Leatherman Crunch (vise grip multitool)

[Scimonetti]

I thought this was worthy of a thread because it's a really cool tool oriented multitool not many people know about. It is a folding vise grip from leatherman.
Next to the wave.
Fully opened

Very nice fit and finish. Pretty light compared to a wave but solid. There is some play side to side in the one moving handle but I'm happy with it.
The force this can exert is fantastic. I locked it to my hacksaw frame and had a hard time moving it. The jaws are well hardened and machined and the pin jaw is handy. The jaws have a recessed dip for stripping wire and is perfect on a locking tool as legit adjustable strippers you can adjust to almost any small gauge.
Next to a 5 and 6 inch locking plier.

Here are all the tools it contains and a lanyard loop.


The knife is very small but everything else is good and has solid locking. It's enough knife to get by cutting cord and the serrations suit this style tool. It is very hard to access compared to any other multitool though. Taking out the adjustment screw gives more usable knife length.

This brings me to how you have to open it.


I think you can imagine how it locks in place. The jaws are spring loaded and you get used to how everything has to get pushed to go back together. Its not flawless and takes some force to unlock it from its open position. Folded up it is miles more compact than any other locking multitool. There is a detent that keeps it folded together very nicely.

One of the color features is the hex drive. As you unscrew the adjustment screw it opens up and fully machined spring detent 1/4 hex driver.




The spring detent doesn't really work, but if you get a ball detent extension or bit set everything is great. It is very versatile and I the female drive wears out you can replace it.

Overall I think it's a multitool that lacks a lot, but has a solid set of mechanical tools. If you want something more well rounded get something else, but this an unique tool that will work when normal pliers won't. Plus the coolness factor on a visegrip multitool is high.

Also please pardon my misuse of the word "detent" when I couldn't think of the right word.

 

[Badger 13]

Great write up, thanks for taking the time and sharing this information.

Jim

 

[Canoe50]

Great write up, thanks for taking the time and sharing this information.

Jim

+1
I do like Leatherman tools. Think I'll add this one.

 

[Zrexxer]

I've got two Crunches. One stays in my bugout bag. IMO it's one of the most useful tools Leatherman makes.

 

[alan camby]

I have had one for years and it is a unique tool. It probably is the slowest to open tool though.
If you look at the leatherman line, Crunch has stood the test of time.
Other models have come and gone and the Crunch remains.

 

[Fugio]

Wow, I'm getting one!

I find that I'm using my vise-grips more than regular pliers lately. This is great!

 

[CNGsaves]

Nice write-up OP. Now I want . . . or should I say "need" a Leatherman Crunch !!

 

[Tinner]

If you look at the leatherman line, Crunch has stood the test of time.
Other models have come and gone and the Crunch remains.

They're probably still trying to recoup the tooling costs.

I used to sell Leatherman. I got two Crunch with my initial order. It took five years to sell the first one, two more to sell the second. Everybody wanted to look at them. I sold both of them for cost plus 10%. The fact that it's slow and awkward to use put most folks off.

It is well made and works just fine, it just isn't real popular.

 

[mires]

They're probably still trying to recoup the tooling costs.

I used to sell Leatherman. I got two Crunch with my initial order. It took five years to sell the first one, two more to sell the second. Everybody wanted to look at them. I sold both of them for cost plus 10%. The fact that it's slow and awkward to use put most folks off.

It is well made and works just fine, it just isn't real popular.

I have looked at the crunch for years. Both online and in person. I keep thinking I need to add it to my arsenal but man is it awkward. Maybe I should just pull the trigger and see if I get used to it.

 

[Stooge]

I was actually just looking at the crunch the other night to replace my old wave that i accidentally left on the roof of a car and never saw again. I like the idea of having the vise grip, seems like it would be alot more handy than pliers, but i dont like that there is only 1 blade and that is located on the inside. Perfect for me would be the crunch with an exterior blade like the wave that is easy to flip out. Maybe ill get a crunch and go back to carrying a pocketknife again.

 

[Scimonetti]

I was actually just looking at the crunch the other night to replace my old wave that i accidentally left on the roof of a car and never saw again. I like the idea of having the vise grip, seems like it would be alot more handy than pliers, but i dont like that there is only 1 blade and that is located on the inside. Perfect for me would be the crunch with an exterior blade like the wave that is easy to flip out. Maybe ill get a crunch and go back to carrying a pocketknife again.

I have a wave and if I was to buy one of the 2 the wave would come first. Bigger file, knife, hone and saw and one hand easy open. It all depends on what you use it for though. The crunch and a good knife could be great though.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK, I'm more than a bit stunned by the cost of the crunch...

 

[Scimonetti]

OK, I'm more than i bit stunned by the cost of the crunch...

