I am a bit overdue for a review. So here is something a bit fishy.
I have previously talked about several COAST multi-tools that are geared towards the fisherman. Here are 2 more Fishing focused multi-tools. The Gerber MP600 Fisherman and the Winchester Fisherman.
I think it is fitting that both of these tools are compared to each other, as a quick visual glance will tell you that you are looking at possibly two Gerber products. If not, at the very least, a Gerber product and a licensed product produced by someone else.
Apart from the obvious design parentage, both products are aimed squarely at the fisherman. With that said, there are some weird design choices to be found in these models. We will get to that later.
The Gerber comes with a lanyard, and a small allen key to remove the cutters. The Winchester comes with a bit set and adapter.
Note the Gerber sheath has a single grommet to prevent the plier head from tearing through the sheath. This is inadequate reinforcement, and is an obvious weak spot. With that said, the Winchester offers no protection what so ever from the long needle nose pliers tearing into the bottom. The Winchester does offer a rear storage area for the bits though.
Here we have the Gerber MP600 Fisherman and the Winchester Fisherman with their pliers slid open and ready for use. Note the size differential between the two models.
Here, we can see the tool layout for each tool.
On the Gerber you have:
A very nice file with a fishing hook furrow, a bottle opener with medium flat head screwdriver, a lanyard ring, a small flat head driver, a sheep foot serrated knife blade, a clip point knife blade, an awl, a Phillips driver, and scissors.
On the Winchester you have:
A file, a Phillips driver, a small flat head driver, a sheep foot serrated knife blade, a clip point knife blade, a large flat head driver, a lanyard ring, and a can opener.
If you compare the tool list, you will note that there are some weird tool selections found in the Winchester. For example, the file does not have a hook sharpener. One also has to ponder at why a bottle opener was omitted for a can opener.
Here we see the business end of the pliers. These are designed as dedicated needle nose fishing pliers. Note the removable cutters on the Gerber on the left. Upon closer inspection, you can see the obvious similarities in the plier design of each model.
Now looking on the side, we can see that both pliers are of similar thickness, even though the Gerber on the left is longer. Also of interest is the sliding plier button layout. The Gerber offers a refined mechanism compared to the Winchester. Both works equally well at sliding open the pliers one handed however. This action is smoother on the Gerber.
Looking directly head on. You can see how similar these tools are to each other. The Gerber is on the left, and the Winchester is on the right.
ConclusionOf the Two, the Gerber is the superior product. However, I believe that the MP600 Fisherman is no longer being produced. There are a few other Gerber Fisherman products that I am aware of, that being the MP400 Fisherman, and the Flik Fisherman models. The Winchester is often far cheaper however. For less money, you are trading on quality, non locking tools, and some weird folding tool compromises.
Gerber MP600 Fisherman:
Pro:
- Larger and better built.
- Comes with a lanyard.
- Has removable carbide cutters.
- Smart folding tool selection.
- All tools lock.
Cons:
- Flimsy sheath.
- Due to the design, needle nose pliers jut out past the body when closed.
- No fish scale remover.
Winchester Fisherman:
Pro:
- Smaller size means it is an easier carry.
- Bit set with adapter can come in handy.
Cons:
- Sheath has no reinforcement.
- Due to the design, needle nose pliers jut out past the body when closed.
- No locking tools.
- No fish scale remover.
- Fit and finish a bit lacking compared to the Gerber.
Final Thoughts Both of these multi-tools are aimed squarely at the Fisherman wanting a pair of needle nose pliers along with a tool selection that would come in handy on a boat or on shore. The Gerber comes with a dedicated lanyard, which in my opinion, is a must if you don’t wish to lose your tool to the waters. The Winchester does give you a ring, but you will have to supply your own lanyard. The tool selection on the Winchester is odd in comparison to the Gerber.
It is my opinion that the Gerber is the better model. The Winchester is ok, and it is found cheaper than the Gerber. Likewise, this Gerber model has been discontinued, even though you can still find them out there new and used. Although the Gerber is discontinued, I can easily recommend this model over the Winchester.
Other considerations are the dedicated COAST fishing multi-tools.
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