"jminer" (jminer)
06/01/2020 at 13:45 • Filed to: None
3
35|
"jminer" (jminer)
06/01/2020 at 13:45 • Filed to: None | 3
| 35 |
So I’ve carried a leatherman on my hip everyday from about age 16 until I got my current job and now I only carry it on weekend and when I’m on vacation.
I grew up on a small farm out in the boonies and went to a school in a town that used to be a farming town but was transitioning to manufacturing and growing into a suburb. The town still very much had farming in it’s heart though and since this was nearly 20 years ago they figured it was still ok for kids to carry pocket knives.
I digress - so I’ve been a leatherman fan for a while and got a marketing email from them talking about their ‘Free’ series of tools and was particularly interested in one they call the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It’s a knife with a 3.3 inch blade and a few tools that don’t require a thumbnail to open. They also make a K4 which has a few more tools but a shorter blade is thicker, I figured for that I’d just as well carry my existing leatherman.
It was bit expensive at $80 MSRP but since I’ve used and abused leatherman tools for 20 years I figured it was worth it and really liked the look and the form factor so I ordered it in green.
Saturday it finally showed up
Generally I like it, though it’s a bit heavier than I was expecting and nearly as thick as my giant original Surge. Counting the pocket clip it is thicker.
One handed open works well enough with the knife but one handed closing is tricky yes as it doesn’t have the usual spring lock in the handle, but a small mechanism you press with your thumb up near the blade. It works well but requires pressing it with my thumb in a place I don’t have many callouses so it’s a bit painful if I do it several times in a row.
Here’s it compared my fully open giant original Surge. I love the giant Surge, it’s an amazing tool that I’ve had about 7 years after I broke the blade on the Wave I had since I was 16. It’s a very large tool but I’m a big guy and the pliers do not flex or stretch at all like my Wave did and the flexibility of the interchangeable bits on the Surge are amazing. I’ve done entire laptop disassembly and repair with just the Surge for tools. Those scissors are also amazing, they’ve been my primary fingernail and toenail clippers since I bought it.
Anyway back to the Free K2, the green cladding on the knife is colored aluminum which doesn’t look anodized but also doesn’t feel like aluminum in my hand. The coating makes it feels like a high end plastic, I do not know how it will hold up, but we’ll see.
All in all I like the tool. It isn’t a replacement for a full leatherman, but it is a nice step up in capability from a standard pocketknife. I also have a hard time recommending it at $80 unless you’re after that specific set of tools and only that in it. I’ll try everyday carrying it for a while and see how it fits my usage. I’ve already liked it over the weekend.
Just opening the inside tools on my Surge I broke a thumbnail and it had made me appreciate even more the new opening mechanism for tools. You press on the top of the tools with your thumb which opens them partly and you push the desired tool the rest of the way open like you would a blade and close the rest. It locks in place all without breaking a nail.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Once I go back to working in the office it has to stay home though. I go through a level of screening that’s pretty much TSA Precheck to enter my office building. My bag gets run through an X-Ray machine and I step through a metal detector with a bomb dog and her handler standing nearby. I can get tools through this with a thorough inspection and usually a conversation between the officers and my manager to confirm what I’m doing but that does not allow any bladed tools.
CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 14:11 |
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Pricey! but pretty. I dd a Gerber Truss but it struggles a bit to get open. It’s helped by the textured grips on each side to slide the tool open but still can be a struggle.
facw
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 14:12 |
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Here, I’ll tack on a mini-mini multi-tool review (not for a Leatherman, or even a knife , though I’m still quite pleased with my 2003 vintage Leatherman Wave):
Topeak Hexus X multitool:
Seems good. Feels bulkier than the original Hexus, but comparing them size-wise they are more or less identical. Various useful bits, though the Phillips head is too large to adjust brake alignment on my new bike. Tire levers feel sturdier and have a better attachment system than the Hexus’. As soon as I got it, I got a bike that’s not compatible with the chain tool, but it’s not really Topeak’s fault that Campagnolo always wants to be a bit different. Overall, should be a nice upgrade over my old Hexus.
