The Multi-Plier is incredibly durable and often referred to as the AK-47 of multitools. However, don’t let the rattling fool you. This also creates some play when the pliers are deployed. This results in an unwelcome rattling noise that bothers many users. This may seem like a harmless quirk, but it can lead to the pliers slipping and pinching your flesh as the handles close on your palm.Īnother quirk is the necessary loose tolerance between the pliers and handles for smooth deployment. Due to a design limitation, the handles of the original Multi-Plier remain closed after deploying the pliers. Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: the palm pinch. This allows for one-handed deployment simular to a butterfly knife, it’s not as quick or effortless as the sliding system used by the Multi-Plier. With a unique folding design, the handles separate and rotate fully, locking each pivot independently. This allows the pliers to slide out and lock in place with a simple flick of the wrist. The sliding mechanism allows the item to only lock when open, unlike some other tools. The Gerber Multi-Plier is easily recognizable for its flick deployment. While each design has its own advantages and disadvantages. The folding and sliding designs both accomplished the same goal: creating a compact pocket tool that conveniently deploys pliers for various tasks. See below diagram on how to open the sliding pliers: Advantages/Disadvantages of Gerber’s Opening Styles Similar to folding multitools, the space behind the pliers is utilized for storing additional folding tools. They also engage a locking mechanism, ensuring that the pivot of the pliers aligns with the pivot of the handle. They did not have a handle pivot on the pliers, but the handles of the Multi-Plier meet at a single pivot point and the pliers slide out independently. Instead of using a folding mechanism, Gerber came up with a unique sliding design and got it patented. The remaining space is utilized to accommodate other folding tools that pivot from the opposite end of the handles when required. This enabled the handles to fold back over the pliers when they are not in use. The folding designs, like the Leatherman PST, first seen in 1983, incorporated a hinge at the end of each handle. Advantages/Disadvantages of Gerber’s Opening Styles.

Original gerber multi tool