Multitool.org Forum
Tool Talk => Events Forum => Topic started by: J-sews on February 11, 2008, 12:34:50 AM
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The Schrade Cutlery Company of Walden, New York introduced the Tough Tool ST1 in 1997. It had an unusual sideways-opening blade style that some people liked, and others didn't. The knife blades did lock in place, but the arrangement caused the tool to be rather wide when folded. I can remember several aquaintences in the Construction Trades that carried Tough Tools on account of their size and dependability. These guys particularly commented on the strength of the laminated steel plier jaws.
Fast forward to 2004, when the once-mighty Schrade company declared bankruptcy, closed its doors and ceased production of the ST1 and all their other tools and knives.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT.jpg)
But never fear, the Taylor Brands company soon acquired the proud old Schrade name and immediately commenced making knives and tools in China and stamping them with the Schrade logo. It's taken a few years, but the latest old product to be resurrected is the Tough Tool ST1.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT3.jpg)
A discerning eye will pick up on the fact that these Asian Tough Tools are not made with the same tooling that produced the ST1 in New York. Rather, the new tools are made along the same patterns as the old ones, with significant differences. Note for instance the laminated plier jaws, a signature feature on the original (upper photo, below) has been replaced with a plier jaw produced from a single casting. (lower photo, below)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT6.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT5.jpg)
Also worth noting is the blade selection, all of which used to be sharpened and polished to a tee, are now somewhat rougher and cruder in appearance.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT7.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT8.jpg)
I especially noticed the locking notch on the spines of the blades, with looked to have been done somewhat haphazardly with a snag grinder. (below)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT4.jpg)
So at first glance, I was somewhat underwhelmed by the appearance of the "new" ST1 Tough Tool from Taylor Brands/Schrade. However, to be fair, I was not able to put this tool through its paces at the Shot Show and do a thorough review. I'm supposed to have a sample coming my way in the next few weeks though, and will report in detail at that time.
*Note: the ST1 Tough Tool actually became available early last year. The ST2 Tough Chip, another model previously made in New York, will be available later this spring.
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I especially noticed the locking notch on the spines of the blades, with looked to have been done somewhat haphazardly with a snag grinder. (below)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT4.jpg)
They look awful! :(
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I noticed an ST3 on that page at the top. Any info on this one?
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I'm so glad to see the greatest multitool ever made is making a comeback!
I still have my Tough "to open" Tool!!!
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That looks like a really shoddy tool if ever there was one >:(
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The ST3 looks a little bearish.
No?
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I don't know, with that cork it looks more like it's "flairish" :P
David
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Looks rough, and kind of sad.
That said I will probably end up buying one to add the form factor to my collection. For some reason the older American-made Schrade ST1s I see second hand always sell for astronomical prices, even though no one really wants one. (http://forum.multitool.org/Smileys/default/huh.gif)
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Anyone want to take a guess why I didn't write the Taylor review? :P
Def
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Anyone want to take a guess why I didn't write the Taylor review? :P
Def
I was waiting for your comment. :D
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Me? I would never comment publicly on what a crappy company Taylor is... after all, they are very successful bottom feeders!
Def
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Is that lawsuit's I hear in the distance...
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Go ahead and sue me... with any luck their lawyers are just as high quality as their products, in which case I've nothing to worry about! :D
Def
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Go ahead and sue me... with any luck their lawyers are just as high quality as their products, in which case I've nothing to worry about! :D
Def
:D ,thats probably very true :D
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again- If Taylor would like to put their money where their mouths are, I will happily test any of their tools and if I am proven wrong, I will post it here. As any long time readers of my reviews here and on SOSAKOnline will know, I am not above being proven wrong, so I invite them to give it a shot.
It's an open challenge- lets see if Taylor has the cojones to take me up on it.
Def
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I would tend to doubt that they would take you up on the offer. My firm belief is that when these companies start to outsource thier tools. Disaster follows. Take in case the Original Schrade, Cammilus(ya watching this Gerber)I would tend to doubt that they would want testing done. It would show what garbage is being made now just to turn a profit.
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I know, but if their lawyers come a- calling, it's nice to say I offered them the choice to prove me wrong!