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jminer
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
06/01/2020 at 14:19 |
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Yeah I waffled on the price but decided to go for it since my spending has been way down the last 2 months . I’ve always loved my combo of ~3" folding knife in pocket and leatherman on my hip but hoping for most things I can replace them both with this and simplify a bit.
My pocketknife has wandered between Gerber, Kershaw and Buck depending on what I’m after. Gerber makes great cheap knives but I’ve never loved their multi tools. Opening things like the knife and scissors from the outside of the tool ruined me when I got my first Wave.
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jminer
> facw
06/01/2020 at 14:21 |
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That’s a really nice looking bike tool!
I got my first wave in 2001 and loved it. By the time I stopped carrying it, the poor thing had taken serious abuse and the pliers had a good deal of flex in then and finally I broke the serrated blade so it got put in a drawer for the memories. I could have sent it in for warranty but they said it was likely I would just be sent a new wave as a replacement.
functionoverfashion
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 14:24 |
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I’ve had a lot of different pocketknives and Leathermans, and I find that I value quick open/close of a main blade above all else. And second to that, I find that I really like having one other tool, of any sort, to pry, scrape, twist, etc. so my blade doesn’t get ruined. The best thing I’ve found is a Spyderco clipitool:
But it’s so small, the blade isn’t easy to open/close with one hand. I want a locking blade, too, ideally.
The Leatherman FREE K2X looks interesting, and pretty close - but it sounds like the blade will have the same difficult locking mechanism you’re talking about. Still, might be worth a try.
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CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 14:29 |
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Ever look at CRKT? They make some neat stuff
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facw
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 14:30 |
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My saw is still going strong, though I don’t use it often. Last time was to cut down a bamboo thicket that was definitely too big to attack with a multi-tool (really should have popped over to the hardware store for a real saw), but the Leatherman did a better job on it than a pocket knife has any business doing.
Meanwhile I have less admiration for the cardboard saw, not because it’s dull, but because I still have a scar from a 16 year old oopsie...
davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 14:32 |
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How many times have you had to stash/trash/return-to-vehicle at an airport or concert because you forgot your knife was in your pocket?
Such a frustration of modern life...
TheRealBicycleBuck
> facw
06/01/2020 at 14:35 |
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I keep an Alien II in my pack. The only thing I was really disappointed in was the clip hold ing the two halves together broke the first time I used it. It still slides together, but if you forget and hold it wrong, one half will try to escape by dropping onto the ground. Other than that little mishap, it’s been fine.
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jminer
> functionoverfashion
06/01/2020 at 14:38 |
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The K2x is the same knife as I have, just not colored. The latch is fine, just different than anything I’ve used before. I imagine within the week I’ll be comfortable with. It just requires moving your thumb to the side to release instead of the usual downward pressure.
Like you I won’t carry anything I can’t one-hand open but closing I can deal with requiring a second hand. I also used to carry a swiss army knife and won’t carry anything that doesn’t lock anymore. The risk of it folding in on me is too great and I am in IT so I need to be able to type...
I carried one of these super simple Crkt knives for a while and very much liked it.
I think it got lost and then my local store didn’t have another so I likely replaced it with one of these gerbers. I’ve owned several and they always used to be cheap good knives. Good for tool style use and cheap enough to replace after a couple years.
https://www.gerbergear.com/en-us/shop/knives/all-knives/paraframe-i-ti-grey-fine-edge-22-48446
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jminer
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
06/01/2020 at 14:39 |
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I’ve had a few of their pocketknives over the years. I mentioned it in another comment but really liked this one.
https://www.crkt.com/shop/everyday-carry-knives/k-i-s-s.html
It was cheap, durable, easy to use and small.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 14:41 |
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I carry a two-bladed pocket knife (the serrated blade is really redundant) and a small NitI ze Doohickey on my keychain.
