Hey guys, so here's my review of a certain little something. As far as non-specific items go, that's not possible when you're dealing with something that's the only one of its kind out on the market. I predict other companies, especially this company's biggest competitirs, will soon offer something along the same lines. But until Victorinox, SOG, or Gerber do, Leatherman has the market for outdoor-specific multi-tools all to themselves.
So, here's my review of
The Leatherman Signal.
Bought this several days back. Wanted it right away after watching a few YouTube reviews. Paid a premium at a certain Brick & Mortar shop that will be unnamed due to the fact that a week later they almost cheated me, a regular customer, on the price of a Leatherman Juice CS4. It may have been an honest mistake. But, no; I just did
not get the feeling that it was. So, it'll be a long time 'til they see me there again. Back to the Signal....
Let's just get this out of the way because it's going to be one of the first questions asked:
"Is it gimmicky?"
A bit, yes. Then again, that can't be helped on something like a full-sized multi-tool with wilderness survival options incorporated into it. There is a huge size limit to bear in mind. If you're putting together a small FAK (First-Aid Kit) for example, you can't simply toss in a regular tube of antibiotic ointment since it'll either not fit in the case, or will take up too much room by itself. So instead, you toss in a couple of thin, small, travel packets of ointment instead. In a way, Leatherman had to do the same thing.
A proper, full-sized ferro rod and whistle was just not going to fit. So, they made ultra-compact versions of both to fit inside one handle slab. By necessity, that means no other tools are going to fit into that slab. Just the way it is. The yellow color scheme of that combo tool contributes to its gimmicky look. However, in the handle, it sits very securely. No wobble, no movement. It doesn't interfere with your grip if you're using the pliers. Another reason for the "gimmick" image is that some think this combo tool is meant to replace or back-up a bigger ferro rod, and a full-size or slightly compact whistle.
No! Someone else put it best when they described it as "A back-up to a back-up, to a back-up, to a back-up." That's exaggerating just a bit though. You should have at least three different methods of starting a fire in your BOB. And a compact ferro rod & striker in your belt-carried back-up to your BOB. The Signal simply provides another option with an outdoor based multi-tool for wilderness survival or a bug out scenario. Also, for such a thin ferro rod, I like that it's supported by the plastic whistle housing. Rods that thin have a tendency to snap in half. The combo tool simply snaps into place. To remove it, carefully pull back on a skeleton latch, making sure it doesn't come flying out of the handle slab. The whistle is another issue. You simply MUST practice and experiment with blowing it to get it to consistently make noise. Otherwise it won't.
One method that works consistently for me is to hold it in between my thumb and fore-finger on each side where the plastic is most abundant. Place my lower lip into that lower curved portion that seems specifically designed for your lower lip, then bring my upper lip down onto the whistle and put my lips together to generate sound. The whistle is loud, but noticeably less so than a Fox 40 or other whistles specifically designed for use outdoors.
The other gimmicky thing is the litlle diamond dust impregnated sharpener with a yellow handle and 1-inch sharpening surface. It works! And it can sharpen serrations as well as straight edges. Also, unlike the diamond file on the Leatherman Wave, you can use the sharpener on the Signal to sharpen its main blade. The sharpener snaps onto place on the outside of one handle slab, and stays there. No horribly loose wobbling at all. You don't get the sense that it'll fall off and you'll lose it while using a different feature on the tool. In fact, that diamond dust surface feels really good when holding the tool in your hand and using the main blade. If Leatherman had made the handle of the sharpener black instead of yellow, it wouldn't be thought of as gimmicky.
Now with the "gimmicks" out of the way, The main blade is a modified sheep's-foot. With the tip rather thick along the spin. Half serrated, half plain, 420Hc. Making it easy to touch up in the field with the included sharpener or any sharpening stone. (Use the corners of a stone on the serrations.) You don't get a separate plain, and separate serrated blade. It's just another needed compromise. This tool has all the useful features for the outdoors and only a couple of traditional multi-tool ones. The serrations are excellent for making fuzz sticks for a fire or even making larger bits of tinder. For all other cutting chores, really wish Leatherman had stuck with a fully plain edge. The blade locks into the open position thanks to their excellent liner-lock system. It stays rigid without even so much as a thought of wobble. And, unlike Leatherman's Skeletool, the liner is not excessively exposed. Go ahead and bear down on the Signal's handles. I don't recommend trying that on a Skeletool. (While experimenting with one, I was able to consistently get its lock to fail by applying a stronger grip to the handles.)
