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Leatherman

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This article is about the American company. For other uses, see Leatherman (disambiguation).
Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustryManufacturing
FoundedJuly 1983; 41 years ago (1983-07)[1]
Headquarters
Portland, Oregon
,
United States
Key people
Tim Leatherman (chairman of the board and co-founder)
Steve Berliner (secretary/treasurer and co-founder)
Benjamin Rivera (president/CEO)
ProductsMulti-tools
Folding knives
Number of employees
525[1]
Websiteleatherman.com
Leatherman Sidekick tool showing interior tools
Leatherman Sidekick, Leatherman Skeletool CX and Victorinox Nomad One Hand (assisted-opening knife)
Leatherman Wave with all tools unfolded
Leatherman Surge

Leatherman is an American brand of multi-tool made by Leatherman Tool Group of Portland, Oregon. The company was founded in July 1983 by Timothy S. Leatherman and Steve Berliner in order to market the former's idea of a capable, easily portable hand tool with multiple functions. That same year, Leatherman Tool Group sold its first Multi-Tool, which was called the PST (Pocket Survival Tool).

Company history

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Timothy S. Leatherman, a 1970 mechanical engineering graduate of Oregon State University, and his business partner, Steve Berliner, formed Leatherman Tool Group in 1983.

Leatherman was inspired to design a "Boy Scout knife with pliers" while he and his wife traveled Europe and the Middle East in 1975, often attempting to use a simple pocketknife to repair both their aged and repeatedly malfunctioning Italian Fiat 600 car (bought in Amsterdam for $300) and leaky hotel plumbing.[2][3] He spent several years perfecting the "Mr. Crunch" prototype and received his first U.S. patent (4,238,862) in 1980.[4] After additional refinement, Leatherman's first product was introduced in 1983 as the Pocket Survival Tool (PST) and initially sold through Early Winters' and Cabela's mail-order catalogs.[3]

Leatherman sold nearly 30,000 tools in 1984, fueling additional product development, and rapid growth both in the company and manufacturing capacity.[5] By the end of 2001, the company had sales of $100 million annually and had sold more than 20 million tools.[6]

Folding knives were introduced into the Leatherman product line in 2005. In 2007, the company opened its first retail store, located at its manufacturing facility, that has since relocated to a retail store at the Cascade Station shopping center near the facility and Cascades MAX Station in Northeast Portland, Oregon.[3] The same year, Tim Leatherman was inducted into the Blade magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame in recognition of his design impact on the cutlery history.[7]

In 2011, the Leatherman Tool Group acquired German light manufacturer, Ledlenser. The brands and companies were run separately, under the Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. umbrella.[8] Leatherman Tool Group also manufactures a line of multi-tools designed specifically for military and law enforcement personnel, as well as accessories for carrying and expanding the function of its tools.[citation needed] As of February 2011, Leatherman produced 50 products sold in 82 countries, with U.S. market share estimated at 55 percent.[1]

Leatherman has a sponsorship deal with the Major League Soccer team Portland Timbers. Specifically, the company is the shirt sponsor for the team's mascot, "Timber Joey".[citation needed]

Products

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Leatherman's primary products are multi-tools and knives. Most Leatherman multi-tools are built around a pair of pliers, with up to 21 additional tools stored in the handles, including knives (straight and serrated blades), screwdrivers (flat, Phillips), saws, wire cutters and strippers, electrical crimper, bottle opener, and can opener. Most models have a built-in safety mechanism that locks the active tool in the open position when fully unfolded. Models range in weight from the 0.81 ounce (23 g) Style to the 12.5 ounce (335 g) Surge.

Leatherman currently produces folding knives under the Crater name. Models range from two tools (knife blade and carabiner/bottle opener) to four (blade, carabiner/bottle opener, flat, and Phillips screwdrivers).

