Leatherman Free P2/P4 Club and Feedback Thread

[Wspeed]

Just a mindless rant for something I considered too overpriced. They did well for the advertising and marketing. 

For me it hasn’t got any tools where I see
a advantage or better quality than is already available 

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks for the insights, Sam. Unfortunately there isn't anything there that I hadn't expected, aside from the resistance on blade deployment. Tapered drivers are always going to be problematic on recessed fastenings, and mounting drivers on the end of cutting implements isn't what. We'd expect to see from a seasoned toolmaker either. It's a lot of money to pay, to be left disappointed 

[Aloha]

Is it possible that LM already designed their "BEST" tool?  The feedback on the Wave and Charge + QC overall
has been good.  That platform seems to be what ( LM included ) compared the Free series too and for good reason. 
In all fairness and stubbornness probably, I am a Wave/Charge/Surge/Bit Holder/Blade Exchanger fan.  It would be a challenge to get me to really like another tool that didn't bring it.  While I can admit there are somethings about the Wave/Charge that I'd like to see ( blade exchanger ), OHO scissors, top notch QC on every tool, I am not in a rush to seek out my primary tool. 

While I have made comments regarding Victoroinox plier offerings the small tweaks to their Swisstool have been really good ones.  The Spirit gets the love because if you've handled one and used one you'll know what great engineering is at play.  I think I've told y'all that I carry a Spirit now on my pants belt while the bulk of the work goes to my Charge TTi on my work belt.  I work in wet conditions as well as use stuff like WD40 or similar and the handling of the tool has not been an issue.  The issue is the soft steel.  My Phillips will be rounded over soon enough. 

I digress. the Free all on its own looks to be quite a good tool.  When you go against the BEST in your line up then you'd better bring it.  Thats my take.  If it were marketed as, LMs Free series the BEST EDC tool,  fine.  You cannot unring a bell and for many of us we heard them. 

The Wave and Spirit have battled for years.  No clear winner.  No champ will ever be crowned.  Many of us love both and several of us have our favorites.  Again the Free looks like a great tool but expectations from what I am reading doesn't live up to the hype.  Interesting thing to consider, Victorinox has not ( have they? ) promoted their plier based tools nor any changes to the Swisstool when they made them?  I bet most of their sales are word of mouth  of which they earned. 

 

[Sam Lim]

Thanks for the insights, Sam. Unfortunately there isn't anything there that I hadn't expected, aside from the resistance on blade deployment. Tapered drivers are always going to be problematic on recessed fastenings, and mounting drivers on the end of cutting implements isn't what. We'd expect to see from a seasoned toolmaker either. It's a lot of money to pay, to be left disappointed 

  The closing of the blade in my opinion is more accident prone than what they do on their liner lock. They say that when closing, the thumb will not be in the way of the closing blade. In actual fact, with their tradition liner, the speed of the closing can be controlled. With this new system with that spring assisting closing, the blade snaps close somewhere after the halfway mark. The middle, ring and pinky can be in the way. It IS indeed alot of $ to pay for. But being a member at MTO, I have become an addict.

[Aloha]

Sam would you carry this tool around the house for casual use?  Is this a tool that on a off day would make a good companion? 

[Sam Lim]

Sam would you carry this tool around the house for casual use?  Is this a tool that on a off day would make a good companion?

I dun like to deploy the blade, I dislike snapping the pliers open, I am afraid to use the screw drivers. If I only need a scissor and a pry tool, short answer, still no. Sorry..

[Aloha]

Well that stinks  .  For the collection then..........   

[Sam Lim]

Something else to note on my sentiment towards this new Free series. I am not from the part of the world that have wonderful no question asked warranty on LMs. This is not on my retail shelves yet. If we are talking about a regular LM with regular parts, I will not be afraid to use it. I can even volunteer to test them till the point of failure, if I am drunk enough. The Free is a whole new thing altogether. New parts, new design. I know repairing them myself is definitely out of question and sending back for warranty will be another challenge. Maybe, those drivers can withstand a reasonable amount of torque. But by gut feel and common physics, that is not quite possible. Many so called "improvements" are unnecessary. That pliers snap lock, to me is a hindrance, even rolling the tools open hurts my thumb. etc etc.. But as much as I do not have a positive feeling towards it, this is by far the most interesting and a completely new design by a manufacturer in many years. They are now like starting from ground zero again. There's heaps of refinement to be done to make this a comfortable and true user's tool.

[gerleatherberman]

When/if my P4 has a failure, I'll report it. I just can't know a driver is weak without seeing it fail(whether it is mine or a significant number of reports). Reasonable use so far hasn't shown the drivers to be a problem. I don't believe that conjecture is equal to evaluation.   

[Top-Gear-24]

Well that stinks  .  For the collection then..........   

I wouldn't go that far ...

