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Pros: Finish, Handle Material
Cons: Locking
Good, not great
I like this tool. The design is different, and kind of cool. The pliers seem well made, and work pretty well. There's a little flex in the handles, but that hasn't been a problem. This isn't or shouldn't be meant to replace a good pair of pliers. This kind of tool is meant to suffice in a situation where you don't have access to proper tools. The tools are made of pretty low-grade steel, so they won't hold up to hard use. They are fine for light duty stuff. Some of the tools seem pretty pointless, and I'd rather see something like a bit driver in place of the scribe, ruler, or can opener. My biggest problem with this has been the locking system. Mine will keep the blades from closing on my hand, but when I apply too much pressure while cutting something, the lock will buckle, and the blade will dislodge past the lock bar and bend back on itself. I discovered this on day 3 of owning the tool when I was cutting through a garden hose. The force applied while cutting was enough to make the blade bend back on itself past the lock bar. I was able to disassemble the handle and repair the lock bar easily. You can also do this to adjust the amount of tension on the lock bar. The sheath is a little tight but works well enough. I've never owned one of the American made version of this tool, so I can't say how it compares to that. Bottom line...keep a dedicated knife on you.
