What (pliers-based) multi-tools have non-locking blades?

[Dunkeld]

Asking this due to legal carry restrictions here in Scotland.

Any advice/opinions appreciated.

Had a Schrade toughtool from new (the original, USA made one) but it has a locking blade (I'll get round to selling/trading it). Because I can't just carry it around on my person (without specific purpose) or have it sitting in my jeep like I used to I've kind of ended up decommissioning it which seems a shame.

I could go for a sak with pliers but I think I prefer to separate out light tinkering (sak) from more serious jobs (multitool).

[Etherealicer]

I'm sure someone will make a list for you (I'm not that familiar with the non-Victorinox-Spirit products )

Depending on desired size:
Wenger Pocket Grip

If blade-less is an option:
Gerber: MP-600 bladeless (but its also incredible easy to make your own bladeless mod)
SOG: While no bladeless factory model, they  too are easy to mod and SOG itself offers individual tools like a wire-stripper that you could put in place of the blade.

[ducttapetech]

Just off the top of my head
LM PST
SOG Paratool
Old Mister Pinchy
SOG PPP


That's us mobile.
Nate

[hiraethus]

Juice and Kick (if you can find one) are non-locking.

Or mod one - taking the blades out of a Fuse/Blast/Rebar etc is pretty straightforward.

[pingu]

I would say give up on having a blade in your MT, there are plenty of UK legal folder options.   Accepting that has transformed my EDC.

Sure I have a Juice S2 which is hard to beat for occasional light duty urban carry but for heavier duty I'd always go for locking tools.  Rebar is a great frame to make knifeless.  Losing two blades gives lots of scope.   A favourite mod is to add scissors which is still a glaring Rebar omission 

Other options could be replacing the blade in a Wingman/Sidekick/Rev.  Not a locking tool but the drivers have a very strong lock-up.

My own favourite MT is a knifeless blunter-nosed Spirit.  Won't say how I made it knifeless but it now has a lanyard ring which is a stock omission.

[ToolJoe]

LM PST2

If you can find one, LM made a knifeless Fuse.

[Zed]

Isnt the bears and sons non locking 

[dks]

Most Ganzo products

[Zed]

Ive heard mentioned that even if blades dont lock if you put handles together they act as a lock,uk laws same as scotland,hence why general day to day i carry a sak,for work i carry my spirit,you could grind the tab on your schrades blade to make it non locking, easy job 

[rdub934]

Another nod for the Wingman/Sidekick - really easy to mod and cheap(ish). If you get a Sidekick, you will have an internal, non-locking serrated blade. Then just ditch the main blade and swap in some Wingman scissors. You could probably swap in whatever you wanted if you are comfortable with a little grinding (SOG implements?)

And speaking of SOG, the Pocket Power Pliers are a great non-locking tool.

[ToolJoe]

I thought both the Wingman/Sidekick had an external locking blade? 

[Werkzeug]

Another vote for the Wingman. I carried it with me when I travelled around the UK last year. It has screws (not rivets), so it was easy to just take out the blade, then pop it back in when I returned home.

I found it a bit heavy, even with the pocket clip, but it does have a fair number of tools for the price. Pair it up with something like a Victorinox Spartan (for the blade, corkscrew + mini screwdriver, and better can opener) and you'll be nicely equipped.

Know what you mean about wanting everything in one tool, but I found that having two was a real advantage -- couple of occasions I held a nut with the wingman, then tightened with the driver on the SAK.

[shibafu]

I believe Scottish law has the same "bladed or sharply pointed article" concept as England and Wales, so that's something you need to beware of if de-knifing a multitool, especially with locking implements.  E.g. if you remove 2 knife blades from a Rebar, you still have a saw, can-opener and awl that are bladed or sharply pointed.  In England there is at least case law that says a screwdriver is not a bladed article.

[Dunkeld]

Many thanks for all the replies. I'll report back with what I ended up going for.

[zoidberg]

Don't forget the pics too.   

[gregozedobe]

Isnt the bears and sons non locking 

The later versions were locking (they had funny looking un-locking levers).

http://wiki.multitool.org/tiki-index.php?page=Bear+Jaws+155+Variations

[rdub934]

I thought both the Wingman/Sidekick had an external locking blade? 

