lamarbrog
14 August 2011, 01:00
A couple months ago I was given a Leatherman Military Utility Tool (MUT) as a gift by a long time friend. I've carried it every day since I received it, including for some time while working in firearms retail and as a range safety officer. It's seen some use, so forgive me if it isn't in perfect condition for the photographs.
This is the MUT inside the carry pouch. The tool itself is Made in the USA, but the pouch is imported. Even so, it is of excellent quality. Very thick nylon. I was worried at first that it wouldn't hold up, but after two months it hardly shows any wear. Mostly just grime from being opened and closed with hands drenched in CLP and GSR, as well as some blue staining from my jeans. The closure is Velcro, and lots of it. No risk of losing the tool.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0708.jpg
It's ready to go on anything that has MOLLE. Forgive my ignorance on this matter... I don't really know much about MOLLE, having never used it personally.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0709.jpg
Fortunately, it fits my belt just fine. The pouch has never detached from my belt. The button has never unsnapped. The velcro has never come undone on the front. Retention is very good.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0710.jpg
The tool sans pouch.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0712.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0711.jpg
Opened up and with all the goodies detached. It has two Phillips bits, two flat head bits, a hex and a Torx, and a punch.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0715.jpg
The punch screws on and off, I usually use it when it is off and use the tool as a small hammer to tap on pins. Works great for servicing a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0717.jpg
This is the bronze carbon scraper I almost never use. I don't really scrape on my rifle that much so it sees very little use. Works well enough the few times I have used it.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0718.jpg
The end of the tool has a hammer. I have actually used it to whack a nail back down on a friend's deck one night. The webbing cutter I imagine works... haven't needed to cut myself or anyone else out of a burning vehicle yet, though, so I can't say for sure. The bottle opener works just fine on Root Beer bottles, not sure if it works for real beer. The seatbelt cutter can be replaced.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0719.jpg
One of the bits attached to its designated orifice. The bits come in real handy. I use them all the time. The Torx and hex work for most scopes and such. I never realized how often I could use a screw/hex/Torx driver until I had one all the time.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0720.jpg
Combination needle-nose, slip nut, and wire cutters. The wire cutting area can be replaced. During my time as a RSO, I used it to cut zip ties out of firearms. The needle nose are great for opening the trap door of an A2 stock.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0721.jpg
A little better view of the replaceable hammer and webbing cutter. The belt clip can be removed, the only reason I haven't is because I don't want to lose it. It's really far too stiff to be useful. Would work great for attaching a lanyard if you needed really, really good retention. This angle also shows the bottle opener/carabiner very well. I've never used the carabiner for anything.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0722.jpg
The blade is alright. I carry a small "Old Timer" pocket knife that is more useful as a blade. Gasping the whole tool to use this is just too uncomfortable. It's unwieldy. Seems to be a decent edge on it, I cut some cardboard up once with it... it definitely will cut cardboard.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0723.jpg
Let's be realistic... does anyone ever use the saw blade? I certainly never have. If you're in a situation where you're using this little thing to saw something... well, good luck, you're going to need it.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0724.jpg
On the plus side, while you're trying to saw or cut something with one of these blades while trying to hold onto the bulky handle you may manage not to amputate your own hand by accident. They are "liner locked" when open.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0725.jpg
Conclusion:
About half the tools on this come in real handy. The webbing cutter, hammer, pliers, wire cutters, punch, bottle opener, and various driver bits are very useful. The carbon scraper, knife, belt clip, and saw really have never seemed particularly useful or easy to use if I did need them. It came with a little wrench that slips in the back of the pouch which is not depicted because the retention for it is awful and I put it somewhere safe so I wouldn't lose it... and I can't find it.
I really like the fact that many of the tools that could be broken or worn out can be replaced. The carrying pouch is excellent. The tool is a little on the heavy side, but not so much of a burden that I don't carry it. The fact that I can quickly snap it onto my belt ans save my pocket space for other things is a big reason it continues to tag along.
It seems to be very rust resistant. I have never attempted to prevent rust on it and as you an see it isn't rusty. After a lot of time out in the humidity I noticed a little rust beginning to form, but ignored it and it seemed to just get worn away with use.
Would I recommend it? Yes. It's a great tool, especially if you work with firearms a lot. It has come in handy countless times. They seem to sell for around $100, which seems fair considering the craftsmanship this displays. It's a very tight tool with excellent fit and finish. No slop in the pliers and overall just good quality. makes a great addition to EDC.
