blade closed you can rotate the flipper forward so it sits on top of the blade .why i dont know ,maybe it just notes it out the way if you choose not to use it .the date on the box is 2007 and it flips really smoothly ,cant use the flipper to close the blade though .                        Dunc 

Didn't think to look at the box  .  Mine is dated 2004, so it looks as though they decided to change the flipper to the one that can be moved whilst the blade is stationary.  I wonder why 

I suspect safety. In the closed position you can rotate the flipper round so that it doesn't protrude. That would mean that there is no chance of the blade "launching" in your pocket for example.

Just a theory.

[Dunc]

Heres a few picks Ben of my 'flipper'


Normal closed position





Launcher rotated to sit on the top of blade





Last up is a pic of blade open and launcher out of reach inside handle



Dunc

[Mike]

Before making a video like that you should count your fingers, then count them again when you are done, and hope you have at least a similar number both times!

Def

You're assuming he can count that high.

Mike

[Benner]

Great pics Dunc.    I still question why though? 

I'll take some pics of mine for comparison.

[Leatherman123]

Yeah, I am quite fond of the Leatherman knives!