A super oldie, Duluth DH-18

[aerojet]

So ?? Multi tools are new? In some form or other they have been around forever. This popped up the other day while I was cleaning out an old tool box.

It is Duluth DH-18. A vintage pliers with an adjustable wrench and screwdriver / pry bar. Not in bad shape from all the years I used this toy on the job. From my research it is worth about $30.00, I think back in the early 70's I paid about $5.00 for it, and I thought that was a lot back then!

What old multi tools do you have sitting around?

[ColoSwiss]

Hi aerojet,

Welcome aboard.

The 'HandyBoy' has been around for a long time. Back in the 1950s various surplus dealers sold them as 'paratrooper' pliers or 'ski troop' pliers (don't believe they were ever actual military issue).

[aerojet]

The truth is, I got home from the overseas, all expenses paid vacation and was setting up some kind of tool box.. I went over to the local hardware store and found this item. Never saw it before or knew about it, and thought it was really neat! All these years later, I have never found another one, so I thought I had a real find.

Funny how life moves - how much you know and more how much you don't know about.

[Smaug]

It's a neat idea. A crescent wrench, slip-joint pliers, and big flat screwdriver are three of the most useful tools in a toolbox.

US-made too; it MUST be old. 

[Sazabi]

That same tool was in a couple of Ka-Bar's belt packs, whether nautical or land-based.  The nautical kit came with a rigging knife and a marlin spike, but I don't remember what the land kit had; SMKW has a display of one of the kits on their showroom floor.  It is a rather neat tool.

[cody6268]

I could really get some use out of one of these! Those three things are what my grandfather usually has me running to get while working on equipment the most.

I typically carry a Leatherman, but this is much more heavy duty than even it.

I hope to find one on the cheap at the flea market eventually, even if it's a little rusty.

Oldest ones I have--The Camillus TL-29 and a Colonial scout-style knife. I'd assume both were made some time in the '70s according to my research. I carry the TL-29 often as it's a really heavy duty knife and very useful.  I've used the locking screwdriver as a pry bar and screwdriver often.   The Colonial is falling apart, so I can't carry it anymore unless I figure how to tighten it up.

[ColoSwiss]

There's a Chinese-made copy currently available. Don't have any experience with it, but would not expect much.

I gave one of the original ones to my Dad for Christmas decades ago. Can't find it among the tools I inherited, so no idea what happened to it.

[Yadda]

The DH-18 is the large version.  There is a smaller DH-16 that is more common.

[ironraven]

This is extremely cool. If only we could make them again today.

In the States.