Editorial Review

Features

• Limited lifetime warranty
• 15 tools including a crosshead screwdriver and replaceable saw blade
• Independent tool rotation
• Ball sheath included
• Stainless steel construction, weighs 11.5 ounces

Reviews (11)

better then most.
This is a pretty nice knife except for a couple of issues I'd have rated it higher.

Bad points-

Only one standard screw driver blade - small size with a nice bottle opener built in the same blade. My son dropped this once when he barrowed it from me and the screwdriver blade chipped. Must be some pretty good hardened steel.

No saw - The black Finegrif (tm) saw blade is a joke. It would take half an hour (at least) to cut through a small nail and the blade is too thin to not break right off. For wood this blade is even less effective. This is a none usable...

The file has no teeth on the side like a proper file should. One side is a double cut and the other single cut (metal). No chance for an emergency manicure here.

Can opener blade has no fingernail slot and it's sharp so it's hard to safely deploy.

Best things about this knife-

Nice set of needle nose pliers great for small precision type jobs. One handed operation (pliers only) and also has a comfortable grip.

Scissors- a necessity in my opinion.

locking blades- excellent system for locking the blades

All and all a good quality tool but with some design flaws.

Designed for many uses and it works well
Quality -- The first observation I must make concerning the Multi-Plier 600 Pro Scout with Needlenose pliers (and all the other modern Gerber products with which I'm familiar) is the outstanding quality of the fit and finish. This particular product proudly wears a Made In USA label, and it features satin-finished stainless steel throughout with Zytel plastic buttons to unlock the fold out tools. It opens fairly smoothly, feels solid in your hand, and the knife blade and other tools lock in the open position for safe and secure use.

Selection -- Choosing an ideal multi-tool is perhaps the hardest task facing the user. Multi-tool marketing favors manufacturers and retailers because there are so many different configurations (too many, in fact, and you could find yourself with a collection.) I don't like that for reasons too numerous to mention, but suffice to say there's no single multi-tool that includes all the tools I might want or need. An ideal scenario would be a build-your-own concept, but that's out of the question since Gerber doesn't sell direct to the consumer.

Usability -- The 600 ProScout lets you carry a lot of useful tools in a compact package that weighs about twelve ounces. The tools are as follows:

1. The needlenose pliers are one of the best in a multi-tool. They are precision made and allow a lot of leverage and pressure to be applied to a part. They retract into the handles for storage. On this model, they must be deployed to use the fold out tools; this is one thing that makes this tool unique from some of the other Gerber tools.

2. The tool steel file, made by Simonds, is coarse on one side and fine on the other; it suffers from being too small for most of what you'd want a file for, but it still has some use.

3. There's one Phillips (crosshead) screwdriver that is about a #1 head size. It's just too small to inspire confidence when I am prone to overtighten EVERYTHING.

4. Two slotted blade screwdrivers (small and medium) are actually ground to size as opposed to just being stampings. Screwdrivers are usually the weakest link in a multi-tool because of their small size and the twisting pressures that are applied to them so you definitely don't want to pretend they are prybars, too.

5. One of the screwdrivers is also a bottle opener (opens bottle caps I guess, but I have NEVER used this).

6. There's a can opener that's well made; while it does work well, it's not my choice to use in the kitchen but while camping or while parked along a roadside waiting for triple A after grocery shopping it's another story.

7. The drop point knife is a combination fine edge and serrated edge. While it's a good blade, in the Gerber tradition, you don't get enough of either edge style and it's VERY difficult to sharpen the serrated part.

8. There's a RemGrit (tungsten carbide grit on alloy steel) jig saw blade in a universal coupler. It cuts on the forward and reverse strokes and is self sharpening. I just had to have this multi-tool because it has this saw that cuts a lot of different materials. The blade can be replaced when it wears out or you could swap it with a regular wood or metal jig saw blade.

9. The Fiskars scissors are small but sharp. I'm not disappointed by their usefulness and quality, but then real men and women won't do their tailoring with this thing either.

Maybe it's just me, but cutting stuff is what this particular tool configuration is about (knife, saw, scissors) and that's why it's nice to have the file to touch up rough edges which is invariably what I get when I cut stuff. The tool would be more useful still if it had a lanyard ring on it so then I wouldn't need another model multi-tool for another hobby.

I could give this a five star rating if it wasn't for the fact that every multi-tool combo is a compromise of convenience (miniaturization) versus function. Plus you pay dearly for having many tools in the package while you have the expectation that you'll have use for the chosen tool configuration often. The Gerber Multi-Plier is a handy way to keep your life together without carrying a toolbox.

Features

• 16 accessories including needle-nose pliers and can opener
• Specially coated corkscrew and assist
• Leather belt sheath included
• 25-year guarantee

Reviews (10)

I love this thing!
Like most people, I think I have great need for a leatherman/swiss army knife type contraption but in reality have very little use for them.However, this one is great.The "picnic" uses make it better for me:cork screww, cheese knife, cutting knife.I've used it often on simple urban picnics. I've also taken it camping and it fit every need in my week in the woods.

Swiss Army Knife with Balls
This thing is absolutely great. It has all the most commonly used appliances as well as a can and bottle opener and even a cork screw... Work hard, Play hard...this is the one. Its also built with typical Leatherman quality which has always been exceptional. I install Satellite TV for a living and I honestly pulled this thing out a dozen times the very first day I had it. I swear by it...P.S. I bought it at the largest knife shop in the world and its still about 20% cheaper on Amazon...My mistake.

Features

• 11 tools including wire cutters and Fiskars scissors
• Compact multi-tool
• Stainless-steel construction
• Weighs 6 ounces
• Limited lifetime warranty

Reviews (3)

Great value
I was in the market for a multi-tool for quite sometime. I considered several different models but many seemed like overkill. I mean how many attachments did I really need? I certainly wasn't looking to clean out any cow hooves or saw through a leg bone with it after a successful hunt. It has the right number of tools and features for a regular guy. I use it at work and at home all the time. The add-on tool set and carrying case are a nice bonuses. Great value for [the money].

An EXCELLENT replacement for the Sideclip
I had written a review about the Leatherman Sideclip, calling it the best daily carry multi-tool I had found.This was until I got a Gerber Sport.

My "heavy-use" multi-tool is a Gerber, and I would often carry onto a jobsite if I knew I was going to be using such a tool.The "auto-pliers" and locking tools make it a fine choice.

The Scout retains these qualities, slims down the size and weight, and adds a very heavy duty set of scissors that I have personally used to shear thru thick leather hides.Cuts seatbelts like a charm as well.

The selection of tools isn't comprimised on this smaller model either.A good selection of ground screwdriver blades and a solid combo-edge knife are the standouts.

I have owned many a Leatherman, and I have twisted and tweaked the screwdriver blades on every one of them.I have *never* had this happen with a Gerber.

Those of us that have had to apply a good amount of force to a multi-tool plier have known what the hollows of a Leatherman feel like.Hard to apply pressure for any length of time as it "bites" into your hand. The Gerber's handle is rounded and quite comfortable for such activity.

One last note:As silly as it sounds, taking out your Leatherman in the middle of a task can often be clumsy as you butterfly it out to get at the pliers.With the Gerber, you flick your wrist and you're ready to go.

Editorial Review

Features

• 13 tools including knife blade and file
• One-handed opening
• Stainless steel construction
• One-year limited warranty

Reviews (3)

A lot for that price
I have one of these and I think it is a good tool for that price. Although it is made in China, it is not like those multitools you often see as promotional items or at discount stores. The pliers are very strong, The Phillip screwdriver is a very good one(unlike those from the other chinese multitools), The flat screwdrivers, the bottle opener, and the file are well made and strong. The only thing I do not like very much is the blade. Although it is by far better than those from other chinese multitools, it is not as good as, say, a genuine swiss army knife blade. Overall, this tool is a good value bargain at that price.

You get what you pay for.
There IS a difference between this chinese made tool and the more expensive models from Leatherman, Gerber, Schrade, etc. For one thing, the small tools are much too stiff to easily open from the handle. You have to raise the non-locking knife blade to lift the small tools slightly, then you try to pry the stubby tools open. It's easy to imagine slipping off the small tool and cutting yourself on the blade. Also, most of the hinges have a definite pinch point. Mine was repackaged for the return trip after only a few minutes. Apply the money toward a better designed and built tool.

Editorial Review

Features

• 25 year warranty
• Needlenose pliers
• Hard wire cutters
• Clip point knife
• Can and bottle opener

Reviews (11)

cool pocket pliers (and I mean in your pocket.)
First: Mine came with a split ring. But it was tucked inside the instructions and the registration card stuff. Not obvious. I do agree it has a tendency to get pinned in the hinge but its not difficult to avoid this. You just have to nick it in place as you close it. Which makes me think I may remove it as I'm not hanging it on my keychain.

Second, The instructions are somewhat confusing. It mentions opening the handle extension to get at the blades. That's so wrong as to cause me to write Leatherman directly. You want to open the handle extensions to _CLOSE_ the blade. Not open it.

Also it would have been better if the photo showed the handle extensions locked out in place. Then you could see that you really have a full size leatherman. I put it up next to my Pulse(tm) and its the same size! (Same pliers head) The Pulse has more tools and costs more but it doesn't fold down into as small a package. Which btw is about 2x wider that of the Micra, but the same length.

Field tests on the can opener, well it works but its not as easy as the military field can opener. You know the one, that incrediable easy to use, super simple two pieces of steel on a hinge or the next best the swiss army version. But the can of olives was successfully opened and dinner was saved.

Field tests on the bottle opener. Better than the dual purpose bottle opener/can opener as it doesn't puncture the bottle top. But its less easy to use than the best Leatherman opener which is on the locking pliers and the micra. Works though, you just have to remember to not try to use the can opener instead as they look almost identical. If you find yourself trying to left hand open a bottle, you've probably got the can opener out. (It won't work.)

I got this Mini-tool thinking that there are times I want a set of good pliers with me but I don't want to wear a belt sheath to carry them and the Pulse(tm) et.al. is too large a lump in my pocket. This set of pliers fits the bill. And they are so much better than the squirt pliers (P4) that it defies imagination why you would buy those.

Minus: No philps screw driver. (But my Micra has a 1/2 philips head) No sizzors, (micra has those) File is small for real work, blade is also really too short for real work. (about 1 inch long)

Plus: ok bottle and ok can opener. Great pliers, with the handles extended the surface is smooth against your palm. File nearly locks in place as does the blade.

In comparison if you are looking for "pocket" pliers, you might consider the Leatherman C2, its a little longer, about the same width, but has corkscrew, Or the S2 which has the sizzors. But definitely skip the squirt P4. Butthese are still a neat little package of pliers.

Product is good, free gift offer is not true.
This product lived up to my expectations, but you should be warned that the maglite offer is not true.I ordered 5 of these for groomsmen at our wedding (about $150 purchase) and did not even receive a single maglite even though the minimum purchase was $25 and every knife we received repeated this offer.I wrote in about the error and never even received a reply email.Just a fair warning if you are buying this brand over another for the free gift.

High quality tool with some minor engineering bugs
Other people who have reviewed this tool have already described its high quality, small size, and infinite coolness.I'd like to emphasize those points first and add my own comments on some of the minor "user interface" problems with the design.

As you can probably tell from the pictures, when the tool is closed the pliers are basically tucked neatly inside a rectangular box.The first pair of pivots allows the hollow handles to swing out to reveal the pliers--they lock in place and the pliers can be used in this way for light work.At this point each handle forms a U-shape with the open end facing out (obviously) which doesn't offer a very comfortable grip when squeezing tightly.The screwdriver and knife can be accessed at this point by folding them out; the tool can be closed with either tool exposed for a better grip.The interior of the U-shaped handle can also be folded out and they lock into position as full-sized needle-nozed pliers. The closed side of the U-shape faces out for a stronger grip.

One of the caveats of the tool is the position of the lanyard hole.I put a small keyring through the hole and found it takes a bit of finesse to get the keyring positioned correctly to allow the tool to close without binding on the keyring between the two handles.The hole is in the best possible location (I think) but it would have been nice if a ring was provided that was small enough not to bind (no ring is provided at all.)

The other thing that I found unnerving was getting the blade closed.It locks securely in place but there is no release button so it requires considerable force to close.This wouldn't be such a big deal except the blade is very sharp.In fact, not two minutes after having it out of the box did I cut myself doing just that.

Features

• Limited one-year warranty
• Six tools including eyeglass screwdriver and Fiskars scissors
• Screwdrivers and blade slide out and lock
• Stainless-steel metal frame
• Weighs two ounces

Reviews (5)

Handy little tool
I love it.My husband of 4years gave it to me when we were dateing and its still as good as the day I got it.When we got married we gave them as gifts to our brides mades and grooms men.They all still carry them as well.All in all its a great product.

Handy little tool
I love it.My husband of 4years gave it to me when we were dateing and its still as good as the day I got it.When we got married we gave them as gifts to our brides mades and grooms men.They all still carry them as well.All in all its a great product.