Yes, the Free P4 doesn't offer that sturdy "I can handle anything" feeling that the Wave/Charge gives you, but this does not mean it will certainly let you down when you use it.  As others have said here before, as long as you understand that the Free is more of a "fun to play with" tool and not something that can replace the Wave/Charge, or Surge/ST300 while working a construction site, you'll be fine.

When you go for a hike in the outdoors, or a trip to the city and you just want to bring a tool in case you need to fix something along the way, like unscrewing the battery compartment from a certain device, or filing down a sharp edge on something that broke during you trip, or cutting a piece of metal wire to hold up the exhaust on your car to prevent it from dragging under your car all the way back ... you know, just one of those things that occasionally happen and which can ruin your day, I'm pretty sure the Free will deliver.

It's just not the tool to take with you when you know you're going to cut hardwire 2 hours in a row, or when you need to screw in 200 screws by hand, or ...  You guys know what I mean, right ?

And for all you "tool-photographers" out there, it does make for some sweet pics.  I would place it next to the classic Leatherman tools like the original Supertool, the PST, etc ...  and the new "old style" tools like the Rebar and the ST300 (and once again, last but not least, the Swisstool) when it comes to being photogenic.

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And in my opinion, it is fun to play with, just as I like to play with my Gerber MP600 (sliding pliers  ), or the mechanickal "bolt action rifle" clicks you get from opening and closing a Swisstool.

Just my 2 cents  .

[gerleatherberman]

I wouldn't go that far ...

Yes, the Free P4 doesn't offer that sturdy "I can handle anything" feeling that the Wave/Charge gives you, but this does not mean it will certainly let you down when you use it.  As others have said here before, as long as you understand that the Free is more of a "fun to play with" tool and not something that can replace the Wave/Charge, or Surge/ST300 while working a construction site, you'll be fine.

When you go for a hike in the outdoors, or a trip to the city and you just want to bring a tool in case you need to fix something along the way, like unscrewing the battery compartment from a certain device, or filing down a sharp edge on something that broke during you trip, or cutting a piece of metal wire to hold up the exhaust on your car to prevent it from dragging under your car all the way back ... you know, just one of those things that occasionally happen and which can ruin your day, I'm pretty sure the Free will deliver.

It's just not the tool to take with you when you know you're going to cut hardwire 2 hours in a row, or when you need to screw in 200 screws by hand, or ...  You guys know what I mean, right ?

And for all you "tool-photographers" out there, it does make for some sweet pics.  I would place it next to the classic Leatherman tools like the original Supertool, the PST, etc ...  and the new "old style" tools like the Rebar and the ST300 (and once again, last but not least, the Swisstool) when it comes to being photogenic.

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And in my opinion, it is fun to play with, just as I like to play with my Gerber MP600 (sliding pliers  ), or the mechanickal "bolt action rifle" clicks you get from opening and closing a Swisstool.

Just my 2 cents  .

Well said, T-G! 

And great pic! Indeed, it is a looker. Going to go get some pics in a bit.

[gerleatherberman]

Hard to get any pics without any shade today, but here are a few.

[Aloha]

Thank you TG24.  I wasn't generalizing I was more directing those comments to Sam  .  If the tool was going to be more for his collection purposes only based on his experiences so far.   

I wholeheartedly agree this tool looks to be a fine tool.  I like Sams follow up  .  Since he is not able to take advantage of LMs warranty he will have to, for now, not push the tool beyond his comfort.  Also that this tool is a "whole new thing".  I am applauding LM for this.   

I dont foresee failures, materials that is.  The drivers snapping, plier jaws breaking, etc etc.  Its not out of the question but until we actually see we can only guess.  I do hope this tool in those of you who have them continue to experience positive feelings from them.  The Free series while spendy for some sure looks every bit a tool for things that pop up.  TG24 you couldn't have said it better.  Might not replace anything in LMs lineup but theres really no need to.  We've got heavy duty tools and light duty tools.  We have room for in between tools.   

Sorry if I wasn't clear earlier. 
 

[Top-Gear-24]

Thank you TG24.  I wasn't generalizing I was more directing those comments to Sam  .  If the tool was going to be more for his collection purposes only based on his experiences so far.   

I wholeheartedly agree this tool looks to be a fine tool.  I like Sams follow up  .  Since he is not able to take advantage of LMs warranty he will have to, for now, not push the tool beyond his comfort.  Also that this tool is a "whole new thing".  I am applauding LM for this.   

I dont foresee failures, materials that is.  The drivers snapping, plier jaws breaking, etc etc.  Its not out of the question but until we actually see we can only guess.  I do hope this tool in those of you who have them continue to experience positive feelings from them.  The Free series while spendy for some sure looks every bit a tool for things that pop up.  TG24 you couldn't have said it better.  Might not replace anything in LMs lineup but theres really no need to.  We've got heavy duty tools and light duty tools.  We have room for in between tools.   

