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Rebranded / Promotional MULTITOOLS

GotBluntnose · 3 · 616
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nl Offline GotBluntnose

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Rebranded / Promotional MULTITOOLS
on: August 26, 2024, 05:23:50 PM
I'm on a quest to find out 'what constitutes what' pertaining branding on multitools.

These are the kind of things that keep me up at night, so I decided to write it down into categories:

REBRAND: ( A multitool sold for commerical purposes by a company that didn't manufacture it. )
PROMOTIONAL: ( A multitool gifted to employees or people at an event to commemorate an event or business )

- Soft rebrand: Usually laser etched or printed with the company's name or logo on the handle and/or blade. Original brand/logo usually present alongside rebrand logo.
- Hard rebrand: Usually stamped logo/name into the metal by hard press or cast on one or both sides of the handles. Most often the original manufacturers logo/name is removed for full rebranding purpose. In premium rebrands the entire box, papers and instructions are outfitted with the rebrander's company name.

Examples of soft-rebrand multitools:
- Victorinox printed on cellidor scales (LL Bean, Hoffritz, Boy Scouts of America)
- Leatherman printed on metal scales/blade (Bass Pro Shop, Marlboro, Cabelas)

Examples of hard-rebrand multitools:
- SOG fully stamped logo/brand on handle + box (Westmarine, Stanley, Harley Davidson, Penn International, Paladin, Master Mechanic)
- Bear&Son fully rebranded + box/sheath (LL Bean, Toolzall, Craftsman, Moore Maker, Remington, Nicholson, Red Devil, Hard Hat)

Mixed soft and hard rebranded multitools:
- Utica multimaster (CAT, Klein, Stanley, Winchester, Browning, Mountain Quest)

Other notable rebranded multitools:
- Multitool.ORG (Grant soft-branded the most multitools out of anyone I know)
- Kershaw A100 (Craftsman)
- Bucktool 360 (Yamaha, HarleyDavidson)
- Gerber MP600 (Snap-ON)
- Schrade Tough Chip (Craftsman)
- M4 Sebertool (IDL tools, Craftsman, Harley Davidson)
- Coast Pro Pocket Mechanic (Sharper Image, Endeavour)

Spoiler alert for followup post: Victorinox is the undisputed king of promotional multitools and pocket knives. (no surprise there)

Vintage/Antique side note: Older pre-70s era multitools often had their respective rebrand company names stamped onto the tang stamp on the base of the knife. Notable examples: Hoffritz, Lunawerk, Seaboard Steel, Morley and Bonsa.

I've added a photo of a few of my rebranded multitools for demonstration.  :D

Please add or correct me if I miss examples or need to shift or redefine parameters of 'what's what'.  :P

This post was inspired on a Reamer Punch thread made ages ago. I decided to restart anew instead of a necro.:
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=67868.0   :hatsoff:

I decided to leave the whole Chinese OEM Wave-NXT-Surge type clones off this topic, because that's a can of worms I don't want to touch just yet.
« Last Edit: August 26, 2024, 05:56:23 PM by GotBluntnose »
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us Offline IMR4198