Indeed they do. But they are easily removed. I have a Wingman, I removed the blade and put the saw from a Wingman in it's place. No grinding required, and it still locks up pretty easily. Very easily modded tool platform.

Leatherman should really consider offering the WM/SK as a "build-your-own" type of platform.

[Mextreme]

I think it´s quite easy to find a leatherman original tool.

Bahco 8674 is a low price tool with surpricing quality.

Leatherman Juice series

[shibafu]

Bahco 8674 is a low price tool with surpricing quality.

I have one of those, it's good for the price. It has a beast of a corkscrew that knocks all other multitool corkscrews into a cocked hat. It got me out of a bind when I did this to my regular kitchen corkscrew.  Though I did have to wrap the handle in a towel to stop the edges digging into my hand when hauling on the cork.

[AimlessWanderer]

I don't think anyone has mentioned the Gerber Balance yet....

[Dunkeld]

As promised, this is me getting back to you all with my decision.

First off, I want to sincerely thank everyone for their suggestions. I looked into each and every one of them and considered what they bring to the table.

So, what did I end up going for???............


.......A SWISSTOOL SPIRIT PLUS   


The more I thought about it, the more I just couldn't face non-locking blades/tools on a decent sized MT for EDC. What about 'the law' I hear you cry? Well, I've decided not to worry about it. 95% of the time I'm either up the hill/in the woods/at work/in the garden garden/at home....or on my way to or from these things. That's good enough reason for carry and I'm happy to argue the point if push comes to shove. I also feel like the big majority of policemen are sensible enough to know the difference between a MT in the hands of someone who clearly is going to use it for the intended purpose and some guy high on drugs running around his local estate with a samurai sword. 

Anyway, the Spirit only has a butter-spreader, right? 

[ToolJoe]

You can find Leatherman Kick's pretty cheap on Ebay...

[Dunkeld]

You can find Leatherman Kick's pretty cheap on Ebay...

In the U.K, ebay doesn't allow listings of MTs or SAKs, though you can search further afield. The problem is that most stuff listed on ebay sites outside of the U.K don't ship to here.

Anyway it's too late now. Spirit Plus (with ratchet, bits, corkscrew and leather pouch) is on it's way to me....£62 delivered from amazon warehouse deals (damaged box).

[BASguy]

I'm absolutely mystified by these places that have laws restricting just about anything sharp and pointy.  Not sure what that says about a society that can't trust its own citizens with locking pocket knives?  Seriously mind boggling....


Sent from 9 miles from the face of the sun

[AimlessWanderer]

Congrats on the new Spirit fine choice of multitool 

Throw a SAK in your pocket too, and just use that when you need a knife or other tool in places where others may become unsettled or ask questions 

[shibafu]

I'm absolutely mystified by these places that have laws restricting just about anything sharp and pointy.  Not sure what that says about a society that can't trust its own citizens with locking pocket knives?  Seriously mind boggling....

In the UK the restriction on locking knives was a bit of a legal accident.  When parliament passed the law, they intended to allow locking pocket knives up to 3".  But the legislation was not explicit on that point, and the first time it was tested in court, the judge took the interpretation that locking wasn't permitted.

It was only later that the records of the parliamentary debate came to light that made the original intention clear.  But when a second test case was brought based on those records, the judge considered it insufficient to overturn the previous precedent and said that it should be up to parliament to resolve the inconsistency, if they wished, by primary legislation.  This they have never done, and it's hard to imagine it happening now after we've made do without lockers in our pockets for 20 years.

If the lawyers in the original precedent-setting case had been a bit more on the ball and searched Hansard for the relevant arguments, we might still be allowed locking pocket knives today.

[firiki]

I'm absolutely mystified by these places that have laws restricting just about anything sharp and pointy.  Not sure what that says about a society that can't trust its own citizens with locking pocket knives?  Seriously mind boggling....

Keep in mind not everyone agrees with the laws passed by a government and that having laws repealed or even changed often requires major social uproar.

