Multi tools, huh! What are they good for?

[Vulcan]

oh - i had one of those in the 70's i think - it had a tooth pick and tweezers , if i remember correctly

Both are surprisingly useful. It’s a shame my Alox SAK doesn’t have them. An oversight by Victorinox.

 

[Stuart Moffat]

I was given a small ask to go on my key ring. I found it really useful from time to time. Then I went through airport security and had it confiscated. Bought another one so as not to have to admit how stupid as was to swmbo. Next work trip same thing, replaced it again. Next work trip was to Israel on El Al. Oddly they didn’t detect it on the way out, but they did stop me bringing it back. Gave up after that!

 

[carpenteire2009]

I have a Leatherman and a few SAKs, don't use them all that often as the workshop is only a few steps away and has every purpose-made tool I could need. That said either is useful on camping trips and if opening a package I'll always reach for a SAK, I like their blades. I think my love for them dates from seeing them in a local shop window as a young lad. Back then (40 years ago!) I could only dream about buying a fancy SAK, they were for other (better-off) people to buy! Although I do remember many small corner shops sold small penknives then and I don't think it was a big deal for a minor to buy one.

 

[MikeJhn]

I keep a Victorinox Swiss Card in the living room with the remotes in a caddy, surprising how often its used.

https://www.millets.co.uk/16002259/victorinox-swisscard-classic-16002259

 

[John Brown]

At home we have a small toolkit in the kitchen drawer but we regularly hire narrowboats and my Leatherman always comes along too. Small enough to shove in a pocket and useful for fixing bits of boat that have worked loose, undoing covers on torches, remote controls etc to replace batteries and the like.

PS I like the Frankie reference in the title @Pallet Fancier

Edwin Starr, surely?

 

[John Brown]

I have a Leatherman Wave, second one first was take, along with a laptop, but nothing else, by a burglar about 20 years ago. Shows that my policy of owning nothing worth stealing pays off!
I find it very handy, but can't believe it doesn't have a corkscrew.

 

[Terrytpot]

Many moons ago when the need was strong and many around me carried them , Leatherman,Gerber and SOG were the goto choices..I picked Gerber (to my regret as it snapped clean in half in the same year) but in hindsight I’d have picked the SOG as they really were built to last.
It particularly bugs me that back then it was our own hard earned coin getting these to do the job whereas they’re now a standard issue item in certain theatres, even more so because my multi fuel Coleman stove got swiped the day I left and those are now standard issue too!

 

[Homeless Squirrel]

Probably , i have a few
Leatherman
Stanley
other - cant remember

I do take then with me on holiday
1 is in the car all the time

And just purchased some E-bikes this week , so again will be with me on routes

i have used a few times

Legally as the Blades all lock on mine, I'm not sure i'm allowed to carry a locking knife

you can't use most of the blades if they don't lock in as many are double sided but it's classed as a Multi tool not a knife

 

[stuart little]

I dislike SAKs as I never found that would hold its edge, and found most of the accoutrements useless. I was bought a Leatherman but I have no idea where it is now as I don't recall ever using it. I do however carry a very good quality illegal lock knife.

Same here regarding SAK & Leatherman. I have a couple of filleting knives, a Bowie, & a VERY large French folding knife, 11" long folded!, not to mention a 1917 303 bayonet.

 

[Homeless Squirrel]

Ive a pair of Leatherman Charge XTI's one lives in my Fishing kit rucksack other used to in shotgun kit.
Have the add ons so can use sockets etc and have the clips you load with bits to fit on holders so can have Flat.phillips.poz.torq.alen fixings
Diamond files been used a lot

 

[HamsterJam]

Edwin Starr, surely?

That was before my time - honest!

