Another MT aside my Raptor

Gabi Arzumanov · **on:** July 19, 2015, 11:50:53 PM

Hi guys!

im an EMT and i just ordered the leatherman raptor as it seems to be the perfect MT for my job.
but this MT has a downsides for me - no proper knife, screw driver and piler...

so i thought about getting another MT, nothing fancy but useful.

after exploring the internet im thinking about the leatherman wave but it seems to be heavy.

any recommendations?

thank you!

SteveC · **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2015, 11:52:39 PM

Hi and welcome to the Forum, have you looked at the LM Rebar ? Great tool load and is fairly light and compact.

sawman · **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2015, 11:55:34 PM

<---- Another vote for the Rebar. It's so compact and offers everything (but scissors).

Demel · **Reply #3 on:** July 20, 2015, 02:44:18 AM

And yet a third vote.The rebar is a great compact, lightweight full size mt. It also is easy to use with gloves on (if your job requires it) good luck on your search.

Gabi Arzumanov · **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2015, 05:30:51 AM

Thanks guys! Im very pleased to see comments so quick...

I have my doubts with the rebar because of the Short knife and that it's not accessible from the outside.

Do you think it's really the best choice for me?

SteveC · **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2015, 05:44:05 AM

If you need outside opening knife then the Wave is your best bet. It's only 2 more oz in weight than the Rebar.

Rossko07 · **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2015, 08:51:27 AM

Knife, screw driver & pliers? I can only think of one. Skeletool! Light weight and no fancy stuff. The basics.

Chako · **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2015, 02:58:11 PM

Here are some suggestions for you in no particular order.

1. Have you looked at the Buck X-Tract Fin. Everything is one hand opening, which I imagine might be of some interest to an EMT. The Fin for fishing model also comes with a good pair of scissors that could act as a quick backup to the larger medical shears. Likewise, the Buck X-Tract Fin can be used to break glass even though it doesn't have a specific glass breaker.

2. Victorinox Emergency Knife. This 111mm knife is designed specifically for emergency work, especially in dealing with vehicle accidents where the door may not open, this knife will let you remove the windshield in a hurry. No pliers, but then, how often would you need a pair of those in your daily duties?

3. For Leathermans, you would want outside opening main tools...so that leaves you with the Wave, the larger Surge, and the OHT. I would personally go with the Surge over the Wave. It is only 100 g more but a bit more versatile due to the eyeglass driver and the driver bits that can be interchanged with whatever you may need in the field. However, there is one more Leatherman that should be on your top pick list, and that is the OHT. The best thing about this tool is the Gerberesque sliding plier head. It also features outside opening tools...so call this the best of what Leatherman has to offer that might meet your needs as an EMT simply because it offers the most for one hand opening in the Leatherman lineup.

4. You could also go with a Gerber MP600. This offers you one hand opening pliers, but everything else is locked away as an inside opening tool.

5. There is also the SOG Powerassist B66 which offers you spring loaded PE knife and serrated knife that are perfect for one hand opening. Also, this model offers you a belt cutter. However, the other tools are not outside opening.

6. And then there are a lot of other emergency knives and tools out there that you might find of interest and use...

http://www.realworldsurvivor.com/2014/09/30/top-13-lifesaving-emergency-rescue-tools/#13-rescue-tools-boker-plus-rescom

Hope that helps you.

Aloha · **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2015, 03:47:18 PM

Great suggestions Chako. I'd second the Rescue/Emergency tool from Victorinox which can be so versatile in your line or work. You could pair this tool with a Pocket Wrench 2 which is a wrench with pry bar use not to leave out a good driver as well.

If pliers are a must then I'd go with the Wave. Once on belt the weight IMO is not over bearing.

Have a look at the Wenger Ranger 75 Handyman.

Gabi Arzumanov · **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2015, 07:10:37 PM

wow i really liked the b66 looks amazing! and the wave as well!
all i need is the knife to be accessable from the outside, the rest is not critical.

so the b66 or wave? the prices for me from ebay are about the same (here its double...)

Chako · **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2015, 09:13:49 PM

Ok...here are a few new photos for you then comparing the size between a Surge, a Wave, a SOG PowerAssist, a Leatherman OHT, and I threw in my pair of Raptors so that you can have a direct size visual.

Weight wise, the Leatherman Surge is 12.5 oz, The Wave is 8.5 oz, and the SOG PowerAssist is 9.6 oz, the Leatherman OHT is 9.9 oz.

Here is a comparison of the Leatherman Surge versus the Leatherman Wave. Note that the Surge gives you larger scissors, and an exchangeable saw/file. This allows you to buy different types of saw blades for different uses. You do lose the file capability if you use the saw however.

And seeing that you have expressed a liking for either the Wave or PowerAssist, here they are together.

Here is the Wave, PowerAssist, and OHT.

A closer look at what the OHT has to offer. Note that the OHT features shorter tools, but all can be accessed from the outside. The sliding pliers are one hand opening by using the flick method. There is also a locking mechanism to lock down the pliers closed if so desired.

Blade lenght on all of them does vary. The Surge is the longest, with the Wave and PowerAssist very close in the middle of the pack, with the OHT having the shortest blade.

Considering width, there isn't much surprise here. The OHT is wider by a small margin due to the sliding pliers.

Some notes for comparison:

As far as weight goes, they are all reasonable. I find the heavier Surge no issue as an EDC. The SOG is around 1 oz more than the Wave, but is a larger tool similar to the heavier Surge in length. Blade length is very similar between the Wave and PowerAssist.

