Cabela's Legacy PST v Common or Garden PST

[DaveK]

I mentioned on another thread that I had recently received a Cabela's Legacy PST, and also that I was initially a bit disappointed with it when it arrived. I decided to do a short review of it here to explain what I meant.....

The Cabela's Legacy PST, is a modern reproduction of Leatherman's Original classic "Personal Survival Tool", produced by Leatherman Tool Group to commemorate the 45th Anniversary of Cabela's "World's Foremost Outfitter". Legend has it that having perfected his original prototype, Tim Leatherman initially struggled to find a distributor for his new tool, and Cabela's placed the very first order for 500 tools, way back in 1983/4, that set him on his way. As a thankyou to Cabela's for their faith in his products, Leatherman have produced several tool variations exclusively for Cabela's, including the 3D Seclusion Camo Charge Ti, XTi and TTi.

The product description of the Legacy PST on Cabela's website reads:

"To commemorate Cabela's 45th anniversary and our long-standing partnership with Leatherman, we're giving you a chance to own this limited-edition, numbered Leatherman PST® – the multi-tool that started it all. In 1984, Cabela's became the launch site for the multi-tool market when Jim Cabela signed the very first purchase order for a shipment of Leatherman PST tools. Although the PST has been out of production for a few years, Leatherman broke out the original dies to craft 500 of these classic tools. Each is inlayed with the handsome Cabela's Legacy logo in 24-kt. gold, numbered and packaged in a leather display box with a certificate of authenticity. Like the originals, these include a spey-point blade, awl, large and small standard screwdrivers, Phillips screwdriver, file and bottle opener".

So having placed my order, I awaited it's arrival eagerly. Although shipping was $40, as with previous orders from Cabela's, delivery was lightning quick taking only 3 days to reach me in Blighty from Dodgeville, so that's pretty reasonable for the service.

The package

The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was that the logo that should have been "inlayed with the handsome Cabela's Legacy logo in 24-kt. gold", looks more like it is a sticker that has been slapped onto the handles. In truth, I've looked pretty closely at this now, and I'm now of the opinion that it is "inlayed", but frankly could have been done a bit better. Similarly, the numbering (452 of 500) also has this "stuck on top" appearance. I suppose I could settle this once and for all by giving the logo a bit of a scratch, but at $120+ including shipping, this one's remaining a drawer queen!

Comparisons

On closer examination, it becomes clear that the claim in the product description that "Leatherman broke out the original dies to craft 500 of these classic tools" might not be a whole truth. Perhaps that quote is subject to interpretation (or maybe I was simply naive in expecting a 1983 replica) but it seems to me that the whole design of the tool is identical to the only other PST I have to compare it with from 1998. Indeed the date stamps in the Legacy's handles are 0504 and 1004, which would suggest that these were made before the PST was "retired" and contradicting the product description somewhat!

The next (and most obvious) thing I noticed, were the differences in the plier heads, which are far more reminiscent of the 2004 Pulse heads as you can see pretty clearly in the pictures below.

The only other difference I could see between the Legacy and my '98 model PST, is the "USA" has been dropped from the blade tang, although the blade itself does appear to have been stamped from the same die.

Summary

Maybe the wording in the sales blurb was a little misleading, or maybe I simply was naive, but the Cabela's Legacy PST didn't really measure up to my expectations. Well not initially anyway.

Having handled it a bit and thought about it for a few days now, I don't think that matters at all!

Fickle? Well yes I am, but the reality is that I did not buy this tool at an inflated cost to use it, or even for any specific qualities it had other than it's a collectible. On that basis, the quality probably doesn't matter, and the logo is unlikely to wear off whilst it shines away to itself in my tool drawer.

There is also the realisation that without Cabela's, there really might not have been a PST or any of it's wonderful descendants, who knows?

So, if Cabela's have milked me for a few dollars this time, its probably worth it to me.....

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Great review and picture's mate and well thought out too

It's a shame that they didn't quite live up to you expectation's mate, but on the plus side I seriously doubt you'll ever loose any money on it

[DaveK]

Cheers micky.

I wouldn't say I'm disappointed now, the object of the exercise was to own one, regardless of  what it was. I don't regret buying it, and as you say, hopefully it will turn out to be an investment if I ever decide I don't want it anymore.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Cheers micky.

