Multitools

[GumbyJarvis]

A few months back, I had a gov issue Gerber break. No problem, I had 2 issued.
Second one broke while Doing the same thing, unscrewing a piece on the MRAP I am currently dealing with.
Cool, no problem. Contact Gerber, I get a reply of "yeah, sorry, warranty doesn't cover military issued products" cool, whatever. Thanks jerks. Chewed the guy out, made some quality has fallen since bear grylls is y'all's poster boy now, etc. wasn't really heated, they were issued.
Anyway, both were poor quality multitools, slide pliers, etc.

So, I order a Leatherman, specifically a black supertool300. Own it for a month, cutting 3 lines of simple 12 gauge wire holding a bundle of c-wire together, the pliers snap, and one side breaks off at the base.

Call up Leatherman.... "Sorry our warranty does not cover combat.. Buy another one"
...that got me even more heated.... She heard more of an earful than the Gerber guy did...


Week after the Leatherman broke, I decide to buy a new multi tool. I feel naked without one, especially deployed. So I start looking...
Few guys here have SOG power assists, or the EOD version.
I like it, but it's not really something I would care for myself. And I own SOG knives..

So I get on Victorinox's website, find the swisstool rescue tool. Email to see if they ship to APOs. I get a reply back, "hello sir, we support American military, here's a 50$ gift code off of any Victorinox or wenger product" "yes, we ship to APOs"

Get the knife. Love it. Amazing tool, amazing capabilities, heavier and better quality than any multitool I've owned. Go on mission. Lose it. Ha.

Go me.

Email them to order a new one. Lady emails me back, "sir, were sorry about your loss. We have shipped you a new one free of charge"

Yes. They did that.... I am in shock and awe.... I'm not one to try to benefit from being in the military. I don't use it as an excuse, or to benefit myself. But when a Swiss company treats me better than two american companies, ehh, I'm shocked.


http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/VN53935/victorinox-swiss-army-swisstool-rescue-model-multi-tool

This is the exact model. Victorinox website isn't loading for me tonight, slow Internet.
Anyway, I'm done ranting. I don't think I'll ever purchase another Gerber or Leatherman for awhile though....

 

[brandini]

I love stories like this.

 

[redhat]

I'm glad you got something good and someone helped you out, that's kinda [censored] that they wouldn't warranty them. Do they not expect them to be used?

My Dad got one of these Gerber ones in a box of junk he bought on eBay from a liquidation warehouse in Buffalo.

http://www.gerbergear.com/Essentials/Tools/strata_31-000334

His is nice, I have no idea how strong it is but I like it.

I'd like to get a multi tool soon, they seem like a handy thing for a traveling IT guy to have.

 

[BISCUT]

Great move posting their actions. Always good to support a decent company!

 

[Astro14]

It's issued gear!!!

Why are you spending even one penny of your own money to replace it????

It broke. Get the supply clerk to replace it. That's what those guys are for!

 

[pandus13]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
It's issued gear!!!

Why are you spending even one penny of your own money to replace it????

It broke. Get the supply clerk to replace it. That's what those guys are for!


Sir,
since you have been in the force more than me walking this earth, I will reply for him:
to have something you can trust when you need too.

 

[Kira]

Hello, Victorinox earned your trust, respect and business. The other two did not.

I admired a friend's Gerber multi tool. He said he thought it was available in two sizes and that I'd be better off with the larger one. I called Gerber and asked if the tool was available in two sizes and the lady snapped at me quite rudely.

Perhaps she was doing her nails when I called. Kira

 

[UncleS2]

Great company. If: You have a broken Victorinox knife or multitool(and you're not active service military!) email or call for instructions, mail it in, & they will fix or replace & pay return ship to you.

Quality seems to have held at their high standards, unlike many other companies that either went under(with their names now put on Chinese-mfg knives of hit or miss quality) or companies still operating to feed the collector market with too many substandards getting through QC. (And yes, I can make a good Case for that assertion.)

I'm a satisfied Victorinox owner & user for more than 30 years now- ever since my Pocket Knife Epiphany.

 

[spasm3]

Their kitchen knives( victorinox/forschner) are good too. Great story

 

[dlundblad]

It cracks me up the tool wasn't covered under combat usage. I would think they'd use it as a marketing scheme to make their product seem more rugged. At the very least I would hope they would be a bit more noble and help a guy out that is serving..

One of the stores IMO with the best customer service it Carhartt. Its nice knowing that sort of treatment does exist.

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: pandus13
Originally Posted By: Astro14
It's issued gear!!!

Why are you spending even one penny of your own money to replace it????

It broke. Get the supply clerk to replace it. That's what those guys are for!


Sir,
since you have been in the force more than me walking this earth, I will reply for him:
to have something you can trust when you need too.


