Name That Tool

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #60 on:** December 01, 2006, 01:19:33 AM

I know that one quite well, and shame on you for teasing me like that!

Def

J-sews · **Reply #61 on:** December 02, 2006, 03:09:03 AM

Quote from: Defender on December 01, 2006, 01:19:33 AM

I know that one quite well, and shame on you for teasing me like that!

Def

WELL now, it seems as if we've hit a sore spot with someone. You've hinted at it before......would you care to share the whole story with the rest of the class, Mr. Def?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #62 on:** December 02, 2006, 11:34:31 AM

One of the things that has always intrigued me about multitools is that while many companies jumped on the tool bandwagon, no custom knifemakers would ever think about making a tool. Except one.

Highly regarded knifemaker, Al Mar, made a few tools, although for some reason they pretty well went under the radar and quietly disapeared almost as quickly as they appeared. This is one of Al's tools, as one can see from the stamp in the leather sheath. Al also used the SwissGrip type non folding pliers on all of them but added the spring opening which necessitated the little loop that holds them close when not in use. Another telling feature of this as an Al Mar design is the leather wrapped around the handle to increase comfort when using it.

The man is no slouch when it comes to thinking a design all the way through!

Def

J-sews · **Reply #63 on:** December 02, 2006, 02:55:44 PM

Very good answer sir!

.....but don't I remember some story about how you almost bought one, but then didn't? And now you wish you had?
(It's twisted of me, but I like hearing those type of stories from other people, because it's happened to me SO many times!)

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #64 on:** December 02, 2006, 05:18:03 PM

It was $80 from a KF member, and I would have snagged it in a second had my wfe not been on strike for several months at that point and we needed the money for other luxury items like food.

Def

J-sews · **Reply #65 on:** December 02, 2006, 08:34:06 PM

Food -vs- Al Mar 4x4

Hmmm, that would indeed be a tough choice to make.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #66 on:** December 02, 2006, 08:58:45 PM

Judging by the excess poundage I am carrying, I should have taken the Al Mar...

Def

Fred · **Reply #67 on:** December 03, 2006, 01:30:24 AM

That is a beautiful tool.Can you give any more information on it?How many were made, when were they produced and so on?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #68 on:** December 03, 2006, 01:32:02 AM

I don't know much more than I already said about it. Maybe Bob can fill in some more info?
Def

J-sews · **Reply #69 on:** December 03, 2006, 03:35:34 AM

Hmmm.....As usual, it seems that I have more questions than answers.

The official name of the tool is the Al Mar 4x4 Tool Mate. As with most of Al's designs, it was produced by Seki in Japan, and is said to be based upon the famous OSS Escape Tool of WWII. The serial numbered first 200 were introduced sometime in the late 1980's, and the 4x4 remained in the Al Mar catalog until sometime into the late 1990's. (Al Mar passed away in 1992, at the much-too-young age of 54 years old.) I do not know how many 4x4 tools were produced.

Lion · **Reply #70 on:** December 05, 2006, 01:00:59 AM

I'd forgotten about the Coleman. Nice tool. Too bad they never really followed through on it. I liked mine a lot. Gave it to the daughter.

Leo

J-sews · **Reply #71 on:** December 05, 2006, 01:09:57 AM

Quote from: Lion on December 05, 2006, 01:00:59 AM

I'd forgotten about the Coleman. Nice tool. Too bad they never really followed through on it. I liked mine a lot. Gave it to the daughter.
Leo

Yah, I agree. The "blade cartridge" concept was a pretty unique idea. I wonder what other cartridges they would have offered?

Lion · **Reply #72 on:** December 05, 2006, 01:14:30 AM

Quote from: J-sews on December 05, 2006, 01:09:57 AM

Yah, I agree. The "blade cartridge" concept was a pretty unique idea. I wonder what other cartridges they would have offered?

Quote

I wish I could remember. The instruction pamphlet that came with mine listed some 'upcoming' cartridges, but I'm blanking on them. I just remember that a couple of them looked intriguing.

Leo

J-sews · **Reply #73 on:** December 05, 2006, 01:26:55 AM

I dug into the archives and came up with this:

Lion · **Reply #74 on:** December 05, 2006, 05:40:37 AM

Hmmm...It might have been an included flyer then. I do know that it had something that actually listed some of the proposed cartridges. Wish my memory was better.

Leo

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #75 on:** December 06, 2006, 01:18:11 AM

I wonder if that would have really been worthwhile? It seems like an interesting concept, but when it comes to practice, the tool section of the handles is usually the most intensive to design and expensive to manufacture. Pliet heads just have to be cast and finished, then bolted to a couple of sheetmetal handles.