The two together take care of most of my needs. I have a screwdriver with a bunch of bits in my backpack for working on computers or desks or whatever.
I have an original Leatherman sitting in a drawer because it’s just too big to carry around in khakis. I bought a Leatherman micra which I kept in my pocket for many years, but I realized that the other tools take care of most of my needs wi th a much smaller footprint.
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jminer
> davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
06/01/2020 at 14:42 |
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It has happened a lot - I’ve finally developed new habits and now forget my knife on the weekends more than not. This was actually the hardest thing to get used to about my current job is the inability to carry a knife or multi-tool since I’d done it for early 20 years when I started.
5 years ago when I started here depending on the knife in my pocket the officer would take a look at it and let me through, but not usually. I wouldn’t remember until I went through the metal detector and then pawed my pockets for whatever I missed and there’s the pocketknife! Dammit talk to the officer and head back to the car. Come back in 10 minutes go through the line and get x-rayed again.
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functionoverfashion
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 14:43 |
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I see now, the K2x just has a partial serrated blade... I’ve had some of the super light ones like that Gerber, in fact, I think that Gerber is still in my boat (it stays there all the time). Looking through Leatherman’s lineup again, I wonder if the Skeletool is worth a try, it looks like it’s not super bulky, and has a knife that opens / closes by itself on the outside (don’t have to open the pliers first). But then there are pliers there, and a screwdriver you can change bits on ... hmm.
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CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 14:44 |
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In terms of EDC knives, I have always used a pretty standard Victorinox Pioneer. Just for opening boxes or whatever.
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jminer
> TheRealBicycleBuck
06/01/2020 at 14:46 |
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That’s pretty slick. On my leatherman I have always used the serrated blade more unless it required fine work and like a pocket knife with a mix of serrations and fine point. This is what I’ve replaced (for know) in my pocket with the K2.
For the longest time the heft of the leatherman worked on my hip because it carried so many tools I used everyday, including the pliers but recently it’s being left home more and more as I don’t take apart and fix things nearly as often as I used to.
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jminer
> functionoverfashion
06/01/2020 at 14:48 |
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The interchangeable bits on moderns leathermans are amazing! They even sell a pack of them which a bunch of different sizes and various tools.
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jminer
> CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
06/01/2020 at 14:50 |
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I have really stopped using non-locking knives altogether. I still have the Victorinox knife I got as my first knife at 10 from my grandfather an I will never get rid of it, but I’ve closed that blade on my hand enough times I don’t like to carry one.
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facw
> TheRealBicycleBuck
06/01/2020 at 14:50 |
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I thought about getting one of those guys, but I didn’t feel like I needed all the tools, and the tire levers seemed even more compromised than the ones on Hexus/Hexus X. Still if you’ve got need for all those things, it seemed like pretty compact way to get them.
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davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 14:57 |
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Yeah, I used to ALWAYS carry a knife, but now
go without one in my pocket
far too often for my liking.
The most frustrating time for me was meeting my family for a show after work. Since I wasn’t going straight to the event, it didn’t even cross my mind to leave it out of my pocket that morning. It was some show like Frozen On Ice, so OF COURSE they needed the highest level of security. There was a long line getting in and we’d walked pretty far from where we’d parked , and by the time I realized I had it, there was really no going back. It was a very small knife that I carried in my work slacks, so I tried just putting it in with my keys and wallet as I passed through the metal detector. Of course they noticed it. I put up a futile little fight, and then, worst of all, the lady made ME pick it up and put it in the trash. Ugh..