Come on Taylor brands, show me what ya got! :pok:
Hell, show us all what ya got if you don't trust me. We'll do a pass around and everyone will get a chance to weigh in on your products!
Def
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I especially noticed the locking notch on the spines of the blades, with looked to have been done somewhat haphazardly with a snag grinder. (below)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT4.jpg)
They look awful! :(
Here's an American made ST1.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/redmodels/DSCF1965.jpg)
P.S. Does anyone know if Schrade stopped the lamination of the plier jaws during the last days of the ST1 production?
Right before they stopped making the tool I picked one up at Home Depot and seemed to remember it having the rivets for lamination but the plier head was actually just one piece with the rivets as decoration. I sold it a few years ago and don't have any pictures to check.
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Now they look a bit better. ;)
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P.S. Does anyone know if Schrade stopped the lamination of the plier jaws during the last days of the ST1 production?
Right before they stopped making the tool I picked one up at Home Depot and seemed to remember it having the rivets for lamination but the plier head was actually just one piece with the rivets as decoration. I sold it a few years ago and don't have any pictures to check.
Interesting. I wasn't aware of that possibility. :-\
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P.S. Does anyone know if Schrade stopped the lamination of the plier jaws during the last days of the ST1 production?
Right before they stopped making the tool I picked one up at Home Depot and seemed to remember it having the rivets for lamination but the plier head was actually just one piece with the rivets as decoration. I sold it a few years ago and don't have any pictures to check.
Interesting. I wasn't aware of that possibility. :-\
I've sent the member I sold it to a PM but it has been 2.5 years so he may not have it. If I remember correctly I bought it at Home Depot on clearance for @20$ in mid-2005.
It appears Schrade did a little bit of their own production updating during the ST1 run.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/STT6.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/redmodels/DSCF1968.jpg)
I really wish other companies would datecode their tools. ::)
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Hmmm, good eye there! Wonder why they would change the lamination pattern like that? (And yes, I wonder which one came first?)
I really wish other companies would datecode their tools. ::)
Then you're not going to like what we just found out from Leatherman..... :(
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:-X
At least the enthusiast community is better prepared to date the tools now than in previous years when there wasn't such a cohesive and knowledgeable community.
The poster over on CPF replied that he still has the ToughTool and is going to check it this weekend, I'll update when he responds.
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Leatherman going to stop datecoding?
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Leatherman going to stop datecoding?
That would suck. :(
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Tell me about it. Half the fun is trying to get a tool with all the same dates. I only have 2 of them.
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A bunch of my LM's have matching codes!
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A bunch of my LM's have matching codes!
All of mine match.
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Benner, we are the lucky ones! 8)
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Well the sideclip i just got from Nomad Has 3 different codes on it!!! I think that is a record.
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Well the sideclip i just got from Nomad Has 3 different codes on it!!! I think that is a record.
Thats pretty impressive.
My Wave had different codes, but I had to send it in for repair and they replaced both the handles so now they match.
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Yup my Sideclip is a special olympian. But I still love her!!!
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Interesting.
The poster from CPF responded to my inquiry.
Hi...
I just checked. The one I have has a "one-piece" plier head....and not the type shown in your picture.
Take care.
Looks like Schrade did scale down the production of the ToughTool during their last days of operation.
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Photographic evidence pirated from eBay:
(http://i21.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/c2/57/bf3c_12.JPG)
(http://i20.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/c2/57/d72a_12.JPG)
Note the USA logo in the top pic, solid plier head in the bottom pic.
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Velly eentulestink....
I wonder if this was a last ditch effort by Schrade to save some money before the end or what?
Def
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Yah it looks like a retool to save cash. Schrade was going broke for several years and most likely did this to save manufacturing and assembly cost.
Its a Shame :-\
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Nice find. That's it all right.
I always wondered what everyone meant when they were talking about lamination and the ToughTool.
Here's another one, what's the hole for on the rear of the handle?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/redmodels/DSCF1986.jpg)
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Nice find. That's it all right.
I always wondered what everyone meant when they were talking about lamination and the ToughTool.
Here's another one, what's the hole for on the rear of the handle?
