Schrade Tough Tool

[MultiMat]

I have been interested in the Scharade Tough Tool for awhile. I picked up a used one from a local Ebay seller for a reasonable price. I decided once tool was clean & lubed to let it loose on my eldest son's birthday present a mountain bike.
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It is funny I have picked up a couple of used MTs that are cosmetically banged up on the outside but have factory sharp edges  this is one of those.Both Def & Bob(J-sews) have done excellent reviews on this tool on the main site & the encyclopedia respectively. My tool looks like a series 1 ST1(1997ish). Some pics comparing the tool with my Surge & Swisstool.

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A better pic showing the shorter blade on the ST1
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                                          THE BLADES
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                                       Combined straight/serrated
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/multimat426/multitools/dd0b4802.jpg[/img]]
                                       Fully serrated
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/multimat426/multitools/c3ae92a9.jpg[/img]]
                                        Odd straight
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/multimat426/multitools/35c1e93e.jpg[/img]]
                                        Even odder Mini sickle 

Points of interest, the Phillips head has straight serrations which I teased you guys with in the macro picture post, I think the consensus was the serrations help with grip .
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Scharade included a dedicated tool for the ruler which has a hook remover on the end, I think a saw would have been a better option but there is that law 90% of MT's have to have rulers 
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The locking mechanism applies to 4 of the 10 tool bits.It is similar to Leatherman's Super Tool method of locking but in my opinion the ST1's is better.You can not fall into the trap of locking all the bits open like you can on the leatherman which requires levering the locks off with another tool. On the ST1 the middle tool bit is the lock release , which you do by pushing down on it (it is slightly raised compared to the other tools) the bit is not a locking tool so there is no worry about not being able to release the lock.It is also easier to push down on the lock release with gloves on than have to open a tool bit out like you do on the LM.(Micky  ).I wonder why Scharade did not make
the remaining outside tools lockable 
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                                  The raised tool/lock release
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                                   2 locking bits either side of the lock release bit.

Another feature I like on the ST1 is the cut outs to make accessing the nail nick easier, note to Victorinox     
                                    2 Pics of cutouts
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Some pics for Bob  , the layered/laminated pliers head, not found on latter series ST1's
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                                   THE BAD
The price of being different.Tool in hand the ST1 is 4cm wide the Surge is 2cm & its a huge MT, the Swisstool is 1.5cm . If you were a gorilla you may find the ST1 easy to use 
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                                          ST1 "The Handful"
[/img]
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                                          Surge in hand

The handles, when tensioning  the brake cable my hand kept sliding down the tapered handles towards the pliers 
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In summary the ST1 is a well made MT with a good selection of tools , its major problem is I found it very awkward to use. So I ended up using my LM Fuse to finish the bike assembly.
                                            THE BIKE
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[DaveK]

Great review Matt. That looks like an interesting tool, in a Vic Autotool / Leatherman Flair kind of way. You know - weird!

Thanks for the thoughts and pics.

[Gareth]

Great write-up and photos.   I'm sure I don't want one but I enjoyed reading about it.

[Grant Lamontagne]

One nice thing about the design of the locking mechanism on the Tough Tool is that it's very easy to make it legal in placed where locking blades are frowned upon- all you have to do it file off that little nub, which is only a few minutes work by hand or a few seconds with a Dremel tool.  Since the backspring is designed to function both as a backspring and a lock, it's got enough tension to keep the blade open during use, unlike many other knives and multitools where disabling the lock means a floppy blade.

Great write up- are you planning on making this one a shelf queen now, or do you envision yourself trying to carry and use it?

Just an aside- the experienced multitool enthusiast can pick out these problems after comparing it with other tools, but it was my father's only multitool for many years and he thinks it's the greatest thing ever.  Of course the tip of the blade is broken off, and it's got a hole drilled in it so he could tie a lanyard to it (my father has a total of 5 boats- a pontoon boat, aluminum fishing boat, 2 kayaks and a Zodiac, so a lanyard is important!) and a few other "mods."  Still, it took him a very long time to switch to the Spirit I gave him, saying it was his "Sunday Tool" and he didn't want to mess it up!

Def

[David Bowen]

I use to own one of those, was kinda nice and I ended up selling it to a guy at work. He later snapped of the blade and bent the phillips, how's that for love and respect 

[parnass]

I use to own one of those, was kinda nice and I ended up selling it to a guy at work. He later snapped of the blade and bent the phillips, how's that for love and respect 

Reminds me of the song entitled You always hurt the one you love.     

[american lockpicker]

I own 2 Tough Tools one is like the one shown above and the other is the slipjoint plier version(its unweldy so it it just sits in its pouch in my tool chest unused).

[Mr. Whippy]

Great review.  That funny little hooked blade is good for cutting baling twine and opening packing tape. The thing is damned sharp.

Great pics.

[Benner]

Nice review that. 

I still want to get my mitts on one.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Nice review and pics there fella

[MultiMat]

One nice thing about the design of the locking mechanism on the Tough Tool is that it's very easy to make it legal in placed where locking blades are frowned upon- all you have to do it file off that little nub, which is only a few minutes work by hand or a few seconds with a Dremel tool.  Since the backspring is designed to function both as a backspring and a lock, it's got enough tension to keep the blade open during use, unlike many other knives and multitools where disabling the lock means a floppy blade.