 

[Paddy Roxburgh]

you can't use most of the blades if they don't lock in as many are double sided but it's classed as a Multi tool not a knife

Any bladed article with a locking blade, fixed blade or blade over 75mm is illegal to carry without good reason, a multi tool is no exception. The only knife you can legally carry without a good reason is a folding pocket knife without a blade lock with a blade length of 75mm or less (SAK is fine).
The key to this is “without good reason”. I have a knife in my pocket all day at work and often forget and take it home, forgetting is not a “good reason” and you risk prosecution. However, if you have a knife because you are taking it home to cut a piece of vinyl, then that is fine. Any specific good reason will suffice.
It is also essential to remember it is not legal to carry any item (other than rape alarms) for the purpose of self defence. If a policeman suggests that you could use any item as a weapon, it is important to point out that that never occurred to you.
A difficult area in this is when you permanently keep tools in your van, which you use outside of work. Technically, if any of them are sharp, then this is not allowed, however, I asked my sister (a criminal defence barrister) about this, and she said while technically illegal, it is very unlikely you would be prosecuted.
The knife laws exist for good reasons, but they are pretty annoying for those of us who like to carry a knife, but have no intention of stabbing anyone.

 

[peter-harrison]

I have a Swiss Champ- the biggest as far as I know. Not the one with a built in clock- that would be ridiculous!
I was given it for my 40th birthday and I have used it pretty much every day since.
I've had a few scrapes from carrying it as I generally forget it's in my pocket. By far the most embarrassing was when a security guard asked me in a puzzled tone, "why are you trying to carry a knife into Auschwitz?"

 

[throbscottle]

I had a variety of multi-bladed pocket knives growing up and was never without - used them all the time. My first ever one had a tool which according to my parents was for removing boy scouts from horses hooves. Anyway as life went on I switched to nice quality locking knife which went everywhere with me, but not any more because they are no longer legal (and I don't have much use for a pocket knife these days anyway).

As to Leatherman - when they were still a fairly new thing in the early 90's I got a "micro" one since I couldn't afford the full size version - still cost me £40 though - which is a lot of money even now. Anyway I went and bl**dy broke it trying to turn an obstinate nut with the plier jaws end-on - snapped one of the jaws right off. Never got around to claiming on the lifetime warranty. So don't twist your Leatherman Mrs Worthington....

 

[Jake]

Took me a long time to buy one but caved (to a Wave) a couple of years ago, now a permanent resident in my 'work' overall pockets. Knives (straight and serrated) and pliers get the most use - the hook on the serrated blade is very useful. Scissors also handy sometimes although tiny. Screwdriver used occasionally if it saves a trip.

I bust the tip off the pliers abusing them, tried to pay for new jaws but they insisted on me returning, sent me back a brand new one under the warranty. I'd bought a replacement in the meantime so now have one I can mislay.

 

[Homeless Squirrel]

Any bladed article with a locking blade, fixed blade or blade over 75mm is illegal to carry without good reason, a multi tool is no exception. The only knife you can legally carry without a good reason is a folding pocket knife without a blade lock with a blade length of 75mm or less (SAK is fine).
The key to this is “without good reason”. I have a knife in my pocket all day at work and often forget and take it home, forgetting is not a “good reason” and you risk prosecution. However, if you have a knife because you are taking it home to cut a piece of vinyl, then that is fine. Any specific good reason will suffice.
It is also essential to remember it is not legal to carry any item (other than rape alarms) for the purpose of self defence. If a policeman suggests that you could use any item as a weapon, it is important to point out that that never occurred to you.
A difficult area in this is when you permanently keep tools in your van, which you use outside of work. Technically, if any of them are sharp, then this is not allowed, however, I asked my sister (a criminal defence barrister) about this, and she said while technically illegal, it is very unlikely you would be prosecuted.
The knife laws exist for good reasons, but they are pretty annoying for those of us who like to carry a knife, but have no intention of stabbing anyone.

I do have good reason! why it stays in my Fishing rucksack. Been used for all sorts even doing the tiny screw up on my glasses when fishing one day on the beach!. Fixed mine and others fishing reels.Plus cutting ropes and other stuff that has caught on things or tangled.