It seems as if the replacement cartridges would be almost as expensive as a whole new tool, especially if sold in pairs.

Def

J-sews · **Reply #76 on:** December 06, 2006, 05:05:15 AM

Quote from: Defender on December 06, 2006, 01:18:11 AM

I wonder if that would have really been worthwhile? It seems like an interesting concept, but when it comes to practice, the tool section of the handles is usually the most intensive to design and expensive to manufacture. Pliet heads just have to be cast and finished, then bolted to a couple of sheetmetal handles.

It seems as if the replacement cartridges would be almost as expensive as a whole new tool, especially if sold in pairs.

Def

You're probably right about the expense thing (why buy different cartridges, when you can just buy a whole different tool for the same cost?), but it was still a pretty unique concept. Unfortunately, the L-team shut 'em down.

Now we'll never know......

J-sews · **Reply #77 on:** December 09, 2006, 03:54:04 AM

Catch-awl question:

Below is a great picture prime77 posted of his multi tool awls. (I hijacked it from another thread, no fair looking for it to help with your answer!)

How many of these tools can you name?

prime77 · **Reply #78 on:** December 09, 2006, 08:46:22 AM

I know....I know....what do I win

J-sews · **Reply #79 on:** December 09, 2006, 07:19:39 PM

Quote from: prime77 on December 09, 2006, 08:46:22 AM

I know....I know....what do I win

Uh, you sir, have what is commonly known as "insider information" on this one. Please try to refrain from blurting out the answer!

prime77 · **Reply #80 on:** December 10, 2006, 09:19:47 AM

J-sews · **Reply #81 on:** December 14, 2006, 02:51:51 AM

Well c'mon you guys! Surely you know what at least SOME of these tools are?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #82 on:** December 14, 2006, 03:03:57 AM

I know most of them... there's a couple I am guessing on...

Def

joebw · **Reply #83 on:** December 15, 2006, 08:38:51 PM

Hi Doug,

Glad to see you found this board. It is a good one.

Best for the Holidays - Joe

J-sews · **Reply #84 on:** December 15, 2006, 09:32:18 PM

Quote from: lonediver on December 15, 2006, 04:46:03 PM

Again with the scissors Bob ! You are a cut up .

Welcome Mr. Lonediver! (cute pun with the scissors joke)

For those of you who don't already know, lonediver is one of the premier multi tool experts in the whole country. I do look forward to your insights and knowledge Doug!

And by the way, this whole "Name That Tool" thread was actually an idea of lonediver's that I copied from another forum. Give credit where credit is due, I always say.

~Bob

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #85 on:** December 15, 2006, 09:34:19 PM

Glad to have you aboard Doug! I am one of the least knowledgeable people on multitools, so it's great that we have all the bases covered!

You know what they say, those who can do, those who can't teach, and those who can't even teach start websites!

Def

Fred · **Reply #86 on:** December 19, 2006, 11:53:47 PM

Quote from: J-sews on December 09, 2006, 03:54:04 AM

Catch-awl question:

Below is a great picture prime77 posted of his multi tool awls. (I hijacked it from another thread, no fair looking for it to help with your answer!)

How many of these tools can you name?

Since no one else is giving it a shot, I will. starting from the top right and going clockwize

Sog Powerlock you can see the handle covers
Old Soldier model I think prime77 said it was a wenger but I can't remember
Spirit the awl is a dead giveaway on that one
Juice can't tell the model but I think I remembver prime saying it was a cs4
pst or pst 2 but that's just a guess
blast but that's another guess
SwissTool the lock gives that one away
Surge it looks pretty heavy

what do i win?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #87 on:** December 20, 2006, 12:03:15 AM

I think you are pretty close, but there are a couple I was guessing on too...

Def

SoDak · **Reply #88 on:** December 20, 2006, 01:05:53 AM

I'll take a shot at it.
Starting with the powerlock clockwise.
1. Powerlock
2. I don't know
3. swisstool spirit
4. leatherman cs4
5. leatherman pst
6. supertool 200
7. swisstool
8. leatherman core

J-sews · **Reply #89 on:** December 20, 2006, 04:33:13 AM

To tell you guys the truth, I wasn't sure on all of these myself. I had to scroll down HERE and check out the wider angle pic that prime77 posted.

My read is that SoDak got'em all except for the old one on the right, which I believe Fred named correctly.

What about it prime, how did they do?

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