![]() But, because MagnaCut is so strong, that also makes it very challenging to work with." You don't have to sharpen it as much, or worry about corrosion. "The toughness is similar to 420 stainless steel, which is considered excellent. "Generally speaking you can maximize two of those things, but not all three through some clever metallurgy, MagnaCut manages to bring all three to the same level," explains Lead Design Engineer Peter Parker. MagnaCut is only a few years old, but it's gaining popularity in the knife space thanks to its ability to find the sweet spot among the three most important attributes of steel: toughness, edge retention and corrosion resistance. The MagnaCut blade takes the quality of this multi-tool to the next level, but it came with its own set of engineering challenges. Leatherman's engineers realized the pry bar could house the bottle opener and double as a flathead screwdriver in a pinch, integrating three different tools into a single implement. According to Senior Product Designer Adam Lazenby, the pry bar/bottle opener/flathead combo emerged out of a need to relocate the bottle opener on previous Leatherman designs, it was on the Phillips head screwdriver, but since the ARC ditches the Phillips for a more versatile bit driver, the bottle opener needed a new home. It's a dramatic reinterpretation of the brand's classic multi-tool design, highlighted by the modified drop-point CPM-MagnaCut blade, the bit drivers, the diamond-coated file and a combination pry bar/bottle opener/flathead screwdriver.Įach of these has its own story. ![]() The ARC was designed and built in the brand's Portland, Oregon factory by a few dozen engineers, with plenty of input from actual users - specifically the 240-person Beta Team that Leatherman has put together for product feedback and testing. So, is this multitool worth that kind of investment.Hayley Helms How did Leatherman's team develop the ARC? ![]() And, as these added tools are essential to use the screwdriver in any practical sense, the Curl now is about $100. And, if you are going to get the Curl, you will want either the older Bit Driver Extender ($18) or the newer Ratchet Bit Driver ($30). Thus, I would recommend the Wave + or the much more rugged Surge. ![]() To me the scissors are important if you include them in a multitool – I expect to see the Curl’s scissors to be too dainty for heavy use. Clearly, the Curl is much smaller than the above tools, but look at its price point. Because at this price point, you could buy a great set of pliers, knife, and screwdriver and have a lot of money left over. To me, durability is a key to a multitool. I do hope I am wrong and Leatherman continues to thrive.Īt this price point, I would recommend moving up to the Wave + or the even better Surge. So, they are making cheaper and less durable tools than their prior made in USA products. However, after watching several reviews of the Curl, it does appear that the apparent failure of the Free series and cheap Asian knockoffs have had an effect on Leatherman. I own the Surge, Wave and P4 Free and all the related accessories. While the Curl seems like a wonderful addition to the Leatherman lineup, it may an indication that things are not going very well at Leatherman.
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