The mini tool, why did they stop making it, ?

[Zed]

The other day i was thinking about my EDC as in making it all smaller,im thinking at some poing in getting a micra, but surly combing a mini tool and sag my esquire, or a classic would work well together, as would have a smaller plier based tool and another small SAK with scissors,was there do demand for the mini tool and when did they stop making them, im sure on my old waves 1998 catalog there is a minitool so i guess they was still around in 98, just seemed like a handy little tool, and a shame they stopped making them,

paul 

[hawkchucker]

Never had a clue as to the reason they stopped. I am sure sales drove it , but I still find the Mini  to be a useful little tool and love mine.

[ryan1835]

 they probably thought they needed something with more tools, just my guess

[Zed]

they probably thought they needed something with more tools, just my guess

hhmm scissors and a clip , my ideal little tool 

[Gareth]

Going by the Leatherman time line it was being made up until 2004, by that time they had the Squirt P4 and the Juice range out there, so I suspect it was simply superseded by them as their pocket pliers of choice.  The range and size of the tools is certainly limited, but as a set of pliers it still must have the upper hand over the Juice or Squirt IMO.

[Zed]

Going by the Leatherman time line it was being made up until 2004, by that time they had the Squirt P4 and the Juice range out there, so I suspect it was simply superseded by them as their pocket pliers of choice.  The range and size of the tools is certainly limited, but as a set of pliers it still must have the upper hand over the Juice or Squirt IMO.

this is what i thought gareth as alot of the other smaller plier based mini MT's have small pliers , they stopped a thew models in 04 then.

paul

[Zed]

i should of just looked at benners time line 

MiniTool - 1986-2004

[Benner]

Although popular on here now, it wasn't always.  It looks as though it has a very short blade, not as much function compared to others and could be quite uncomfortable to use.  All that and the fact that it really was aimed at the keychain market and was still pretty big and the fact that the Squirt was introduced and I am not surprised this one was dropped.

[Zed]

Although popular on here now, it wasn't always.  It looks as though it has a very short blade, not as much function compared to others and could be quite uncomfortable to use.  All that and the fact that it really was aimed at the keychain market and was still pretty big and the fact that the Squirt was introduced and I am not surprised this one was dropped.

so more of a collectors item these days than a EDC . i think it was its look i liked, its like a pst thats shrunk in the wash 

[AHB]

so more of a collectors item these days than a EDC . i think it was its look i liked, its like a pst thats shrunk in the wash  

Be nice to   MINI!!  

   

[Zed]

so more of a collectors item these days than a EDC . i think it was its look i liked, its like a pst thats shrunk in the wash  

Be nice to   MINI!!  

   

its the pst's mini me   

[Poncho65]

so more of a collectors item these days than a EDC . i think it was its look i liked, its like a pst thats shrunk in the wash  

Be nice to   MINI!!  

   

its the pst's mini me   

 

The  !!!MINI!!! is a great MT just not very many tools on it I pair it with a Vic Classic or a Vic Electircian plus and it seems to do well enough It's very compact for a full sized set of pliers

although started a couple of years ago here is a thread that I started on it

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,5680.0.html

[trickknife]

Lookin at it I'd think it might have been tough to assemble.  Mine had ding marks on the back of handle by the pliers, like they had to smack it or something.  Besides, with all the stuff they came out with in '04, you wouldn't think anyone would buy one to make it worth keeping around.

[Poncho65]

Lookin at it I'd think it might have been tough to assemble.  Mine had ding marks on the back of handle by the pliers, like they had to smack it or something.  Besides, with all the stuff they came out with in '04, you wouldn't think anyone would buy one to make it worth keeping around.

Sad but probably true It had a good run but eventually went the way of the dinosaur 04 was when a lot of the old school tools went out for the count as well

[Zed]

so more of a collectors item these days than a EDC . i think it was its look i liked, its like a pst thats shrunk in the wash  

Be nice to   MINI!!  

   

its the pst's mini me   

cheers poncho, i never knew that it had extension parts for extra grip 

 

The  !!!MINI!!! is a great MT just not very many tools on it I pair it with a Vic Classic or a Vic Electircian plus and it seems to do well enough It's very compact for a full sized set of pliers

although started a couple of years ago here is a thread that I started on it

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,5680.0.html

[1jump2many]

Instead of dumping the Mini, Leatherman should have improved on the concept.  Made the folding handles more comfortable, made the blade a little longer, whatever it took.  It's such a great compact tool, the pliers on a Squirt doesn't even compare to the Mini.  The Juice pliers, maybe, but the Squirt is a keychain tool.

[DaveK]

The mini tool, why did they stop making it, ?

Cynic that I am, I'd say that it must have been the sales, or lack of.

Put it this way, the Mini was in production for 18 years, the Micra has been around now for 14 years. How many of each do you see? I suppose the real question should be why it didn't sell, and most of the above suggestions would seem about right I reckon.

A much harder to answer question would be "Why did they stop making the Juice KF4"?

[J-sews]

The mini tool, why did they stop making it, ?

Cynic that I am, I'd say that it must have been the sales, or lack of.

Put it this way, the Mini was in production for 18 years, the Micra has been around now for 14 years. How many of each do you see? I suppose the real question should be why it didn't sell, and most of the above suggestions would seem about right I reckon.

A much harder to answer question would be "Why did they stop making the Juice KF4"?

I still can't figure that one out.

[DaveK]

Maybe it's just the folks on here, but the KF4 always seems to be the favourite Juice. Again, I'm sure it got dropped because it wasn't selling enough, but I do wonder why!

[1jump2many]

The Kf4 definitely has the best tool lineup of all the Juice models..................IMO.

[Poncho65]

  Yeah the Ff4 is 1 of the best tools of it's size that I know of period Can't believe that sales were bad but in the end we at MT.O have a different POV than the general public

[AHB]

but in the end we at MT.O have a different POV than the general public

On ALOT of things...  

[Zed]

I never realized that the handles extended ,

paul

[AHB]

I never realized that the handles extended ,

paul

They do...??  









yes they do..    

[Craig]

Maybe it's just the folks on here, but the KF4 always seems to be the favourite Juice. Again, I'm sure it got dropped because it wasn't selling enough, but I do wonder why!

My guess is that a lot of people bought the CS4 instead because they wanted scissors more than they wanted a file. IMHO a KF4 with scissors instead the serrated blade would be best of all.

[J-sews]

Maybe it's just the folks on here, but the KF4 always seems to be the favourite Juice. Again, I'm sure it got dropped because it wasn't selling enough, but I do wonder why!

My guess is that a lot of people bought the CS4 instead because they wanted scissors more than they wanted a file. IMHO a KF4 with scissors instead the serrated blade would be best of all.

Instead of the SAW you mean. (silly little Juice saw - who needs 'em)

[Styerman]

I loved the mini , neat little Nylon pouch , so compact . You didn't know you had it till you needed it .

Chris

[SoDak]

Well, you guys made me go dig my mini out and play with it a bit. I guess I can see why it was discontinued since I just don't see the savings in handle length can overcome its lack of implements. It's a neat tool, but I don't think I'd take it over a pst if I wanted a small tool. Of course I may be missing the point of the tool since I'm more of a fan of large multis like the core.

[Zed]

could it not be used without the extra grips and more tools added ? or is it to small for grip,

paul

[jim guy]

I just got my hands on a mini courtesy of Hawckchucker, I like it I dont think Ill ever carry it because its in too good of condition. If I can get a used one I would carry it when I need a light duty tool insted of a skeletool. To me its a minimalist tool it has more functions than the skeletool and freestyle with better pliers and its smaller.