Name Type Debut Retired # Tools
Arc Full-sized 2023 — 20
Blast Full-sized 2004 2012 16
Bolster - Costco Exclusive Full-sized 2021 — 13
Bond Full-sized 2021 — 14
Charge Ti Full-sized 2004 2008 17
Charge XTi Full-sized 2004 2008 16
Charge XTi 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Full-sized 2013 2013 16
Charge AL Full-sized 2007 2018 17
Charge ALX Full-sized 2007 2018 18
Charge TTi Full-sized 2007 2018 19
Charge TTi (Year-of-Monkey Limited Edition) Full-sized 2016 2016 19
Charge+ Full-sized 2018 — 19
Charge+ G10 Special Edition (Red / Orange / Earth) Full-sized 2018 — 19
Charge+ Limited Edition Forest Camo Full-sized 2018 retired 19
Charge+ Limited Edition Woodland Camo Full-sized 2018 retired 19
Charge+ TTi Full-sized 2018 — 19
Charge+ TTi Damascus Limited Edition Full-sized 2018 2018 19
Charge+ Damascus Carbon Fibre Limited Edition Full-sized 2018 2018 19
Charge+ Damascus Wood Limited Edition Full-sized 2018 2018 19
Charge+ 35th Anniversary Limited Edition Full-sized 2018 2018 19
Charge+ Tom Sachs NASA-themed Limited Edition Full-sized 2021 2021 23
Core Full-sized 2005 2009 19
Crunch Heavy-Duty 1999 2023 15
Curl Full-sized 2021 — 15
Darkside - Leatherman Garage Batch 002 Limited Edition Full-sized 2022 2022 21
Flair Full-sized 1999 2004 16
Free K2 Pocketknife 2019 — 8
Free K2X Pocketknife 2019 — 8
Free K4 Pocketknife 2019 — 9
Free K4X Pocketknife 2019 — 9
Free T2 Pocket 2019 — 8
Free T4 Pocket 2019 — 12
Free P2 Full-sized 2019 — 19
Free P4 Full-sized 2019 — 21
Fuse Full-sized 2004 2012 13
Freestyle Pocket 2009 retired 5
Freestyle CX Pocket 2009 2012 5
Juice KF4 Pocket 2001 2005 16
Juice C2 Pocket 2001 2006 12
Juice S2 Pocket 2001 2006 12
Juice CS4 Pocket 2001 2006 15
Juice XE6 Pocket 2001 2006 18
Juice Pro Ltd Ed Costco Pocket 2002 2003 23
Juice SC2 Pocket 2003 2005 12
Juice SX – Original Pocket 2013 2014 11
Juice SX – New Pocket 2014 2019 11
Kick Full-sized 2004 2012 12
Leap Pocket 2014 2014 13
Micra Keychain 1996 — 10
Micra 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Keychain 2013 2013 10
Micra 35th Anniversary Limited Edition Keychain 2018 2018 10
Mini Tool Pocket 1986 2004 10
Mr. Crunch Limited Edition Full-sized 2022 2022 21
MUT (Military Utility Tool) Heavy Duty / Firearms 2010 — 16
MUT EOD (Military Utility Tool Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Heavy Duty / Firearms 2010 2021 15
OHT (One-Handed Tool) Heavy-Duty 2012 2022 16
PST (Pocket Survival Tool) Full-sized 1983 2004 14
PST II (Pocket Survival Tool II) Full-sized 1996 2004 15
The Collector's Edition PST (Pocket Survival Tool) 35th Anniversary Limited Edition Full-sized 2018 2018 14
Pulse Full-sized 2000 2004 15
Raptor Rescue EMS Duty 2013 — 6
Raptor Rescue Glow-in-the-Dark Limited Edition (Purple / Gold) EMS Duty ? retired 6
Raptor Response EMS Duty 2021 — 4
Rebar Full-sized 2012 — 17
Rev Full-sized 2015 — 14
Sideclip Full-sized 1998 2004 12
Sidekick Full-sized 2011 — 14
Signal Heavy-Duty / Camping 2015 — 19
Signal TOPO Limited Edition Heavy-Duty / Camping ? — 19
Signal Black & Silver Limited Edition Heavy-Duty / Camping ? — 19
Skeletool Pocket 2007 — 7
Skeletool CX Pocket 2007 — 7
Skeletool KB Pocketknife 2017 — 2
Skeletool KBx Pocketknife 2017 — 2
Skeletool RX Pocket 2016 — 7
Skeletool SX Pocket 2013 retired 7
Skeletool Damasteel Limited Edition Pocket ? retired 7
Skeletool TOPO Limited Edition Pocket ? — 7
Skeletool Black & Silver Limited Edition Pocket ? — 7
Squirt E4 Keychain 2003 2010 10
Squirt ES4 Keychain 2010 2021 9
Squirt P4 Keychain 2002 2010 10
Squirt PS4 Keychain 2010 — 9
Squirt S4 Keychain 2002 2010 10
Style Keychain 2010 2014 5
Style CS Keychain 2010 2021 6
Style PS Keychain 2012 — 8
Super Tool Heavy-Duty 1994 2001 18
Super Tool 200 Heavy-Duty 2001 2005 18
Super Tool 300 Heavy-Duty 2009 — 19
Super Tool 300 EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Heavy Duty / Firearm 2010 — 19
Super Tool 300 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Heavy-Duty 2013 2013 19
Super Tool 300M Heavy Duty / Firearm ? — 18
Surge – Original Heavy-Duty 2005 2013 21
Surge – New Heavy-Duty 2013 — 21
Surge New Black & Silver Limited Edition Heavy-Duty ? — 21
Tread Wearable 2015 2021 29
Tread Metric Wearable 2015 2021 29
Tread LT Wearable 2015 2021 29
Tread Tempo Wearable ? retired ?
Tread Tempo Black & Silver Limited Edition Wearable ? retired ?
Tread Tempo LT Wearable ? retired ?
Tread Tempo LT Black & Silver Limited Edition Wearable ? retired ?
Tread QM1 Wearable TBD — —
Wave – Original Full-sized 1998 2004 16
Wave – New Full-sized 2004 2018 17
Wave - 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Full-sized 2003 2003 17
Wave - 25th Anniversary Limited Edition Full-sized 2008 2008 17
Wave – Damascus Ltd Ed Full-sized 2009 2009 17
Wave+ Full-sized 2018 — 18
Wave+ Black & Silver Limited Edition Full-sized ? — 18
Wave+ The Houston Home Inspector Limited Edition Full-sized ? retired 18
Wave+ 35th Anniversary Limited Edition Full-sized 2018 2018 18
Wingman Full-sized 2011 — 14
Wingman Black & Silver Limited Edition Full-sized ? retired 14
Genus Heavy-Duty / Gardening 2007 2009 9
Vista Full-sized / Gardening 2006 2009 9
Hybrid Full-sized / Gardening 2006 2009 11
Z-Rex Full-sized 2012 2019 4

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Leatherman Media". Leatherman Tool Group. Retrieved 2015-05-05.
  2. ^ Monroe, Bill. The Oregonian, December 10, 1981.
  3. ^ a b c "Making History". Leatherman Tool Group. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  4. ^ US patent 4238862, Timothy S. Leatherman, "Pocket multiple tool", issued 1980-12-16 
  5. ^ Brock, Kathy (September 27, 1996). "Once again, Leatherman Tool outgrows plant". Portland Business Journal.
  6. ^ "Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. History". Funding Universe. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Hall of Fame." Blade Magazine. July 31, 2007.
  8. ^ "Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. Acquires German Flashlight Manufacturer, Ledenser". LED LENSER. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
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