Great write up- are you planning on making this one a shelf queen now, or do you envision yourself trying to carry and use it?

Just an aside- the experienced multitool enthusiast can pick out these problems after comparing it with other tools, but it was my father's only multitool for many years and he thinks it's the greatest thing ever.  Of course the tip of the blade is broken off, and it's got a hole drilled in it so he could tie a lanyard to it (my father has a total of 5 boats- a pontoon boat, aluminum fishing boat, 2 kayaks and a Zodiac, so a lanyard is important!) and a few other "mods."  Still, it took him a very long time to switch to the Spirit I gave him, saying it was his "Sunday Tool" and he didn't want to mess it up!

Def

Def for me to use the ST1 it would be a exercise in penance , it is just too awkward for my small to normal sized hands. I just enjoy it in the context of were MT's have come from & were they are going. It was funny one of the Ebay sellers of ST1's had posted some promo testimonials from Schrade re the ST1,where satisfied customers proclaim it the Duck's guts of tools . If you have never used a MT before even a crappy one could be darned handy/invaluable.So I think your first solid MT has a special place, like your dad's ST1 had/has, even though newer ones are more refined(better  )

I use to own one of those, was kinda nice and I ended up selling it to a guy at work. He later snapped of the blade and bent the phillips, how's that for love and respect 

Wasn't your father in law was it 

[Leatherman123]

A few months ago, I bought the current  Tough Tool at Kmart.. I was SO disappointed! I don't think I was ever disappointed with a MT purchase before that! How could a company put a tool out like that? I can honestly say, I'd rather a Suspension! 

[WhichDawg]

excellent review and pics!

I felt like I was at the circus!

[J-sews]

Nicely put together Mat (the review, not the Tough Tool)

A well rounded multitool collection really needs to have one of these in it, just as an example of the variations in design ten years ago. Schrade obviously must have realized that the Tough Tool was an inferior design, but what else could they do? As a big American cutlery manufacturer with declining knife sales, they needed a plier multitool in their line-up, yet they waited so long to introduce one that all of the more conventional designs were already taken. Side-opening blades were one way around the Leatherman patents, but not a very good one.

[MultiMat]

Nicely put together Mat (the review, not the Tough Tool)

A well rounded multitool collection really needs to have one of these in it, just as an example of the variations in design ten years ago. Schrade obviously must have realized that the Tough Tool was an inferior design, but what else could they do? As a big American cutlery manufacturer with declining knife sales, they needed a plier multitool in their line-up, yet they waited so long to introduce one that all of the more conventional designs were already taken. Side-opening blades were one way around the Leatherman patents, but not a very good one.

Thanks Bob, I think on tool selection Schrade actually offered something legitimately different to LM & IMO their locking mech was much better than LM offering at the time (Super Tool) I am surprised that they  opted to have only 4 of the 10 tools locking  . Maybe they should have marketed the tool as perfect for the huge of hand or Gorillas 

A few months ago, I bought the current  Tough Tool at Kmart.. I was SO disappointed! I don't think I was ever disappointed with a MT purchase before that! How could a company put a tool out like that? I can honestly say, I'd rather a Suspension! 

Nikko sounds like you bought a made in China version , Bob did a good post on the massive difference in quality between the USA made Tough Tool & the China made one . It is sad when a company's name is bought & used with no regard to it's history of producing quality well made products 

[Leatherman123]

Yeah, I have the Taylor Cutlery version- unfortunately..

[hawkchucker]

Well it is offical I dont want one now. So thank you so much for saving me money!!!!

[Grant Lamontagne]

I want to get one of those cheap new ones for comparison sake, but I really don't want to part with a whole $13 for one....

Def

[hawkchucker]

Well there is one of the older schrades at the local aubachon hardware down the road and I was going to spring the 46 bucks for it, but no.

Plus I herd Def you love taylor.

[Leatherman123]

If I knew where mine was, I'd send you mine!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Well there is one of the older schrades at the local aubachon hardware down the road and I was going to spring the 46 bucks for it, but no.

Plus I herd Def you love taylor.

I love the fact that they don't have the cojones to challenge me when I say publicly that they are crap.  In fact, here's a picture of Taylor's factory...



Def

[Poncho65]

Well there is one of the older schrades at the local aubachon hardware down the road and I was going to spring the 46 bucks for it, but no.

Plus I herd Def you love taylor.

I love the fact that they don't have the cojones to challenge me when I say publicly that they are crap.  In fact, here's a picture of Taylor's factory...

(Image removed from quote.)

Def

 

Top notch review of the Tough Tool MM I never knew that they were that wide Thanks for all the good pics

[american lockpicker]

Well there is one of the older schrades at the local aubachon hardware down the road and I was going to spring the 46 bucks for it, but no.

Plus I herd Def you love taylor.

I'll sell you my USA made one like new with sheath and shipping for $40.00 USD.

[Benner]

Love the pic Def. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Well there is one of the older schrades at the local aubachon hardware down the road and I was going to spring the 46 bucks for it, but no.

Plus I herd Def you love taylor.

I love the fact that they don't have the cojones to challenge me when I say publicly that they are crap.  In fact, here's a picture of Taylor's factory...

(Image removed from quote.)

Def

Nothing like courting disaster is there

[Grant Lamontagne]

What, you mean from my continued taunting, or from actually attempting to use one of their piece of crap tools?

Def