Early Winters PST Inspection Report from Tim Leatherman

Legend · **on:** August 07, 2022, 05:53:07 AM

This story, photo, and tool are certainly the jewels of my collection.

During an earlier correspondence with Tim, he had requested to take a closer look at my Early Winters PST.

"One of the PSTs in your collection caught my attention. It’s the one with the blade opened and Leatherman U.S.A. engraved on the blade. Someday, I’d like to take a closer look at the tool. I don’t remember us engraving the blades that way, but maybe a look at the tool will jog my memory. It might be one of our very first."

After hearing this, I gladly sent it to him for review. The following "Inspection Report" and selfie with the tool were received in return.

-----

Early Winters PST from Brenton Covington

· No lanyard spacer.

· The only lettering on either side of the handles of the tool is US PAT 4238826.

· SAE ruler on backs of handles.

· No mark on file.

· Before we strengthened the can/bottle opener.

· Awl drops down into handle.

· Most of the rib on the awl has been polished away.

· Can’t tell the riveting method on the pliers.

· Knife blade etched with LEATHERMAN on the nail nick side.

U.S.A.

· Leather sheath before we strengthened the rivets.

· Tool looks unused.

· No other visible marks on file or knife blade.

· Only mark on jaws is LEATHERMAN, curved, raised letters on recessed pad.

· No hard wirecutters.

· No date stamps on handles.

-----

Lastly, when it was shipped back to me, the tool was lost in the mail. It showed as "delivered" for about 24 heart wrenching hours. A neighbor, whom I had never met before, returned it to me the next day.

Poncho65 · **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2022, 07:28:39 AM

A very cool story and tool

that is awful that it was delivered to a neighbor though

Thankfully they were honest and brought it to you though

nakken · **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2022, 12:48:08 PM

This is awesome! That selfie should be framed in gold. Good thing your neighbor is decent!

LoopCutter · **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2022, 01:37:54 PM

very cool experience, and picture!😉

SteveC · **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2022, 01:54:24 PM

gregozedobe · **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2022, 02:30:21 PM

Great story (and with a happy ending too !

)

I think that might be one of the very early run "Early Winters Catalogue" PSTs.

All my "Early Winters Catalogue" PSTs don't have the "Leatherman, USA" etched on the blade, which I think indicates they were from a later run.

I do have one stamped "Pocket Survival Tool" on the handle with "Leatherman, USA" etched on the blade which makes me wonder if it was made around the same time as yours. Mine also has the oddball "hollow" rivets, what rivets does yours have ?

McStitchy · **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2022, 03:10:18 PM

Now that's a great story... and PST !
Thank you very much for sharing it here

So Tim didn't want it back then?

Legend · **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2022, 03:51:33 PM

Quote from: McStitchy on August 07, 2022, 03:10:18 PM

Now that's a great story... and PST !
Thank you very much for sharing it here

So Tim didn't want it back then?

I offered it to them. Just sort of mentioned that if there happened to be a situation where they were working so fast in the early days where they didn’t keep this variation for the archive, then they can have it. Tim stated that it belonged with me.

McStitchy · **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2022, 03:53:10 PM

Personal Survival Tool it is then

Poncho65 · **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2022, 03:53:42 PM

Tim is an awesome guy

Legend · **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2022, 03:58:51 PM

Quote from: gregozedobe on August 07, 2022, 02:30:21 PM

Great story (and with a happy ending too ! )

I think that might be one of the very early run "Early Winters Catalogue" PSTs.

All my "Early Winters Catalogue" PSTs don't have the "Leatherman, USA" etched on the blade, which I think indicates they were from a later run.

I do have one stamped "Pocket Survival Tool" on the handle with "Leatherman, USA" etched on the blade which makes me wonder if it was made around the same time as yours. Mine also has the oddball "hollow" rivets, what rivets does yours have ?

The etched blade on the POCKET SURVIVAL TOOL version has always thrown me off. Hard to say, but it has to be early. We know there are three different versions of the etched blade.

The “Early Winters” designation to all models featuring US PAT 4238862 only seems incorrect. I believe current production models from the period had only US PAT… then POCKET SURVIVAL TOOL was added. But, I have another variation of the US PAT only which does not have the etched blade and has USA added to the plier head so I haven’t pieces together yet exactly how these all rolled out.

