Super Coleman ProLock

King_Gorilla · **on:** January 12, 2020, 10:32:01 PM

One of the first things I read on MTO was Chakos post about the Coleman Pro Lock. https://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=20786.0
After that, I was fascinated enough to want to go to Ebay and buy one myself. Once I had my hands on it I was surprised how much I liked the pliers themselves. I love the modular cartridge system. I love that the tools are all outside accessible. In fact, the only thing I hated about the Pro Lock was the garbage tools they put inside. Here is a picture of the joke of a Philips head driver that they come with. (below)

So when I saw another one on Ebay I bought it so I could play around with the tools and maybe find a way to put some nice Leatherman parts inside. Fast forward a year and I have somehow collected 5 Prolocks and I am working on a set of 6 custom cartridges to make this a truly modular tool. Many of the donor tools came from a Leatherman Wave and Shrade MT parts. This is only about 40% done, I still have a LOT of work to do.

I am very interested in any feedback and particularly other ideas for better tools to include.

King_Gorilla · **Reply #1 on:** January 12, 2020, 10:33:36 PM

#1 I call this one Outdoorsy. The tool set is camping, survival, anything in the woods. If I take my ProLock camping I would probably pair this cartridge with one that had a good blade.
-Shrade woodsaw
-Vic Awl, modified into an inline configuration. (still needs to be welded)
-Leatherman can opener
-Fork that I made from a Shrade chisel

King_Gorilla · **Reply #2 on:** January 12, 2020, 10:37:23 PM

#2 This is the Urban cartridge.
-Scalple
-Shrade File
-Serrated blade/bottle opener

I love using replaceable blades like the razor blades from the Gerber EAB. But these blades would not fit in the ProLock handles. My first plan was to use the mini razor blades but after buying a little husky mini razor blade folding tool I quickly saw how pitiful the cutting edge is. After trying a few things I finally settled on scalpel blades. You can buy 100 of them on amazon for about $10! Scary sharp edge. And they are sterile; incase that is important. I bought a cheap $2 folding knife off ebay and took it apart to use the liner lock. I still need to weld the liner into the cartridge but you can see in the pictures that it is working well.

I am so happy about how the Shrade file fit so well in the ProLock cartridge. I had to drill a new pivot hole but the file had this slope at the end that perfectly matched the cartridge!

Lastly, the serrated blade is a place holder until I can get a better one. This is the garbage Taiwan blade that came with the tool. I like having a serrated blade but they are a LOW priority for me. I love how the Leatherman Sidekick has a big plain edge blade and wood saw and a small after-thought of a serrated blade inside. So on this tool I took a serrated blade and added a bottle opener. Both parts work well.

King_Gorilla · **Reply #3 on:** January 12, 2020, 10:39:16 PM

#3 This is the one I feel like I need some advice on. I want to make a cartridge with a Marlin spike and a ¼ inch bit driver. Still playing around with ways to do this.

King_Gorilla · **Reply #4 on:** January 12, 2020, 10:40:47 PM

#4 Standard everyday cartridge.
-Plain edge plade
-Leatherman Bit driver
-long inline multipurpose hook
I made the hook, I like the idea of a good hook to pull cotter pins and stuff. I love the LM bit driver. I am so happy with how the blade from an old switchblade fit so well into the cartridge. I barely had to modify it at all.

King_Gorilla · **Reply #5 on:** January 12, 2020, 10:42:58 PM

#5 Standard everyday cartridge II.
-Vic bottle opener/slotted driver
-Vic plain edge blade
-Philips driver

The other tools you see in the picture are just being used as spacers. The Philips head driver will be there once I weld it together. (the vic blade is desperately in need of some sharpening)

King_Gorilla · **Reply #6 on:** January 12, 2020, 10:46:43 PM

#6 Left-overs.
I am still trying to figure out what to put in the last cartridge. I have the Leatherman scissors, a blade, maybe another awl, I still have the Leatherman slotted driver and the weird little driver tool.

If it wasn%u2019t clear, I%u2019ve never been a big fan of scissors on MTs except for little keychain size tools. But why waste good scissors.

you also don't see any pry bars because while i love good pry bars I don't like having them on a pivot. (folding tool)

So, it's a work in progress.

ReamerPunch · **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2020, 05:01:57 PM

These are just sweet!

Too bad they never followed through with it.

Maybe a cartridge of woodworking tools, like a spoon knife, chisel, little carving blade, gouge.
One with rescue tools, glass-breaker tip, rescue hook, rescue blade.
One with modular tools, t-shank slot, scalpel slot, utility blade slot.
One with fold-out lockpicks? Like a lock picking jack-knife.

If this is 40% I can't wait for more!

King_Gorilla · **Reply #8 on:** January 14, 2020, 08:20:25 AM

Thanks ReamerPunch

I hadn't thought about rescue tools stuff. That could be cool but I would be worried about a carbide glass breaker that pivots out and doesn't lock in place. As it is, I am struggling to find ways to lock the tools. I wish the cartridges were wider, that way I could copy the locking mechanism on the Shrade tool.