Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryManufacturing
FoundedJuly 1983 (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
Folded Leatherman Wingman
Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool
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 Super Tool and belt holster
Leatherman Surge
Leatherman Micra, both open and closed
Pieces
Leatherman Tread
Leatherman Crunch

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

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. 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".

Products

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).

NameTypeDebutRetired# Tools
ArcFull-sized2023—20
BlastFull-sized2004201216
Bolster - Costco ExclusiveFull-sized2021—13
BondFull-sized2021—14
Charge TiFull-sized2004200817
Charge XTiFull-sized2004200816
Charge XTi 30th Anniversary Limited EditionFull-sized2013201316
Charge ALFull-sized2007201817
Charge ALXFull-sized2007201818
Charge TTiFull-sized2007201819
Charge TTi (Year-of-Monkey Limited Edition)Full-sized2016201619
Charge+Full-sized2018—19
Charge+ G10 Special Edition (Red / Orange / Earth)Full-sized2018—19
Charge+ Limited Edition Forest CamoFull-sized2018retired19
Charge+ Limited Edition Woodland CamoFull-sized2018retired19
Charge+ TTiFull-sized2018—19
Charge+ TTi Damascus Limited EditionFull-sized2018201819
Charge+ Damascus Carbon Fibre Limited EditionFull-sized2018201819
Charge+ Damascus Wood Limited EditionFull-sized2018201819
Charge+ 35th Anniversary Limited EditionFull-sized2018201819
Charge+ Tom Sachs NASA-themed Limited EditionFull-sized2021202123
CoreFull-sized2005200919
CrunchHeavy-Duty2023| -15
CurlFull-sized2021—15
Darkside - Leatherman Garage Batch 002 Limited EditionFull-sized2022202221
FlairFull-sized1999200416
Free K2Pocketknife2019—8
Free K2XPocketknife2019—8
Free K4Pocketknife2019—9
Free K4XPocketknife2019—9
Free T2Pocket2019—8
Free T4Pocket2019—12
Free P2Full-sized2019—19
Free P4Full-sized2019—21
FuseFull-sized2004201213
FreestylePocket2009retired5
Freestyle CXPocket200920125
Juice KF4Pocket2001200516
Juice C2Pocket2001200612
Juice S2Pocket2001200612
Juice CS4Pocket2001200615
Juice XE6Pocket2001200618
Juice Pro Ltd Ed CostcoPocket2002200323
Juice SC2Pocket2003200512
Juice SX – OriginalPocket2013201411
Juice SX – NewPocket2014201911
KickFull-sized2004201212
LeapPocket2014201413
MicraKeychain1996—10
Micra 30th Anniversary Limited EditionKeychain2013201310
Micra 35th Anniversary Limited EditionKeychain2018201810
Mini ToolPocket1986200410
Mr. Crunch Limited EditionFull-sized2022202221
MUT (Military Utility Tool)Heavy Duty / Firearms2010—16
MUT EOD (Military Utility Tool Explosive Ordnance Disposal)Heavy Duty / Firearms2010202115
OHT (One-Handed Tool)Heavy-Duty2012202216
PST (Pocket Survival Tool)Full-sized1983200414
PST II (Pocket Survival Tool II)Full-sized1996200415
The Collector's Edition PST (Pocket Survival Tool) 35th Anniversary Limited EditionFull-sized2018201814
PulseFull-sized2000200415
Raptor RescueEMS Duty2013—6
Raptor Rescue Glow-in-the-Dark Limited Edition (Purple / Gold)EMS Duty?retired6
Raptor ResponseEMS Duty2021—4
RebarFull-sized2012—17
RevFull-sized2015—14
SideclipFull-sized1998200412
SidekickFull-sized2011—14
SignalHeavy-Duty / Camping2015—19
Signal TOPO Limited EditionHeavy-Duty / Camping?—19
Signal Black & Silver Limited EditionHeavy-Duty / Camping?—19
SkeletoolPocket2007—7
Skeletool CXPocket2007—7
Skeletool KBPocketknife2017—2
Skeletool KBxPocketknife2017—2
Skeletool RXPocket2016—7
Skeletool SXPocket2013retired7
Skeletool Damasteel Limited EditionPocket?retired7
Skeletool TOPO Limited EditionPocket?—7
Skeletool Black & Silver Limited EditionPocket?—7
Squirt E4Keychain2003201010
Squirt ES4Keychain201020219
Squirt P4Keychain2002201010
Squirt PS4Keychain2020| —9
Squirt S4Keychain2002201010
StyleKeychain201020145
Style CSKeychain201020216
Style PSKeychain2012—8
Super ToolHeavy-Duty1994200118
Super Tool 200Heavy-Duty2001200518
Super Tool 300Heavy-Duty2009—19
Super Tool 300 EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)Heavy Duty / Firearm2010—19
Super Tool 300 30th Anniversary Limited EditionHeavy-Duty2013201319
Super Tool 300MHeavy Duty / Firearm?—18
Surge – OriginalHeavy-Duty2005201321
Surge – NewHeavy-Duty2013—21
Surge New Black & Silver Limited EditionHeavy-Duty?—21
TreadWearable2015202129
Tread MetricWearable2015202129
Tread LTWearable2015202129
Tread TempoWearable?retired?
Tread Tempo Black & Silver Limited EditionWearable?retired?
Tread Tempo LTWearable?retired?
Tread Tempo LT Black & Silver Limited EditionWearable?retired?
Tread QM1WearableTBD——
Wave – OriginalFull-sized1998200416
Wave – NewFull-sized2004201817
Wave - 20th Anniversary Limited EditionFull-sized2003200317
Wave - 25th Anniversary Limited EditionFull-sized2008200817
Wave – Damascus Ltd EdFull-sized2009200917
Wave+Full-sized2018—18
Wave+ Black & Silver Limited EditionFull-sized?—18
Wave+ The Houston Home Inspector Limited EditionFull-sized?retired18
Wave+ 35th Anniversary Limited EditionFull-sized2018201818
WingmanFull-sized2011—14
Wingman Black & Silver Limited EditionFull-sized?retired14
GenusHeavy-Duty / Gardening200720099
VistaFull-sized / Gardening200620099
HybridFull-sized / Gardening2006200911
Z-RexFull-sized201220194

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Leatherman Media". Leatherman Tool Group. Retrieved 2015-05-05.
  2. ↑ Monroe, Bill. The Oregonian, December 10, 1981.
  3. 1 2 3 "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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