I plan on taking a family photo of all of my US PAT variations including the early JPST Big Letter, then maybe we can group-think our way through it?

Legend · **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2022, 04:07:48 PM

Quote from: gregozedobe on August 07, 2022, 02:30:21 PM

Mine also has the oddball "hollow" rivets, what rivets does yours have ?

Both have traditional thin cap (not hollow) rivets.

nakken · **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2022, 04:12:52 PM

Quote from: Legend on August 07, 2022, 03:51:33 PM

I offered it to them. Just sort of mentioned that if there happened to be a situation where they were working so fast in the early days where they didn’t keep this variation for the archive, then they can have it. Tim stated that it belonged with me.

That is very kind of you, also really respectful from Tim. Amazing story!

gregozedobe · **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2022, 06:45:39 PM

Quote from: Legend on August 07, 2022, 03:58:51 PM

The etched blade on the POCKET SURVIVAL TOOL version has always thrown me off. Hard to say, but it has to be early. We know there are three different versions of the etched blade.

The “Early Winters” designation to all models featuring US PAT 4238862 only seems incorrect. I believe current production models from the period had only US PAT… then POCKET SURVIVAL TOOL was added. But, I have another variation of the US PAT only which does not have the etched blade and has USA added to the plier head so I haven’t pieces together yet exactly how these all rolled out.

I plan on taking a family photo of all of my US PAT variations including the early JPST Big Letter, then maybe we can group-think our way through it?

I think in those early days LM were just throwing things together without consciously trying to keep things in synch. We know that they used to keep a job lot of each component, with different trays for each type of component, so I guess it is quite possible that a mixture of early and slightly later components (including handles, pliers and knife blades) could get assembled on the one tool. That would explain the "mixed date" tool sets we see sometimes. Some of my early PSTs have strange mixtures of very early and early components.

Legend · **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2022, 06:52:02 PM

Quote from: gregozedobe on August 07, 2022, 06:45:39 PM

I think in those early days they were just throwing things together without consciously trying to keep things in synch. We know that they used to keep a job lot of each component, with different trays for each type of component, so I guess it is quite possible that a mixture of early and slightly later components (including handles, pliers and knife blades) could get assembled on the one tool. That would explain the "mixed date" tool sets we see sometimes. Some of my early PSTs have strange mixtures of very early and early components.

It’s possible. I know other mail order catalogs were also selling early tools as well. Here is my L.L. Bean version and ‘84 / ‘85 catalogs which is like what you mentioned, an earlier PST spelled out with etched blade.

David · **Reply #15 on:** November 05, 2023, 12:10:28 PM

Quote from: Legend on August 07, 2022, 05:53:07 AM

This story, photo, and tool are certainly the jewels of my collection.

During an earlier correspondence with Tim, he had requested to take a closer look at my Early Winters PST.

"One of the PSTs in your collection caught my attention. It’s the one with the blade opened and Leatherman U.S.A. engraved on the blade. Someday, I’d like to take a closer look at the tool. I don’t remember us engraving the blades that way, but maybe a look at the tool will jog my memory. It might be one of our very first."

After hearing this, I gladly sent it to him for review. The following "Inspection Report" and selfie with the tool were received in return.

-----

Early Winters PST from Brenton Covington

· No lanyard spacer.

· The only lettering on either side of the handles of the tool is US PAT 4238826.

· SAE ruler on backs of handles.

· No mark on file.

· Before we strengthened the can/bottle opener.

· Awl drops down into handle.

· Most of the rib on the awl has been polished away.

· Can’t tell the riveting method on the pliers.

· Knife blade etched with LEATHERMAN on the nail nick side.

U.S.A.

· Leather sheath before we strengthened the rivets.

· Tool looks unused.

· No other visible marks on file or knife blade.

· Only mark on jaws is LEATHERMAN, curved, raised letters on recessed pad.

· No hard wirecutters.

· No date stamps on handles.

-----

Lastly, when it was shipped back to me, the tool was lost in the mail. It showed as "delivered" for about 24 heart wrenching hours. A neighbor, whom I had never met before, returned it to me the next day.

(Image removed from quote.)