Texas Tool Crafters Collection Pieces.

[Chako]

For a time, between 2012 and 2017, Texas Tool Crafters came out with a few interesting collector pieces. I started seeing them in Ebay searches, and at the time, they appeared to be a cut above some of the stuff I was already buying off of Ebay prior to and including during that time period. For example, there was a guy in Michigan USA that was hydro filming various multi-tools to make them look like carbon fiber or camouflage finish back in 2009/10. I thought that was a grand idea for my collection, and bought many of his works before he disappeared. Mind you, these hydro film wrapped multi-tools are fragile as all get out as the covering flakes off quite easily. No, what Texas Tool Crafters offered was something more permanent and durable. They changed their name to TX Tool Mod back in 2014 probably due to Leatherman's legal actions...but that is just open conjecture on my part. The original company was located in Houston Texas I believe...and eventually ended up in Conroe Texas. My information could be wrong however, and I am not exactly 100% sure about this information. If anyone has anything more factual...feel free to correct me.

Their first pieces I saw hit the market were the laser engraved modifications. They soon expanded their repertoire into ceramic coatings, anodizing, gold platting, Damascus blades, and wood handles for the Charge lineup. I bought a little of everything except for the super expensive wood handled Charges.

They eventually got sued by Leatherman, and settled around 2017, because at that time, all their tools were laser etched as a modified tool by Texas Tool Crafter, and quite often with a serial number as well. One can surmise that Leatherman was probably tired of telling folks that because they didn't modify the tool, the warranty was void, or something along those lines.

They did not appear to survive much longer than that...as today, they appear to not be in business. They still have a dead Facebook page up, and it is always worth a look to see what was.

https://www.facebook.com/Texas-Tool-Crafters-292788700818054/

Other than a few other web sites that have a bit of info when the company was still functional...that is about all you can find about them online these days.

Here is a 2015 web site that talks about some of their interestingly named Texas Tool Crafters modified tools.

http://www.dudeiwantthat.com/outdoors/tools/texas-tool-crafters-leatherman-mods.asp

As mentioned, not much of an online presence existed beyond 2017. Even the above Facebook page died around that time.

I was a good customer of theirs during those first years when they sort of made a big splash. I cannot feel a bit jaded to find that Leatherman now offers similar services on their official web site.

Enough about the back story and on to the photos.

Gold plated Micra.
IMG_8797A by Chako, on Flickr

Gold plated Sidekick.
IMG_8802A by Chako, on Flickr

Gold plated Sidekick carabiner.
IMG_8837A by Chako, on Flickr

Laser etched Sidekick.
IMG_8804A by Chako, on Flickr

IMG_8806A by Chako, on Flickr

Gold plated Wingman.
IMG_8809A by Chako, on Flickr

Laser etched Wingman.
IMG_8811A by Chako, on Flickr

IMG_8812A by Chako, on Flickr

IMG_8813A by Chako, on Flickr

IMG_8814A by Chako, on Flickr

IMG_8815A by Chako, on Flickr

IMG_8816A by Chako, on Flickr

IMG_8817A by Chako, on Flickr

Gold plated Skeletool.
IMG_8818A by Chako, on Flickr

Ceramic Skeletool.
IMG_8819A by Chako, on Flickr

IMG_8820A by Chako, on Flickr

IMG_8821A by Chako, on Flickr

IMG_8823A by Chako, on Flickr

Gold plated SuperTool 300.
IMG_8824A by Chako, on Flickr

Laser etched SuperTool 300.
IMG_8826A by Chako, on Flickr

Anodized Charge TTi.
IMG_8827A by Chako, on Flickr

Gold plated Fuse.
IMG_8829A by Chako, on Flickr

Gold plated Blast.
IMG_8830A by Chako, on Flickr

Gold plated Wave with tools.
IMG_8831A by Chako, on Flickr

Black oxide and gold plated Wave.
IMG_8833A by Chako, on Flickr

Laser etched Wave.
IMG_8834A by Chako, on Flickr

Gold plated Rebar.
IMG_8836A by Chako, on Flickr

You can tell I was most partial to the gold plated tools.

 

[Pauldmmwc]

NIce collection you have there Chako.
I also have 4 of the waves, mostly with Damascus blades.
My orange one became an EDC and the coating has taking a bit of a battering. She still pretty though.  (The orange spot is just blanking out the name in the pic)

                                      

[gregozedobe]

Nice tools chako 

I was taken by the rich colours too (they are very pretty), so I ended up with 3 TTC Skeletools:  gold plated, purple & green 

[Chako]

Nice Wave Pauldmmwc. 

I agree gregozedobe...the ceramic Skeletools have that nice glowing sheen.

I really liked the 10 micron thick gold plated models however. Most of mine where purchased up to 2014.

[Poncho65]

Great pics of a great bygone era in LM modding history It really is a shame that they went out of business They made all of the special models (similar to what LM makes in limited runs now ) years ahead of them They had some very interesting tools and although I never ended up with one, I wished I had I am sure LM did have a hard time explaining to customers why their tool couldn't be warrantied though and can understand the aggravation it must have caused them at the time

Thanks for the pics and the write-up

[Chako]

 

[Yadda]

Conroe is a small town north of Houston.  I see TTC tools occasionally on Craigslist here in Houston.  Great collections guys!

[Yadda]

Conroe is a small town north of Houston.  I see TTC tools occasionally on Craigslist here in Houston.  Great collections guys! They are always pricey.   

[wowaboro]

All the tools shown above are easy to disassemble and the role of the TTC was to buy tools from Leatheman, disassemble, coating of some parts and assemble. I have a more interesting TTC item - nonseparable 24K gold plated Juice CS4. I wonder at what stage the tools and rivets were gilded and where was the final assembly on Leatherman or on TTC?

[Chako]

At TTC I would wager. I doubt Leatherman would do it for them considering all the legal battles.

[Chako]

Here is something of interest.

When Texas Toolcrafter started selling their modified Leathermans...they came in this presentation case. it must have been a short run..as I only have the 2.

IMG_9059A by Chako, on Flickr

[Poncho65]

This makes TTC look even worse with the whole LM can't warranty this as it has been modified ordeal that they went through

Someone not in the know would definitely think this was made by LM since it has their 1983 established date and nothing with TTC on it 

[Chako]

Probably why they did not use them for very long I reckon.

[chrono]

I have a few TTC pieces, mostly bought off eBay. I should have bought more during their clearance sale on eBay. I also gave two pieces away: a black Wave with damas blades, and a Charge with four Ti scales in four different colors  (an eBay clearance piece). Nowadays, I have two Waves with Charge blades and pliers heads and random gold plated components here and there (another clearance buys), and a full-fledged gold plated Charge with damas main blade. Their damas blades are inconsistent in texture and quality though.

I must say, small guys like TTC kept multi collecting fun. I cannot see myself using LM custom shop. I hope another one pops up and offering blades with different steels. There is a complete void in that market.

[Poncho65]

Would be cool to see but I would say LM probably has lawyers on the lookout from this point on So it probably won't happen (not for long if someone does anyways ) 

TTC filled a nice niche for several years and was great to see what they created