Looks like Leatherman CRUNCH discontinued...

[sawman]

The link goes dead on Leatherman's website and they seem to be drying up on eBay...

Can anyone confirm this?

[Obi1shinobee]

 

[Poncho65]

This is definitely something that needs to be looked into I will check on my phone but if someone with access to a laptop or desktop could also check it out Might even be worth dropping LM an email

Before I could get this post submitted I just live chatted with someone from LM and they said they had no plans to discontinue the Leatherman Crunch

[sawman]

This is definitely something that needs to be looked into I will check on my phone but if someone with access to a laptop or desktop could also check it out Might even be worth dropping LM an email

Before I could get this post submitted I just live chatted with someone from LM and they said they had no plans to discontinue the Leatherman Crunch

Then why remove it from their online store

[Poncho65]

I was still in chat and told them about the broken link and they said it may be because they are out of stock at the moment as they said that happens from time to time

[sawman]

Let me get this straight....

They're out of stock... so instead of saying "Temporarily out of stock", they just pull the link?

What a SLOPERATION!

[Poncho65]

Let me get this straight....

They're out of stock... so instead of saying "Temporarily out of stock", they just pull the link?

What a SLOPERATION!

That or they don't want anyone to know it really is being discontinued or not Or just a broken page link Just reporting what they told me

[Fuzzbucket]

Coincidentally, i had a quick look this morning for used ones on the US eBay and was shocked to find only three... and one of them was in bits!!!

[ironraven]

Actually, the hiding things that are out of stock is becoming more common. It's all part of a theory some halfwit beancounter came up with. Business paradigms, a sign that everyone can be talked into doing something stupid by people who they pay money to. I really hope they aren't giving it the axe. .

[ThundahBeagle]

Amazon lists them as "in stock" for about a buck ten.

[captain spaulding]

Dang thats expensive for a Crunch!

[ThundahBeagle]

None of the Amazon sellers is NetRush...

[ThundahBeagle]

What's the normal MSRP for a crunch, say, as of last week?

No hate on Crunch lovers out there, but if I'm spending $100 for a Leatherman, I'm buying a Surge or Super Tool 300 and a good Irwin Vice-Grips. You can't really use the other tools when you have the jaws clamped around a pipe anyway. That's just me. Maybe chime in here and school me, and remind Leatherman why they should not pull the plug

[b_martin]

I can go to the Crunch page on their Canadian site and it doesn't say out of stock. Don't know why anyone would pay $140 for a Crunch when they could get a different Leatherman and some good vise grips for that price 

[gerleatherberman]

The idea is that you have vise grips on your MT. Vise grips are pocket destoyers! The execution is not perfect on the crunch, but it is really old MT design. I own a first year 1999 Crunch. If you consider how old the design is, it is brilliant. Demand for the Crunch is relatively low and they are complex to produce, and do not share any parts with other LM tools. That is why they are costly. The build quality is equal to any other MT in the price range as well.
I hope they are not discontinued, but it could stand a revamp in some respects.

[Poncho65]

I would love a reimagined or a bigger Crunch Could call it the SMASH

[gerleatherberman]

I would love a reimagined or a bigger Crunch Could call it the SMASH

That'd be the perfect name for it!

[Aloha]

I would love a reimagined or a bigger Crunch Could call it the SMASH

That'd be the perfect name for it!

That is a good name.

[hiraethus]

What's the normal MSRP for a crunch, say, as of last week?

No hate on Crunch lovers out there, but if I'm spending $100 for a Leatherman, I'm buying a Surge or Super Tool 300 and a good Irwin Vice-Grips. You can't really use the other tools when you have the jaws clamped around a pipe anyway. That's just me. Maybe chime in here and school me, and remind Leatherman why they should not pull the plug

You can't use the other tools on a Surge when you're gripping something with the pliers either.

I've got a Crunch and it doesn't get much use but I'm glad I've got it.  It's one of the coolest tools Leatherman make, IMO.  Folding vice grips!  It's remarkable small and amazingly capable.  It'd be a shame for LM to stop making it, but 18 years is a pretty good production run.

[magentus]

Shame. I handled a Crunch at the meet and they really are cool. If I could choose one LM it would be a Crunch for sure.

