Multi-tasking mania! Pocket tool power

American Handgunner, Nov-Dec, 2008 by Pat Covert

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For a while there, it was quiet. Most of us had a multi-tool stashed in our glove box but forgot it was there. Our old Boy Scout and Swiss Army knives had long since been relegated to the back of a dresser drawer collecting sock lint. Our tactical folders got all the attention as we marveled with friends and coworkers at the latest techno-wizardry in blade steels and opening mechanisms.

That was yesterday, this is today! All that technology has now made its way into the multi-tool and multi-blade market and this has now become one of the hottest, rapid growing segments of the cutlery market. Some of the new cornucopia of multi-taskers are recognizable standards, while others feature cutting edge design foreign to anything we ever imagined.

The folding knife dates back to Roman and Viking times. These were simple "clasp knives" but many were very ornate, especially those of Viking age Scandinavia. Technically speaking any knife with more than one blade is a multi-blade, but we tend to think of these knives in terms of "the more blades and tools" the merrier. Highly developed multi-blade knives with multiples blades and tools such as files, saws, can openers, screwdrivers and toothpicks were being produced in Sheffield, England in the early 1800s. Since knives were handmade at the time, the quality rivals that of custom knifemakers today.

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Multi-tools differ from multi-blade knives in they tend to be centered around mechanical tools, such as pliers, as opposed to blades. Early examples of multi-tools can be seen in the O. Barnett pliers knife and Cattaraugus Cutlery adjustable wrench knife produced in the early 1900s. These two knives used a knife handle as a platform to showcase their mechanical tools. These began to evolve into more tool-oriented designs in the 1940-50s, but the multi-tool that put these mechanical wizards on the map was the Leatherman Tool first introduced in 1980.

Iconic

The Leatherman Tool set a new trend in multi-tools and became the generic icon of the genre over the years. Originally designed as a "boy scout knife with pliers," the Leatherman Tool went for many years unchallenged. That all changed when the patent ran out, and if today's new offerings are any indication, the multi-tool is poised for even great growth.

Because multi-tools and multi-blade knives are relatively small in size, both can be easily carried, packed for camping, or tucked away in the glove box. The choice of carrying one or the other may just hinge on how badly you need a pair of pliers, as many of the same functions carry over from one type to the other.

A Look

The Buck X-Tract multi-tool was done in collaboration with renowned mountaineer Peter Whitaker. On the outside it looks like a decent sized folder (4.25") but there are some interesting twists separating it from its peers. Everything on the X-Tract is designed to used one-handed, including accessing a 3" drop point main blade, pliers and nice assortment of other tools.

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The hidden pliers (which also have a built-in wirecutter) are larger than those found in the typical multi-blade knife and slide out of the handle into position. In addition, the jaws are spring loaded to make manipulating your task a bit easier. The handle--available in black or camouflage--is a steel frame topped with soft thermoplastic scales. This multi-tool feels very comfortable in the hand and the main blade has a liner-lock mechanism for added safety. The X-Tract packages a nice assortment of tools and the price is right. At $50.00, the X-Tract packs a lot of tools in a tight, affordable bundle.

CRKT

Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) rose to be a viable contender in the cutlery industry by taking risks on designs that would scare the pants off the majority of the competition. Their new multi-tools, the Guppie and Zilla-Tool, are two superb examples of the company's zeal for pushing the edge of the sheath, so-to-speak.

At first glance, the Guppie and Zilla-Tool, part of a new CRKT line called "I.D. Works," may strike the serious user as a bit too whimsical. The Guppie resembles a mechanical version of its aquatic namesake and the Zilla-Tool has a profile reminiscent of a lizard or gar. Designed by two free-thinking creatives with a knack for engineering, these tools are unusual but do not sacrifice functionality for art's sake.

The 3.5" Guppie revolves around a crescent wrench as it's main feature, with a host of interesting functions thrown in. A rectangular portion on the rear of the Guppie houses two Phillips and two flat screwdriver bits and an LED light. The bits pop into a socket located at the rear of the Guppie and the entire bit and light housing is magnetically attached so is completely removable. The carabineer function built into the tool allows you to attach the Guppie to a belt loop or pack strap and also pops the cap on your favorite beverage. A 2" drop point blade on the topside is at the ready for light cutting chores. Ingenious.