The Signal's blade is one-hand opening, but don't expect Spyderco-like smoothness or gentleness on your thumb. (Don't even expect what you'd get on the main blade of a Leatherman Wave.) The blade-opening hole will bite into your thumb. Not a lot. Just a bit. But you'll tell right away that the opening was left rough. That's the only real negative against the main blade though.
The Saw is across from the blade. It's Leatherman's typical, excellent, mini saw. And, it locks open just as securely as the main blade....
when you can actually get a fingernail under its notch to open it. I'm sorry, but good gracious! Leatherman screwed up in a bone-headed manner here! You'd almost swear that no one tried out the saw during Beta testing. The notch is up front. And there's too much handle material all around it to get the saw out without more than a bit of effort. (If you're a female with strong fingernails, it'll be easier for you.) Simple solution.... You see the cut-out (hole) on the upper portion of the Leatherman Wave's serrated blade? They should have pretended the saw was a serrated blade and placed a hole up there. Easier to open, and now you can do it with one hand! The spine of the saw is what you use to strike the included ferro rod, or any ferro rod. A nice striker on the Signal, a nice back-up striker if you lose your main one.
The carabiner works as it's supposed to. The bottle-opener feature is on the inside of it, past the shackle. (One of those traditional multi-tool features mentioned above.) Honestly, here's an over-looked gimmick found on the carabiner.... The 1/4 Hex Head driver
. Just no. No. It doesn't even use Leatherman's flat bits. Can you use it as a driver? Yes. Is it gonna be awkward as Hell? Oh yes. Honestly, I see it as a Hex Head shaped lanyard hole. The flat portion, reminiscent of the Leatherman MUT, is a solid pounding tool. Sorry, but I'm not calling it a "hammer." If a hammer slips, you're usually fine. If this slips while pounding a nail, you're going to reach for your FAK to treat the injured bottom of your hand. Can you pound tent stakes with it? Yes, but first get a soft camp towel to place over the stake before you start pounding with the Signal. Also, as someone with S.D. training, that solid bottom is going to be handy for pounding something else; if necessary. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
The shackle has a good amount of resistance. (At least the one on mine.) The tool is not too heavy that you can't hang it from a well-stitched, quality, pack. The tool is 7.5 ounces. Which isn't bad at all. A Leatherman Sidekick is 7 ounces, and a Leatherman Wave is 8.5. But I must say that the Signal just feels heavier in my hand than its specs. indicate. On the carabiner is another tiny, lock device that you can push or pull to lock the handles together, or unlock them.
This lock is needed since the handles do not close well on their own. They can flop open a bit. And, that might be intentional. For those who own one, the handles can be flipped almost fully open with one hand, nearly as well as a SOG multi-tool. Now that's impressive right there! Just the nature of SOG's multi-tools. But not Leatherman's. So the Signal can be opened one-handed (once the tiny lock is disengaged). Just before the Signal fully opens, you encounter quite a bit of resistance. But by then, you can just open your hand slightly, and use your fingers to compress the handles fully into the open position, exposing the pliers.
Before we get to the pliers, a quick mention regarding the clip. Thankfully it comes attached. Anytime you order a clip from Leatherman that doesn't normally come attached to a specific multi-tool of their's, you're gambling whether or not it'll actually work! The Leatherman Kick being the worst example of this. Many don't realize it was the official replacement for the now iconic Sideclip model. But you had to order the clip from Leatherman's official website if you wanted to clip the Kick to a pocket. Except, it doesn't work! I know. I ordered one. There is a limit as to how much you can tighten down the clip. Afterwards, the included bolt with the clip just spins in place and the clip wobbles side to side, completely and utterly useless. Thankfully when it was time to replace the Kick, Leatherman included clips on their two replacements right from the factory (the Sidekick, and Wingman models). When they do that, no issues of wobble! And none regarding the Signal's included clip.
Hope you like it, because the Signal does
NOT come with any sort of sheath at all. Use the clip or the carabiner. The clip is nearly straight with a tiny dimple, and it's bright as Hell! Retention is weak due to the design of the clip. But at 7.5 ounces, the weight of the Signal and length of the clip keeps it from falling out of your pants pocket. You might want to consider removing the clip, and giving it a couple of coats of flat black spray paint because even Stevie Wonder could see the shine reflecting off of it. The latitude and Longitude numbers found just below the clip are the coordinates to Leatherman's factory in America. (A nice little touch.)
