Leatherman
Encyclopedia
Trade name
A trade name, also known as a trading name or a business name, is the name which a business trades under for commercial purposes, although its registered, legal name, used for contracts and other formal situations, may be another....
for a line of multi-tool
Multi-tool
A multi-tool is any one of a range of portable, versatile hand tools that combines several individual functions in a single unit...
s, knives and LED flashlights manufactured and marketed by Leatherman Tool Group of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, USA.
Company history
Timothy S. Leatherman, a 1970 mechanical engineeringMechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
graduate of Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, and his business partner, Steve Berliner, formed Leatherman Tool Group in 1983 to sell Leatherman’s first patented multi-tool prototype, called "Mr. Crunch" while in development.
Leatherman was inspired to design a "Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
knife with pliers
Pliers
Pliers are a hand tool used to hold objects firmly, for bending, or physical compression. Generally, pliers consist of a pair of metal first-class levers joined at a fulcrum positioned closer to one end of the levers, creating short jaws on one side of the fulcrum, and longer handles on the other...
" while he and his wife traveled Europe and the Middle East in 1975, often attempting to use a simple pocketknife to repair their repeatedly malfunctioning car and leaky hotel plumbing. He spent several years perfecting the "Mr. Crunch" prototype and received his first U.S. patent (4,238,862) in 1980. After additional refinement, Leatherman’s first product was introduced in 1983 as the Pocket Survival Tool (PST) and initially sold through Early Winters
Early Winters
Early Winters, Ltd. of Seattle, Washington, USA was founded in 1972 by William S. Nicolai, who formed the company after creating a tent called the Omnipotent. Early Winters was the first company to create and sell a consumer product made with Gore-Tex laminates produced by W.L. Gore & Associates...
and Cabela’s
Cabela's
Cabela's is a direct marketer and specialty retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation merchandise, based in Sidney, Nebraska. It also has "Trophy Properties LLC , "Outdoor Adventures" , and the "Gun Library"...
mail-order catalogs.
Leatherman sold nearly 30,000 tools in 1984, fueling additional product development and rapid company growth. In 1992 the company built a 30000 sqfoot manufacturing facility in Portland, Oregon, expanding to 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) in 1994 and to 90000 square feet (8,361.3 m²) in 1996. Today, all Leatherman manufacturing operations are located in Portland. In 2007 the company opened its first retail store, located at its manufacturing facility. The same year, Tim Leatherman was inducted into the Blade magazine
Blade (magazine)
Blade is a long-running consumer magazine about knife collecting.First published in 1973 under the title American Blade by Southern House Publishing Co. with Blackie Collins as the editor, the magazine's title was changed to Blade in 1982 after its purchase by Jim Parker and Bruce Voyles...
Cutlery Hall of Fame in recognition of his design impact on the cutlery history.
Folding knives were introduced into the Leatherman product line in 2005; hunting knives and gardening pruner tools debuted in 2006; and LED lights were added in 2008. The company also manufactures a line of multi-tools designed specifically for military and law enforcement personnel, as well as accessories for carrying and maintaining its tools.
, Leatherman produced 50 products sold in 82 countries, with U.S. market share estimated at 55 percent.
Product line
Leatherman’s primary product group is multi-tools. They also make knives and LED flashlights.Most Leatherman multi-tools are built around a pair of pliers, with up to 21 additional tools stored in the handles, including knives (straight and serrated blade
Serrated blade
A serrated blade is a type of blade used on saws and on some knives or scissors. It is also known as a dentated, sawtooth, or toothed blade.A serrated blade has a cutting edge that has many small points of contact with the material being cut...
s), screwdrivers (flat, Phillips), saws, wire cutters and strippers
Wire stripper
A wire stripper is a small, hand-held device used to strip the electrical insulation from electric wires.-Manual:A simple manual wire stripper is a pair of opposing blades much like scissors or wire cutters. The addition of a center notch makes it easier to cut the insulation without cutting the...
