Bibury MultiTools Pliers Pro versus Leatherman Surge.

[Chako]

Meet the Bibury Pro, a Leatherman Surge clone of sort. In this thread I will post photos of the tool and go directly into a comparison of a real Surge and this Bibury clone.

20240601_085836 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_085847 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_085901 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_085931 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_090031 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_090215 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_090237 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_090420 by Chako, on Flickr

The Bibury Pro is surprisingly of good fit and finish for the price., I paid a little over 60 dollars Canadian off of Amazon.ca for this tool. A real Leatherman Surge is just slightly over 200 dollars Canadian. For the money, I am surprisingly taken aback with just how good this tool feels. Everything exhibits tight tollerences.

With that said, this is still a rip off of a Leatherman design. So much so that I had to compare both of these side byy side. To add to the similary, I used the Black and White Surge to match the colour of the Bibury Pro.,

20240601_103454 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_103513 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_103534 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_103615 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_103650 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_103708 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_103746 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_103804 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_104204 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_104223 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_104229 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_104617 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_104929 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_105220 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_105335 by Chako, on Flickr

Well considering that Leatherman still appears to be the most copied tools out there, this is no exception, So what do we have here? We have a somewhat good quality copy of the Surge for less than half the price of the Leatherman. For that price, the quality is rather good in my opinion especially when you can buy 3 of these for the price of a Surge, warenty considered. The Surge is still superior to the Bibury Pro in design. When you look at the file/saw exchanger, the Leatherman has a better locking mechanism and also has more space for the T shank section to fit. Meaning, the Surge was able to accept both the Bibury's file and 2 saw blades. However, the Bibury could not fit the Surge's saw. To make it fit, you would have to shave a little off the T shank top and/or bottom. It is close, but not close enough. On the positive side for the Bibury pro is the bit adaptor. I was never a fan of Leatheman's flat drivers. I get whey they are flat..but always liked better regular driver bits. The Bibury does this. All other implements is a close call for both, Some might say the steel is better on the Surge. I would hope it is for the price difference, but I cannot feel or seeany differences between the 2. Once again, the Leatherman does have the superior warranty, but you can buy 3 of these for the price of 1 Surge. I think that kind of erodes the whole warranty situation to be honest.

Now, I am a big fan of Leatherman. However, there are now some other options that appear to be of quality enough that comes in much cheaper costs. I like options, and quality ones are much better options. I just don't like that some of these options are stealing Leatherman designs. That I do have an issue., As a collector of multi-tools, I will buy everything because I like to compare them, and this is another one of those instances. A decade or more ago, the quality between the big name brands and their copiers was big. These days, that quality divide is evaporating. This makes those options intriguing. Probably why I like Roxon so much...as they aren't busy trying to produce Leatherman copies of their designs.

 

[Vidar]

That last picture is interesting as it seems to lack the mechanism that prevents you from opening the long tools (knifes, file, saw) when the plier is being folded out or is in use. From memory I believe that is a formal legal safety requirement in some countries/ regions. Is there are another mechanism for the same purpose hidden somewhere?

In general they seem visually at least very similar. Patents aside there are still copyright laws..

Is it better than the Surge at something? Any improvements over the original? That would be interesting. 

[Chako]

You are correct, no locking mechanism to prevent the larger tools from deploying. There is one thing superior to the Surge, and that is the bit driver. I never liked Leatherman's flat bits.

[ReamerPunch]

I've been putting this in and out my shopping cart, but I already have an actual Surge that I barely carry, so I don't think I'll get the copy.
Thanks for the comparison. I wonder if the copy's bit driver could be inserted into the Surge.
I too like Roxon for innovating instead of copying designs. I've been carrying the Phantom lately.

[cheaptools]

I have this B/Bury MT, and  use it every day.  First time when I got it, I didn't expect too much from it.  But the price was good - 50% discount for Prime members, hence got it for 35£.  When it arrived, I was pleased with the build, but all the tools worked perfect too to my surprise.  I was more than happy, and bought another one - this time the white coloured one under 50% discount on Amazon Prime Day.

Now I have one in the tool box in the garden shed, and carry one with me as EDC.  Highly recommended tool.  It can use the standard 1/4 hexa screw bits, and also ubiquitous jigsaw blades, and they work treat.  The scissors and files work great too.   The can opener and the pliers works well.

[cheaptools]

Yesterday, I took out this Bibury MT, and whittled some hardwood twigs in the garden.  The main knife blade was solid, with no movement or play at all.
The edge was sharp like a Mora.  After  whittling, I did some paper cut testing with the blade, and it was still very sharp, which implies,  edge holding is good to excellent.  An impressive MT for the price.

[powernoodle]

I've said it before, but these affordable Chinese MTs make a nice collection, and keep our brain cones active during the extended periods between Leatherman releasing new and spendy MTs.

U.S. Amazon links: 

https://tinyurl.com/2z4mm8kc 

https://tinyurl.com/267p6cpa

[powernoodle]

This may be the same MT as the Rocktol 29 in 1.

[PitCarver]

Nice writeup.
I don't have either 1 tool so I can't really comment on them other than Leatherman let the copyright lapse on some of it's tools which brought out a rush of clones.

I did pick up the HF Gordon Multitool for $29.00 , after a 25% coupon.  I've been pleased with it so far.