Sharp and pointed minds aren't officially outlawed yet still they've always been considered undesirable by central authorities and people who can't handle gainsayers and discussion. Inversing your question one might wonder about widespread firearms ownership and what does that say about a society that deems it necessary.

[Dunkeld]

Congrats on the new Spirit fine choice of multitool 

Throw a SAK in your pocket too, and just use that when you need a knife or other tool in places where others may become unsettled or ask questions 

Yeah, that's my next mini debate.....which SAK to pair it with. 

I already have an alox Rancher and it looks like a good pairing for hill/woods/garden as it gives me a standard blade not covered by the Spirit AND the oh-so lovely pruning blade which is great for whittling and piercing.....it also looks like it would do well at gutting, especially fish and smaller game (not had the chance to try it out yet). In all other situations, I'm thinking a Compact....standard blade, different type of scissors, scale tools and corkscrew. O.K, I'm getting a corkscrew attachment for the Spirit but can't see myself assembling that at a social event...far easier for all concerned to just whip out a Compact.

I do like the Explorer I currently EDC but I really don't need a magnifier layer. I checked last night and the magnifier on the Swisscard in my wallet does fine, though I can't remember ever actually needing it. The in-line philips is a thing of beauty but the Spirit covers that along with the Vagabond/Rambler that I'm planning to stick on my keychain.

A Mechanic also appeals as two pliers can be handy sometimes, but I do like a corkscrew.

[firiki]

Congrats on the new Spirit fine choice of multitool 

Throw a SAK in your pocket too, and just use that when you need a knife or other tool in places where others may become unsettled or ask questions 

Yeah, that's my next mini debate.....which SAK to pair it with. 

Sounds like a job for Ecoline Huntsman (compensate for iffy Spirit wood saw) or Handyman (SAK pliers + the kitchen sink but no Philips, mag glass and fish scaler). I have both, I love both. Good to see you like the Rancher, I love that one too. +1 on the Rambler.

The Compact is interesting but I never could warm up to it. A word of caution, it is easy to damage the corkscrew on these thin SAKs by twisting it.

Edit #2: The pen blade on 91mm SAKs can't be praised highly enough...

[AimlessWanderer]

Congrats on the new Spirit fine choice of multitool 

Throw a SAK in your pocket too, and just use that when you need a knife or other tool in places where others may become unsettled or ask questions 

Yeah, that's my next mini debate.....which SAK to pair it with. 

I already have an alox Rancher and it looks like a good pairing for hill/woods/garden as it gives me a standard blade not covered by the Spirit AND the oh-so lovely pruning blade which is great for whittling and piercing.....it also looks like it would do well at gutting, especially fish and smaller game (not had the chance to try it out yet). In all other situations, I'm thinking a Compact....standard blade, different type of scissors, scale tools and corkscrew. O.K, I'm getting a corkscrew attachment for the Spirit but can't see myself assembling that at a social event...far easier for all concerned to just whip out a Compact.

I do like the Explorer I currently EDC but I really don't need a magnifier layer. I checked last night and the magnifier on the Swisscard in my wallet does fine, though I can't remember ever actually needing it. The in-line philips is a thing of beauty but the Spirit covers that along with the Vagabond/Rambler that I'm planning to stick on my keychain.

A Mechanic also appeals as two pliers can be handy sometimes, but I do like a corkscrew.

With a Rambler or Manager on the keyring, I think a Compact would be an excellent pairing. I do know what you mean about the pruner blade though. It's one of the reasons I like the Original Outdoors man so much, along with the serrated blade. My Mega84 mod was inspired by this which is why I have both plain and serrated main blades, but sacrificing the awl slot to have both backspring Phillips AND corkscrew meant I went for the inline alox awl rather than pruner blade.

I still have the pruner blade though (I sacrificed a Rancher for the awl), and plan on putting that and a serrated blade from a Weekender on a CT34 and losing the pliers. I just can't decide whether to add a file too, and/or the clock scales off a Voyager....

Pruner, serrated main, corkscrew
Scissors and hook with nail file
Cybertool layer
Opener layer with awl
Plus scales

That sounds to me to be a pretty perfect urban 91mm (for me). I just need to decide if the metal file and woodsaw will improve it, or will spoil it with the extra weight and thickness.