Gerber 01471 Suspension Butterfly Opening Multi-Plier with Sheath
by Gerber
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List Price: Our Price: $23.65 You Save: $25.67 (52%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Gerber 01471 Suspension Butterfly Opening Multi-Plier with Sheath
Customer Review: Feels solid, looks good, works wonderfully.
Summary: 5 Stars
I just received this Multi-tool. I bought the expansion Gerber 22-49445 10-Piece Tool Kit for about $8 more to go with it. This multi-tool has one feature that overshadows similar models that I have owned in the past: It is nearly impossible to pinch your hand or finger if the pliers slip off of the part you are holding/turning with them. I used to get a blood blister on my hand often when my Leatherman or older Gerber model slipped off of whatever I was turning. This Gerber model doesn't allow the handles to close enough to pinch your hand.
Two of the blades are easily extracted with one hand via the handy thumb nubs, but only for right-handed folks. I can do it left-handed, but only because the blade is less than two inches long. Overall, it fits well in my large hands. The main blades are not super long, but they are long enough for any use I would use them for. It doesn't intimidate my sheltered office co-workers the way my Gerber knife does, either.
Both items came with a nylon belt sheath. The tool kit sheath has room for my Gerber 22-48447 Paraframe II Knife from REI.com ($24.61 at amazon.com) in a second pocket behind the tool set. While wearing both on my belt, I hardly notice them or feel the weight.
As for the reviews of this product breaking during use, I have to wonder if those people are using it for the job it was intended? The first thing I learned about tools was to "use the right tool for the right job". Sure, it's a multi-tool, but the handles are meant to be used as a hammer and the pliers aren't going to be as strong as an actual pair of pliers. A multi-tool serves the purpose of saving me the trip to the tool box for those small one-off tasks during the day. If I'm building a house, I'll break out the real tools.
This may be my favorite tool purchase of the year.
Customer Review: High bang for the buck, but not as useful as a Leatherman
Summary: 4 Stars
Gerber Suspension Multi-Plier, model 01471
I read some of the reviews and wanted to comment that the box lists the pliers being made in Taiwan, while the handles, tools, and sheath are made in China. The knife blade edge looks acceptable, but I did see some rough spots.
The Gerber Multiplier line is well known for its affordability and versatility. The last time I looked at multi-tools was over a decade ago, when many of my buddies went with Leatherman tools. The Leatherman seems to have more tools, but the Gerber Suspension Multipliers feel more ergonomic. The unlock latches are hard to use, so it's faster for me to just open up another tool slightly to unlock the first tool.
The Philips head screwdriver isn't very useful, it's too stubby. There are 2 different slotted screwdrivers included, so I am not sure why they didn't opt to include a finer Philips head driver. Instead, Gerber takes up a full tool slot for a lanyard ring!
The tools are: Fiskars scissors, landyard ring, small slotted screwdriver, bottle opener, serrated blade, wood saw, Philips head driver, wider slotted screwdriver, and a straight blade along with the main pliers. The pliers are actually very good. It is a butterfly opening setup, with an internal spring mechanism. The wire cutter part works well, but the plier itself is of a cast metal.
There's a lot of bang for the buck here, but it won't outperform a Leatherman Wave. I'd consider this Gerber tool to be a general use tool for budget minded buyers, something you could pack for camping or the field, and not regret losing or breaking them, or having them confiscated for whatever reason.
Overall: 4/5 stars
Customer Review: Okay Knife
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a good, solid knife, but not what I was hoping for. I am very hard on pocket knives and usually buy a Victorinox. I got tired of bending the blades and losing the pieces and having to buy a new one every few years, so I am on a quest to find a great knife at a decent price - this one is close.
The Good:
All tools open and close easily.
All tools are solid when locked open.
The fit and finish is attractive.
The add-on tool kit is awesome - it takes ANY standard bit.
All the tools appear to be strong and tough.
The mix of tools is useful.
The spring action on the pliers and the scissors is a plus.
The Bad:
The blade is very short and not even the length of the closed knife.
The blade's sharpness was just okay. I keep my knives very sharp and had to hone this one immediately.
The tools do not lock closed. They seem tight now, but who knows how long that will last.
The scissors totally suck and are nearly useless - too small, not sharp enough and too stiff.
The tool is very heavy for its size.
The short blade is my biggest complaint. It appeared that it was larger and the product didn't specifically mention blade length. The main straight blade is only slightly larger than a Victorinox small blade. But, it is very thick along the spine and will not bend as easily as a Victorinox.
Finally, this knife is fat. Compared to a Leatherman Charge, it is the same overall tool length, but the Gerber is thicker and wider and heavier. There doesn't appear to be a functional reason for the bottom of the tool to flair out like it does - just for the looks.
Customer Review: Great tool - but watch out for the different versions!
Summary: 4 Stars
I am not going to rehash what others have already said: it is a great tool, very solidly built, and strong. Metal is great.
However, watch out for the two different versions, and why you should purchase this in store instead!
I was at my local Target where they sell this tool. I picked one up to purchase and inspected the tool in the packaging. The metal was strangely low quality-looking with lots of pits and crevices. Overall, the quality seemed very poor: metal of poor quality, low quality bolts, and a poor surface coating where you could see pits in the paint. I looked on the back: Made in China.
I was ready to purchase it anyway when I walked back to the display and too a closer look at the other ones on the rack (same model). I noticed that some other ones had much better polished metal, smooth glossy paint, and round & smooth torx-headed bolts. I thought, wait, how can these be the same item and some be made so much better. I looked on the back: Made in Taiwan.
It appears that Gerber switched production some time in 2008 from Taiwan to China. The quality has greatly suffered as a result.
You should be aware that most of these reviews on Amazon before 2008 are for the Made in Taiwan model. This is the model you should get! Unfortunately, because Amazon stock moves so fast, you're likely to get an vastly inferior Made in China model. This is why I strongly suggested purchasing this in the store instead so you can look for a Made in Taiwan model or at least inspect the Made in China model first before purchasing.
Customer Review: Good Quality and Cheap Multi-Tool, But The Scissor, Blades and Saw Are Short
Summary: 4 Stars
I read nearly all the reviews and watched the videos on youtube about Gerber Suspension before my purchase.
Pliers are made in Taiwan, other stuff are made in China (says on the box).
It is a good quality product and it was around 24 USD when I purchased them. So value for money ratio is very very high for these.
Every tool locks in its place when you open them. This is a great feature. You have to hold down 2 buttons on each side of the same shaft to close the tools (so there are 4 buttons or lock switches).
Blades are very very sharp. Althoug the scissor is very small, it is sharp and can handle small jobs.
Now the downside. The length of the blades, scissor and saw is very short. I knew this before my purchase but I have to warn anyone who needs long saw, scissor and blades should look to another, longer product. All these tools will work for me because I will use this tool for daily life and for camping. So It will be ok for me to live with it.
Its size is not too big, not too heavy and it is a short multi tool.
Looks great, any of your friends will be getting curious and want to try it.
Pliers are in good quality and I really like the suspension mechanism.
Package also includes a good quality carrying case.
I am giving 4 stars because of the general looks, quality and value for money factor. Othervise it is 3 stars for me...