5 Ridiculously Cool Knife Multitools for Your Inner Boy Scout
June 02, 2010,
By Phil Dotree
You may not be a Boy Scout anymore, but that doesn't mean that you can't have a cool pocketknife. There are hundreds of awesome knives out there. Here's a look at a few of the best pocketknives that money can buy.
- Leatherman Crater c33T
. If you want a strong knife without much fanfare, Leatherman supplies some of the best in the industry. The c33T (or c33TX, if you want a serrated edge) has a 420HC blade with a cool, glass-filled nylon handle that glides perfectly into your palm. It feels almost like an extension of yourself, and it's perfect for fishermen or hikers who need a simple-but-sharp pocketknife. It even has a Phillips and flat-head screwdriver and a bottle opener. Believe me, beer tastes better when you've opened it with a knife. The c33T looks great, runs about $25 to $45 and it's as dependable as a knife should be -- Leatherman offers a 25 year warranty. - Wenger Tradesman
. This classic Swiss army knife has 16 functions for $75, and Wenger doesn't pull any punches when it comes to quality multitools. The familiar red look will remind you of every Swiss army knife you've ever seen (and Wenger probably made half of all the Swiss army knives you've ever seen) with a simple cross logo on the handle. There are pliers, scissors, a wrench and more. The Tradesman is a great classic for any guy who wants a perfect replica of what the actual Swiss used to use. It's also a great knife to buy for a son or daughter as it's simple, safe and built to last. - Gerber Diesel
. Gerber has made great multitools for years that take the focus off the "knife," thereby increasing the functionality of its other tools. The Diesel does have a knife -- in fact, it has two of them -- but it also contains high-performance pliers and scissors, various screwdrivers, a wire cutter, saw, bottle opener, can opener and more, all in Gerber's brilliant signature foldout design. It has more of an American look than the Swiss army knife, but the Diesel doesn't sacrifice any function for its super-capable form. The "Diesel" is aptly named; it's, well, almost intimidating. It sells for around $80 depending on color and options. - Victorinox Swiss Army XLT
. The look of the SwissChamp XLT is a bit modern when compared with more traditional Swiss army knives, but open it up and it's very traditional. Victorinox knows tradition, as it sold the original Swiss army knife, and the SwissChamp gives you dozens of well-implemented tools from the well-known (several fine blades and screwdrivers) to the nearly obscure (a pharmaceutical spatula, perfect if you happen to be the coolest pharmacist who's ever lived). All of this functionality doesn't come cheap at $250, but you're a grown man and the SwissChamp handles any task that a grown man could possibly need to tackle. - Wenger 1893 Heritage Swiss Army Knife. Of all the knives on this list, this one is undeniably the most gorgeous. It has a fine Fibrox handle, a beautiful 3-inch blade and a few minor tools: can opener, reamer, screwdriver. The only problem with this knife is that it's too awesome to use; when you're holding a perfect replica of the first Swiss army knife, you're going to look for something else when you need to gut a fish. Still, serious collectors should consider this amazing knife. It's a much better keepsake than Wenger's other "collectible" knife, the nearly 3-pound Giant, which holds the silly "biggest multifunction knife in the world" record. The 1893 Heritage costs $500, but it's worth the price to hear the inevitable "oohs" and "aahs" every time you take this baby out of your pocket.
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