Overview of Multitool Leatherman Surge

Leatherman Surge is one of the full-sized multitools in the Leatherman line with a versatile set of components and high potential for tough field use.

This knife is not a cold weapon, about which a bona fide seller will be able to provide you with a copy of the examination report.

We previously reviewed Leatherman Charge TTi and mentioned that its ergonomics, dimensions and tool kit are more suitable for urban use and daily wear (EDC) than for the field. Today we will get acquainted with the “charge for field use” in the face of Leatherman Surge, which has absorbed the following features.

- Possibility of folding / unfolding with one hand.
- Ability to access basic tools without opening multitool.
- Lock all instruments according to the principle of Piano Lock \ Liner - Lock.
- Leather case.
- Stainless steel.
- Available tools:
- pliers
- Round pliers
- Nippers
- Crimping tongs
- Wire stripping tool
- Knife
- Serrator knife
- Saw
- File for wood / metal
- Diamond file
- scissors
- awl
- Bottle opener
- Opener for canned food
- Flat screwdriver (medium)
- Flat screwdriver (small)
- Adapter for paintings
- Adapter for bits
- Ruler (8 ″ / 19 cm.)
- Dimensions when folded: 11.5 cm. (Length)
- Dimensions when unfolded: 17.5 cm. (Length)
- Weight: 335 g. (Without case and accessories)
- Further in the review, Leatherman Surge multitool in Black Oxide color is presented.

If you have not stumbled upon a gift edition in a tin box, as it was in our case with Leatherman Charge TTi, then Leatherman Surge you will get in a cardboard box traditional for the manufacturer in black and yellow colors, the brand logo and an indication of the place of production, which is invariably American Oregon State. The instrument is currently available in polished stainless steel (Satin), with anti-reflective black coating (Black Oxide) and a combination of Satin / Black colors. You can also choose the material of the carrying case, which are nylon with MOLLE fixation and "premium" skin. Because I purchased my Leatherman Surge at the exhibition (which I will discuss in more detail at the end of the publication) I got Premium Sheath leather equipment, as evidenced by the sticker on the package. I consider nylon more functional, and a multitool even with add-ons (which I will also discuss in a separate publication) fits into pouches for pistol stores without any problems, such as the Condor Single Pistol Mag Pouch, because for me this was not the main criterion of choice.

Inside the box we are waiting for the multi-tool in a package, a leather case, a small pencil case for carrying removable canvases and universal instructions for Leatherman Surge and other full-size tools of the brand. Before moving on to the multitool itself, let's get acquainted with the case.

As I said earlier, in this configuration it is leather, although you can choose nylon. The layout of the case is traditional for the brand and has a main compartment for a multi-tool and several additional sections for organizing related components and additions. As you can see in the photo above, at the back wall inside the case there is an elastic partition that can hold flat objects like a complete pencil case for removable canvases and a set of Leatherman Bit Kit bits. On the sides of the case there are also small oblong and narrow compartments, fenced off with an elastic sling, where you can place the Leatherman Bit Extender and other similar adapters.

The case has a large leather valve in the upper part, which is locked with a metal button. On the back wall of the cover there is an overlay with 4 cm wide slots on the outside, which allows you to optionally attach the tool cover to the trouser belt in both horizontal and vertical orientation.

From the case we turn to Leatherman Surge itself.

Like Leatherman Charge TTi, Leatherman Surge is worth noting for the presence of four basic tools, access to which is available outside the multitool and without the need to lay it out. To access the pliers, you already have to spread out the legs of the tool.

And after that, the rest of the tools hidden in the halves of Leatherman Surge will be available to you. At first glance, they may seem not so much already, but let's go through them in more detail.

Let's start with the basics of the basics in Leatherman multitools - pliers. As you can see in the photo above, at your disposal are pliers, pliers and several types of nippers. Leatherman Surge wire cutters are designed to work with soft wires of small cross section (farther from the base), as well as solid wire of impressive diameter (closer to the base).

It is worth noting that, unlike the Leatherman Charge TTi, and the SOG Powerlock, which we reviewed earlier, the Leatherman Surge has replaceable jaw lips, which allows you to replace them as you wear or in case of damage. It's nice that you do not need to change the whole multitool as a whole, or carry an idle tool with you. By simply unscrewing two bolts with Torx-type slots (six-pointed star) you can free and replace the jaws of the wire cutters, and all the parts and components necessary for this operation can be purchased as a separate heading under the name Leatherman Wire Cutter Insert.

On the opposite side of the base of the pliers, between the legs of the tool there is a notch of wire cutters and crimping tongs that allow you to press the terminals to the ends of the wires and combine them together.

Next, we’ll look at the four main tools available from outside Leatherman Surge.

By the principle of a conventional flip knife, using the thrust hole in the butt of the blade, you can quickly access the main blade made of 420 HC steel with a length of 7.87 cm. It is larger in size than most knives in multitools that I have seen before, and this is an absolute advantage Leatherman Surge. Steel with a high carbon content holds sharpening well and does not require frequent dressing, as is often the case with softer stainless steels of most multitools. The blade has wedge-shaped slopes and sharpening Clip Point, which makes it very versatile and suitable for working with coarse materials, as well as for delicate carving and / or cutting products.

