I've owned a Leatherman MUT for about two years that has had a recurring problem even though the tool has seen only light duty.
The main hinge on the arm that houses the blade and saw has come loose twice. As a result, the arm does not lock in place and offer sufficient resistance to reliably open the pliers' jaws without flopping outward. This is a particular problem when attempting to use the pliers with one hand.
Have any other MUT owners had this problem?
Gear Scout's own Rob Curtis has owned a MUT from Leatherman's initial 2010 production run that hasn't given him any problems. He reviewed the MUT, which was Leatherman's first firearms-centric tool, by pitting it against Multitasker's Series 2 multitool. The Multitasker Series 2 was great for the "gun guy," but the Leatherman MUT struck a good balance between being useful for stripping and cleaning your service rifle while still proving exceedingly useful around the campfire.
I have to say that I have loved my MUT when it is working properly, which makes this recurring problem extra frustrating. It is beefy, weighing in at 11.2 ounces, but it does it all. I replaced its standard punch, sized for an AR-15 platform, with a smaller 3/32" punch for my Glock pistol. I feel like I can do anything with it, from detail stripping my weapon to building an emergency shelter. The hammer end -- which carries the cord cutter and doubles as a tool to clear a bolt override -- could also crack some skulls as a last ditch weapon. It beats a roll of quarters.
I sent my first MUT back to Leatherman last year for repairs about four months after I purchased it. Aside from the fact that I had to pay shipping to get the tool to Oregon, their customer service was excellent. Rather than repairing the tool, they promptly sent me a new one.
I thought the problem was a fluke because of Leatherman's reputation for superior quality and durability. That is after all why I purchased the MUT. But the hinge on this second MUT has come loose, too.
At first I thought the problem had something to do with the cams that seemed to lock the arms in place, but I'm no engineer, and I now believe that it is likely nothing more than the bolt/washer assembly that holds it all together loosening up. No big deal, right? I'll just tighten it back up. Except Leatherman has installed a safety Torx bolt that prevents me from using my regular tools to fix the problem. The only regular T8 Torx bolt on the tool is the one affixing the replaceable firearms carbon scraper.
A close-up of the problem bolt. It is a T8 Torx, but has a safety feature -- a peg in the middle -- that requires a specialized factory bit to tighten. Photo by James K. Sanborn
Yes, I could get a hold of a specialized bit to tighten it up myself, but that kind of defeats the purpose of buying Leatherman in the first place. Above all else, I look for reliability in a tool and the ability to service my gear in the field with commonly available tools should something go awry -- especially when it carries a hefty MSRP of $187. I actually paid just over $100 for it online, with the black oxide version typically costing a few dollars more.
I'll be reaching out to the good folks at Leatherman before I ship my multitool off to Oregon again to see if this is a recurring problem they have heard about from other MUT customers. I'm not thrilled about shelling out more money for shipping and being without the tool again for a week or two, but hopefully we can come up with a permanent solution this time.
We'll let you know what they say.
