The Leatherman Rev is a smaller and more convenient stainless steel multi-tool to always carry with you, writes Mike Gormley.
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I have been a Leatherman user for many years. My first encounter was when working with the RAF during vehicle air drop trials in the late 1980s. The riggers and guys on the drop zone all had a Leatherman on their belts. These were in frequent use in various ways. I knew I just had to have one of these. And it was not long before I did.
My first and original Leatherman was eventually, after some gentle persuasion, ‘donated’ to a Sergeant in the Malaysian Paras who I was working with, but was quickly replaced on return to UK. These early Leatherman multi-tools were reasonably basic. Fairly small and light and just enough features to enable you to carry out basic tasks much easier and quicker than if you did not have one. Since those early days the Leatherman family has grown in many ways. Now we have a huge choice of size and complexity and the number of features offered. No longer do we simply ‘go buy a Leatherman’!
There are a significant number of choices to make. More difficult perhaps, but you can now decide on the best and most appropriate one from the significant range. When I recently got the Leatherman Rev to review it took me back a bit to those early days on the DZs. It is all well and good to have the chunkiest and most complete Leatherman with the most tools, but do you always need them? Perhaps not. I have one of the larger more complex and latest from the range, the Arc, to bring to you in due course but this one, the Rev, for much of the time I think has most features you need for most of the time. Lighter, more simple and of course less costly with a UK RRP under £50. To this end it is even offered without a sheath as standard, as many of the others come with one in the box.
I have mixed feelings here, but it does give you options. There are choices on these so as you can see from my photos you can go ‘traditional’ with a leather Heritage one or the more modern Nylon version. Both are good and practical. For me a sheath for your Leatherman is close to essential. You are much less likely to lose your valued multi-tool. I recall well when I met Tim Leatherman, the founder and inventor of the Leatherman, and we were discussing the market for these special tools, he told me one of the biggest markets was for people that had lost theirs and were replacing them. So I rest my case.
Once you have a Leatherman on your belt you can’t be without one. But back to the Rev. For me and my use of the Leatherman it is the pliers and the blade that I use the most. Fairly closely followed by be two types of screwdrivers. I am seldom without one on my belt or at least close to hand. Just yesterday I was in my local farm shop, who know me well, and one of the ladies behind the counter asked me to help undo a screw top plastic container. Neither of us could. But I had my Leatherman on my belt and problem solved. An unlikely task and place but you never can tell. I have had many such occasions over the years.
Comparing the 168g (5.9oz) Leatherman Rev, which measures 97mm (3.8″) when closed, to my original Leatherman it is so much nicer in the hand. In particularly when you need to get the pressure on when using the pliers. As the time-honoured saying goes you can’t reinvent the wheel but the Leatherman engineers and designers most certainly do a good job at refining their particular ‘wheels’. I can see this Rev being one of the most popular ones in this range for day to day, carry with use. As ever the quality is top end.
The edge of the 66mm (2.6″) lock-out blade is second to none. With other tools one can open cans and bottles and rip open packaging, a common task for most of us these days, without damaging the contents. Rough edges and so on can be filed. The pliers and wire cutters are invaluable, and the smoothly crafted shape of the handles makes the singled-handed use of these easy and discomfort free. Another gem from the Leatherman team.
Tools:-
- 420HC Knife
- Bottle Opener
- Can Opener
- Hard-wire Cutters
- Medium Screwdriver
- Needlenose Pliers
- Package Opener
- Phillips Screwdriver
- Regular Pliers
- Ruler (1.5″ / 38mm)
- Small Screwdriver
- Wire Cutters
- Wood/Metal File
[images © Mike Gormley]
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