Gerber 08239 MP800 Legend Multitool
by Gerber
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List Price: Our Price: $55.00 You Save: $89.16 (62%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $48.00 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
Product Details
Manufacturer: GerberModel: 8239
Color: Silver/Black
Product features:
- Multi-tool folding pocket tool with 12 tools
- Wire cutter, knife, scissors, can opener, hacksaw, 1 Phillips and 3 standard screwdrivers (small, medium, large)
- Tungsten carbide-steel blades, stainless steel, nickel-coated die-cast aluminum handle
- Includes nylon belt-mounted carrying case
- 2-pounds; lifetime warranty
- Field & Stream (1-year)
- Streamlight 65018 Stylus 6-1/4-Inch Penlight with Pocket Clip and White LED, Black
- Gerber Paraframe II knife, 3.6" fine edge blade - sil
- Gerber 22-41415 Gator II Gut Hook, Fine Edge Knife
- GERBER COMPACT SPORT MULTI PLIER 400 STAINLESS STEEL
Tools and Hardware Reviews of Gerber 08239 MP800 Legend Multitool
Customer Review: One of the best tools but with a some glaring design flaws.
Summary: 3 Stars
Boy, I've had a love-hate relationship with my Gerber Legend 800! When I got the Gerber it was by far the best multitool I had ever used. It blew away my 80s vintage SOGs, Leathermen, swiss army knives and such. I'had the Gerber from 2002 to 2005 and used it intensively most of that time. If I hadn't lost it I would be using it still. The two tools I've used since (Leatherman Charge Ti and Victorinox SwissTool Spirit) are far better designed and show the Gerbers problems. Even so - there are still things about it that nothing else matches and I sometimes find myself wishing I had the big Gerber in those situations that favor it:
Hots:
Best pliers for detail work in the multi-tool world. As far as I know this is the only springloaded pliers on a multitool anywhere. They are beefy - no sideways wiggle here - and because they open themselves you use them with your whole hand (no back gripping on the inside with the pinky finger to open them like you have to do with every other pliers). This unique aspect makes them much more comfortable and useable for a multitude of tasks. I respect the spotlight review that complained about these not opening up enough for common plumbing - maybe so - but for detail work they have no equal. The wirecutter blade inserts are great too and make you wonder why everyone doesn't do this. Not only are the replaceable wirecutter blades good for inspiring confidence that if you ruin the edge with some hard wire you have recourse - the carbide blades actually do a really job of cutting hard wire - better than any other multitool.
Also - all the tools lock securely - no pinching - and the tools don't open up accidentally by themselves either. The lock mechanism is smooth and easy to employ.
Finally - I really like the one hand opening knife and scissors. As far as I know this is the only one hand opening scissors in the business - and since the scissors is such a commonly used tool this is a great and commonly used feature. One hand opening blade is so essential that once you've had it it's hard to go back.
What's less than hot:
The scissors spring is stiff to operate and there's no thumbpad. Your thumb just bears down on the edge of the scissors - and it hurts in extended use. The spring mechanism is a bent wire - a bit crude. The scissors are nice and sharp - but considering that Gerbers is Fiskars I was expecting better.
The knife is a nice clip point but it's half straight and half serrated. The principle competition (Leatherman's Charge) has both a smooth clip point and a separate serrated - so this feels like a halfway effort. In use, however, it's fine.
The "Remgrit" saw is useless except for tile. Forget using it on wood - it has grit - not teeth. The saving grace is that the saw is designed to take jigsaw blades - which at first glance seems brilliant. In practice it turns out that there isn't really a true standard for jigsaw blade socket designs and many don't fit here. The other issue is that jigsaws are power tools and this is a hand saw. I never did find a jigsaw blade that was even close in functionality to the saws on Victorinox or Leatherman's offerings. I actually ended up drilling holes in bosch jigsaw blades to make them fit the Gerber, because I felt they came closest - but were much more fragile.