, electrical crimper
Crimp (joining)
Crimping is joining two pieces of metal or other malleable material by deforming one or both of them to hold the other. The bend or deformity is called the crimp.- Uses :...
, bottle opener and can opener. Most models have a built-in safety mechanism that locks the active tool in the open position when fully unfolded. Models range in weight from the 12.5 ounce (335 g) Surge to 0.81 ounce (23 g) Style.
Leatherman currently produces 10 folding knives, five each under the Crater and Expanse series lines. Models range from two tools (knife blade and carabiner/bottle opener) to four (blade, carabiner/bottle opener, flat and Phillips screwdrivers).
The company’s compact Monarch LED flashlights range from 2.1 inches (5.3 cm) to 6.1 inches (15.5 cm), with light output rated from 5 to 100 lumens.
| Name | Type | Debut | Retired |
|---|---|---|---|
| PST | Full-sized | 1983 | 2004 |
| PST II | Full-sized | 1996 | 2004 |
| Wave | Full-sized | 1998 | |
| Sideclip | Full-sized | 1998 | 2004 |
| Crunch | Full-sized | 1999 | |
| Flair | Full-sized | 1999 | 2004 |
| Pulse | Full-sized | 2000 | 2004 |
| Blast | Full-sized | 2004 | |
| Surge | Full-sized | 2005 | |
| Core | Full-sized | 2005 | 2009 |
| Kick | Full-sized | 2004 | |
| Fuse | Full-sized | 2004 | |
| Charge Ti | Full-sized | 2004 | 2008 |
| Charge XTi | Full-sized | 2004 | 2008 |
| Charge AL | Full-sized | 2007 | |
| Charge ALX | Full-sized | 2007 | |
| Charge TTi | Full-sized | 2007 | |
| Super Tool | Full-sized | 1994 | 2001 |
| Super Tool 200 | Full-sized | 2001 | 2005 |
| Super Tool 300 | Full-sized | 2009 | |
| ST3 EOD | Full-sized | 2010 | |
| Skeletool | Full-sized | 2007 | |
| Skeletool CX | Full-sized | 2007 | |
| Wingman | Full-sized | 2011 | |
| Sidekick | Full-sized | 2011 | |
| MUT | Military Duty | 2010 | |
| MUT EOD | Military Duty | 2010 | |
| Mini Tool | 1986 | 2004 | |
| Freestyle | 2009 | ||
| Freestyle CX | 2009 | ||
| Juice KF4 | 2001 | 2005 | |
| Juice C2 | 2001 | ||
| Juice S2 | 2001 | ||
| Juice Cs4 | 2001 | ||
| Juice Xe6 | 2001 | ||
| Juice Pro | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Juice SC2 | 2003 | 2005 | |
| Micra | Keychain | 1996 | |
| Squirt P4 | Keychain | 2002 | 2010 |
| Squirt S4 | Keychain | 2002 | 2010 |
| Squirt E4 | Keychain | 2003 | 2010 |
| Squirt ES4 | Keychain | 2010 | |
| Squirt PS4 | Keychain | 2010 | |
| Style | Keychain | 2010 | |
| Style CS | Keychain | 2010 |
See also
- VictorinoxVictorinoxVictorinox is a knife manufacturer based in the town of Ibach, in the Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland. Since its acquisition of rival Wenger in 2005, it has, once more, become the sole supplier of multi-purpose knives to the Swiss army.-History:...
- WengerWengerWenger is one of two companies that have manufactured Swiss Army knives. Based in Delémont, Wenger was acquired by rival Victorinox in 2005.- History :The history of Wenger S.A...
- Gerber multitoolGerber multitoolA Gerber multitool is a compact multi-function tool made by Gerber Legendary Blades, part of the Fiskars Corporation.There are similarities and differences between the Gerber multitool and tools made by Leatherman. Some of the Gerber tools are accessed by opening the handles, but unique to Gerber...