I bought this Leatherman Sidekick during a HD Christmas sale around 4 years ago. It’s been great and I’ve grown an attachment to it. I particularly like it’s spring open feature which the Wave and Supertool don’t have. I just can’t figure out where it’s made. Never checked the pack it came in at the time.
Where was my Leatherman made
- Thread starter sbyrne92
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Bighead38
Well-known member
We build and manufacture all of our tools in Portland, Oregon. And when it’s time to put our tools through its paces, we test them in the great Pacific Northwest. From hiking in the rugged Cascade Mountains, fishing off the beautiful Oregon coast, or exploring the high desert in the east, we ensure our tools are reliable for any adventure or task, big or small.
I’m on my 3rd leatherman charge tti in roughly 10 years. Never lost one, had one stolen from me by a cop and the second by my cousin or a cop during a traffic stop. Charge tti is perfect for me. I’ve tried others but nothing comes close for me.
I’m on my 3rd leatherman charge tti in roughly 10 years. Never lost one, had one stolen from me by a cop and the second by my cousin or a cop during a traffic stop. Charge tti is perfect for me. I’ve tried others but nothing comes close for me.
Jeremy77
Well-known member
I read somewhere that the reason for Leatherman tools not being stamped “made in U.S.A. was due to a lawsuit brought forth in California. IIRC, the files in them were made in Mexico or Colombia etc. and someone sued saying that fact negated them being able to claim the tools were American made. Either way, they are made in Portland, OR. along with their knives. I own a Wave and a model from the early 90’s as well as a Crater knife. I’ve been more than happy with all of them. I always get a few of the Brewser pocket tools to give to friends around the holidays. Also made in U.S.A.
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
I have had my leatherman forever. Every time I think I lost it somewhere I panic. It's gotten me out of more problems than I could ever remember, is used and abused daily, and although not the best at anything, it's adequate for many things. A great product. I paid $5 for it at a pawnshop along with a handful of other miscellaneous stuff.
IndyGarage
Well-known member
I went to their factory several years ago in Portland. It's not as large as I imagined in an industrial park not too far from downtown. They have a retail shop there, where you can buy most everything they make.
They have tours, but I missed them for the day, so had to just look in the windows. It looked like a typical machine shop to me.
I almost always have a leatherman with me. It drives me nuts that I can't carry one while traveling.
They have tours, but I missed them for the day, so had to just look in the windows. It looked like a typical machine shop to me.
I almost always have a leatherman with me. It drives me nuts that I can't carry one while traveling.
HanShotFirst
Well-known member
Of all the makers of multi-tools (and there's a lot of them), Leatherman is still my favorite by a good margin. Personally I think all of them have lower metalurgical quality than I would prefer, but Leatherman has the best quality easily.
You just have to realize, it's a multi-tool, not a real full blown purpose built tool. Keep that in mind and yours will last decades.
You just have to realize, it's a multi-tool, not a real full blown purpose built tool. Keep that in mind and yours will last decades.
Be interesting hear the story about the cop, How does a cop steal something from you?
Farmall450
Well-known member
It's the jack of all trades but master of none. If you work in a shop I'd expect you to take a few seconds and grab a pair of needle nose or sidecutters. Now when you're out in the field or at your tool-less friend's house, that's when the leatherman shines.
WhiffySpark
Well-known member
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I prefer Gerbers sliding pliers
Weird Tolkienish Figure
Well-known member
Last edited:
rlitman
Well-known member
I've read the same. They're made in Oregon, with different tools having different amounts of parts imported. The Sidekick (and Wingman), are their most economical models, because they have the highest amount of imported material. The more expensive models have a higher percentage of parts made in-house.
Todd.Brock
Well-known member
My original leatherman has got me out of quite a few binds. Impressed my wife when we were dating with it. The car wouldn’t start coming out of a store or restaurant, grabber the Leatherman and figured out the neg terminal came loose. Probably the worst tool to tighten a GM side post battery! But it worked, and the Leatherman did more than just tighten up a bolt !
fordgasm
Well-known member
About to buy a Leatherman Rebar. Have a supertool 200 as well. Love it.