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Re: Rebranded / Promotional MULTITOOLS
Reply #1 on: August 27, 2024, 07:13:56 PM
    Different sorts of things keep me from sleeping at night.  Not multi-tools.  Be that as it may, I enjoyed your nomenclature and classification of tools and the nice photos.  I noticed you didn't include any Wenger.  They made lots of things for advertising and companies like LL Bean.  Very interesting post.  Best wishes.  Gary
 :cheers:
Merit Badges Start a new thread with photos of at least 5 different Wenger models in your collection Start a new thread and post a photo daily of any SAK 74mm or smaller ( you can switch it up daily ) for thirty (30) consecutive days. Participate  in Challenge thread and post a photo of a Delemont SAK for thirty (30) consecutive days. Complete a 30 day challenge for carrying a different Multi tool each day of the week based on one of the daily carry threads Start a new thread and post a photo of any gear for thirty (30) consecutive days during the MTo anniversary month. Start a new thread and post a photo of the multitool for fifteen (15) consecutive days. Must start a thread with a photo of your EDC watch Must start new thread with photos of multitools (Magazine/Catalogue type photos) Start a new thread and post a photo of the multitool for seven (7) consecutive days. Participate in a challenge by carrying  a 100mm or 108mm SAK and post a photo of it  for thirty (30) consecutive days. Post your pocket dump photos then challenge two more members who must post their pocket dump photos within 24hrs for you to get the badge. Participate  in Challenge thread and post a photo of a Classic SAK for thirty (30) consecutive days. Participate  in Challenge thread and post a photo of a MiniChamp SAK for thirty (30) consecutive days. Participate in a Challenge thread and post a photo of a tool made in a specific country for thirty (30) consecutive days. ? Must update or add a page on SAKWiki Participate  in Challenge thread and post a photo of a SAK Soldier for thirty (30) consecutive days.  Carry tools with single functions only. No multi-tools, no multi-layer Swiss Army Knives, no combo one-piece tools and post a photo for thirty (30) consecutive days. Start a new thread with photos of at least 6 SAKs of different frame lengths and/or shapes in your collection. Eg 58mm, 74mm, 84mm regular, 84mm slim, 85mm etc Start a new thread with photos of your Buck knives in use Participate in a Challenge thread and post a photo of a SAK-alike, aka multi-layered, knife-based pocket tools for thirty (30) consecutive days.

us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Rebranded / Promotional MULTITOOLS
Reply #2 on: August 28, 2024, 04:44:42 AM
An interesting write-up! What GB terms "soft rebrand" are also known as "contract knives." Camillus was a pretty prolific producer of those.
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Merit Badges Participants shall carry and use one Soldier knife, the model of their choosing, for the duration of the 90 days and post a picture each day. Participate  in Challenge thread and post a photo of a Farmer X SAK for thirty (30) consecutive days. Participate  in Challenge thread and post a photo of a Delemont SAK for thirty (30) consecutive days. Must put something in order and provide link to the post. Participate in a Challenge thread, carry at least one black edc item, and post a photo every day for 30 consecutive days.  Carry tools with single functions only. No multi-tools, no multi-layer Swiss Army Knives, no combo one-piece tools and post a photo for thirty (30) consecutive days. Start a new thread or Post in a Challenge Thread and post a photo of a Spartan  for 30 days Start a new thread with photos of at least 6 SAKs of different frame lengths and/or shapes in your collection. Eg 58mm, 74mm, 84mm regular, 84mm slim, 85mm etc Participate in a Challenge thread and post a photo of a SAK-alike, aka multi-layered, knife-based pocket tools for thirty (30) consecutive days. Find him! Participate in a Challenge thread, carry knife/tool with a blade 4" or longer, and post a photo every day for 30 consecutive days. Participate in a Challenge thread, carry at least one green edc item, and post a photo every day for 30 consecutive days. Participate in a Challenge thread, carry a Victorinox Hiker, and post a photo every day for 30 consecutive days. Must start a thread with a photo of at least five (5) of your watches Build your own version of an MRE using off-the-shelf components, post a photo of the completed MRE and store at room temperature for 6 days or more. Consume the MRE after the storage period and post pictures and descriptions of the contents. Take part in the christmas pool or a rak type giveaway. Those wanting to say thank you for a rak may also nominate for the santa. Participate in a Challenge and post a photo of a Utility Knife for thirty (30) consecutive days. Participate  in a Challenge thread and post a photo of a LM Pocket Survival Tool for thirty (30) consecutive days. Start a new thread and post a photo of the multitool for thirty (30) consecutive days. Start a new thread and post a photo of the pen for thirty (30) consecutive days. Start a new thread with photos of your zip ties in use

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