Multitools have been a part of our lives for several decades and have been engineered to be a do it all tool box. Manufacturers include everything but the kitchen sink to ensure that we have the tools we need for any occasion and to keep us prepared. The downside to this is the tool is not specialized for a specific task and this general design makes the tool heavy. It also can be a deciding factor in which tool you purchase or edc if you have a collection like me. Several tool companies are designing tools that are specific to a job title, recreational activity or task and the Leatherman Signal is one of those tools. The Signal is patterned after the Leatherman MUT design and scaled down so it’s not such a massive beast. Weighing in at only at only 7.5oz the Signal is enough tool for the task and light on the tools so it's easy to carry where ever your headed. 

Multitools comes in a vast variety of shapes and sizes and certainly have had a lot of changes to them since the first Leatherman was issued. In spite of all those changes the general look and functionality hasn't deviated much. Tools are usually clumped into two categories; Swiss Army style or plier based which is what most people associate with.

Back in the golden age of multitools; we'll say late 90s early 2000s there was a lot of manufacturers getting in on the game. Everyone from Buck to Kershaw was producing a multitool and some of the designs were very forward thinking.  Schrade cutlery was one of those companies and they produced what they called the Tough tools. Both the Tough Tool and the Tough Chip did well for the company and we're proudly made in the USA. 

Schrade had some financial struggles and was purchased by Taylor Brands LLC back in 2004. Taylor kept a lot of the lines alive that Schrade had such as Old Timer and Uncle Henry. Manufacturing was moved overseas and we saw quality control take a dip. Schrade continued to manufacture the Tough Tools but they don't have the durability of the once famed brand.

In the first quarter of 2016 Schrade brought some new products to the market which included some multitools. One of those new tools was the Schrade ST11. The ST11 or Schrade Tough Tool Multitool; is an interesting new take on an old design.

The pocket tool phenomenon extends far beyond the reaches of my boarders and I've been searching far and wide for pocket tools that are worthy of our readers attention. I stumbled upon a knife and tool maker in Italy who doesn't crank stuff out via water jet like some folks but these are handmade tools.

The P Tool XL is 2.9 mm long and made from n690co stainless steel. N690co is a steel similar in composition to VG10 stainless; has good strength and corrosion resistance. With so many pocket tools being comprised of titanium it's nice to see someone using a different material. The weight of the tool has a good feeling to it and inspires confience.

Multitools have been around for a long time and even before Tim Leatherman came out with original PST the multitool had a purpose; it was a pocket tool box. For years companies have made multitools a jack of all trades and cram as much as they could into a tool so someone didn't have to go back to the tool box unless they really needed too. That's the reason we love multitools, they are our constant companion that can tackle any task.

Things have changed over the past few years and there is a trend developing to meet a niche or demand in the tool market. Companies are releasing minimalist style tools that feature a basic set of tools and leaving out stuff that they feel a person would not use on a daily basis. I'm not sure if the design changes are because of culture or city/urban life but they they seem to be a hit with people concerned with needing a multitool no matter what their profession.

Pry tools and one piece tools have been all the rage for years now and not only is the market flooded with them but one can find multiple on Kickstarter alone that are awaiting funding. Guess you find a cash cow and jump on the bandwagon. Schrade who was bought by Taylor Brands back in 2004 hadn't had a pocket tool in its lineup. Since the acquisition TB has re-released classic items from the Schrade past as well and produce items for the current market.

Schrade released its first version of the titanium pry tool back in 2013; it sold pretty well but not to the tune Schrade was looking for. Schrade made several changes to the design and released an updated version to their pry tool.

Emerson knives have been a dominating force in the knife industry since 2000 and everyone from military to civilians depend on their knives. Ernest Emerson over the years has collaborated with different people and has produced some incredible knives as a result. One of those calibrations is with Multitasker tools; a  company which manufactures tools for AR15 military rifles. Emerson approached Multitasker and said they were interested in producing a multitool to compliment their lineup, Emerson and Multitasker sort of occupy the same market so it was a no brainer. The result was a tool that was basic in function and a great addition to any EDC.

Pry tools seem to be a dime a dozen these days with everyone wanting to get in on the action. Pry tools used to be something only the higher end knife makers made as a way to save users from using their knives in ways they were not intended to be used. Since the Atwood craze, the mafket has been flooded by all kinds of styles and designs. Some are very creative and interesting while others giving you the impression that they are out to make a buck.

In a world dominated by multitools and tactical knives, the demand is becoming greater for knives that could very well be called “super knives” and are being favored over the once popular pocket knives our dads and grandfathers carried. It used to be about simplicity, nothing warmed your heart like warm jigged bone handle with nickel silver bolsters and that ever popular carbon steel blade. Now we want knives that can go a week of hard use without sharpening, using more and more super steels as well as space age handle materials like g10, carbon fiber and titanium. Many manufacturers have been able to stand up to what the public wants and have flooded the market with tactical knives that are not only combat worthy but work great for those individuals that need a low maintenance EDC.

Since the dawn of the knife man has had to sharpen his knife from time to time as the need arises, sharpening is a skilled labor, you have to learn how to use a stone to hone your edge or take the cheating route and use any one of the numerous gimmicks that they have for sharpening. Well Columbia River has a production knife that sharpens itself, I had to see it to believe but it’s true. And best of all, this puppy’s affordable.