This is the MUT inside the carry pouch. The tool itself is Made in the USA, but the pouch is imported. Even so, it is of excellent quality. Very thick nylon. I was worried at first that it wouldn't hold up, but after two months it hardly shows any wear. Mostly just grime from being opened and closed with hands drenched in CLP and GSR, as well as some blue staining from my jeans. The closure is Velcro, and lots of it. No risk of losing the tool.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0708.jpg
It's ready to go on anything that has MOLLE. Forgive my ignorance on this matter... I don't really know much about MOLLE, having never used it personally.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0709.jpg
Fortunately, it fits my belt just fine. The pouch has never detached from my belt. The button has never unsnapped. The velcro has never come undone on the front. Retention is very good.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0710.jpg
The tool sans pouch.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0712.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0711.jpg
Opened up and with all the goodies detached. It has two Phillips bits, two flat head bits, a hex and a Torx, and a punch.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0715.jpg
The punch screws on and off, I usually use it when it is off and use the tool as a small hammer to tap on pins. Works great for servicing a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0717.jpg
This is the bronze carbon scraper I almost never use. I don't really scrape on my rifle that much so it sees very little use. Works well enough the few times I have used it.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0718.jpg
The end of the tool has a hammer. I have actually used it to whack a nail back down on a friend's deck one night. The webbing cutter I imagine works... haven't needed to cut myself or anyone else out of a burning vehicle yet, though, so I can't say for sure. The bottle opener works just fine on Root Beer bottles, not sure if it works for real beer. The seatbelt cutter can be replaced.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0719.jpg
One of the bits attached to its designated orifice. The bits come in real handy. I use them all the time. The Torx and hex work for most scopes and such. I never realized how often I could use a screw/hex/Torx driver until I had one all the time.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0720.jpg
Combination needle-nose, slip nut, and wire cutters. The wire cutting area can be replaced. During my time as a RSO, I used it to cut zip ties out of firearms. The needle nose are great for opening the trap door of an A2 stock.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0721.jpg
A little better view of the replaceable hammer and webbing cutter. The belt clip can be removed, the only reason I haven't is because I don't want to lose it. It's really far too stiff to be useful. Would work great for attaching a lanyard if you needed really, really good retention. This angle also shows the bottle opener/carabiner very well. I've never used the carabiner for anything.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0722.jpg
The blade is alright. I carry a small "Old Timer" pocket knife that is more useful as a blade. Gasping the whole tool to use this is just too uncomfortable. It's unwieldy. Seems to be a decent edge on it, I cut some cardboard up once with it... it definitely will cut cardboard.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0723.jpg
Let's be realistic... does anyone ever use the saw blade? I certainly never have. If you're in a situation where you're using this little thing to saw something... well, good luck, you're going to need it.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0724.jpg
On the plus side, while you're trying to saw or cut something with one of these blades while trying to hold onto the bulky handle you may manage not to amputate your own hand by accident. They are "liner locked" when open.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/Lamarbrog/leatherman/DSCN0725.jpg
Conclusion:
About half the tools on this come in real handy. The webbing cutter, hammer, pliers, wire cutters, punch, bottle opener, and various driver bits are very useful. The carbon scraper, knife, belt clip, and saw really have never seemed particularly useful or easy to use if I did need them. It came with a little wrench that slips in the back of the pouch which is not depicted because the retention for it is awful and I put it somewhere safe so I wouldn't lose it... and I can't find it.
I really like the fact that many of the tools that could be broken or worn out can be replaced. The carrying pouch is excellent. The tool is a little on the heavy side, but not so much of a burden that I don't carry it. The fact that I can quickly snap it onto my belt ans save my pocket space for other things is a big reason it continues to tag along.
It seems to be very rust resistant. I have never attempted to prevent rust on it and as you an see it isn't rusty. After a lot of time out in the humidity I noticed a little rust beginning to form, but ignored it and it seemed to just get worn away with use.
Would I recommend it? Yes. It's a great tool, especially if you work with firearms a lot. It has come in handy countless times. They seem to sell for around $100, which seems fair considering the craftsmanship this displays. It's a very tight tool with excellent fit and finish. No slop in the pliers and overall just good quality. makes a great addition to EDC.