Gerber 08239 MP800 Legend Multitool
by Gerber
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Gerber 08239 MP800 Legend Multitool
Customer Review: Best muti-tool!
Summary: 5 Stars
I rely on my multi tool more than any other tool I have so I wanted the best anywhere, price, looks, size not an issue. Just function and quality with a bit of over-kill is what I need. To put it simple there are two options if you simply want the best all around tool for everyday and industrial use. If you are looking at the Legend then you know which other I'm talking about, the Wave. To me there is no equal although one is closer than any other. I have owned a number of different tools. I still keep them all for camping and to give to friends but I only wear the best that I can find at the time. I am loyal so to move to another brand was not an issue of loyalty, it was necessary. But hey what can I say. The Legend is very similar to a few others in some ways but what really sold me is what all the reviews had to say and when I went to actually see one in person. When I picked up the Legend It felt sturdier and just a bit more solid. The Legend is just a step up in almost all areas. For example; many have great pliers but the 800 is spring loaded, very nice. Many have wire cutters but the 800 is the strongest of any I found. The wire cutter blades can be exchanged when or if it gets a nick. The saw tool has interchangeable blades that you can get almost anywhere. It gives the freedom to keep the blade always at it's peak and to be able to change texture for different applications. The 800 has all tools available without opening the handle, not just a few. All tools lock on the 800, not just some. Also the 800 comes with the wrench to adjust the tightness of the tools which I found helpful since the tools are usually tight when brand new. Later when all is moving easier I can then tighten the tension to where I like it. To put it simple, I love any good multi tool and might get one of the others again someday for someone else but the 800 just seems to be one notch better in many little areas that matter most to me. So really, I have looked at everything made, I've seen everything available to the public and I had no price range. I picked the 800 and would do it again. If you just want the best all around you found it. The one thing I do think all will agree, not one single tool will do it all. You have to see what you want most and get the tool that does those things best. For me it was the Legend 800 hands down no question. I miss nothing and I can't wait to see how it actually compares in the long run.Customer Review: Almost there, but not quite perfect.
Summary: 4 Stars
I have three multitools - and I think I need them all since none of them do everything. In order of preference:1. The Swiss Tool RS (Rescue and Survival)
2. This one - the Gerber Legend 800
3. The Gerber Pro Scout - stays on the boat.
Of the first two (Swiss Tool and Gerber Legend), the Legend is probably a better design but not nearly as well executed as the Swiss Tool. The Swiss Tool is a thing of beauty, its build like a watch. The blades are much higher quality - same as you find on a swiss army knife. The Legend is a better design - the one handed opening would be huge on the swiss tool but the Legend's execution is just not to the same level as the swiss tool. I'm getting a tiny wear mark on the scissors from the way they store in the tool plus the locks can be painful if you have to use the knife and really bear down.
I like this tool (Legend) for around the house projects. I especially like the one handed opening of the knife and scissors. Doesn't seem like much, but when you have what you need to cut in one hand, and you get your tool out with the other - it is incredibly useful.
Pros:
+ One handed opening.
+ strong, strong, strong pliers.
+ Great wire cutters. Excellent that they allow replacing the cutting edge. In my experience, this is where most multitools die when the edges get pitted and nicked.
+ good blade set of screwdrivers - 3 slotted, one phillips.
+ don't need to open tool to open blades.
+ Blades all lock in place.
+ nice scissors
+ spring loaded pliers - again very nice when you use them.
Cons
- pliers don't open wide enough,
- Case just doesn't cut it. Its cheap and I am constantly hooking the cover on things since it protrudes. Plan on finding another (not an easy task). This is a major beef.
- I don't like serrated blades for most uses. They are hard to sharpen - so you don't and they get dull. This one has a blade that is half straight edge, half serrated - neither fish nor fowl. This and the case are my major issues with this tool.
- no ruler (?!)
- saw seems like a good idea, but i would hate to cut anything of substance with it.
- Its a large tool, so it can be a bit of a handful.
The fit and finish of the swiss tool is superior as is the blade combination and quality. The swiss tool is heavier and longer. However it doesn't have one hand opening. Between these two, I have everything I need.