[Poncho65]

It's one of the last of the old school tools that LM have left and I would be sad to see it go as well

[b_martin]

The idea is that you have vise grips on your MT. Vise grips are pocket destoyers! The execution is not perfect on the crunch, but it is really old MT design. I own a first year 1999 Crunch. If you consider how old the design is, it is brilliant. Demand for the Crunch is relatively low and they are complex to produce, and do not share any parts with other LM tools. That is why they are costly.

That makes sense.

[gregozedobe]

I'm definitely a Crunch fan.  When you need locking pliers then normal pliers just won't cut the mustard, while the locking pliers on a Crunch will work well as normal pliers too and are surprisingly robust for a smallish tool.  It is compact when folded up, and it even has a driver for std (full size ) 1/4" hex bits.  I have a Crunch in all my vehicles, and every now and then one of them comes in very handy and makes me glad it was there when needed.

I'll concede it is a bit fiddly to set up the pliers ready for use, but unless you are using it very frequently I don't see that as a big drawback (and if you are using it that often then maybe you should be looking at a dedicated tool rather than an MT ?  )

If LM are discontinuing the Crunch I might just buy a few more as spares.

[ThePeacent]

I hope not! my Crunch was taken among my other stuff this August and it was one of my favorites. 
I only had one due to cost (they are $160 new here in stores) even though I got it used for $85, and I want to replace the lost one ASAP, but if they're discontinuing them they'll be much more $ and hard to find, especially here     

[gerleatherberman]

I hope not! my Crunch was taken among my other stuff this August and it was one of my favorites. 
I only had one due to cost (they are $160 new here in stores) even though I got it used for $85, and I want to replace the lost one ASAP, but if they're discontinuing them they'll be much more $ and hard to find, especially here     

If I lost or had my Crunch stolen I'd be soo sick to my stomach! Hope you can find one for a reasonable price! It is a great tool to use or collect. A unique tool in the MT world! The first and still the only folding locking plier tool by a big name company.

[cody6268]

The idea is that you have vise grips on your MT. Vise grips are pocket destoyers! The execution is not perfect on the crunch, but it is really old MT design. I own a first year 1999 Crunch. If you consider how old the design is, it is brilliant. Demand for the Crunch is relatively low and they are complex to produce, and do not share any parts with other LM tools. That is why they are costly. The build quality is equal to any other MT in the price range as well.
I hope they are not discontinued, but it could stand a revamp in some respects.

Put two small holes in inside liner of the pocket of my Army surplus raincoat when a 6LN model sprung open. Plus after handling the Crunch, I was surprised at how compact it was--not much bigger than a PST.   I'm still holding out for a used one sub $50.

[AimlessWanderer]

No love lost here. I never saw the appeal. I did use one a few times, but wasn't enamoured by it.

I preferred the Grappler, primarily for the supporting toolset, as I don't think the pliers were as rugged as those on the Crunch. However, I have since robbed one of the tools off the Grappler for my Knifeless Wave, and haven't decided what to do with the rest of the tool.

My preferred locking pliers multi is the LC6. Not as pocketable, but PROPER locking pliers with full 1/4" bit driver, and no assembly/disassembly needed to use it.

[Breezy12]

I'm definitely a Crunch fan.  When you need locking pliers then normal pliers just won't cut the mustard, while the locking pliers on a Crunch will work well as normal pliers too and are surprisingly robust for a smallish tool.  It is compact when folded up, and it even has a driver for std (full size ) 1/4" hex bits.  I have a Crunch in all my vehicles, and every now and then one of them comes in very handy and makes me glad it was there when needed.

I'll concede it is a bit fiddly to set up the pliers ready for use, but unless you are using it very frequently I don't see that as a big drawback (and if you are using it that often then maybe you should be looking at a dedicated tool rather than an MT ?  )

If LM are discontinuing the Crunch I might just buy a few more as spares.

completely agree with you on this one, Greg.

I also keep a Crunch in my car, and it has certainly come in handy on more than one occasion. Like you said, there are certain times when normal pliers just won't get the job done.

[Aloha]

I have only seen one Crunch at the flea market.  It was way over priced so I passed on it.  I carried and used mine for a while.  I have no issues other than I have 2 small sized vise grips on my vehicle that are pocket sized.   Neat tool and I'd liked to get another. 

[gregozedobe]

Plus after handling the Crunch, I was surprised at how compact it was--not much bigger than a PST.   I'm still holding out for a used one sub $50.

You will be doing well to get one for under $50, most of them seem to sell for $55+ these days.  I just picked up my #2 spare for $58.24 (including shipping within USA).