IndyGarage
Well-known member
They are exactly fit for the purpose - a small lightweight toolkit that you carry in your pocket.
The pliers nor the drivers are really meant to replace purpose built tools.
Can you rewire an electrical outlet with one if you need to? - yes you can. Can you wire an entire building? - possible, but you wouldn't want to, there are other tools much better suited to that kind of job.
Welll thank you guys. I’m glad they are still made in USA. Even with imported materials. Mine has has helped me out more than once. Took apart most of a dash with just the Leatherman in a junkyard was pleasantly surprised. I too freak out when I think I lost it. It’s become a favorite of mine.
Bighead38
Well-known member
Claimed it was illegal and took it during a traffic stop. Nothing you can do in the moment. Filed a complaint the next day and he said he didn’t take it.
Two Speed
Well-known member
Potential Situation;
C: Any knives, firearms or other weapons on you sir?
V: No Sir,
C:Whats this here?
V:A leatherman multitool
C: (opens up knife) Looks like a knife to me... <confiscate>
V: but....
Adk Mike
Well-known member
I carry a very early PST 2 I bought new. A couple years ago I spent more than the thing is worth for a custom leather case. I think mine is stamped 2001.
I don’t carry it in the shop. But like others have said it shines in the field. A must during hunting season. Always in my pack hiring or fishing.
I don’t carry it in the shop. But like others have said it shines in the field. A must during hunting season. Always in my pack hiring or fishing.
IndyGarage
Well-known member
Well, that would be pretty rotten, but I could see it happening.
It's not illegal to own a knife, so the guy has no right to confiscate it. That would be theft to me.
rlitman
Well-known member
I got my first Leatherman (a PST 2) in 1995.
When the Wave came out, I upgraded. When the Charge Ti came out, I upgraded again.
After I lost a Charge that fell out of a nylon case into a snow mound, I started carrying it in a custom kydex holster with a Tek-Lok clip. Currently, I carry it in a custom leather pancake wth OWB Speed Clips.
LawnBoy-5247
Well-known member
I love my Leatherman, I have carried my Surge almost every day for close to 8 years. I broke the pliers once but Leatherman warrantied them no problem.
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ptgarcia
Well-known member
I have an old Leatherman; must be at least 15-yrs old now. I'm not sure of the model but it's one of the more basic tools. I once burned off the tip of one of the plier jaws when messing with the battery in my Cummins Ram and inadvertently struck an arc. I sent it back to Leatherman and they fixed it and sent it back looking new again. They make a quality tool and back them with excellent customer service.
I've got a charge Ti, mainly because I love the feel of titanium. Well made in the US with some parts coming in from Mexico.
I'm in the UK and bought it from a dealer in Israel advertising on ebay.com who was the cheapest. Tools are very much a global business !
I'm in the UK and bought it from a dealer in Israel advertising on ebay.com who was the cheapest. Tools are very much a global business !
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Htscheg
Well-known member
I still have my original leatherman that I got just before leaving Germany In 1993.... its been on every deployment the Army sent me on!!! I also still have the ine the Army issued me in 2002 before leaving for Afghanidtan and Iraq!!! They have been solid utility knives for me over the years, one of them is always stored in my saddlebag for emergencies!
bob from indiana
Well-known member
I E.D.C. an original leatherman I bought in 1992. I broke the plier tip off one side and ground the other side down to match. It is one of the best things I own and has saved many trips to the tool box to fix simple problems.
I have a couole of 200's that I carried at work for many years. One is the newer version with the rounded grips that are more comfortable. I cleaned up the small screwdrivers a time or two and sharpened knife blades. I even nade a sheath when the factory one fell apart. Since it was riveted together, I took rhe old one apart and traced the pattern onto better leather, installed 2 piece rivets and the 2 parts of a new snap. It looks well worn today but no tears or cracks. I also have the little keychain guy and got one for my wife. Great for opening packages, and other little odd jobs.i have tightened those knurled head screws with a pliers when the tool got too loose but that is not very ideal. Does anybody know if there are nut drivers that fit or is that just a Learherman in-house tool?