Similarly, but on the other side of the tool, you can access the serreytorny knife from the same steel 420 HC. This knife is much better suited for cutting fibrous materials and can be used to cut car seat belts and / or clothing to access damage. Because the blade has a sharp tip, while paying attention not to inflict additional damage on yourself or the victim.

Unfortunately, this blade does not have a sling cutter (a recess with a sharpener for cutting the rope) that Leatherman Charge TTi has, but not everyone needs it. It is also worth noting that the sharpening of the serreytorny blade is designed for the right-handed person, because of which, when changing hands, as well as people with a leading left hand, discomfort may occur when using it.

Another tool in the quick access slot is scissors. I also consider this fact an advantage of Leatherman Surge, as Placing the main tools in the slot made it possible to increase the size of the scissors and even equip them with a spring mechanism that spreads the branches of the scissors during operation. To activate it, you must fully open the tool until the lock system clicks. In size, they are significantly superior to Leatherman Charge TTi scissors, and can be used for tougher and coarser materials, unlike delicate Charge scissors.

The parade of basic tools with quick access is completed by a universal holder suitable for fixing two tools included in the Leatherman Surge delivery set: a saw and a file. As seen in the photo above, the adapter has three done. Two of them do not allow the canvas to move when moving forward-backward and left-right, and the third is used to connect them together. To change the blade, you need to hook the hook connecting the adapter halves to each other, for which you can use the bat from the delivery, and move the outer half to the side (see photo above) using the special emphasis in the upper part of the part.

This adapter provides compatibility not only with Leatherman tools and replacement blades, but also with a wide range of T-shaped blades from third-party manufacturers. Similar canvases are widely used in electric jigsaws, so finding a canvas of the required size for the required material (metal, wood) or fiber type (wet / dry wood, etc.) will not be difficult. This is just the case when the universal adapter for the common connector is much better than the built-in proprietary tool.

With an aim for field use in my Leatherman Surge, I settled on a saw, leaving the file in a pencil case. What the adapter looks like when folded with the web installed can also be seen in the photo above.

On this, the list of quick-access components has been exhausted, and we move on to acquaintance with internal tools, for access to which it will be necessary to expand the legs of the multitool.

The first one is a universal opener, suitable for opening cans as well as for bottles. The V-shaped cut-out at the base of this opener is nothing more than a wire stripper that extends the functionality of the opener on which it is located.

Next to the opener in the same leg is an adapter for Leatherman's proprietary bits. In addition to one double-sided bit, with a flat and cross-shaped slots included in the delivery, bits from the Leatherman Bit Kit, as well as the universal Leatherman Bit Extender adapter, shown in the photo above, can be installed here. Many craftsmen around the world have also managed to use this adapter to fix interchangeable heads from scalpels, screwdrivers, rattles, other tools and extensions to fit your needs.

The other leg of Leatherman Surge has a small 3 mm flat screwdriver.

Next to it is another flat screwdriver, but with a width of 8 mm. Both screwdrivers can be used as small crowbars or probes for prying and lifting some parts.

The third tool in the same leg is a universal awl. Due to concave sharpening on one side and smooth narrowing, the awl can be used both for making holes and for unwinding small recesses, which partially equates it to a drill. The hole in the awl can be used to thread the thread when sewing and repairing field equipment.

All instruments located inside the Leatherman Surge legs are locked open with the Piano Lock. At the same time, you can not be afraid that some of the tools will fold on your fingers with its active use.

Together with the internal, all external tools (knife, serration knife, scissors, saw) of the multitool are also blocked, but for this, a Liner Lock type lock is already used. With it, the tools can not only be decomposed using the stops and holes in the blades, but also folded back with one hand.

If you are interested in what kind of “scribbles” are visible on the Leatherman Surge overlay in the photo above, then here is their enlarged view.

As I said above, I purchased my Leatherman Surge at the exhibition, namely during the “Weapons and Security 2017”, where “Mr. Multitool” and the founder of this multitoolbuilding giant Tim Leatherman were present at the STVOL stand.

During the exhibition, Tim signed with an engraving machine all the multi-tools of his brand, regardless of their age and place of purchase. Prior to this, I actively used my SOG Powerlock and never owned Leatherman multitools, but decided that communicating with Tim and the opportunity to get a tool he signed was, among others, a good reason to purchase it. After a brief study of the range, the choice fell on Leatherman Surge, as the most suitable tool for my needs. In addition to mine and other multitools, on the same day Leatherman was signed in my presence, having been accompanying its owner every day for 11 years, and this, as you know, is the best advertisement for the reliability of this brand.

With this, I conclude today's review of Leatherman Surge, and in the next article I will talk about some accessories for him that can expand its capabilities even more.
 

A source: secretsquirrel.com.ua

Author: secretsquirrel.com.ua