Pocket Tools

© Brooke Clarke

Background
Current Pocket Tools (2010)
Leatherman
Swiss Army Knife
Gransfors Burks Hatchet
Woodman's Pal

Background

Many years ago while visiting various Harley Davidson dealers I came across the first Leatherman tool and was very impressed. One small tool that could do many things. Well built. Since then there have been many knockoffs, but I still have a couple of the first generation Leatherman tools.

Current Pocket Tools (2010)

Three connected tools.
1. AA Mini Mag with very efficient Teralux conversion to LED
2. Swiss Army Knife
2. Tritium (Wiki) key chain light - not glow in the dark, but rather on 24/7.
Tritium key chain light source

Leatherman

I learned of these at a Harley-Davidson dealership in Oakland.
Great tool to keep in the glove compartment of you car.
I have used for numerous repairs both automotive and at home or visiting.

Pictured in the teeth is a Thumb Nut which was part of the terminals on a No. 6 Dry Cell. They were used for telephones, alarms, toys, flashlights, Western Union Clocks and many other applications. Probably the most common battery of the first 50 years of dry batteries.

Victorinox - Swiss Army Knife

Although I own a number of multipurpose tools, I carry the Classic Swiss army knife. It is very versatile and has been used for all kinds of useful tasks. Although many of the tools on this page will fit into your pants pocket they are much too heavy to carry all the time. The Classic Swiss army knife has an attachment point for a key ring and is light enough to actually carry.

The Rambler is the same length as the Classic but has an additional blade with a philiph screwdriver tip, a bottle opener and a notch for stripping wires.

Although they make pocket tools that have a large number of blades, those are not practical to carry in your pocket. The Classic and Rambler are almost the smallest ones they make.

Scissors, Tooth Pick, Nail file and flat blade screwdriver, key chain ring,
short knife blade, tweezers, bottle opener & Philips screwdriver
I keep it near me at my desk since it's very handy to have.

Gransfors Burks

Wilderness Hand Hatchet 413


Gabriel Branby (video) CEO of Gränsfors Bruks AB Gränsfors make one the finest forged axes in the world. It has become more than just an axe. It is an icon for quality and a belief that there is another way of making things.

Woodman's Pal

Got this for things where the chain saw is overkill. But it's heavy and the flat spot that's supposed to be used for hammering is so narrow that it may split the wood. I think the hatchet (see above) will be a lighter and more flexable tool.

Links

A G Russell -

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