Displaying items by tag: Keychain Tools

Adding to the Keychain Gerber list is the Splice which features scissors, as opposed to its sister tool, the Vise which has pliers.

In a world where it can sometimes be difficult to carry a multitool, many of the manufacturers have struggled to come up with designs for TSA friendly type tools.  The latest from Gerber is called the Mullet- will it live up to the "business up front, party in the back" mentality that has driven the haistyle it's named after?  I'm not sure the mullet hairstyle sets the bar that high, so, yeah, it probably will.

Pry tools and one piece tools have been all the rage for years now and not only is the market flooded with them but one can find multiple on Kickstarter alone that are awaiting funding. Guess you find a cash cow and jump on the bandwagon. Schrade who was bought by Taylor Brands back in 2004 hadn't had a pocket tool in its lineup. Since the acquisition TB has re-released classic items from the Schrade past as well and produce items for the current market.

Schrade released its first version of the titanium pry tool back in 2013; it sold pretty well but not to the tune Schrade was looking for. Schrade made several changes to the design and released an updated version to their pry tool.

Before I bought the Gerber Mini Suspension-P, I'd never owned a Gerber multi tool, so I wasn't sure quite what to expect. I've owned a couple of Gerber knives over the years and I was very impressed with them, and I'd had my eye on the Gerber Suspension multi tool for a while now. (The Paraframe is still, for my money, one of the best pocket knives there is.)

Then recently I saw the Mini Suspension-P at Home Depot for about $10. The price was right, so I took a chance and bought it. After carrying it and using it for a couple of weeks now, I have to say I'm a little let down.

Lost in a sea of better known competition, the T10 Multitool by IDL Tools is a lesser known, but not lesser quality, contender.

The tool is all stainless steel construction, and held together with peened pins. The tool is 2" (51mm) long, 1 1/8" (29mm) wide, and an incredibly thin 5/16" (including pins. Without them, it's only 1/4" (6.5mm) thick. Weight is 1.7 oz (49g).

Here is the tool folded up.

It wasn't a planned purchase. I didn't even know it existed until I saw it in the display case at the Brigade Quartermaster on Ft. Stewart more than a year and a half ago. I liked the idea of having a small tool to carry on my keys, since the Gerber MP600 I was issued was too big and bulky to carry out of uniform. I purchased the tool for around $20. It has been on my keys ever since.

I have been aware of the Gerber Curve for quite some time now and was attracted to it for it’s organic shape, locking implements and minuscule size. I was just never able to justify paying $10 for the tool and $5 shipping. I found one while browsing in a Dick’s store about two weeks ago. Its the first time I’ve seen one in a store, and seeing it in person made me want it even more. I ignored the $15 price and bought it.

In a field of so many great keychain-size tools offered, why would you stop to give the Leatherman Style PS a second glance? The answer can be summed up in three letters: TSA.  This bladeless offering is a great travel option. And don’t get me wrong, it’s not a half-baked compromise tool either.

Leatherman has never backed down from a challenge, and the Style is a fairly obvious attempt at recreating the infamous Victorinox Classic. The Classic is the most successful Swiss Army Knife in the history of Swiss Army Knives- so how does the Style stack up?

When it comes to keychain tools, there are two distinct camps- the ones that try to pack as many features into a small package as possible, and the ones that put only a few, more effective features in. The thought behind both concepts is sound- by giving more features, it's more likely you will have what you need when you need it.By going with less features, you can minimize manufacturing costs and make certain that the tool will perform it's functions more effectively.