The phillips head screwdriver is the adapter for the bit kit. It's a pretty stubby driver and doesn't fit into too many recessed places. The bit kit takes standard bits - a big plus. However the bit holder doesn't mate securely with the phillips head and tends to slip - or drop bits - in use. Also the bit kig comes with a case that's too small to hold the Legend (it's meant for a smaller model). Since no one makes a case that holds both the legend and the bit kit - the kit often gets left behind. BTW - the bit kit rusts up pretty badly too.
The file is OK - but isn't as sharp as the one on the Leatherman or Victorinox. The Leatherman Charge's file has a soft diamond side for nails as well - a nice touch.
The tools are poorly laid out. The thumb catches on the little flathead, phillips head, and file are all completely impossible to use because they are hidden behind other tools. This is just sloppy engineering. The tools open beautifully by themselves - something that older multitools had real problems with - but you end up having to open adjacent tools anyway - just be able to reach the ones you need.
The grippy side panels are rubber adhesive stickers that come off. This didn't bother me much - but it was a silly decision.
The locking mechanism digs into your palms in certain grips.
The handles are made of aluminum which is supposed to make them light. However, to make them strong Gerber had to make the handles big and thick. This makes the tool very large in the hand. For big handed guys like me this is great - but there are no weight savings here. I have to question the engineering choice of using Aluminum handles since I have come to appreciate the slim elegance of Victorinox's Swisstool Spirit (that uses sleek mirror finished stainless handles) and the Leatherman Charge Ti (which uses sleek and rugged titanium handles).
Finally - and fatally for me - the case is nylon with velcro which doesn't last and has some stitching durability issues. That's how I ended up losing mine. one day it just came off my belt - the beltloop stiching gave way. I didn't notice it until I got home, sadly.
I know I just gave a long list of gripes but when I add it up in my head in the end I have to say that Gerber is one of the best multitools out there. It's rough and tough and covers almost all the bases and while it has a few rough edges it also has a few standout points. However, given the cost and knowing what I know now I'd probably buy either the Victorinox Spirit or Leatherman Charge Ti (or Wave) first - but not by a wide margin. If you use a pliers for detail work with regularity - this might be the one for you warts and all.
Description of Gerber 08239 MP800 Legend Multitool
Spring loaded, locking tools. Replaceable tungsten carbidewire cutters. Fiskar scissors, Remgrit saw blade, and othervaluable tools. 5.12" closed. 8.6oz. Ballistic sheath.We think they call it "Legend" for good reason: You'd be hard pressed to pack this many tools into the space that the Gerber Legend takes up. Inside this impressive little package, you'll have access to no fewer than 12 tools, including tungsten carbide-steel blades. All the hardware is stainless steel, mounted on a nickel-coated die-cast aluminum handle set that feels like it was made for your hand. The zirconium nitride hard wire cutter insert has three edges, and it's replaceable, so you'll never be without a laser-sharp edge. The Legend includes the wire cutter, a combination edge and serrated drop-point knife blade, scissors, can opener, hack saw, Phillips, small, medium, and large screwdrivers. Each stainless-steel component snaps into place with a solid locking system. We think it's the perfect pocket tool. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste
You'd be hard pressed to pack this many tools into the space that the Gerber MP800 Legend Multitool takes up. Inside this impressive little package, you'll have access to no fewer than 12 tools, including tungsten carbide-steel blades. All the hardware is stainless steel, mounted on a nickel-coated die-cast aluminum handle. The zirconium nitride hard wire cutter insert has three edges, and it's replaceable, so you'll never be without a laser-sharp edge. It also includes spring-loaded pliers, combination edge and serrated drop-point knife blade, scissors, Fiskars scissors, and more. But being versatile wasn't enough, and Gerber worked hard to deliver a high level of ergonomics--from the contoured aluminum to the tactile rubber inserts that insure your steady grip. The MP800 Legend Multitool measures 4.29 inches when closed and 6.57 inches when fully open, and it weighs 9.8 ounces. It comes with a ballistic nylon sheath, and it's backed by a limited lifetime warranty. The 12 fully locking components include:
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Needlenose pliers include zirconium nitride hard wire cutter insert (view larger).
View larger.
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