It’s not like it was a really expensive knife
, but it was nice and
perfect for the way I used it, and I’d owned it for like 20 years. So frustrating.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 15:05 |
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I like the split serrated/smooth blades, but I’ve never bought one of my own. My son carries something similar to yours that he found buried in the dirt while on a scouting trip. He cleaned it up and sharpened it himself.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> facw
06/01/2020 at 15:11 |
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I bought it when I was in college and didn’t have a garage or access to a lot of tools. I’m pretty sure I’ve used every tool at least once. It’s overkill and too bulky for a seat bag, but it’s perfect for a Camelback. The tire tools do require you to move all the other tools out of the way and don’t have a lot of length for leverage. One is a little wider than the other which can be a good thing and a bad thing. There are some situations where the wide one is just a bit too wide. A pair of dedicated tire levers with spoke hooks on the opposite end are definitely more useful.
SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 15:15 |
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California residents need not apply...
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jminer
> davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
06/01/2020 at 15:16 |
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Last one I had to throw away was in my fishing vest when I was taking a trip to Seattle for a flyfishing trip. I thought I had pulled everything out but missed one. There was also a nice zippo in there (don’t smoke but always used to carry a lighter) that had to go in the trash with it
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jminer
> TheRealBicycleBuck
06/01/2020 at 15:19 |
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It is a very useful combination of a fine point you can sharpen yourself and serrations that are good for everything from light chopping to tearing and on a good knife those serrations are a pain in the ass to sharpen but stay sharp for like years.
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jminer
> SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
06/01/2020 at 15:22 |
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Everything I’ve shown here is legal in CA. I plan on moving there in the next year so I familiarized myself with their knife laws.
I do have several fixed knifes that I couldn’t really carry in public but they’re hunting knifes so I wouldn’t. For example it would be illegal for me to carry my buck 119 concealed in public but as long as it was exposed on my hip like I carry it when I’m hunting or hiking it’s legal in the state.
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SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 15:26 |
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Anything over a 2" long blade is asking for trouble here in Republico Californio. At least out in public.
It’s a confusing hodge-podge, but it’s generally accepted that you can’t even buy a set of steak knives at IKEA and carry them in your car back to your house. They’d be legal INSIDE your house, but (short of mailing them to yourself) you can’t transport them in a car or other mode of transport.
YMMV
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davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 15:27 |
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I wonder if the TSA or airport janitors go through the trash from security points and resell all of this stuff. Surely they do.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 15:28 |
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That’s what I like about my pocket knife. One blade is smooth, the other serrated, in a smaller package. It’s not fantastic steel, but it gets the job done.
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jminer
> SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
06/01/2020 at 15:31 |
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It definitely does matter where you are. Some cities and cities have tougher ordinances. I think statewide the 2" limitation is for spring loaded blades though, and I don’t have any of them. It’s also illegal to conceal a dirk or dagger (like a bowie knife).
https://www.akti.org/state-knife-laws/california/
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jminer
> TheRealBicycleBuck
06/01/2020 at 15:36 |
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That is a very interesting looking knife. Has the profile of an old case pocket knife and I love it.
This is what my grandfather carried every day. This knife is surely quite a bit older than I am. He taught me most of what I know about knives and how to handle/sharpen them. He passed about 10 years ago in his mid-80's. I haven’t done anything with this knife since then other than occasionally take it out and look at it, it’s still sharp enough to shave with. I needs a light cleaning and oiling but is in good shape still.
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TheRealBicycleBuck
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 16:00 |
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I like it! When I was a little kid, my great-grandfather gave me a small pocket knife with a single blade and a bottle opener one end. I stupidly tried to pry something with it and chipped off the end of the blade. Since then, it’s been stored away and only comes out when I’m feeling nostalgic. It’s something like this one, but with nicer scales and without the lanyard loop.
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jminer
> davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
06/01/2020 at 16:59 |
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They have to - or at least I know I sure as hell would...
leicester
> jminer
06/01/2020 at 18:30 |
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I’ve had a couple Le atherman 303's, and ebayed a replacement when they were discontinued -A bit thick, but otherwise a good carry. and requisite bottle opener.
https://www.leatherman.com/e303-221.html?cgid=retiredproducts
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jminer
> leicester
06/01/2020 at 18:49 |
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That’s a pretty sweet knife!