New Multitasker at Shot - precursor to an EDC multitool?

[J-sews]

At first glance, the new Series 3 tool displayed at the Multitasker booth doesn't appear to be much different than the Series 1 and 2 that proceeded it. It is still a firearms-centric tool aimed primarily at M16/M4/AR15/Glock shooters. It still has its signature black G10 scales, with essentially the same folding tools. But there are some important changes, several of which will be welcome on the long-awaited Multitasker EDC tool, expected to be available later this year.









The Series 3 features the latest plier head design from Multitasker, which like previous models has been wire EDM machined from solid billet. An improvement from last year is the inclusion of large gripping teeth.... 





....as well as hardened steel wire cutter inserts (outline of which can be seen in photo below)





Also new is the inclusion of a pocket clip, which has been inlayed into the G10 scale to prevent it from shifting.





But most exciting of all is the new knife blade. Previous Multitasker blades were a bit on the smallish side, which didn't seem suitable on a big strong multitool like this. Not so the Series 3 blade, which spans nearly the full length of the tool, and sports a thumbstud and large cutout in the scale for easy one-hand opening.






The Series 3 firearms tool should be available in the first part of 2012. The EDC variation is getting a few final tweeks, and will hopefully be available in the second half of the year.

[Chako]

 

[Sazabi]

Groovy.

Why CE, I don't know, but hooray for the inclusion of a pocket clip.

[Accujohn]

Havent held this brand yet.... Price range?

[Chako]

You know you want one.     




As for price, Brownell sells them for 119 dollars.

[scrappy]

That is a company that has a world of promise. Each new product contains so many innovative features

[Raukodur]

Bob, I'm a bit puzzled by the inclusion of the hard wire cutters.

I seem to remember that when you first introduced this tool to us, you mentioned that the process used to produce the pliers meant you didn't have a separate soft and hard wire cutter area, it was ALL hard wire cutter stuff.

Did I misunderstand, or is my memory failing me?

[Styerman]

Good looking tool , should kick much a** !

Chris

[BIG-TARGET]

Of all the Multitaskers, I want to get this folder!!

[Zed]

You know you want one.     

(Image removed from quote.)


As for price, Brownell sells them for 119 dollars.

  these look like really solid tools 

[nuphoria]

Another step closer to wanting one!

Those teeth are just damn sexy 

[J-sews]

Bob, I'm a bit puzzled by the inclusion of the hard wire cutters.

I seem to remember that when you first introduced this tool to us, you mentioned that the process used to produce the pliers meant you didn't have a separate soft and hard wire cutter area, it was ALL hard wire cutter stuff.

Did I misunderstand, or is my memory failing me?

You have an excellent memory sir. I too recall that when the first Multitaskers were introduced the claim was that the premium carbon billet steel (instead of the usual cast stainless) used in the plier head meant that it would cut wire far better than ordinary multitools. This I believe it did, however I've since heard that there were some incidents of plier jaw failures on the earlier models. Apparently making the cutting surfaces hard enough to cut steel wire without damage also left the remainder of the jaw harder (and brittler) than it ought to be, which in turn led to some breakage.

So their solution (judging by the Series 3 tool) was to make the jaw two seperate pieces. A plier jaw part that is strong but not brittle, and a wire cutter insert that is super hard.


Which is a solution we've seen Leatherman and Gerber adopt as well. I was not able to try it out at the Show obviously, but I hope the Multitasker folks really put these wire cutters and plier jaws to the test before releasing them for production.

 

[Threeme2189]

That looks like a really nice tool.
I can't wait to see the EDC version!

[Raukodur]

Many thanks for clearing that up Bob!

These tools look so good. But I wonder why we don't the normal bi-concave section in the middle for handling nuts and the like, which we see in the vast majority of multitool pliers.

Given the aggressive toothing it would make the tool very effective for handling nuts and bolts. As it is, it would be difficult to deal with nuts and bolts that are medium sized, since you would have to have the plier head open, and so handle width, quite wide.

[Chako]

Probably because you don't handle nuts and bolts while working on your AR rifle.

[Raukodur]

Fair enough, I would have no experience of that. Hopefully then it will be a feature on a civilian version of the tool.

[ICanFixThat]

Like... I like the plier head, I liked their old plier head, I want 1 or two... I don't use pliers on bolts.

[scrappy]

I wondered that also bob, thanks for the info. I am sure the size of the series 2x plier has also helped. From what I have done with mine, they are very strong.

Bob, I'm a bit puzzled by the inclusion of the hard wire cutters.

I seem to remember that when you first introduced this tool to us, you mentioned that the process used to produce the pliers meant you didn't have a separate soft and hard wire cutter area, it was ALL hard wire cutter stuff.

Did I misunderstand, or is my memory failing me?

You have an excellent memory sir. I too recall that when the first Multitaskers were introduced the claim was that the premium carbon billet steel (instead of the usual cast stainless) used in the plier head meant that it would cut wire far better than ordinary multitools. This I believe it did, however I've since heard that there were some incidents of plier jaw failures on the earlier models. Apparently making the cutting surfaces hard enough to cut steel wire without damage also left the remainder of the jaw harder (and brittler) than it ought to be, which in turn led to some breakage.

So their solution (judging by the Series 3 tool) was to make the jaw two seperate pieces. A plier jaw part that is strong but not brittle, and a wire cutter insert that is super hard.


Which is a solution we've seen Leatherman and Gerber adopt as well. I was not able to try it out at the Show obviously, but I hope the Multitasker folks really put these wire cutters and plier jaws to the test before releasing them for production.

[Raukodur]

Like... I like the plier head, I liked their old plier head, I want 1 or two... I don't use pliers on bolts.

Yes fair enough, but a significant proportion of MT users do, which is the whole point of a MT being versatile, able to do different things which people require from it.

[J-sews]

I gotta admit, I've been pestering them to include a rounded section in the jaws with large teeth in it. Like you said, hopefully we'll see it in the civilian version.


On a related note, one very nice thing about machining the components from solid is that small changes/improvements can be made quickly on the fly. So for instance, when and if Multitasker decides to add a gripping section to the jaws, they won't have to wait for several thousand of the "old" plier heads to be used up first. And no casting molds have to be re-made, no new special tooling, etc.

Changes that are less painful for a manufacturer to make are more likely to be made.

[scrappy]

Like... I like the plier head, I liked their old plier head, I want 1 or two... I don't use pliers on bolts.

Yes fair enough, but a significant proportion of MT users do, which is the whole point of a MT being versatile, able to do different things which people require from it.

that is a good point but and I have been testing my multitasker. I loosened and tightened several bolts. The multitasker does very well. the aggressive teeth are just as effective as the "bolt"area on competitors tools. I am not working on 1 inch bolts but I can tell you I would rather use a multitasker on half inch bolts than a leatherman wave.
I tested both and the bolts I would feel comfortable working with a multitool, are easily handled by the series 2x multitasker. In a face off with the wave the multitasker is the winner for me. I will go test some larger bolts and see how it fairs. But, I know the aggressive teeth work well!

[scrappy]

 I was reading their Facebook page today and it reminded me of this thread. I have been carrying the tool on and off (more off) for the last couple months. I miss some implements found on standard multis (that is why the tool does not get carried everyday right now) but I have carried it some more and it is a well built tool. Absolutely a competitor with the biggest and the best out there. It is a premium tool. Some of the features we have talked about here are well above the industry standards (plier, driver, washers, snap of each implement into place)