[cheaptools]

msg deleted due to replied to the wrong thread. (meant for the Roxon tools thread)

[cheaptools]

With that said, this is still a rip off of a Leatherman design. So much so that I had to compare both of these side byy side. To add to the similary, I used the Black and White Surge to match the colour of the Bibury Pro.,

I am not sure if B/Bury is a 100% copied design of LM Surge.   Obviously they look similar and have the same type of tools on board.
However, the big difference is B/Bury Pro's adaptation of the standard Hexa mount for the screws, and the standard T shank mount for the saw and files.   I feel this feature is a huge and significant improvement of LM Surge which uses non standard fitting mounts for these tools.

I can use 100s of the standard hexa bits and  T shank Bosch jigsaw blades bought decades ago with my new B/Bury Pro.  LM Surge can use only a few of their bits which are very limited.

[Chako]

There is enough DNA to not really matter. It is not a bad tool. In fact, I quite like it. The parts that are different are simply because Leatherman has copyrights on them for the most part.

[chris]

I bought this when it first came out back in the summer of 2023.  It totally and completely lives up to the hype.  Best thing is the 3D bit driver – the one thing I absolutely hate about my Wave+ is the 2D bits, particularly when trying to use it on Philips bits (which is what I need 90% of the time).  They just cam out so easily it makes tightening or loosening screws a real chore.  And also often leads to damaging the heads on the screws.  Also, the bits on the Bibury are much harder than the LM ones; they are hard like the bits you find in your typical 4-in-1.  I’ve put this thing through some pretty hard use and I abused the pliers are hard as my body could possibly handle and it has held up 100%.  I bought two more; one for the glovebox of each car. 

The Wave and Surge patents have expired and I have zero issue with other companies copying them.  That’s the whole point of the patent system – to spur innovation.  It encourages companies to take chances and do R&D by giving them a monopoly on their design so they can charge more.  Then it expires and lets others copy to encourage the original patent holder to innovate new ideas.  It’s a great system.  Without that system of granting patents and letting them expire we’d all still only have the original PST and Multiplier and nothing else.

[madfishcat]

I bought this when it first came out back in the summer of 2023.  It totally and completely lives up to the hype.  Best thing is the 3D bit driver – the one thing I absolutely hate about my Wave+ is the 2D bits, particularly when trying to use it on Philips bits (which is what I need 90% of the time).  They just cam out so easily it makes tightening or loosening screws a real chore.  And also often leads to damaging the heads on the screws.  Also, the bits on the Bibury are much harder than the LM ones; they are hard like the bits you find in your typical 4-in-1.  I’ve put this thing through some pretty hard use and I abused the pliers are hard as my body could possibly handle and it has held up 100%.  I bought two more; one for the glovebox of each car. 

The Wave and Surge patents have expired and I have zero issue with other companies copying them.  That’s the whole point of the patent system – to spur innovation.  It encourages companies to take chances and do R&D by giving them a monopoly on their design so they can charge more.  Then it expires and lets others copy to encourage the original patent holder to innovate new ideas.  It’s a great system.  Without that system of granting patents and letting them expire we’d all still only have the original PST and Multiplier and nothing else.

I completely agree. But why do I still want to use PST, but not Surge or any other modern Leathermans and their analogues. Even Kick is not the so good.

probably became an old man

[lynnlink]

How do the expiration of patents influence consumer preferences for older multi-tool models, such as the PST, over newer designs, and what does this say about the evolution of tool functionality?

[IMR4198]

 

[powernoodle]

and what does this say about the evolution of tool functionality?

I generally prefer the older MTs - PST, Blast, ST300, etc.  So while they have evolved, I appreciate - and in some respects prefer - the beefy simplicity of the olden days.

[powernoodle]

Powernoodle see, Powernoodle buy.

[David Bowen]

I bought this when it first came out back in the summer of 2023.  It totally and completely lives up to the hype.  Best thing is the 3D bit driver – the one thing I absolutely hate about my Wave+ is the 2D bits, particularly when trying to use it on Philips bits (which is what I need 90% of the time).  They just cam out so easily it makes tightening or loosening screws a real chore.  And also often leads to damaging the heads on the screws.  Also, the bits on the Bibury are much harder than the LM ones; they are hard like the bits you find in your typical 4-in-1.  I’ve put this thing through some pretty hard use and I abused the pliers are hard as my body could possibly handle and it has held up 100%.  I bought two more; one for the glovebox of each car. 

The Wave and Surge patents have expired and I have zero issue with other companies copying them.  That’s the whole point of the patent system – to spur innovation.  It encourages companies to take chances and do R&D by giving them a monopoly on their design so they can charge more.  Then it expires and lets others copy to encourage the original patent holder to innovate new ideas.  It’s a great system.  Without that system of granting patents and letting them expire we’d all still only have the original PST and Multiplier and nothing else.

Have you checked out Rocktol? They have created their own Surge and Wave. However the Surge model has the Leatherman 2D driver. The new Gen-R I just reviewed on YouTube moves the diamond file to the inside, adds an awl, Leatherman style mini driver and moved the scissors to the outside like a Surge. This was something people had been doing by taking the wingman scissors. It's not perfect but each generation they are getting better and better. I don't know who is the OEM for Rocktol but they are listening and adjusting.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk