Did Leatherman change the scales on the Charge TTi?

[Mr. Whippy]

I just went to the Leatherman site and noticed the scales on the tti look completely different.  Has anyone actually seen one of these new style scales?

Link to tti page

[Styerman]

Probably a redesign to use less Ti , at least that's what the pic suggests to me .

Chris

[gustophersmob]

To my eyes, they don't appear any thinner, so I think it would use a similar amount of Ti.

I quite like the look of these, though.  It looks much more classy than the old ones.

[AHB]

Thank god I have a few Charges with the original scales.. 
New look... 

[Aleister]

I like the new looks but, I also have a couple of TTis, so for now I can't justify getting another one with the new looks.

But to my eyes also looks like Leatherman used less Titanium on scales and placed an aluminum bar on top of them to keep them from ...breaking? I hope I am wrong.

[gadgetman7]

Shame they didn't change the pliers head to the Rebar head.

[Metropolicity]

I like the new looks but, I also have a couple of TTis, so for now I can't justify getting another one with the new looks.

But to my eyes also looks like Leatherman used less Titanium on scales and placed an aluminum bar on top of them to keep them from ...breaking? I hope I am wrong.

I bet it's an steel plate like the Charge AL/X.

[Outback in Idaho]

YUCK!

[hiljentaa]

"Who says a multi-tool can't be sexy?"

 

[Metropolicity]

Want sexy? DIY!

[Aleister]

Want sexy? DIY!

(Image removed from quote.)

QFT

[bmot]

I actually like the new look....

[sawman]

BARF!  Those are terrible!  Do they actually expect these to sell?!?!?

[chris777]

I don't know if I should be encouraged that leatherman had finally updated the wave/charge design, or depressed that they not only did not upgrade the pliers, to rebar style, but that they broke something that did not need "fixing"  did they announce this on facehook? Or can they already feel all of the  they will receive once they do.  I wish they would at the very least redesign the wave and round the edges like on the rebar. Not kill a thing of beauty dead. This would be fine for the al and alx obviously in aluminum, but the Tti is a real classic, and they've gone all skinny jeans on something that should never ever wear skinny jeans. And with that the triple

[henryhcyap]

I just went to the Leatherman site and noticed the scales on the tti look completely different.  Has anyone actually seen one of these new style scales?

Link to tti page

Pity, the rippled scales of the present Charge Tti makes it special, probably will remain a classic once production for this model ends.

[AHB]

did they announce this on facehook? Or can they already feel all of the  they will receive once they do.

Most of their followers on FB are diehard fanboys sucking up to/praising everything they do.. I'm sure they'll get lots of lots of Likes when they announce it..

[genevabuck]

I like the new look a lot. 

[Threeme2189]

I don't mind the new look if it is in fact 100% titanium like the original scales. But if they stuck a slab of steel or aluminum in there to cut costs, then shame on LM.
It looks to me like a cosmetic different. It won't affect functionality or strength. It could be easier to manufacture than the old design, with less flaws that don't pass QC. Thus saving the cost of recycling and re-manufacturing some of the scales.
Or maybe they simply wanted to give TTi owners a place to engrave stuff on the scales?

[AimlessWanderer]

Personally I still think the AL is the best looking Charge, and was never that interested in the TTi anyway.

This change? Meh, I'll wait to see better pics (from when one of you lot go out and grab one  ), but otherwise I'm quite indifferent towards it at the moment 

[Seamaster]

Pretty sure that the new scales are 100 % titanium just like on the older version. So no aluminum parts as some suggest.

The visual difference seems to be due to different surface treatment like on the older scales. They obviously changed the area where a polish is applied, probably to make the scales a tad more grippy.

Anyhow: Cosmetic changes, are they running out of ideas?! Seems high time to me to update the TTI to a plierhead like on the Rebar.

[Gareth]

Pretty sure that the new scales are 100 % titanium just like on the older version. So no aluminum parts as some suggest.

The visual difference seems to be due to different surface treatment like on the older scales. They obviously changed the area where a polish is applied, probably to make the scales a tad more grippy.

Anyhow: Cosmetic changes, are they running out of ideas?! Seems high time to me to update the TTI to a plierhead like on the Rebar.

That is exactly what I am thinking.  Not sure if I like these or not yet, it's hard to tell from those pics, so I'll just have to wait until one of you chaps picks one up and shows us the new scales.

[NeitherExtreme]

Want sexy? DIY!

(Image removed from quote.)

I've not seen this mod before... Is there a thread on it somewhere?

[Metropolicity]

Want sexy? DIY!

(Image removed from quote.)

I've not seen this mod before... Is there a thread on it somewhere?

It's the commander project in the mod squad.

[trouthunter]

I do like the look of this new TTI, I am also a happy owner of the original style TTI.  I will be getting one.

[nuphoria]

Oh I dunno about that 

Need to play with one I suppose.

[AHB]

499 Die-Hard LM Fanboys pressed "Like" on Facebook, so who are we to argue any different.. 

[Outback in Idaho]

499 Die-Hard LM Fanboys pressed "Like" on Facebook, so who are we to argue any different.. 

Have to support the home team. 

Leatherman says they have done nothing different to the tool. Do like the deeper sweep of the finger notches in the scales, looks like the tools can be opened better while wearing gloves, perhaps more identifiable by touch.

As to the looks of scales themselves, meh. Might offer a better grip, and now there is room to personalize the scales where that option wasn't before. Long as the price doesn't increase it shouldn't really matter. The Charge TTi remains the same along with titanium scales - change is only in the appearance.

Now for those that display their tools it makes the older more collectable and the newer something different to obtain. Past that it will still spend the same amount of time in the sheath for EDC, and in your hands for use. Of those times how often do you look at the scales - when multitasking in the dunny? 

[Mr. Whippy]

499 Die-Hard LM Fanboys pressed "Like" on Facebook, so who are we to argue any different.. 

Have to support the home team. 

Leatherman says they have done nothing different to the tool. Do like the deeper sweep of the finger notches in the scales, looks like the tools can be opened better while wearing gloves, perhaps more identifiable by touch.

As to the looks of scales themselves, meh. Might offer a better grip, and now there is room to personalize the scales where that option wasn't before. Long as the price doesn't increase it shouldn't really matter. The Charge TTi remains the same along with titanium scales - change is only in the appearance.

Now for those that display their tools it makes the older more collectable and the newer something different to obtain. Past that it will still spend the same amount of time in the sheath for EDC, and in your hands for use. Of those times how often do you look at the scales - when multitasking in the dunny? 

I think that's an excellent point. 

[Outback in Idaho]

499 Die-Hard LM Fanboys pressed "Like" on Facebook, so who are we to argue any different.. 

Have to support the home team. 

Leatherman says they have done nothing different to the tool. Do like the deeper sweep of the finger notches in the scales, looks like the tools can be opened better while wearing gloves, perhaps more identifiable by touch.

As to the looks of scales themselves, meh. Might offer a better grip, and now there is room to personalize the scales where that option wasn't before. Long as the price doesn't increase it shouldn't really matter. The Charge TTi remains the same along with titanium scales - change is only in the appearance.

Now for those that display their tools it makes the older more collectable and the newer something different to obtain. Past that it will still spend the same amount of time in the sheath for EDC, and in your hands for use. Of those times how often do you look at the scales - when multitasking in the dunny? 

I think that's an excellent point. 

Now with the extra room this does point out engraving peculiarities.

Although I have only toyed with the idea online, most vendors will only engrave to a set size and up to 11 letters (including spaces) long. Here there's nearly an entire length of scale that can be engraved and/or laser etched.
For those so technically inclined there's the electrolysis method of color changing that could also be an option.


Have an engraved motif or filigree engraved, followed by a bluish splashes of rainbow coloration, then laser etched over the top. We could be seeing some rather unique titanium scale-art come about of this.

[wndrstrck]

I love the new look, with the flat grind-ed surface that will provide some nice real estate for engraving