Leathermans. Pst/heritage/bond specifically

[wildoliver]

The other day I handled an original leatherman, I've had a few cheap leatherman copies over the years and hated them all, floppy handles, sharp edges, flimsy feeling pliers, heavy. Most of all a feeling that after lugging it around for years unused the second you depended on it, it would just fall apart and not do what you want.

To say I was sceptical about the real thing is an understatement, but wow, from the leather pouch through to the fact that despite being well used (a friend bought it from an old mechanic and it's covered in scratches and wear) it still feels "right". Light, the right set of tools to be useful without carting rubbish around, the can/bottle opener is one of the most useful day to day, with the knife and screwdrivers following up, pliers least useful but they aren't bad pliers at a push.

So I want one. But they don't make the PST any more. They do make the bond. And you can get a heritage leather pouch I think. Does anyone have both an old one and a new one and can comment on the quality? What I don't want is to do what I've done elsewhere and be disappointed that the quality has dropped off, I don't want a super tool or any other packed out version, absolute max I really need is pliers, screwdrivers (don't want the flat bit tool) knife, file, openers/awl. I'd like the saw. But as it's a choice between either saw/knife/file pick 2 or suffer the size increase to have all 3. I'll take knife and file every time. I'm not going to be parachuting in to the Nile delta any time soon. I don't need every tool ever made.

So bond? Any good? Or hunt out an original off eBay, price will be about the same either way. I don't mind used, I enjoy old/heritage stuff if it's good.

It's a shame, they did a rere of the pst in 2018 for the 35th anniversary, but didn't do one for the 40th in 2023. Next anniversary would be 2030 and that's 45th and it's a bit long to wait on the off chance.

[WelshRich]

https://sakukshop.com/product/leatherman-pst-2/

£75…

Could probably grind back the chip on the screwdriver.

Or one with the case for £105
https://sakukshop.com/product/leatherman-tool-pst/

Edited by WelshRich on Friday 7th February 08:20

[wildoliver]

Actually not a bad site. In fairness getting an old pst isn't an issue, tons of them on eBay from the US.

The question is would I be disappointed in a new bond compared to the feel of an old pst?

[Pedro25]

I had my Leatherman for 24 years, recently whilst using it the top of the file attachment snapped, was thinking of getting a replacement but went to the LM approved warranty company Whitby and Co in Cumbria, filled out their warranty form with as much detail as I could, wrote them a letter with the broken LM enclosed asking if they could repair. Less than seven days later I signed for a parcel from RM, they sent me a brand new replacement Bond LM with protection case. I only realised that when sending it back inside the case is the manufacturing date and year stamped on the inside. I never had the original receipt just enclosed it with a nicely worded letter asking for a repair. Brilliant service from Whitby and Co.

[wildoliver]

That is great service. You're the man to ask, how is the fit/finish/feel/quality of the bond compared to your original?

Edited by wildoliver on Saturday 8th February 06:45

[Jamescrs]

I have a Leatherman Wave which is probably about 20 years old and I have a Leatherman Bond which is a couple of years old. The Bond is a really good piece of kit and feels at least as well made as the Wave.

The Wave came with a leather pouch but I have lost the pouch somewhere in the house at the moment, the Bond has come in a fabric pouch but I would say the fabric pouch does look very hard wearing with a nice fastener and I don't imagine it's going to wear out any time soon.

[Pedro25]

wildoliver said:

That is great service. Your the man to ask, how is the fit/finish/feel/quality of the bond compared to your original?

It’s very good imo needs a little working to get it all moving nicely and I’ve even bought the one type clip thing to add to it it’s a good piece of kit.

[Pedro25]

Pen!

[a340driver]

I bought my Leatherman in the Inçirlik PX circa1995. So 30 years old and it's still perfect!

Edited by a340driver on Friday 7th February 21:24

[a340driver]

I can't believe I still had the original instructions in the shealth!

[a340driver]

The whole thing..
5 years out of guarantee!!

[shtu]

WelshRich said:

https://sakukshop.com/product/leatherman-pst-2/

£75…

Could probably grind back the chip on the screwdriver.

Or one with the case for £105
https://sakukshop.com/product/leatherman-tool-pst/

Dear lord, my old PST is in better shape than either of those. I'm going to have to make sure I don't lose it. Over the decades I've owned it, probably the most useful tool I own. It's not perfect for anything, but very good at so many things.

If you're on a budget, the BiBury-brand clones on Amazon are apparently pretty decent, and often under £40.

[benp1]

I'd say the Bond will fit your brief very well

I have one, plus lots of other Leathermans (Wave, skeletool, juice, micra, three squirts, the mini tool), plus a couple of Swisstools and Gerbers. Sure I've forgotten some

Bond has a non-locking blade which I like carrying it around, usually carried with my MTB tool kit on my bike. Has that old school leatherman charm

[wildoliver]

Cheers guys, in typical man maths style I've decided to get a bond. But because I can leave one in a car too I'll slowly hunt out a tidy pst too as I like the idea of the original.

[Byker28i]

Jamescrs said:

I have a Leatherman Wave which is probably about 20 years old and I have a Leatherman Bond which is a couple of years old. The Bond is a really good piece of kit and feels at least as well made as the Wave.

The Wave came with a leather pouch but I have lost the pouch somewhere in the house at the moment, the Bond has come in a fabric pouch but I would say the fabric pouch does look very hard wearing with a nice fastener and I don't imagine it's going to wear out any time soon.

I have a wave, had it for 25 years, replaced under warranty about 5 years ago because I broke the blade being silly with it, but they replaced with a new one...

You can buy new leather pouches... I've replaced mine

[SimonKD]

If I had the choice, I’d go for the original PST, there’s just something about that old-school reliability. But the Bond looks like a solid backup.

[davek_964]

I've seen a couple of threads about Leatherman on here recently, and each time it tempts me to buy one.

Usually, I resist - but this time I failed (partly because I did a bit of minor DIY yesterday and having one would have saved me going to get the necessary tools).

An Arc is on its way.....

[Jamescrs]

davek_964 said:

I've seen a couple of threads about Leatherman on here recently, and each time it tempts me to buy one.

Usually, I resist - but this time I failed (partly because I did a bit of minor DIY yesterday and having one would have saved me going to get the necessary tools).

An Arc is on its way.....

My old Leatherman Wave is kept to hand in my house for the same reason, it's saved me a good few times from going into my garage to search the tool chest for a correctly sized screwdriver.

[davek_964]

Jamescrs said:

davek_964 said:

I've seen a couple of threads about Leatherman on here recently, and each time it tempts me to buy one.

Usually, I resist - but this time I failed (partly because I did a bit of minor DIY yesterday and having one would have saved me going to get the necessary tools).

An Arc is on its way.....

My old Leatherman Wave is kept to hand in my house for the same reason, it's saved me a good few times from going into my garage to search the tool chest for a correctly sized screwdriver.

I actually think Wave (or Wave+ as it is now) is what I should have ordered - especially since it has a ruler, which bizarrely isn't present on the Arc.

I only really went for Arc because it comes with a set of screwdriver bits (I know I could have just ordered the bits with the Wave and saved myself half the price!), and the "hammer" end would have been useful yesterday which I don't think the Wave has.
I quite liked the one handed operation too, although in real world use I doubt it makes much difference.

[mmm-five]

I've got a PST II from 1998 (according to the stamp inside the handle) which is one of two that I keep in the cars for ad-hoc use. I think the other one is a SuperTool or Core as it's bigger/heavier and has a few extra blades/screw heads.