Leatherman Wave

I got one the same as this from Wallmart in Florida last year, cost me $50 with an exchange rate of $2 to the £ at the time. Stays constantly in my camera bag, a great tool. ;)
 
If you carry one guys, keep it well hidden in your bag. You dont want a criminal record for carrying a knife.
 
agree - theatre techs also use these and have recently been prosecuted for carrying on their belt. take care!
 
Seriously, can anyone explain to me how these cost so much, and the need for one.

Not having a go at anyone for spending so much, it is a genuine question.

I will take the question to OOF
 
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awp said:
agree - theatre techs also use these and have recently been prosecuted for carrying on their belt. take care!
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That is exactly what happened to my mate ( a 45 year old insurance assessor ) who stopped a policeman to ask for directions. The officer spotted the leatherman on his belt, he was duly arrested, taken to the station, kept in the cells overnight until the Monday morning. He was then convicted and fined.
 
aligibbs said:
To quote http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CrimeJusticeAndTheLaw/CrimePrevention/DG_078569

"knives where the blade folds into the handle, like a Swiss Army Knife, aren't illegal as long as the blade is shorter than three inches (7.62 cms)"

The length of the blade on the wave is 3"- so shouldn't be illegal.
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Interesting. In Scotland there is a zero tolerance policy on knives. I certainly would not try explaining to a Glasgow copper that my knife was perfectly legal as the blade is under 3" long
 
Hence why I said shouldn't be illegal- they could always get you on the "offensive weapons" act (read slightly further down) :)
 
Galaxy66 said:
Seriously, can anyone explain to me how these cost so much, and the need for one...
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I always carry one on my belt for work and use it constantly. It stays on my belt but I hardly ever use it away from work. I don't think I've ever used it in relation to photography, except for opening deliveries of new kit.
 
Galaxy66 said:
Seriously, can anyone explain to me how these cost so much, and the need for one.

Not having a go at anyone for spending so much, it is a genuine question.

I will take the question to OOF
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Its a bit like a microwave oven
You don't need one until you buy it then you can never be without it
I agree that they are are expensive, but they are very well made and
guaranteed for a long time ( life is it? can't remember)

 
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You can be completely happy with £2.99 'leatherman' multitools that you got from the shell garage, until you use an actual leatherman.... and you know why they cost so much.

Same with swiss army knives - the ones from poundland are weak, not sharp, fall apart, and just dodgy.... the actual thing will last you a lifetime.

The phrase 'buy it well, buy it once', applies to nothing more than multitools :)
 
To pot with opening another thread now:D

OneTen said:
I always carry one on my belt for work and use it constantly. It stays on my belt but I hardly ever use it away from work. I don't think I've ever used it in relation to photography, except for opening deliveries of new kit.
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I can possibly understand why you would need one in your job Richard

Cobra said:
Its a bit like a microwave oven
You don't need one until you buy it then you can never be without it
I agree that they are are expensive, but they are very well made and
guaranteed for a long time ( life is it? can't remember)
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Tbh Chris I am of the opinion it is just another must have expensive branded "boys toy" unless you really need one.

itsdavedotnet said:
You can be completely happy with £2.99 'leatherman' multitools that you got from the shell garage, until you use an actual leatherman.... and you know why they cost so much.


Same with swiss army knives - the ones from poundland are weak, not sharp, fall apart, and just dodgy.... the actual thing will last you a lifetime.

The phrase 'buy it well, buy it once', applies to nothing more than multitools :)
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Ahh yes it does.........more so in tog gear:D
 
I got one issued as parrt of my job, when I used to hide in bushes etc and photograph criminals. Absolutely priceless bit of kit (for making hides, not taking photo's.) They are not perfect, the tip of one og the pliers broke whilst breaking into a garage to install some surveillance equipment! Try finiding a replacement lock at 4am! Those were the days. I think they were £115 back in the day but they are cheap enough now!:clap:

Still got my injured one for old times sake.
 
Galaxy66 said:
Tbh Chris I am of the opinion it is just another must have expensive branded "boys toy" unless you really need one.
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Actually Mal I thought the same as you, and probably would never have bought one.

Mine, though, was a birthday present from me Mum
and I have found it to be very useful over the years :thumbs:
 
aligibbs said:
Hence why I said shouldn't be illegal- they could always get you on the "offensive weapons" act (read slightly further down) :)
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Not that I carry my leatherman anymore, but the correct quote from the direct gov web site on offensive weapons is:

"This means that carrying something that could be viewed as an offensive weapon, AND THEN using it in a threatening way, could mean that you are prosecuted. The penalty is up to four years' imprisonment and/or a fine."
 
I have a Leatherman Wave. Found it under the seat of my car when I bought it. Bonus :)

The law stated "Under 3 inches" not 3 inches or less. The leatherman is 3 inches. Not under 3 inches. Could go either way depending on the copper. Just grind a fraction off the end.
 
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The Wave's blade locks open which puts it into a different class of blade.
 
I bought one online from the USA, about £30 all in. Its the one with locking pliers, they are top quality and will last a very long time.
 
any blade that locks open is an offensive weapon, whether it be 1". 2". or 10". if it locks its illegal, the knife in mention has been said to be a lock knife, then its illegal so leave it in your bag and not on your person. dangerous game to play at the moment with amnesties and laws changing. if you carry one expect and except the law and their decisions.
a bic pen was told to me to be an offensive weapon, who knows *** the law means anymore.
 
ingwerules said:
any blade that locks open is an offensive weapon, whether it be 1". 2". or 10". if it locks its illegal, the knife in mention has been said to be a lock knife, then its illegal so leave it in your bag and not on your person.
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Please show me where because the blade locked its classed "automatically" as offensive? As has been shown above, almost anything can classed as offensive- but only if used in a threatening manner.
 
aligibbs said:
Please show me where because the blade locked its classed "automatically" as offensive? As has been shown above, almost anything can classed as offensive- but only if used in a threatening manner.
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i know this to be true as i was pulled over in my car a few years ago and the officer noticed a locking penknife on my keys, i was told i would be charged with carrying an offencive weapon (as it was a locknife) and not a pen knife, and was taken to the station to sign it over on the amnesty law. a locking knife basically is the same as a kitchen knife, sheath knife etc as it cannot close by itself if used in an aggressive manner so to speak. a penknife can close on itself without being aided. but all being said i didnt make the law this is just my experience.:rules:
 
Correct. There's been a lot of discussion on country sports/outdoor websites and lock blades are prohibited, irrespective of the blade length. Some manufacturers have introduced models with very stiff springs and other devices to get around this, but it remains to be seen how long it will take to ban these too.

Carrying a knife with a blade longer than 3" in a public place, which includes most places outside your home, is not necessarily illegal, if you have a good reason. The Police, and courts, have discretion here. You can judge for yourself how it's likely to be applied, particularly by the Police in pursuit of "targets".

This whole subject has become an obsession, supported by the media's hunger for stories abut "knife crime". Knives don't commit crimes. A very small minority of thugs and criminals do, so punish the culprits. Simple, really.
 
Yea I wouldn't have thought most of the leatherman range would be an issue, I've had my Victorinox explorer in my pocket for years
 
They really are great products and have a 20 year warrenty! A tool for many uses in the right hands but as already stated open to interpretation in the public.

Shame leatherman dont make the 'mini' any more, full size pliers and a great tiny non locking knife I love mine is handy for lots of things!
 
I've got loads of them - we get a new one issued as part of our deployment kit now - though this time we all got SOG multi-tools instead of Leatherman's...
I had a LM-Wave but forgot it was in my camera-bag when going through Hanover airport - so that went in the bin.
Broke a LM-Mini trying to open a tin of peaches once...

Still have a couple of 'normal' old LMs - the ones you have to open another blade half-way in order to close the one that's already open...they stay in the glove-boxes of my cars...

Quite liking the SOG tool though as it has an additional guard to cover the blades when not in use making it a lot more comfortable in the hand.

Mostly I just use a 3" Gerber lock-knife - stays in my pocket when at work and stays well-hidden in a bag when in the UK...
 
I've had a SOG for many years, their multi tools have a few good features, they bolt together so you can remove/replace/shuffle the blades and tools about. They also have one handed opening (like a butterfly knife), a very strong pliers and cutting grip thanks to the double thingmybobrawhatsit.
 
If you`re interested in Britains Blade laws then try British Blades forum, very articulate & interesting reading.

A lot of our blade laws are based on Case Law.

The basics are you can carry a non locking, sub 3 inch knife legally anywhere in the UK. I personally wouldn`t go flashing it about because not everyone (police included) are always up to date on our laws.

You can carry a fixed blade or locking folder but you had better have a damn good reason to be carrying it, using it to open packaging on purchased items at your local B&Q will not win you any friends within the Police. Using it whilst out wild camping/bushcrafting/hunting is just cause but still use common sense when entering urban areas i.e. put the knife in a rucsac, car, etc (out of sight out of mind), till you get home then put it away.
 
aligibbs said:
Please show me where because the blade locked its classed "automatically" as offensive? As has been shown above, almost anything can classed as offensive- but only if used in a threatening manner.
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A locking blade is not classed as an offensive weapon. Items like smaurai swords and various martial arts weapons are classed as offensive weapons per sae. Other items as already mentioned can be an offensive weapon eg bic biro is you threaten to cause harm with it or harm someone.

A penknife with a locking blade like most leathermans fall under different legislation, being in possession of a pointed or bladed object in a public place which is covered by section 139 of the criminal justic act. Bottom line if you have one in a public place it is an offence for which you can be arrested although I am 95% sure the leather squirt and juice do not have locking blades so as long as the blade is less than three inches they would be okay.
 
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I've had my Leatherman for over 16 years now and have carried it across four countries (Canada, the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand). It's pretty much always on me. Never had a problem with the police - and they've seen me with it many times. I didn't realize so many countries had such issues with carrying a small blade.

Guess I'll have to invest sooner or later in a Swiss blade to wuss down a bit if I plan to travel.

Wait a tick - are Swiss blades legal to carry around in Europe and the UK?
 
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