I've seen them on amazon for 60. I'm not sure what you used to price but the leather man website is ridiculous. Still rather expensive for the amount of tools it contains

 

[buffalobill]

i hate to be the bearer of reality, but i have a set of these, and while its good compared to other multitools, for the price you can get a lot of tools that work better than this. the problem with the crunch, to me, is that it relies on pivot points that snap together, iirc. it seems like if you really need to clamp down on something, it would have the potential to pop apart at the snap together pivots. therefore, it has always just hung out in my gun cabinet drawer, with an overhyped victorinox, and a whopped out surge....

 

[buffalobill]

oh ok, i never trusted it because of the snap together pivot, i figured i could realistically clamp onto stuff with my surge and proper grip better. maybe not, mb this can be the next multitool i expect way too much from and ruin, hahaha...

 

[Philbert]

I carried the crunch and a wave on three deployments in Iraq, these tools saved my duff a few times in the sandbox. I remember repairing the threads of a broken air line on my HET (bif *** truck that hauls tanks). Saved the day that time. I like the crunch allot, like all multi-tool knives they are useful within a range.
Y

 

[Farmall 1066]

I carried a Kershaw A100C, the original locking multitool for years, but retired it when they were discontinued. Carry a Wave now, and love it.
Sorta wanted a Crunch, but wasn't aware what was involved to deploy the pliers.
I'm sure it's a quality tool, but for $15, I can drop a small Vice-Grip in my pouch.

 

[Tinner]

I always liked the size and shape of the jaws on the Crunch. Vise Grip should make some like that, more versatile than their standard curved jaw.

I've seen a few Crunches that have been used hard. They hold up well, like any Leatherman. Leatherman warranty is 25 years to the original owner and they're really good about taking care of business.

 

[Zrexxer]

OK, I'm more than a bit stunned by the cost of the crunch...

Just like here, where you can buy Snap On tools in the classifieds for half or less what they cost on the truck, it pays to hang out on the knife forums.

I bought both of mine secondhand, although they were new in every way. I paid $25 for one, and $29 for the other.

 

[Beemer533]

Wow, I've had my Crunch for a couple of years and really like it, but I never even realized there was a hex driver in it...

Thanks OP!

 

[Fugio]

Well now that I've played with one, I have to say I'm not quite as impressed. It's a brilliant idea, but the execution is mediocre. It's really slow and awkward to change from pliers to hex drive.
But the price on Amazon is pretty cheap. I still might do it if I have a moment of weakness. I'm a sucker for gadgets.

 

[Fugio]

FYI, Gerber makes one. Not good reviews though. And Schrade/Vise Grip made one called the toolbox for a while.

Some others here:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=18750.0

And the online multi tool museum:

http://www.multi-tool.org/

 

[dede2897234]

Scimonetti,

Thanks for starting this cool thread about your multi tool!

About 15 years ago, I purchased my first new Sears Craftsman tool for $75. It happened to be a stainless steel vise grip multi tool similar to the Leatherman Crunch. The Craftsman model 45516 multi tool was made by Kershaw. If you would like further details on this discontinued model, here is the link: LINK.

One apparent thing you will notice is that the Craftsman is not as compact as the Leatherman. However, the Craftsman has in its favor is that it is easier to set up in a specific configuration and use.



















Dave

 

[Farmall 1066]

Scimonetti,

Thanks for starting this cool thread about your multi tool!

About 15 years ago, I purchased my first new Sears Craftsman tool for $75. It happened to be a stainless steel vise grip multi tool similar to the Leatherman Crunch. The Craftsman model 45516 multi tool was made by Kershaw. If you would like further details on this discontinued model, here is the link: LINK.

One apparent thing you will notice is that the Craftsman is not as compact as the Leatherman. However, the Craftsman has in its favor is that it is easier to set up in a specific configuration and use.



















Dave

That Craftsman is the same as my Kershaw A100C!
You might want to check prices on those, Dave! Getting kind of valuable.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Well ****....I was feeling out some Crunches on EBay, and guess I own one now!
Have to give it a try. Got dyslexic bidding, and spent a bit too much, but still a decent deal.
Time will tell, I guess. Lol!

 

[Farmall 1066]

Meant to bid $36. Bid $63, looked and meant to cancel..... Hit confirm instead!
Don't know what else to call it!

 

[Farmall 1066]

The Crunch deal got a lot better! Shipping got delayed, so seller is throwing in a used Leatherman Wingman too!

God watches out for fools and drunks....I know I've put him on overtime!

 

[Husker1]

I fished a Crunch out of the bay and really like it. I pair it up with my ST300 and have a sheath that holds both. Use the 300 the most, but love having the Crunches capabilities and when you need it, there's just no substitute.
Bob

 

[Manny2_0]

I have one It's ok
I would definitely not go out an buy one

especially with the utility of the wave, I've bought 4 last one I got off of amazon for $55 bucks

To me it feels like a $15 tool craftsman would put out during the holidays

I was given mine in Afghanistan, and it just roles around under the seat of the car,
I like it so much I forgot about it until I saw this thread