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Antique / Vintage multitool episodes

GotBluntnose · 14 · 563
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nl Offline GotBluntnose

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Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
on: January 14, 2026, 07:26:55 PM
In the tradition of the wonderful topics Chako, Gerleatherberman and Jsews have done in the past, I will do a series of posts about my old multitools. I hope you all enjoy the current state of the oldies drawers.

Let's begin.

The Main drawer:

The first episode will be about the plier-type vintage multitools. stay tuned
Full metal blunt force trauma

us Offline Farmer X

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #1 on: January 15, 2026, 01:27:59 AM
 :like:
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Culling of the knife and multi herds in progress...

If I pay five figures for something, it better have wings or a foundation!
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us Offline IMR4198

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #2 on: January 15, 2026, 02:07:08 AM
  I know one member who would be pleased to learn something about these particular tools.  Great display.  Best wishes.  Gary
 :like:
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nl Offline GotBluntnose

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #3 on: January 15, 2026, 09:54:54 AM
Quote from: IMR4198 on January 15, 2026, 02:07:08 AM
  I know one member who would be pleased to learn something about these particular tools.  Great display.  Best wishes.  Gary
 :like:
  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]

I have never been able to very from where the original was manufactured. It could be either Germany or Japan. I've seen examples stamped by cutlery houses in both countries.
Full metal blunt force trauma

us Offline AzteCypher

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #4 on: January 17, 2026, 06:31:33 AM
Quote from: IMR4198 on January 15, 2026, 02:07:08 AM
  I know one member who would be pleased to learn something about these particular tools.  Great display.  Best wishes.  Gary
 :like:
  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]  

YES!!!

Here's mine!  I picked it out of the GAW box and I've tried to learn more about it but online resources seem scarce.

May the best of your past, be the worst of your future.

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nl Offline GotBluntnose

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #5 on: January 17, 2026, 09:42:49 AM
1. French Plier type pocket knives

France knife making history is quite interesting, there is even a city by the name of Thiers where most of the renowned knife brands are located. Comparable to Solingen for Germany, Sheffield in England, Seki in Japan and Maniago in Italy.

After the second world war France was once again in ruins and was busy begin rebuilt with the help of the Marshall plan. This economic recovery resulted in a vibrant export market where France made a name for itself creating high quality luxury goods.

Seaboard Steel pliers and wrench multitool pocket knives were one of the first to conquer the American market.
This nickel plated stainless steel plier tool carried a good quality knife, file-opener-flathead combination tool and a large spike/awl.
It is slim, heavy and very durable. You can still find them today on ebay in mostly good working function, some may have degraded nickel plating erosion or rusty pivot points, but for a 75 year old multitool this is to be expected.

Another great multitool is the L'ELECTRIC plier type multitool.
This variation is more specialized towards electrical work. It carries a gimlet for drilling holes in plywood, drywall or other softer material to feed wiring through. The file is replaced by wire stripping notches on the side, and at the base is a broad wire stripping cutter. The plierhead pivot states "L'ELECTRIC BREVETE" indicating is has been patented in some way.
There have been rebrands of which I have an Italian destined variation made for "Executive Line".

The final piece is a rare variation which incorporates a blade exchanger. The handle states "LEGRAND" and was originally part of an entire toolkit which I unfortunately don't own. Our contributor Jsews owns the whole set and I will share a photo later of the kit itself.

The Seaboard was the first of these on the market, late 1950 / early 1951. You can still find these newspaper ads if you search for them.
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us Offline J-sews

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #6 on: January 17, 2026, 04:12:22 PM
Oooh, fun stuff! I'm looking forward to seeing more!  :popcorn:

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fr Offline Nonaute

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #7 on: January 17, 2026, 05:09:42 PM
Great post  :like:

A lot of french tools here :D
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us Offline AzteCypher

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #8 on: January 19, 2026, 04:57:53 AM
Wow!  Very interesting.  Looking forward to more!  :tu:
May the best of your past, be the worst of your future.