The pliers are the absolute best that you can currently get from Leatherman. They come with the replaceable 154CM wire/Hard wire cutters. Excellent if they ever get damaged and you need to replace them. Now, I wouldn't tackle a chain-link fence with a Signal. These wire cutters are not a replacement for a compact pair of bolt cutters which was discussed earlier in this topic. They'll effortless cut through chicken-wire and other thinner fence materials. Simply outstanding.
Let's get to the three folding tools on the inside of one of the handle slabs. You get Leatherman's flat bit holder. You get a medium flat driver with a flat Philip's driver on the other end. These work well. If you damage one of the driver's, hop onto Leatherman's site and buy a replacement double-headed bit. The bit holder will accommodate all the Leatherman flat bits. But there's no place on the Signal to store extra bits. Also, using bits is definitely not the Signal's strong suit. Just like the Leatherman Skeletool, you can't close the handles shut to use a driver. One arm (handle) is going to extend past the pliers with the other arm down and back. It's an awkward way to use the drivers. But it's a compromise so that the carabiner and its features could be placed on the tool.
By the way, the can-opener (otherwise very effective) will have to be used in the same way as the bit driver. Which brings us to the awl with the sewing eye.... Good news! This tool
can be used with the handles closed and locked into place! (I guess someone at Leatherman realized a compromised-use awl was not a good idea.) Look closely, you'll see that a sliver of the carabiner on one side is cut off. Just a thin sliver. Forming a groove of sorts. The awl fits in a very slim channel away from the other two tools but very close to them. You'll miss it if you don't look carefully. In the extended position, the awl fits into that "groove" right next to the carabiner. You can then lock the handles and use the awl for making repairs to damaged tent, drilling, or punching a new hole in your leather belt from having missed more than a couple of meals. The awl works well enough. Though I've seen more effective designs than what Leatherman chose to go with. Thumbs up for including a sewing eye on the awl.
However, the lock mechanism used to keep these three tools from closing shut is not Leatherman's excellent liner-lock mechanism. It's their top-lock design, which is far from the best. You don't get horizontal wobble. But you do get vertical wobble. (An issue on other Leatherman tools with top-locking mechanisms.) On these three particular tools, it's not a safety issue. It's just annoting as Hell! Leatherman's less expensive tools that rely on a slip-joint to securely hold the tools open, works better! Significantly so! Yes, the tools can slam shut if you apply pressure in the wrong direction. But the non-locking models easily feel better built with the tools staying rigid in the open position.
I think I've pretty much covered everything. This tool has a couple of other disadvantages.
One, price. At $100 retail, this will turn off certain buyers. Yes, you are paying for the R&D that went into creating the Signal. You absolutely are. There is a feeling of quality to this tool. Except for the plastic parts and the tiny bit of wobble of the three tools mentioned above. But it can't compete with other Leathermans in this price-range. It comes close. But I can see this tool at around $75 or $80 at most. Not $100. And if you buy from a B&M shop, expect to pay more. I'd say, check Amazon for bargains. Might be a bit early to check Flea Bay, but I can see how some folks might have Buyer's remorse. Along with price, the ferro rod (and the attached whistle) will have to be replaced if you use it a couple of times. That's more money to Leatherman.
Two, It might be best to perhaps wait around for the Signal 2.0 model to come out. This was, overall, a good effort by Leatherman to make a dedicated outdoors multi-tool. But not a great effort. Just a few details that need to be fixed.
Three, on a different forum site I saw two guys discussing this tool. One of them owned it, and had gotten rid of the two yellow "gimmicks." The other guy was praising him for it. Honestly, if you plan to get rid of the yellow tools after buying a Signal.... You bought the wrong multi-tool. Those items are there for a reason.
To wrap up, yeah; I should have at least bought mine from Leatherman's official website and not paid the premium. Oh well, I knew what I was doing. Just realize if you pay retail for one, you're overpaying for it. But I still love mine! I'm glad I've got it. And ironically, it also makes a great full-sized multi-tool that can be EDCed! I've been doing it. It's nice having a full-sized multi-tool that doesn't require a sheath, or is missing items like the saw, awl, functional carabiner, etc.
If you can get past the price and the image others have of it being too gimmicky, it's a very good first effort by
any company to make a non-urban multi-tool. Mine will find its way into my BOB or belt-carried back-up BOB. That is, if I can stop EDCing the darn thing.
Shot of one side of the Signal, with main blade and saw folded up. Overall construction is what you'd expect from a Leatherman tool. Very nice. Also, you can sort of see the "groove" for the awl on this side of the carabiner.
Flip side of the Signal. Check out that long, sleek, not-so-well-designed-clip.
Thickness of the Signal, with sharpener in place.
Signal in hand with knife in the open position.