Sorry if I wasn't clear earlier. 
 

I misunderstood mate 

Now I get what you meant with "For the collection then..........  ", thanks for explaining  .

 

[genevabuck]

I give Leatherman credit for listening to their fans. When I have read the threads here over the years there has been a pattern of consistent wants:

Scissors-check
Replaceable wire cutters-check
Awl-check
OHO-check

[Wspeed]

Hard to get any pics without any shade today, but here are a few.

Nice pics GLBM 

[gerleatherberman]

Nice pics GLBM 

Thanks, W!


On another note: My P4 for the collection arrived today. 
Pics of the two P4s and the P2 coming later.

[gerleatherberman]

Big ole' P sandwich.

[gerleatherberman]

And looks like the first few production batches may have been the only ones without a date stamp. The latest P4 I received has one on the handle that the clip or lanyard things go, on the back of the pliers rest.




And, lastly, I feel like the latest P4 example isn't fitted/finished as nicely as my first one. Polished parts are ever-so slightly less polished(see photos to see more pronounced grinds on the tool spines). Not enough to really really piss me off, but I feel like every example of the P2/P4 should be perfectly fitted/finished like the first ones. I felt like the first one was worth $140, but I feel like the second one I got is worth $110(yet is cost $140 as well).

Edit: Please note the top P2 and botton P4 are both covered in oil I put on every tool I own to stop spotting and hasn't dried yet. Makes them look funny.

[Wpgwave]

Went from the Wave to the Charge+, to the P2.

I wanted the pocket clip and a lower profile.

I am now wondering if I should have gotten the P4.
D’oh!

I love the P2. Am I going to regret not getting a bulkier tool for a few options I’ll never use?
Probably!

How much heavier is the P4, how much thicker? Real world feel, is it noticeable?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gerleatherberman]

The P4 only gives you two more implements. A wood saw and a serrated blade. Both of which work VERY well. I went with the P4, because it is the same weight as the Charge TTi I usually carry and has a similar toolset. Not as good of a toolset in function, but similar.
I'll weight both in a bit and take the calipers to them and post again.

Welcome to the forum, Wpgwave!

[gerleatherberman]

P2 - 219.7g(7.753oz) with pocket clip attached.
15.5mm(0.61") thick at the scales.
19.7mm(0.77") thick at the lock release.

P4 - 247.1g(8.716oz) with lanyard attached.
17.2mm(0.68") thick at the scales.
20.9mm(0.82") thick at the lock release.

[Blackbeard]

maybe the uncoded ones will be collectors items in the future, being the first ones made 

[gerleatherberman]

maybe the uncoded ones will be collectors items in the future, being the first ones made 

I think you're right. I spent all evening changing the handles with the date stamp out between the dated and undated ones. 

Note: Check the polarity of the magnets before putting the stuff back together. I had one all together and popped the pliers back in and the handles were repelling each other. 

BTW: There is only one single magnet in each handle. It is the new locking system and springs that are cantankerous to reassemble if the owner doesn't take MTs apart very often.

[Blackbeard]

I think you're right. I spent all evening changing the handles with the date stamp out between the dated and undated ones. 

Note: Check the polarity of the magnets before putting the stuff back together. I had one all together and popped the pliers back in and the handles were repelling each other. 

that sounds cool, on this end  I'm sure it sucked tho

[Raoul Octav]

Hello there, i have ordered a P4 and can't wait to get it. Today or tommorow.
Anyway... I heard that LMN will/is shipping free (no money) pocket carrier for the users who have bought a P4, cuz this one has a lanyard.
Is yhere any truth behind, should i stress lmn support?

[gerleatherberman]

that sounds cool, on this end  I'm sure it sucked tho

Hello there, i have ordered a P4 and can't wait to get it. Today or tommorow.
Anyway... I heard that LMN will/is shipping free (no money) pocket carrier for the users who have bought a P4, cuz this one has a lanyard.
Is yhere any truth behind, should i stress lmn support?

Congrats, Raoul! 
It is a fun tool for sure. 

I'd email them and see. I need to do the same.

[Top-Gear-24]

maybe the uncoded ones will be collectors items in the future, being the first ones made 

Oh that's just great...

Now I need to get another one... 

Just as I did with my first Wave + that came with different lettertype "Leatherman" and without the "+" on the handles.

I swear they are doing this on purpose  .

[gerleatherberman]

Since the date coded ones are the latest ones, you're going to need to make sure you have an undated P2 and P4 before they're all gone to new owners.

[Top-Gear-24]

Since the date coded ones are the latest ones, you're going to need to make sure you have an undated P2 and P4 before they're all gone to new owners.

My P4 has no date codes, and I'm probably going to wait a while before I get a second one, first of all to make sure it's one with date codes and second because they are quite expensive over here...

And that's also the reason why I probably won't go for the P2 (probably being an important word in that sentence  ).