Merit Badges  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 and post a photo of a fixed blade for thirty (30) consecutive days. Start a new thread with photos of at least 12 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, carry a keychain tool with pliers, and post a photo every day for 30 consecutive days 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. Start a new thread and post a photo of a traditional folder for thirty (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 SAK, duct tape, and paperclip, and post a photo every day for 30 consecutive days. ? 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. Participate in a challenge by carrying  a Combo Edged knife or Multitool and post a photo of it  for thirty (30) consecutive days. Find him! Participate in a Challenge thread, carry a Buck knife or tool, and post a photo every day for 30 consecutive days. Participate in a Challenge and post a photo of a Utility Knife for thirty (30) consecutive days. 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.  Post a pic for Halloween of your pumpkin (or turnip or gourd or whatever you traditionally carve for Halloween!) being carved by any SAK, multitool, pocket or woods knife you may own!  Only available once a year 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 Participate in a Challenge and post a photo of a Traditional Scout Knife (No SAK's Allowed) for thirty (30) consecutive days. Start a new thread and post a photo of any gear for thirty (30) consecutive days during the MTo anniversary month. Participate  in Challenge thread and post a photo of a Alox SAK for thirty (30) consecutive days.

us Offline SteveC

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #9 on: January 20, 2026, 06:00:59 PM
Great thread and collection !  :like:
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wales Offline magentus

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #10 on: January 22, 2026, 12:34:07 AM
Lovely stuff! Your collection looks amazing  :multi:
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nl Offline GotBluntnose

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #11 on: January 27, 2026, 02:54:35 PM
2. German made pocket pliers

I am going to focus on 3 types of German manufactured pocket plier type multitools.
The most prominent is the Hugo Berns "HUBEO" Pocket Tool from 1962. This is basically an improved version of the French Seaboard Steel pocket tool. The body is curved for more ergonomics and it carries a very large philips head screwdriver instead of the awl. The cutters are thicker and the nickel plating also seems sturdier. I can only determine this upon examining a few models I own and I have observed other sales listings of this Hubeo pocket tool to be in very good condition.

The smaller pocket pliers are a bit a mystery as to who/which cuterly house actually produced these. There are many brands/tang names on the knives inside these multitools. Lunawerk / Bonsa / Hoffritz / Voss Cut co / Henckels to name a few. The general characteristics show a finer plier tip, good quality knife, file-opener-flathead combination tool and a spikey sharp awl.
2 other more modern projects copied this design. One is the AG Russell pocket toolbox made in Seki Japan ( which will be featured in another episode ) and the above shown Marbles Safety Pliers, a chinese copy of the German original. It carries the same features, but is made from fully stainless steel and features a small philips head instead of an awl.

The last is a personal favorite of mine. The J.A. Schmidt Pocket Knife. It was first made in ~1899 and I suspect my copy was made a few years later. It has a very small but interesting plier incorporated in the design. And on the base there is an adapter to change seperate tools from a toolkit which I do now own unfortunately, Only the corkscrew. I have a demonstration on my youtube channel if you wish to examine it.: http://youtube.com/watch?v=InX4qxTLdzk
Patent page: https://patents.google.com/patent/US632792
« Last Edit: January 27, 2026, 03:01:30 PM by GotBluntnose »
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us Offline IMR4198

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #12 on: January 27, 2026, 03:05:03 PM
Excellent.  More.  More.  Best wishes.  G
 :like:
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us Offline AzteCypher

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Re: Antique / Vintage multitool episodes
Reply #13 on: January 27, 2026, 08:37:49 PM
Really liking that J.A. Schmidt. 
May the best of your past, be the worst of your future.

Merit Badges  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 and post a photo of a fixed blade for thirty (30) consecutive days. Start a new thread with photos of at least 12 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, carry a keychain tool with pliers, and post a photo every day for 30 consecutive days 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. Start a new thread and post a photo of a traditional folder for thirty (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 SAK, duct tape, and paperclip, and post a photo every day for 30 consecutive days. ? 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. Participate in a challenge by carrying  a Combo Edged knife or Multitool and post a photo of it  for thirty (30) consecutive days. Find him! Participate in a Challenge thread, carry a Buck knife or tool, and post a photo every day for 30 consecutive days. Participate in a Challenge and post a photo of a Utility Knife for thirty (30) consecutive days. 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.  Post a pic for Halloween of your pumpkin (or turnip or gourd or whatever you traditionally carve for Halloween!) being carved by any SAK, multitool, pocket or woods knife you may own!  Only available once a year 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 Participate in a Challenge and post a photo of a Traditional Scout Knife (No SAK's Allowed) for thirty (30) consecutive days. Start a new thread and post a photo of any gear for thirty (30) consecutive days during the MTo anniversary month. Participate  in Challenge thread and post a photo of a Alox SAK for thirty (30) consecutive days.

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