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I'm really starting to get suspicious of Leatherman quality. My work issued me a cheap feeling Gerber MP600 and it held up pretty good with daily use for about a year, and all that happened is that little master link clip that is part of the slide function came off (which I haphazardly repaired). So I decided to get a Leatherman because Leatherman's are made in America and they just feel like they're better quality. So I ordered a Leatherman OHT because I prefer the slide opening pliers to the unfolding. Well I've only had the pliers 2 months and I have an issue with the torx screws coming undone and the knife not locking. Granted the tools aren't rated for industrial use but I'm really not that hard on them. I also noticed the teeth on the pliers are wearing extremely fast. People like to complain about Gerber mystery steel but those half the cost MP600s I had didn't have any issue with the teeth wearing down.
Bighead38
Well-known member
Upset with leatherman right now. I just picked up my replacement charge tti a month ago and now there is a new model available. If they had advertised it was coming out I would have waited.
Could you share pictures and more information on the holsters you’ve used? Ive found the holsters are the weekday link.
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I made my replacement from leather, rivets and a snap from Tandy. I just used the old one for a template If you can get a piece of latigo leather, the stuff used for horse gear, it is really durable and even better than what I used. There are generic sheaths out there but this way I got a good fit and it was fun to make.
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I've had the same experience. Gerber look and feel cheap but have much stronger pliers than leatherman. Sog pliers are good too.
rlitman
Well-known member
HanShotFirst
Well-known member
Multi-tools are compromise tools. They have to be stainless because where they are taken and commonly used are often high moisture environments (think snow climbers, etc.).
The only other option would be to make each piece out of the optimal steel for that piece, then chrome everything. I think that would still end up being a compromise tool in many ways.
Generally speaking, I'm pretty happy with Leatherman's tools, and I have found for me that Leatherman has the best quality.
I think the only thing I'd really ask for would be an S30V blade option on their multi-tools.
I have the Surge and I think it is a pretty well thought out multi-tool. The replacable saw blade that uses the Bosch style saber saw blades was an elegant solution. I like their diamond file, which can be used to sharpen the knife blade if you ever get truly desperate (survival situation, etc.).
I think if you find you're using the pliers a LOT, and consistently mess up your pliers...well, I think you should buy a pouch to carry actual pliers.
I personally think they're great for most things.
For my daily "desk job", I still haven't found anything better than my Swiss Army Knife (Huntsman).
The only other option would be to make each piece out of the optimal steel for that piece, then chrome everything. I think that would still end up being a compromise tool in many ways.
Generally speaking, I'm pretty happy with Leatherman's tools, and I have found for me that Leatherman has the best quality.
I think the only thing I'd really ask for would be an S30V blade option on their multi-tools.
I have the Surge and I think it is a pretty well thought out multi-tool. The replacable saw blade that uses the Bosch style saber saw blades was an elegant solution. I like their diamond file, which can be used to sharpen the knife blade if you ever get truly desperate (survival situation, etc.).
I think if you find you're using the pliers a LOT, and consistently mess up your pliers...well, I think you should buy a pouch to carry actual pliers.
I personally think they're great for most things.
For my daily "desk job", I still haven't found anything better than my Swiss Army Knife (Huntsman).
kythri
Well-known member
That's kinda why most manufacturers operate like that...
Bighead38
Well-known member
The blade in the charge is s30v jsyk.
Bockscar
Well-known member
That case looks almost identical to my SOG multi toolI made my replacement from leather, rivets and a snap from Tandy. I just used the old one for a template If you can get a piece of latigo leather, the stuff used for horse gear, it is really durable and even better than what I used. There are generic sheaths out there but this way I got a good fit and it was fun to make.
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