Once in a great while I run into a tool that turns out to be
indispensable. Indispensable describes the Gerber Multi-Plier.
I was first introduced to the tool while attending an Advanced SWAT
course at Camp Ripley. The TV antennae in my room was flopping loose and
constantly in my way. I asked one of my classmates if he had a
Leatherman or phillips screwdriver I could use. He loaned me his Gerber
Multi-Plier.
I was immediately impressed. There was no need to use two hands to
bend joints or twist handles in different directions to prepare the tool
for use. A simple flick of the wrist puts the tool into action.
The word rugged is defined by this tool. My son, Matt, is in the Army
Mechanized Infantry. When he graduated from Basic Training a year ago I
bought a Gerber Multi-Plier for his graduation. (I tried to have it
engraved with his name but the metal was too hard and the engraver could
barely scratch the surface of the metal.) Matt uses the tool every day.
His Gerber Multi-Plier has been run over by a Bradley fighting vehicle,
inadvertently closed in the personnel ramp of the vehicle and used to
repair hundreds of minor problems on the vehicle. The only problems he
has had are chipping the tip of the sheepsfoot blade and a broken small
screwdriver while turning a screw on the Bradley's 25mm cannon.
The components of the tool make it extremely versatile. There is no
"fluff" on this tool: tweezers, scissors, corkscrew, etc.
Should any part break it is easily replaced with a 1/16th allen wrench.
The pliers nests in the handles of the tool keeping them together. A
quick snap of the wrist and the pliers slides to the end of the handles
and is locked in place by two spring loaded buttons. Gerber markets two
styles of Multi-Plier. One is a robust needle nose and the other is a
heavy duty thick- jawed model.
I prefer the needle nose because it's strong enough to turn small
nuts yet fine enough to work with small wire and small objects. The wire
cutter is fine enough to cut 22 gauge copper wire and rugged enough to
sever 9 gauge galvanized wire. The handles are offset a couple of
degrees to prevent pinching parts of your hand should the pliers slip.
Has anyone ever gotten a blood blister using a Leatherman tool?
The file doesn't show any wear after touching-up the edge on my ax
several times and removing burrs from cut pipe and conduit.
While not designed for precision work the flat head and phillips head
screwdrivers get the job done.
Keeping an edge on the drop point and sheepsfoot knife blades is no
problem. The serrated sheepsfoot blade literally glides through nylon
webbing and seatbelt material.
Anyone that was in the military is familiar with the utility of the
P-38 can opener. The Gerber can opener is comparable. The bottle opener
is handy for opening a real man's brew like Guinness Extra Stout.
Hanging the tool on a cord from the lanyard ring will prevent its
loss when working on an outboard in the middle of a lake or prevent it
from "walking" too far away if it's borrowed by a comrade.
There are even measuring scales in inches and centimeters.
The tool comes in two finishes, stainless steel and black. Weighing
only eight ounces the tool is light and takes little room on a belt. A
loaded magazine for my Glock 17 weighs 3 ounces more than the Gerber
Multi-Plier. A black cordura Velcro belt pouch is supplied with the
Gerber Multi-Plier.
The only improvement I'd like to see is on the carrying case. The
belt loop should be altered so the case will ride either horizontally or
vertically on the belt. This configuration will make it easy to attach
the tool to a web belt or tac vest with an ALICE clip. Optional colors
of camouflage or olive drab would be useful.
Depending on the retailer and model the tool may cost from $30.00 -
$50.00. Whether it's cutting heavy gauge wire, splicing telephone cable
to a negotiations phone or minor equipment repairs it's worth the
investment.
