Leatherman Tool vs. PST vs. PST II?

parnass · **on:** October 04, 2006, 03:49:46 AM

What is the name of the tool shown in this photo? http://tjtech.org/~CPF/CY/leatherman.JPG ?

Is it a PST? It has scissors, a partially serrated blade and the handles are engraved "Leatherman Tool."

The PST II pictured in Defender's review has a scissors and the handles are engraved "Leatherman PST II."

I bought an original Leatherman Tool new in 1991. It has no scissors. The handles are engraved "Leatherman Tool" like those shown in the photo below. However, the instructions packed with my multitool are entitled "Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool." The word survival is not mentioned anywhere on the outside of its box.

parnass · **Reply #1 on:** October 04, 2006, 03:52:25 AM

Here are more photos of the box which came with my original Leatherman Tool in 1991.

parnass · **Reply #2 on:** October 04, 2006, 03:56:45 AM

Here are the instructions packed with my Leatherman Tool in 1991. Note the title is "Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool," but the box says nothing about survival.

J-sews · **Reply #3 on:** October 04, 2006, 04:45:55 AM

Good questions parnass.
Most people didn't notice, but subtle changes took place on the Leatherman PST over the years. When it first came out in 1983, it was stamped POCKET SURVIVAL TOOL. I assume the instructions you have were printed up at this time, then included with tools for years to come. Even though those tools changed slightly........

In the above photo, the tool on the bottom was from the very early 1980's. Note the riveted construction, and no lanyard attachment.

After that came a run of tools that were just stamped LEATHERMAN in big letters. Finally in the late 1980's came the stamping arrangement shown in your first photo. During this entire period of slight changes, Leatherman continued to ship tools in the same original boxes, with the same instructions.

The term "PST" didn't get coined for the tool until later, when the PST II came out. With a diamond file and folding scissors, Leatherman marketing needed a way to distinguish between the two versions.

J-sews · **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2006, 04:58:24 AM

Regarding the link you asked about (http://tjtech.org/~CPF/CY/leatherman.JPG) that is an early 1990's PST II. As you note, scissors and partially serrated knife blade is the giveaway. The tool pictured in Def's review is a PST II from the late 1990's.

Above is the early 90's PST II.

Above is Def's late 90's PST II.

You can see that Leatherman added the PST II logo. Also note the curved medium screwdriver that came along in later models.

~Bob

parnass · **Reply #5 on:** October 04, 2006, 05:49:55 AM

Bob,

Thanks for the detailed explanation and photos!

- Bob

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2006, 12:08:53 PM

Velly intulesting....

This is the second PST II I have owned and I coul have sworn there was a few differences with my first one, but since they were a few years and numerous other multis apart, I thought I was imagining things! Now that I see the two together, I can see that I was right all along.

I guess this was where LM learned to turn every new feature into a different model.
Def

Fred · **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2006, 02:00:37 AM

That is what I love about this place.You never know when you are going to get bombarded with lots of useful information!

J-sews · **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2009, 04:05:00 AM

Adding some new pictures to an old thread:

DaveK · **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2009, 04:11:39 AM

Ooh don't let Ben see those Bob - a right pair of drawer queens

(One of mine is the same, so please don't tell him)

J-sews · **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2009, 04:17:39 AM

Quote from: DaveK on February 22, 2009, 04:11:39 AM

Ooh don't let Ben see those Bob - a right pair of drawer queens

(One of mine is the same, so please don't tell him)

Drawer queens? Alas, I'm afraid not.

The bottom one has a slight hint of a scratch on the knife blade.

DaveK · **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2009, 04:21:12 AM

Poncho65 · **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2009, 05:39:37 AM

They both look lovely to me

I have a PST II that looks like a reg PST when closed as well

But the blade on it is less than to be desired

Somebody got happy with a file and it wasn't me

But I got a great deal on it and the rest of the tools and the tool itself look pretty good to me

Magic Bus · **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2009, 02:54:23 PM

PSTII here as well with Leatherman Tool on it. Minty too.

J-sews · **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2009, 03:09:51 PM

Also notice the different screwdrivers in the picture above:

The top version stamped only LEATHERMAN TOOL has the old style phillips and medium flathead screwdrivers.
The bottom version stamped PST II has the new style screwdrivers.

Is everyone else's PST II's consistant that way?

Magic Bus · **Reply #15 on:** February 22, 2009, 03:26:08 PM

My early one has old style Phillips driver like yours.

DaveK · **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2009, 05:01:45 PM

Mine are the same Bob, although my later version has TOOL on the plier head - as opposed to USA.

Poncho65 · **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2009, 06:09:06 PM

Yep seems consistent to me

Leatherman123 · **Reply #18 on:** February 22, 2009, 08:52:12 PM

I don't have an older PST II, but my newer PST II does indeed have the newer screwdrivers and USA on the plier head!

Benner · **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2009, 12:52:00 AM

Quote from: DaveK on February 22, 2009, 04:11:39 AM

Ooh don't let Ben see those Bob - a right pair of drawer queens

(One of mine is the same, so please don't tell him)

Smitty44 · **Reply #20 on:** February 24, 2009, 06:59:44 AM

The PST II came out in 1996,mine is dated 0596,the same month and year that I quit smoking.

cdv1962 · **Reply #21 on:** August 04, 2013, 08:37:08 AM

Here is a picture of my old PST with the green sheath. The tool served me well, until it broke and I sent it back to Leatherman in Portland, OR. Leatherman sent me a replacement, I still have till today. How cool is the old green sheath?

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Leatherman Tool vs. PST vs. PST II?

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