Anyone want to play SwissTool vs Charge?

[turnsouth]

Ran into an interesting conundrum. I've been working with the Charge, doing different things, and I've found that I don't like the way it feels in my hand as much as I do the Wave.

[TangoDown]

I have the SwissTool RS, SwissTool Spirit, Charge Ti & Wave. I EDC in my backpack the Spirit. I EDC on me the LM Juice S2. In my "toolbag/BOB" is the SwissTool and is the one I use for the majority of my fixer-up projects around the home and various projects away from home. So when I have a task to do, I slap the ST on my belt. I usually grab a handful of "proper tools" from my bag and start off using them but end up using the ST more for the convenience of having a bunch of tools actually on me and readily reachable. I also always have a folding knife w/ superior blade steel than the ST or Charge on me that is OHO. This sort of makes it redundant to have the OHO blade feature of the Charge/Wave.

So with that background:

SwissTool advantages - has awl, many tools, all tools open form closed, great assortment and design of tools especially the chisel/wire stripper, prybar, belt cutter & scissors, smooth opening/action, excellent fit-n-finish, the bit kit/wrench attachment uses standard drive.

SwissTool disadvantages - kinda slippery, more blunt-nose of pliers

Charge advantages - less slippery, more of a needle-nose pliers, serviceable

Charge disadvantages - rusts readily, all tools do not open from closed



I love my Charge and Wave and do use them but I do feel the ST and ST Spirit are superior for my uses.

 The "slipperyness" of the drivers was remedied by a few strokes on all the flat contact surfaces with my DMT diamond whetstone that I use to sharpen my knives.

[Dtrain]

I have been carrying a SwissTool for over 6 years...As of late not on my belt,but in my "Jack Pack" as I like to call my Frankenstiened Wenger School Pack...The downside that I have noticed with my Swisstool has been the "Slipperyness",the Bulky Pliers which may or may not be stronger than Leatherman's but definetely falls short at times as a Needle Nose.and finally the slipping on fasteners(which I too corrected with a Sharpening stone..I do think that the X has a great selection of tools and is durable as hell and if you can live without the One Handed Blade advantage of Leatherman's Offerings a pretty decent choice

Dtrain

[turnsouth]

Old thread, just an update.

I still haven't decided. Although I have gotten comfortable using the Charge, which makes the decision even harder.

So here is my plan: I'm going to be traveling in July and whatever tool I take will be the winner (for now). When I have a winning tool, I will draw from those who sided with it for the giveaway prize.

 

[sergemaster]

Amici,
I believe I have in my GHB at the moment is a Swisstool X, followed by a Cold Steel Beavertail fixed blade, and a titanium breacher bar made by countycomm.

Although I like and enjoy LM tools, for a large MT, the Swisstool is pretty hard to beat.

Cheers,
Serge

[Snipe315]

Well I've seen several comments about how good the SwissTool looks compared to the Leatherman Charge.

I don't buy or carry a multitool based on how it looks.  I care about how it works.  And my Charge has served me well for over 6 years.  It replaced a LM Wave that I carried for over a decade.

For me and my uses, the LM Charge does everything I need and more.

[turnsouth]

Although I like and enjoy LM tools, for a large MT, the Swisstool is pretty hard to beat.

Cheers,
Serge

It is a great tool, and other than the Wave/Charge line of tools, I have always favored 4&½ inch (11&½ cm) tools.

[turnsouth]

Well I've seen several comments about how good the SwissTool looks compared to the Leatherman Charge.

I don't buy or carry a multitool based on how it looks.  I care about how it works. 

Good point, but if you look at my starting post of this thread, you'll see that the main reason for the discussion is because of "looks"

[MultiMat]

I have had 'a few'  . BO Swisstools pass through my hands & I gotta say the way some of them have been terrible nail breakers drives me a bit nuts  . I have  often found the inner 4 tools on the saw side can be really tough to get out.
I am not sure why some have been good & why some have been a pain  . So yep Swisstools look very schmick BUT the way your finger nails look like a ferrets been gnawing away on them after trying to get the tools deployed with a Swisstool is not cool 

[turnsouth]

I have had 'a few'  . BO Swisstools pass through my hands & I gotta say the way some of them have been terrible nail breakers...

Since I've been collecting SwissTools I've found this to be sporadically true for all of them regardless of the finish. There will sometimes be tight tools on one side on new tools, and I've also found that the tools will tighten up with lack of use on older ones. (like I wrote about here)

The only thing that I found to work is cleaning (on used ones), lube, and regular use.

BUT the way your finger nails look like a ferrets been gnawing away on them after trying to get the tools deployed with a Swisstool is not cool

There is a reason that the inspectors use watch case knives in the Vic factory

[Mercury]

Every swisstool and spirit I've handled has actually been Metal Perfection.  I've never found a flaw on any of them, but i've only owned about 3 of each.

[Huntsman]

Old thread, just an update.
I still haven't decided. Although I have gotten comfortable using the Charge, which makes the decision even harder.
So here is my plan: I'm going to be traveling in July and whatever tool I take will be the winner (for now). When I have a winning tool, I will draw from those who sided with it for the giveaway prize.
 

Just came across this old thread (looking for something else) - And it looked interesting !!

But I want to know the end of the story ...... 

• Which tool won and ..
• Who won the prize

[Alan K.]

I like them both and would be comfortable with either one.  There's just one thing that would make me choose the Leatherman over the Swiss Tool and that is the one hand opening blades.  Everything else being equal, if you found yourself somehow entangled and having only one hand to open your knife to cut yourself free from the entanglement, well, there's no substitute for the one hand opening blades on the Leatherman.  Think some kind of entanglement sounds far fetched? Look at the requirements that the sailing community put forth for all crew members on racing yachts to have a rescue knife on them at all times as well as an extra one attached by the main hatch of each racing yacht.

Oops, I just noticed this was an old thread.

[G-Dizzle]

No love for the SwissTool?  That's just weird! 

There is a third option- you could go for teh Charge as it's lighter, OH blades and so on, but add a Victorinox ratchet to the sheath.  The extra weight would be negligeable but it would allow you to use the ratchet in conjunction with the Charge's screwdrivers or pliers (depending on your needs) as well as allowing you to use standard 1/4" bits.

And I'd keep the SwissTool handy as well, because let's face it, some jobs are just too bloody big for a Charge!

Def

Or you can definitely make do with the LM bit adapter on the swisstool if needed

[G-Dizzle]

I like them both and would be comfortable with either one.  There's just one thing that would make me choose the Leatherman over the Swiss Tool and that is the one hand opening blades.  Everything else being equal, if you found yourself somehow entangled and having only one hand to open your knife to cut yourself free from the entanglement, well, there's no substitute for the one hand opening blades on the Leatherman.  Think some kind of entanglement sounds far fetched? Look at the requirements that the sailing community put forth for all crew members on racing yachts to have a rescue knife on them at all times as well as an extra one attached by the main hatch of each racing yacht.

Oops, I just noticed this was an old thread.

+1 on the old thread