PowerAssist

You get compound leverage plier jaws. 2 outside facing knife blades that are spring activated. You first unlock the sliding locking tab, then press up on the round slider button. This will pop the blade out a little. With a light touch, the spring will take over and the blades will swing open quickly and lock in position. To fold away, you have to revers the steps. This is a bit fiddly at first but with a little practice, it is rather smooth and quick. The rest of the secondary tools are hidden under a latch, that requires the pliers to be deployed first to access...so these are inside folding tools with a cover plate covering them. That plate can easily be removed, but in place, it does offer you a very comfortable grip when using the pliers. Note the lack of a saw...however, you could buy a separate saw component and exchange it for something of like thickness in the tool. SOGs are easily modified to suit your needs providing you have the parts, which SOG does sell separately. The belt cutter could be useful for an EMT.

Wave

With the Wave, you get 4 outside opening tools. The secondary tools contain two bit drivers. one for eyeglasses featuring a removable double ended flat and Phillips driver. The larger bit driver can take any of Leathermans flat driver bits which are sold separately in kits. The small scissors could be useful for an EMT.

Surge

Heavy and feature rich. Removable saw/file is very versatile. You can buy a wood saw, or a metal saw, etc. Basically all the Wave has but larger, oh and the scissors are a nice size compared to that of the Wave.

OHT

This largish multitool's claim to fame is that Leatherman used the Gerber method of sliding pliers. This makes the tool somewhat wide or fat, but not overly much. Everything is easily access with one hand. Need the pliers, you can flick it open. Need any of the other tools, they are all one hand reachable. The only downside to this largish multi-tool is the size of the tools. They have to be shorter to have them all open outwards. The OHT gives you a belt cutter...useful for an EMT. Forgot to add the OHT also features set of pliers that are held open via a spring.

Bonus photo.

I hope that helps you.

Etherealicer · **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2015, 09:16:30 PM

Thanks Chako, never knew the OHT was this big

Aloha · **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2015, 09:37:14 PM

What a great photo comparison. Who knew I needed a Power Assist

Thanks Chako, thanks alot

Chako · **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2015, 09:46:49 PM

sawman · **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2015, 10:53:11 PM

Thanks Dan, and sweet looking Power Assist you have there

David · **Reply #15 on:** July 20, 2015, 11:04:28 PM

Raptor and a OHT is a good combo. Which might suit your needs.

Gabi Arzumanov · **Reply #16 on:** July 20, 2015, 11:08:00 PM

wow! thank you so much chako!!!

i have one last question - forget the scissors and the belt cutter, since il get the raptor its not very relevant.

my uses are for electronics and computers aside my work so im looking at the blades, drivers and the pliers.
the OHT looks great but the short blades seems too short.

bottom line - im ordering from ebay and i found all the tools in about the same price when the surge is the most expensive (97$), the sog for 90$ (no sheath), the wave for 86$ and the OHT for 80$.

so if we eliminate the price factor - what do you recommend?

Chako · **Reply #17 on:** July 20, 2015, 11:32:26 PM

Just be aware that duplication is a good thing out in the field.

Ok...for computer use you say? Well in that case...may I confuse you more with two more suggestions. All the ones I have mentioned will also do the trick.

1. Leatherman MUT. I say this because this super large multi has a pair of super long driver bits which are useful working in computer/electronic cases. You can also find interesting new uses for the dis-assembly pin and carbon scraper. The MUT was designed to help soldiers maintain their rifles in the field. As such, the MUT also comes with a nice V cutter/belt cutter (that duplication thing again) and hammer combo. The knife is very large...and seeing that it is the big cousin to the Skeletool, offers a lot of one handed access as well. It will be more expensive than the other options however. I have a few and the MUT is my motorcycle go to tool that I carry on my travels.

2. Victorinox Cybertool 34 or 41. The 29 removes the pliers, etc...and I think that may not meet your needs. The pliers are small, but large pliers are usually not needed when working on smaller electronics or computer components.

http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Cybertool

For wire work, a Leatherman Squirt ES4 would be nice.

They all are easily recommended, as they all are quality pieces. It is up to you to decide which tool will meet your current and future needs the best.

Gabi Arzumanov · **Reply #18 on:** July 20, 2015, 11:53:34 PM

thank you... alot...

im gonna go with the OHT

i narrowed it down to OHT and the SOG but the OHT seems somehow in better quailty. and the one hand using is very important. i dont think the length of the blades are a deal breaker...

so thank you guys a lot... il order it next month. if anyone interested i will order this - give me your opinion on my choice and on the link if you can.

thank you everyone! glad i found this site.

sawman · **Reply #19 on:** July 21, 2015, 01:13:37 AM

I wish you would not rule out the SOG. Their quality is perhaps even better than the OHT. I'd highly recommend a Powerlock or Power Assist.

Yadda · **Reply #20 on:** July 21, 2015, 01:28:43 AM

If you aren't sure and want to test drive at a lower price point consider the Leatherman Wingman. Great tool at a great price! It isn't the same quality of the pricier tool, but it will give you an inexpensive dart board start for what you like and don't like....

Gabi Arzumanov · **Reply #21 on:** July 21, 2015, 05:34:54 AM

Thanks guys!

Sawman don't think i ruled out the powerassist just because i think it's less quality.
In my opinion the OHT is better suited for my needs, from the all one hand tools to the extra oxygen tank wrech and replaceable cutters.

Yadda because of the little price difference here i think il go with the best rather than the cheapest from them.

Chako · **Reply #22 on:** July 21, 2015, 01:09:33 PM

Sounds like you have put some good thought into this. You will like the OHT.

Mind you, if you hang around here any longer, you will probably find yourself with an OHT, a Wave, a Vic Swiss Tool, a (insert other models in plural here) down the road anyhow.