Gear is gear. Young soldiers should never be put in a position to have to procure their own gear. If you can't trust your gear, and you have to buy your own gear, then we have truly failed the soldier serving in combat. Where do you draw the line with "you buy your own gear that you can trust"? Boots? GoreTex? Weapon? Parachute?

Sure, stuff breaks under hard use, but Uncle Sam buys that...not the soldier...I've been issued some good gear, broke some of it (by accident)...it got replaced because I needed it for my job. That's the way it's supposed to be. Now, if you want custom stuff, that's a matter of preference and that's on you.

Granted, I might have had more pull with the supply folks than your average grunt, but the principle is the same:

If you need it, it gets issued.

 

[ronbo]

Multitool Challenge - Truckin Tough

link: http://www.truckinweb.com/editorial/1211tr_multitool_challenge_truckin_tough/viewall.html

Nobody ask but I never had such tools or do I want one. That said, had a version of a multi tool years ago that looked like a set of allen wrenches but inside had screwdrivers, awls, etc. Made an impression on a fellow worker who was a reserve Navy See Bee a E-7 who went out and bought one.

 

[eljefino]

MacGyver's knife never broke. Go Gumby!!!!

 

[Smoky14]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
It's issued gear!!!

Why are you spending even one penny of your own money to replace it????

It broke. Get the supply clerk to replace it. That's what those guys are for!



Same reason we purchased our own survival knives, we needed something that worked under all conditions.

Smoky

 

[GumbyJarvis]

The swisstool rescue tool is amazing fwiw.
Sharp knife, sharp saws, and you can cut anything with the scissors...

To me, Gerber has gone downhill since the bear grylls joint venture...

I know, the supply clerks supposed to handle stuff like that... After having 2 break under normal use, I'm okay with buying better quality.


I carry a Victorinox multitool, SOG seal pup on my kit, and a benchmade pocket knife in my pocket...
Stateside I carry a cold steel pocket folder.
Benchmade became unserviceable at fort Polk jrtc rotation (aka worst 30 days of anyone's life), bought a cold steel when I sent the benchmade in, so I'd have a knife. I'm surprised at the value and overall quality of it... Became an everyday carry for me.

 

[Gabe]

Originally Posted By: GumbyJarvis
any Victorinox or wenger product


Not to hijack the thread, but are they now the same company?? I remember years ago, they were competitors.

 

[GumbyJarvis]

They are sister companies owned by the same company. Both are separate entities

 

[csx7006]

Originally Posted By: GumbyJarvis
A few months back, I had a gov issue Gerber break. No problem, I had 2 issued.
Second one broke while Doing the same thing, unscrewing a piece on the MRAP I am currently dealing with.
Cool, no problem. Contact Gerber, I get a reply of "yeah, sorry, warranty doesn't cover military issued products" cool, whatever. Thanks jerks. Chewed the guy out, made some quality has fallen since bear grylls is y'all's poster boy now, etc. wasn't really heated, they were issued.
Anyway, both were poor quality multitools, slide pliers, etc.

So, I order a Leatherman, specifically a black supertool300. Own it for a month, cutting 3 lines of simple 12 gauge wire holding a bundle of c-wire together, the pliers snap, and one side breaks off at the base.

Call up Leatherman.... "Sorry our warranty does not cover combat.. Buy another one"
...that got me even more heated.... She heard more of an earful than the Gerber guy did...


Week after the Leatherman broke, I decide to buy a new multi tool. I feel naked without one, especially deployed. So I start looking...
Few guys here have SOG power assists, or the EOD version.
I like it, but it's not really something I would care for myself. And I own SOG knives..

So I get on Victorinox's website, find the swisstool rescue tool. Email to see if they ship to APOs. I get a reply back, "hello sir, we support American military, here's a 50$ gift code off of any Victorinox or wenger product" "yes, we ship to APOs"

Get the knife. Love it. Amazing tool, amazing capabilities, heavier and better quality than any multitool I've owned. Go on mission. Lose it. Ha.

Go me.

Email them to order a new one. Lady emails me back, "sir, were sorry about your loss. We have shipped you a new one free of charge"

Yes. They did that.... I am in shock and awe.... I'm not one to try to benefit from being in the military. I don't use it as an excuse, or to benefit myself. But when a Swiss company treats me better than two american companies, ehh, I'm shocked.


http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/VN53935/victorinox-swiss-army-swisstool-rescue-model-multi-tool

This is the exact model. Victorinox website isn't loading for me tonight, slow Internet.
Anyway, I'm done ranting. I don't think I'll ever purchase another Gerber or Leatherman for awhile though....




Gerber's auto knives that are now issued are junk. Their springs often failed due to the dust even when lubed with clp. Its sad that susposedly american companies all they care aout is profits...

 

[sleddriver]

Revealing story there Gumby. I've owned one of the Victorinox tools for about 13yrs now. Every edge came from the factory very sharp and it's well built as you have seen. Too bad about the others non-combat warranty policy...gesh how poor of them!