That sir, is a damn good question! :think:
(http://i3.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/c2/57/c9c6_12.JPG)
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I had one of those Schrade multi-tools. Mine was labeled Craftsman. I hated it, maybe I got a lemon but on mine the locks didn't work worth a crap, the blades didn't sharpen very good and it just felt cheap. Since I worked at Sears at the time I waited until I knew they were out of them to "replace" my Schrade. Imagine my disappointment when the salesman said I could wait for the next truck and get a replacement one or I could just get a LM Super Tool 200. I was heartbroken but I took the Leatherman. :D
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I wonder if that hole is threaded...for use with a pocket clip. :think:
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Not on mine- I just always assumed it was a badly placed lanyard hole.
Def
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Here's another one, what's the hole for on the rear of the handle?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v14/redmodels/DSCF1986.jpg)
Hah!! I finally found out what the hole is for!! :multi:
Hang on a sec.....picture coming.....what a goofy idea this is.... :P
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I found this patent information on Google Patents. Here's a link to the Schrade Tough Tool patent (http://www.google.com/patents?id=qUkFAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4).
So anyhow, about that hole.......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/Schradehole.jpg)
The patent text reads:
One use of tool 10 to clamp items like a vise is shown in FIG. 7. A multi-strand cable 106 is clamped in jaws 18 and 20 with tool 10 in a semi-closed state. An aperture 108 is preferably formed through web 68 of handle 24 and is adapted to receive, when desired, a lanyard 110. Lanyard 110 provides a convenient way to carry tool 10 on a belt or back-pack. It also allows tool 10 to clamp cable 106, or other desired item, by closing tool 10 with cable 106 between the jaws 18 and 20 of pliers 12, and by wrapping lanyard 110 tightly around handles 22 and 24. Tool 10 will continue to clamp cable 106 without the necessity of gripping the pliers in one's hands. As noted above, this advantage is due to the storing of gripping end 14 externally of the handles when tool 10 is closed.
Clear as mud, right? :D
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So basically it's a lanyard hole that allows you to tie the handles closes so that stuff that was stuck in the jaws is held together.
Would this be any more effective than just wrapping the cord around whatever you want to clamp?
Def
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So basically it's a lanyard hole that allows you to tie the handles closes so that stuff that was stuck in the jaws is held together.
Would this be any more effective than just wrapping the cord around whatever you want to clamp?
Def
Maybe doing it that way was already patented by Tim Leatherman? :D
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If you drilled a hole in the handle of a PowerLock, you could do this with compound leverage!
Def
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I found this patent information on Google Patents. Here's a link to the Schrade Tough Tool patent (http://www.google.com/patents?id=qUkFAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4).
So anyhow, about that hole.......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/Schradehole.jpg)
The patent text reads:
One use of tool 10 to clamp items like a vise is shown in FIG. 7. A multi-strand cable 106 is clamped in jaws 18 and 20 with tool 10 in a semi-closed state. An aperture 108 is preferably formed through web 68 of handle 24 and is adapted to receive, when desired, a lanyard 110. Lanyard 110 provides a convenient way to carry tool 10 on a belt or back-pack. It also allows tool 10 to clamp cable 106, or other desired item, by closing tool 10 with cable 106 between the jaws 18 and 20 of pliers 12, and by wrapping lanyard 110 tightly around handles 22 and 24. Tool 10 will continue to clamp cable 106 without the necessity of gripping the pliers in one's hands. As noted above, this advantage is due to the storing of gripping end 14 externally of the handles when tool 10 is closed.
Clear as mud, right? :D
No wonder Schrade went T/U.
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You could do it with bungee or shock cord and have it variable...
Def
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that patent is wierd but the tool has been a good tool and I have carried it a lot.
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that patent is wierd but the tool has been a good tool and I have carried it a lot.
You must have the original made-in-USA version then? :)
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Thanks for taking the time to search around and update!
Another interesting little piece of info. :)
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The ST3 is the one for 7 bucks at Big Lots. I have to say it is not THAT bad.. A great tool for the tackle box!
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yes, i have the laminated version and the later version made in the US with solid steel instead of the laminated plier.
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The ST3 is the one for 7 bucks at Big Lots. I have to say it is not THAT bad.. A great tool for the tackle box!
Especially if same thing happens to your MTs that happens to your cameras on your boat ;)
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LOL! I am just really careless I guess! :-[ :D