Customer Review: Perfect quality, but not perfect design!
Summary: 4 Stars
I had the Gerber Legend for a few weeks, then returned it and bought a Gerber Multiplier Fisherman instead (I payed same price for both, although normally Fisherman is a bit less expensive than Legend).I'm really happy that I decided to change!
Why?
This is why: First of all, let's face it: the Legend is a very high quality multi tool. Its pliers are probably the first multitool pliers that can actually compete with a common (high quality though!) pliers from you standard tool set. And I'm not just referring to the super-quality tungsten cutting inserts, the whole pliers are in fact very powerfully crafted, you can really feel that this is top of the top in tool design!
But, unfortunately, the rest of the tool dissappointed me. Not regarding quality, but in design. As one reviewer above already wrote, there are blades that are virtually impossible to get out. Eventhough they are designed to be pulled out with the nail, a couple of the blades (file ant philips screwdriver) are placed so that you cant get them out. You'll have to use another tool to get them out, or try not to put them back fully after use, thus making it simpler to get them the next time. And the lock release things are so hard to push down, you'll end up hurting your fingers!
But once they are blades out, the work well...
Then I did not like the spacey design with rubber inserts. Looks like some cheap toy, until you grab it and feel that it is heavy and actually very powerful.
The one-handed operation of the knife and scissors work very well though, this part is good design! (although youll probably need two hands to unfold the scissos after it's pulled out).
It's of course a nice feature that you don't need to open tool to get the blades out, but instead you'll need to work even more to get the pliers out...The multiplier work opposite of this and I personally like that better.
So I bought the Fisherman (with cutting inserts) and NOW WE'RE TALKING! this tool is the last out of a series of gerber multipliers, and the design is: Perfect.
Legend is the first of its kind in this new series, and obviously there's much that need to be changed 'till the next "release". Eventually the third or so Legend version will be as perfect as the newer multiplier series tools are!...
Customer Review: Regretfully, I was disappointed with the Legend.
Summary: 2 Stars
Pros: The wire cutters are tough! What's more, they're replaceable. This was the major reason I purchased these pliers. My old Gerber Multi-Plier wire cutters had received so many nicks in that it was no longer doing the job. With the Legend, I'm able to rotate the blades three times and, when the time comes, simply replace them. The replaceable hack saw blade is a nifty feature. It's easily replaced and can accept a variety of saw blades.Cons: Sadly, these outweigh the pros. The pliers are the biggest disappointment. The jaws have a much smaller opening then the Gerber Multi-Plier I previously owned. Several common pliers chores I used my old Gerber for are not doable or awkward with the Legend. The handle is not comfortable when using the pliers. I have relatively large hands, but the handles' gap is too wide for a comfy grip. Their angle is such that my hand tends to slip toward the front when I'm gripping them. The tool locks, which work great for locking the assorted tools in place, are very uncomfortable when exerting pressure on the handles. After having the original Gerber Multi-Plier for a number of years, I really miss the one-handed opening of the pliers.
Perhaps the best summation of the Legend is that I threw it in a drawer several weeks ago and went back to my old Gerber Multi-Plier (even with its bad wire cutters).
Customer Review: most solid and complete tool available
Summary: 5 Stars
There isn't much competition for this tool. It is by far the most sturdy and "real" feeling tool out there. I had the wave, and it is not as complete a tool. The gerber allows you to access everything without opening the tool. everything also locks. this is not the case with the wave. only a few tools are accessible while closed, and not everything locks. the gerber has the nicest pair of pliers and cutters out there, no question. they're spring loaded, and very heavy-duty. i have only two complaints about this tool. First, this tool does not have a cutter can-opener. it has a prying action bottle-cap opener, but not a can-opener. strange. second, the scissor blades aren't as long as they are on the wave. this might be a trade-off, however, because the longer the blades are more likely they are to bend and become separated.
The above drawbacks in no way degrade this tool to the level of its closest competitors. it is still hands above them. everything on the tool is made well, and any complaints you might have would be personal choices in what you would want in the tool, not the quality of what is there.