March 2011

You're Kidding!

In the 1980's I bought a Leatherman multi-tool. At the time I was logging in Southern Oregon. I used my Leatherman daily to do things it was not designed to do. It was the toughest tool I owned. I used it to make quick repairs on yarders, loaders, cats, and rigging. When I needed to repair something, my hand went quickly to my side to withdraw my faithful multi-tool.

My Leatherman served me well until 2001. I had taken a job for a public agency doing road repair and maintenance. I noticed that a light was not working on the truck I was operating. I grabbed my Leatherman and climbed up on the box and repaired the light. I climbed off the truck to see if my repair worked. It did, but I forgot I had laid my Leatherman on the sideboard of the truck. I drove away and delivered my rock. My heart sank when I realized my trusty Leatherman was now part of a road bed in Linn County Oregon. I decided not to replace my Leatherman. I felt naked without my multi-tool. After a week of hunting tools, I went to GI Joe's and bought a Leatherman Super Tool 200. I was back in business.

The tool served me well until I tried to remove a 3/4" nut from a bolt. I broke the pliers on my Leatherman. Recently I mailed my broken Leatherman to Portland to have it repaired. I expected to get a call saying the tool was not going to be repaired under warranty (and that probably would have been fair) or there would be a charge to repair it. Imagine my surprise when I received a brand new Leatherman Super Tool 300! All I could say was, "you're kidding!" I am amazed at such service in this day and age. There are hundreds of knockoffs out there that claim to be as good as a Leatherman. I will never know, because I will never own anything but a Leatherman. When it comes to a quality multi-tool, backed by a quality company, there is no comparison to Leatherman. And I'm not kidding!

Kenny H.

Lebanon, OR