First Look! Leatherman ARC Magnacut Multitool! (Will cost you an arm and Kidney $$$)

No, no links yet..this one was sneakily purchased early, coming 25th of SEP.

[McRootbeer]

With the high price and premium steel, the arc seems to be aimed more at collectors and EDC enthusiasts than tradesmen. I could see them making an upgraded skeletool with the magnetic plierhead and supersteel blade around $130-$160.

[chriswb]

It is cool, but not worth $250 when you can do the same work with a $110 tool. This seems more like a collectors item.

[bruce]

Yes. I think premium is the way to go. I don’t mind paying a little more for a quality tool hand made in the USA. It is one of the few American companies left. I also think it is an air loom tool that can be passed to future generations.

[modofatak]

I’ve never heard a man be so excited by a file

[fredg]

Im an Electrician and I use my Leatherman ChargeTTi+ at work all the time and I love using the Saw on it for a drywall Stab Saw! I wish Leatherman would or could make a pliers head that has full wire stripping capabilities from like 8-20gauge wire spring loaded or slightly change the replaceable wire cutter and make it a longer piece but with wire stripping holes!

[Hexsyn]

Got my arc for Christmas and am loving it. Put a sharper bevel on the can opener to be a bit more of a chisel edge on it, sharpened the wire stripper notch, and added an eye to the awl. Now that I've made these modifications, I can't think of what else I might want from a multitool.

[Passively-Prepared]

It’d be cool if they had a custom shop where you pick your platform then have options on what “full size edge tools” and some flexibility on interior tools.

Like you said people have been asking for this tool set on the wave for years. Plus you get the striking surface, dedicated beefy pry tool, all one hand opening…..

I think 420HC blade for $160 and/or 154CM for $175 and/or S30V for $190 may have taken significant numbers from the Wave/Charge. There are many tradies not dealing with metal shavings and I believe Wave is #1 seller all time because it’s #1 choice for non-tradies. I don’t think magents would’ve held it back.

$230 for a premium pocket knife and the greatest multi tool set/architecture ever is a great deal imo. And I’m a big serrated knife guy and anti-bit kit. This one got me.

Looking at wiha technician bit kit for use with the ratchet accessory.

[FreedomFox]

Ben from Tx Tool Crib has already confirmed that the Free series gets really caked with metal filings, so the Diamond file is an odd choice. But from a business perspective, I think they’re smart to go with magnacut, targeting the crowd that buys Spyderco and Benchmade. It might even improve sales of other products, since it makes them look like a comparatively good value.

[hunterglaspell]

It will please leatherman fans, but for 230$, not putting a standard bit driver on it when everyone else (even gerber) is capable of doing so for far less is honestly a joke. The 2d bits are super brittle and strip easily. This is just a slightly better p4, and the improvements aren’t worth the price hike imho.

[zacharylocks]

you had me sold until you got to pilers. I really liked the idea of having spring loaded pilers in my Leatherman.

[xring]

I wish it had the spring loaded pliers. For my line of work it’s a necessity. One handed opening spring loaded pliers would have been a game changer.

[JamaisV]

In a world of increasing competition, the arc definitely bolsters Leatherman's brand image of 'the king of multitools'.
Not much to say in that wasn't mentioned in the video, but I'm glad Leatherman is at least raising the bar and not just standing still and increasing the price of their tools with no upgrades.

Living in Europe, the price is gonna be extra large on these. However, if I don't get one for Christmas, I will definitely try to snag one up at a good price. Already owning spare bits and the full bit kit really just makes it a slight annoyance that they included it. And not just a full bit kit, but half. Can't even gift the full kit to a friend ;-;

[silhouettegundam]

I do like the change in toolset. This is what the P4 should have been. I really really really wanted that adjustable pivot. Every recent Leatherman I have seen has had such a sticky pivot. Keeping that would have turned a maybe into a yes for me.

[lkfng]

The ARC is the Ferrari of Leatherman, while the SURGE, WAVE, SUPERTOOL are the Chevy Trucks built for WORK

[JaspisB]

By far the best Leatherman tool ever, in my opinion, from the looks of it. Would like one someday, though for now I'm really happy with the GOAT tool. Happy to see Leatherman taking a step in the right direction regardless, after the cancellations and problems with stock etc

[evanbowen]

I can't believe that instead of a ruler they stamped an advertisement about their free technology. It seems like Leatherman of late is more concerned with form over function, although this is a step in the right direction.

[VisionWords]

I was really hoping for the spring-loaded plier head and adjustable pivot to be a part of this tool. As it sits now, I think it is a cool tool with a great toolset. But I already EDC a P4, and the improvements don't justify the price hike to me. It isn't enough of a change for me to have a need for both tools. (For my use, I've often wished that the P4 had spring-loaded pliers. So I was looking forward to having an option for that). It is nice that Leatherman does seem to at least be going in the right direction with the Arc; it's the right direction, but still some missed opportunities.

[-BananaLollipop-]

The plier head pivot was the first thing I was disappointed about. Even if people complained about the supposed weaker spring-loaded head, they could still make it a screwed/adjustable pivot without the spring. Without those other improvements, I can't see how the better blade steel being the only significant improvement makes it worth the price it is.

[Generic_Username_]

I can’t justify the price when the wave+ comes so close. The file and tool improvements are a good p4 upgrade but just aren’t enough at that price when I already have a modified wave+ and a sak classic for quality scissors.

[PetesGuide]

A+ review. You’ve outdone yourself here. And shown that my previous speculation in your comments that the bit kit stock problems were because they were stocking up for Arc kits. With half a bit kit in each, that wasn’t the problem.