I wouldn't say I'm disappointed now, the object of the exercise was to own one, regardless of  what it was. I don't regret buying it, and as you say, hopefully it will turn out to be an investment if I ever decide I don't want it anymore.

I'm not really up on my LM's but I've seen some of the early one's go for a lot of dosh

[J-sews]

Good write up about the issues Dave. There's no question in my mind that Leatherman simply took a bunch of PST's leftover from 2004 and sent them off to be gold labeled with the CABELAS LEGACY logo.

Betcha somebody at Leatherman got a little extra bonus for thinking up a way to get rid of 500 old tools that were just lying around.




That being said, its still an awful nice tool.

[gafftapegreenia]

If  I lived in Oregon I'd stop buy the factory to see if they had any old tools "just lying around".

[DaveK]

Good write up about the issues Dave. There's no question in my mind that Leatherman simply took a bunch of PST's leftover from 2004 and sent them off to be gold labeled with the CABELAS LEGACY logo.

Betcha somebody at Leatherman got a little extra bonus for thinking up a way to get rid of 500 old tools that were just lying around.




That being said, its still an awful nice tool.

Agree with every word of that. Good summary!

[J-sews]

If  I lived in Oregon I'd stop buy the factory to see if they had any old tools "just lying around".

Hell if I lived in Oregon I'd be snooping through their dumpster every night!

[Benner]

If  I lived in Oregon I'd stop buy the factory to see if they had any old tools "just lying around".

Hell if I lived in Oregon I'd be snooping through their dumpster every night!

And I'm pretty sure Bob isn't joking with that comment. 

[MultiMat]

Thanks for the review/pics Davek. Would you trade it for this ?http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180263325914&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=008 I was really keen to bid on this with 1hr to go it was only $20ish . The end price a bit rich for me & the seller not interested in selling outside of the US. Nice PST with those rivets though.

[Poncho65]

And I'm pretty sure Bob isn't joking with that comment. 

  Funny thing about that is your prob right No offense Bob I'd do it too

[Poncho65]

I also like your review there Dave the PST is one of my more fav tools In fact it was my 1st reg sized MT I got it after my Grandpa passed away I always remember him using it @ Christmas or some other occassion when we needed a screwdriver or something to put a toy together or other gift Good memories with that tool, plus it's a great tool

[Zed]

I know this is a old post, but what a great review and comparison, just out of interest are those transfers or stickers (decals) 

[ryan1835]

I know this is a old post, but what a great review and comparison, just out of interest are those transfers or stickers (decals) 

they look like stickers, but there inlaid

[Dunc]

I'm just reading this again and noticed something 

The Cabela's Legacy PST, is a modern reproduction of Leatherman's Original classic "Personal Survival Tool",

Shouldn't that be " Pocket Survival Tool " ?  or did LM change it at somepoint ?

Dunc

[ryan1835]

i thought it always was personal :S

If ever there was the One Tool to Rule Them All, it’s Leatherman’s Pocket (or Personal) Survival Tool, affectionately known as the PST.

thats from the main site, maybe they changed it somewhen

[DaveK]

They did. They changed it at some point from "Pocket" to "Personal".

I don't think either were formally part of the name though until the Minitool came along and they had to stop calling it simply a "Leatherman Tool".

[Dunc]

Its just I've never heard of it being called personal before , I was just going by these.....










Dunc

[DaveK]

Yeah, I knew it as the Personal Survival Tool, before I heard "Pocket".

[Dunc]

Learn something new everyday  Dave have you any pics of the very first PST boxes ?

[DaveK]

The earliest I have Dunc, are like the one you pictured, labelled "Pocket Survival Tool"

Interestingly, the later manuals (as shown on the LM website) only refer to the "PST". No mention of either Pocket or Personal.

[matt]

I have never seen it as anything other than pocket.

[Zed]

i have only seen pocket  as well, i have read on reviews personal and pocket but mainly pocket, 

[Smitty44]

I don't have the new one like yours,but I do have the original one sold by Cabela's in the 83 Winter catalog. &

[Dunc]

I don't have the new one like yours,but I do have the original one sold by Cabela's in the 83 Winter catalog. &

(Image removed from quote.)

[Zed]

I don't have the new one like yours,but I do have the original one sold by Cabela's in the 83 Winter catalog. &

(Image removed from quote.)

x2   

[AHB]

I don't have the new one like yours,but I do have the original one sold by Cabela's in the 83 Winter catalog. &

(Image removed from quote.)

x2   

X3