If you are going to carry a multitool, the first tool you have to get used to using is the one between your ears. If you do not learn how to fix or make things, then you obviously do not see the need in carrying a multitool. Without the knowledge of how to fix things, items stay broken and you never see the repair. So, where everyday carry is concerned, multitools are of most use to people who know how to use tools.
Over the years, I have tested a number of multitools, and they range from tools that have knives on them to knives that have tools on them. In this article, I am looking at just a few models, some new, some tried and true. I have the Gerber Truss and Armbar Drive, the Victorinox SwissTool X Plus Ratchet, and the Leatherman Surge. Don’t worry—we will also sneak in a few of your favorites.
GERBER
I specifically got a Gerber Truss and an Armbar Drive. Both the Truss and Armbar come in at under $50 and represent a budget-minded approach to multitool carry.
The Armbar falls into the category of knife with some tools. In a way, it tends to be more of an industrial style version of a Swiss Army Knife with a scissors, bit driver, hammer (platform), and awl to go with the main razor edge blade.
This story is from the December 2020 edition of Knives Illustrated.
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This story is from the December 2020 edition of Knives Illustrated.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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KITCHEN KNIVES DON'T HAVE TO BE DULL
I have a confession to make. See if this sounds familiar. I take meticulous care of the knives I use for everyday carry, hunting, and general woods wandering. I wipe them down with an oily cloth after use and I never let them get too dull. Seldom do I have to restore a damaged edge. Most of the time I simply touch up the edges of my pocketknives with a few careful strokes across the rough bottom of a ceramic coffee cup. That’s usually all that’s needed. I don’t use my knives as screwdrivers or pry bars. As a matter of fact, I still have the very first knife I ever owned, an old Boy Scout knife that was handed down from my older brother. The blades have a deep patina that comes with using carbon steel over the years, but the knife is very usable still.
