Leatherman Raptor is the next step in the development of paramedic scissors from the world leader in the Leatherman multi-tool segment. At the moment, if you ask me, the peak in the development of this tool.
We have on our resource a review of paramedic scissors on the example of MSM EMT Trauma Shears. If you read it, you already know that paramedic scissors are an extremely useful tool that allows you to cut clothes and other products (tactical and tourist equipment slings, seat belts, etc.) on the way to the place of damage. This tool was built in an extremely simple and concise manner to ensure performance in the most severe situations and weather conditions. Their only drawback is single-function, because it's just scissors (no less, but no more). As for multifunctionality, the guys from Leatherman know their job as well as possible, therefore, creating Letherman Raptor, they took the usual paramedic scissors, took into account the wishes of tactical doctors, emergency services and pumped them with “steroids” with the following features:
- Possibility of folding / unfolding with one hand.
- Lock all instruments according to the principle of Liner Lock.
- Plastic sheath.
- Stainless steel.
- Available tools:
- scissors
- Stroporez
- ring cutter
- Cullet
- Key for oxygen cylinders
- Ruler
- Dimensions when folded: 12.7 cm. (Length).
- Dimensions when unfolded: 19 cm. (Length).
- Weight (without case and accessories): 164 g.
The result was a tool specifically designed for emergency medical, fire, search and rescue services and tactical physicians, with whom we will become more closely acquainted in today's review. And start with the scabbard, which is an integral part of Leatherman Raptor.
The Leatherman Raptor sheath is made of dense, impact-resistant ABS plastic, which allows you to securely fix the tool and protects it from loss and damage associated with transportation.
In the front and back of the sheath there is a circle with recesses used to fix the sheath with any degree of inclination relative to the attachment point. The presence of two such circles also allows you to mount the sheath with Leatherman Raptor both on the left and on the right hand, depending on the user's desire.
On the back of the scabbard there is a bracket of a special design. Also in the photo above, a bolt is clearly visible, with which the desired sheath angle of the sheath relative to the bracket is fixed.
The design of the bracket on the scabbard allows equally successful mounting of the Leatherman Raptor both on the trouser belts (photo above) and the PALS \ LaserCut modular interface (photo below).
Also note that the scabbard holds the Leatherman Raptor equally well when folded or unfolded. In both positions, the grip and hold are very reliable, no backlash and possible loss. The only one on my own would recommend wearing the inverted Leatherman Raptor when unfolded, as in this case, to remove it with your thumb, you also need to press the pedal at the base of the back wall of the sheath, which holds the tool even more reliably.
Now let's take a closer look at Leatherman Raptor itself.
As you can see in the photo above, Leatherman Raptor is transported in the folded state, formed by turning the halves of the scissors near the axis of the tool. This position ensures maximum compactness of the product, as well as the safety of the scissors.
Already folded, you can access some accessories (such as a trouser brace, which can be clearly seen in the photo above) and tools from the Leatherman Raptor stock.
The first of these is carbide cullet, used for the primary destruction of glasses. The cullet tip is hard enough to scratch beer bottles and disrupt the integrity of car windows.
On the opposite side of the tool you will find a folding line cutter.
The well-known attention of Leatherman to details was not spared by the Raptor, which has a mechanism for locking the sling cutter according to the Liner Lock principle. Stroporez can be displayed both with open and with folded scissors.
The sharp angle and the sharpened cutting edge of the line cutter leaves no chance for paracord (photo above), slings of PALS \ LaserCut modular systems, car belts, etc.
The square-shaped hole in the line cutter is nothing more than a key for working with the valves of oxygen cylinders used for artificial ventilation of the lungs using, for example, Micro BVM Pocket BVM bags, an overview of which we published a little earlier. If in the west such gates and keys to them are standard, then, unfortunately, they practically do not occur in our latitudes.
To access the remaining tools, you must open the Leatherman Raptor, which is done by turning the plastic handles. Unfolding Raptor, after a brief introduction, you can not only with two, but with one hand.
After unfolding, you will have in your hands full-sized paramedic scissors, the extreme points of which diverge by 19 cm. The size in the unfolded state is identical to MSM EMT Trauma Shears, NAR Trauma Shears and other common representatives of the class. But the overall width of Leatherman Raptor exceeds the listed tools due to the presence of moving parts and additional tools (sling cutter). First, this can cause difficulties with the speed of work, but after getting used to it does not cause much discomfort.
The scissor ears are additionally trimmed with plastic, which provides comfort and reliable retention when working with the tool, in addition, protects the examination gloves from damage on the sharp metal edges of the multitool. Plastic handles will also protect against possible electrical injuries; you could bite through Leatherman Raptor wiring elements (for example, in a car).
Another tool that can be accessed after folding Leatherman Raptor is the cutter. It is intended mainly for cutting rings and other jewelry, which in case of injuries can cause swelling of the fingers and other related injuries. Western emergency protocols provide for the removal of rings from the victim in case of dislocations, fractures, burns of the upper limbs and cases where the immobilization of the hand or the entire limb is required. Then the cutter will be just right. It is positioned primarily on soft jewelry metals, so I sincerely do not advise you to try to bite red-hot nails with them.
As you can see, the scissors are locked in the unfolded state using the triangular buttons with the corresponding icons. When folding with one hand, they can be activated alternately, folding one half of Leatherman Raptor at a time.
The main "tool" Leatherman Raptor - 420HC stainless steel scissors. As with standard paramedic scissors, one edge has a sharpening, while the second has a small notch, which additionally fixes the material being cut. The lower lip of the scissors has a rounding that counteracts further injury to the victim when cutting clothes along the limbs or in close proximity to the body.
As you can see in the photo above, the textile slings of the PALS interface folded several times are not a problem for Leatherman Raptor at all. According to users, they are no worse at handling jeans, leather (jackets and even boots), multi-layer boots, elements of tourist and tactical equipment, zippers, tarps and other fibrous materials.
For a better understanding of Leatherman Raptor sizes, below are some comparative photos with the “classic” NAR Trauma Shears paramedic scissors.
The dimensions of the jaws, as well as the length of the cutting edges, are very similar and amount to about five centimeters. The jaw angle is also very close. In the photo above, Leatherman Raptor differs only by the presence of a ruler of the same 5 cm in length. There will be no excess, at least for measuring the size of burn areas.
But in the photo above you can see another key superiority of Leatherman Raptor, namely, the thickness of the steel is three millimeters. If the millimeter NAR Trauma Shears shred coins without any problems, imagine what Leatherman Raptor is capable of.
General comparative photo of Leatherman Raptor and NAR Trauma Shears. Again, Raptor is significantly different in size only in the overall thickness and piling of the structure.
Another available feature is a hole for passing lanyards, “leashes”, NAR Scissor Leash retractors shown in the photo above, etc. In view of the tangible cost of the tool, I highly recommend insuring it with such devices.
I will complete today's review with the answer to the question “Does Leatherman Raptor need everyone and everyone?”. And to be honest, I am more inclined to answer “no”, because in order to fully feel all its advantages, you need to use it every day. Employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and search and rescue services fall best into the category of such users, specialists for whom releasing a victim from a wrecked transport is not so much a feat as a work duty, ambulance and disaster medicine workers, instructors of first aid and tactical medicine, etc. If there are such people in the circle of your friends - feel free to give them a Leatherman Raptor, they will sincerely be grateful to you, believe me.
A source: secretsquirrel.com.ua
Author: secretsquirrel.com.ua
