Leatherman or Gerber or Swiss Army?????????

[rx7guy]

Hi, just wanted to get some feedbacks here...I recently purchased a Leatherman Crunch from www.inetdirectsales.com and a Gerber off ebay...I would like to start retailing them in my store...anyone have any bad stories about any of these brands...the Leatherman's look to be the best and most useful.

 

[Wits' End]

I have had both and my son has the SAK SuperTool (I think it is discontinued). Overall I like the Gerber a little better. The SAK is heavier duty and heavier.
I wouldn't turn up my nose at any of them.
I think there is a larger variety of Leathermans (Leathermens?) with the Juice line.
I think it is a matter of preference as opposed to an overwhelming superiority of any brand.

 

[tiktok 22]

Can't go wrong with Leathermans or SAK's. IMHO I just don't care for the Gerbers. They're just not as handy.

 

[zorba]

The SAK is the dogs dangling bits no matter how you use it.

 

[Commander]

The Leathermans are IMO the best out there!

 

[JohnJ80]

If you want to start selling them, then I think the SAK Swisstool is the best. There are also less dealers so the margins are probably better.

I know a guy who is a Leatherman dealer and with some of the big retail chains selling leatherman, there just isn't much opportunity left for him anyhow.

Anyhow, I would carry SAK and then Leatherman. i don't think I would carry Gerber tools. I don't think they are as good but more importantly from a sales perspective, I think less people got out looking for them.

J

 

[thesurefire]

I own some of all three and i must say the leatherman P4 sure impressed me. I really dont like the gerber tools. They make nice stuff but it just isnt on par with leatherman quality.

 

[bgenlvtex]

SAK and Leatherman are on par with each other and I use and trust them both. I have owned and broken two Gerbers in light duty. I'll not buy another Gerber multi tool.

 

[JohnJ80]

The SAK SwissTool and the Leatherman are not on the same par. The SAK is far more durable and the quality of the steel and finish is much better on the SAK than on the leatherman.

I just came back from a 10 day sailing trip with my Leatherman. Had it in a belt sheath the whole time and never dunked it in saltwater - was pretty careful about it. I had WD-40 cleaned it before I left. When I did that when I came back, it had flecks of rust in a variety of places. My SAK never has had such a problem.

So, that confirmed for me, beyond a doubt, that the SAK is better.

J.

 

[Bill.H]

Apples and Oranges, IMO. The Swisstool is a heavier duty, more durable and stronger tool. The Wave (most popular of the Leatherman line, IIRC) is also very high quality but a smaller and lighter tool - much easier to carry. I've never had a Gerber, but feedback I've read is variable. OTOH, the SOG is getting some very good raves, I want to play with one.

There are multiple Leathermans and multiple Swisstools (and multiple SAKs, a different animal altogether)). You can probably get better answers if you say which models you're referring to (is it Crunch only?). If you're looking at a whole line, the Leatherman line is much bigger than the Victorinox (I think there are 4 models of Swisstool, but they're all close to the same size and quite similar).

 

[JohnJ80]

Exactly right, the Swisstool is larger and heavier. I carry it most of the time but carry the Wave when I want something smaller and more discrete. The other reason I carry the Wave is if I am going to be using a blade more often (lite duty) because of its one handed opening. The SwissTools blades are still higher quality though.

I would really like to see the Wave be made from higher quality steel though.

Still, if I had to pick just one, it would be the Swiss Tool.

J

 

[03lab]

Swisstool is the best imho, really a heavy-duty and indestructible working tool. All the smaller tools lock into place and can be opened without unfolding the pliers. It is heavier though and I think the Wave looks better, but after all it is a tool right? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif