Keychain solutions, Swiss vs. American

jzmtl · **on:** November 30, 2008, 04:41:37 AM

Okay I guess the title was a big dramatic.

But here is my observation of Leatherman’s and Wenger’s take on keychain tools, the Micra vs. Pocket Toolchest.

Both are great looking tools. One is of brushed stainless finish, while the other is glossy red cellidor. They have almost the same length, width, and thickness, and surprisingly, weight.

Both tools contain impressive array of tools for their size, here we will go through them.

First up is scissors. Both tools’ scissors are spring loaded and powered by a cam and their own backspring. Micra’s scissors is a lot bigger, so obviously it can cut heavier duty materials. PTC’s is serrated so it can grab slippery materials instead of pushing them out.

This however, is both blessing and curse. While Micra’ scissors can be sharpened by slip in a piece of sand paper on hard thin backing such as a CD, PTC’s is impossible to sharpen without destroying the serrations. Also I do not like the feel of serrated scissors when cutting things. However, due to both Micra’s handles move when using scissors, while PTC is held in palm solidly, I feel I have more control when using PTC’s scissor.

Now we come to the knife blade.

I’m going to blast every manufacturer who makes their knife blade chisel ground, and Micra did just that here. I don’t care how some people claim it’s easier to sharpen, stronger due to larger cross sectional area or whatever. It sucks as precise cutting and not easier to sharpen. Stronger? Maybe, maybe not, but I don’t ever subject my knives to enough abuse to find out.

That said, Micra sports a 1.5” clip point blade, while PTC sports a 1.5” spear point blade. They both cut adequately for their size, after reprofiling Micra’s blade to a traditional V grind.

Micra’s handles in closed position provide a quasi-safety device that prevent blade from closing on its user, but I’ve honestly never needed such a thing when using PTC.

Now what’s a keychain tool good for if you cannot groom your nails with it? Both Micra and PTC offer their user a nail file and cleaner. Micra’s nail file is rougher, but both works equally well. As a bonus, the tip on PTC's nail file works great as a phillips screwdriver for tiny phillips screws.

One advantage Micra has however, is that the hooked end on nail file works great for scraping firesteels, saving your knife blade from getting damaged. None of the PTC implements will work this way because Wenger has the same practice as Victorinox, round all corners on their implements.

Both tools offer a flat heat screwdriver as well. Micra’s is much larger than PTC’s. I’d say Micra has the advantage here, because it can handle larger screws, and smaller one as well which you’ll see later.

A eyeglass screwdriver is also standard on Micra and PTC. I tried it on mine and both work equally as well.

Beer bottles can be opened via a lot of improvised methods, but it’s nice to have something designed to do the job. Both tools offer a bottle opener, which I would imagine work equally as well. I don’t feel like to get drunk right now so I’m not going to compare them.

PTC also includes a wire/stripper bender. I can’t say how useful is it since I’ve never used it.

A tweezers is also included. I’m giving big bonus to PTC here, because its tweezers is detachable while Micra’s is attached. When using Micra’s tweezers you’ll have to deal with the whole tool’s weight slopping around, and anything on your keychain getting in the way. This is a complain for most Micra’s tool as well, that keychain will get in the way when using them.

Both tools have some feature the other doesn’t. PTC features a awl and toothpick, while Micra features a flat Phillips screwdriver. The flat Phillips screwdriver is a bit awkward to use but does work when you need one. The tip can also be used on screws that's too small for the large flathead and too big for eyeglass screwdriver. The awl and toothpick I’ve never really had a use for however.

Fit and finish wise, the PTC was perfect, while Micra’s tweezers need some work to grab things reliably, and scissors need to be bent a little bit for the tip to cut.

As far as corrosion is concerned, I do not see any rust on my Micra yet. However I can attest to PTC's great rust resistance. I had it on my neck lanyard for a while in the summer, while the stainless keyring is already showing visible corrosion from sweat, the tool it self is still spotless.

They are both great tools with loads of feature, and you can’t go wrong with either of them. I use Micra on my keychain however, due to the stainless construction being very resistant to key damage, and I like to keep my stuff in good condition.

Either way, I think everybody should have one of these on their keychain, it can be really handy, and may even save your butt one day.

Anthony · **Reply #1 on:** November 30, 2008, 06:07:56 AM

Great comparison jzmtl

That's one wicked looking awl on the PTC..

I EDC a Micra on my keys; has come in handy quite a few times.

Leatherman123 · **Reply #2 on:** November 30, 2008, 06:11:40 AM

Yeah, great comparison! I keep a Vic Signature Lite on my keychain and couldn't be happier!

Poncho65 · **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2008, 07:19:13 AM

Very good side by side comparison you have there jzmtl

I don't have either so this is a great way for me to see them and there tools

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #4 on:** November 30, 2008, 09:38:26 AM

Great comparrison mate

, and I'd agree with most of finding's too

Do you find the your Micra rust's quite quickly though

hawkchucker · **Reply #5 on:** November 30, 2008, 12:39:28 PM

Good job, but I think think someone is becoming annoyed also over Chisle grind. Welcome to the club!

Benner · **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2008, 04:57:27 PM

Great comparison buddy.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2008, 06:37:08 PM

Looks like another great article for SOSAKOnline!

Def

Gareth · **Reply #8 on:** November 30, 2008, 07:02:58 PM

I really enjoyed that, thanks.

Freudian Frog · **Reply #9 on:** November 30, 2008, 07:27:09 PM

Thanks! That totally answers all my questions about what keychain tool I needed.

Nikos · **Reply #10 on:** November 30, 2008, 07:42:55 PM

Great comparison jzmtl!

FWIW the point of the nail file of the PTC is supposed to fit some Phillips screws iirc... I wonder which of the two implementations (PTC vs LM) is better in practice... BTW perhaps the curves in the PTC awl or bottle opener can also be used on firesteels?

jzmtl · **Reply #11 on:** December 01, 2008, 12:53:09 AM

Quote from: Micky d on November 30, 2008, 09:38:26 AM

Great comparrison mate , and I'd agree with most of finding's too

Do you find the your Micra rust's quite quickly though

No rust on mine yet, but I can attest the PTC is VERY rust resistant. I had it on my neck chain for a while, even thou the stainless keyring is showing corrosion, the blades themselfves are spotless.

Quote from: Defender on November 30, 2008, 06:37:08 PM

Looks like another great article for SOSAKOnline!

Def

If you would like to put it up there go right ahead.

Quote from: noth on November 30, 2008, 07:42:55 PM

Great comparison jzmtl! FWIW the point of the nail file of the PTC is supposed to fit some Phillips screws iirc... I wonder which of the two implementations (PTC vs LM) is better in practice... BTW perhaps the curves in the PTC awl or bottle opener can also be used on firesteels?

Yes I forgot to mention that, it does work for small phillips, I've used it before. I don't think any of the blades on PTC aside from knife will work on firesteel, they are all rounded like on Vics.

I'll add these info to the original post.

Swiss Man · **Reply #12 on:** December 01, 2008, 01:25:22 AM

Quote from: One Lame Frog on November 30, 2008, 07:27:09 PM

Thanks! That totally answers all my questions about what keychain tool I needed.

So which one will it be?

Great article I own both and find myself favoring the PTC I bought it in Florida one year I was wanting an Esquire but they were out so they sold me the PTC for the same price.

Freudian Frog · **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2008, 01:29:22 AM

I'm gonna go for a Vic, of course. Not sure which model yet though, perhaps a silver tech signature?

donvito · **Reply #14 on:** December 01, 2008, 01:50:01 AM

Great review thx, looking forwards to new sosak issue. I've had my micra for over 5 years now and yet to see a rust spot on it. My complaint with the micra are the scissors which are a PITA to sharpen, for this reason it resides in my psk and is not part of my edc.

Nikos · **Reply #15 on:** December 01, 2008, 08:15:44 AM

Quote from: jzmtl on December 01, 2008, 12:53:09 AM

I don't think any of the blades on PTC aside from knife will work on firesteel, they are all rounded like on Vics.

I've never handled a Micra so I don't know what the point of the nail file looks like. I presumed that you can use it on a firesteel because of the little curve at the tip fitting the curve of the firesteel rod. Along the same lines, couldn't you try scraping that rod with either the small curve behind the threading eye on the PTC awl, or the inside of the bottle opener curve? Even if that's not possible on a pristine PTC, couldn't a small filework "fix" it?

jzmtl · **Reply #16 on:** December 01, 2008, 08:53:24 PM

Quote from: noth on December 01, 2008, 08:15:44 AM

Quote from: jzmtl on December 01, 2008, 12:53:09 AM
I don't think any of the blades on PTC aside from knife will work on firesteel, they are all rounded like on Vics.
I've never handled a Micra so I don't know what the point of the nail file looks like. I presumed that you can use it on a firesteel because of the little curve at the tip fitting the curve of the firesteel rod. Along the same lines, couldn't you try scraping that rod with either the small curve behind the threading eye on the PTC awl, or the inside of the bottle opener curve? Even if that's not possible on a pristine PTC, couldn't a small filework "fix" it?

Leatherman's tools aren't rounded on corners like Wenger's so they work, Wenger's is too rounded to scrape anything off firesteel. But yes if you want to make a sharp corner on wenger it'll work no problem.

Man I just realized something, I completely forgot about the ruler on micra. Doh!