hey everyone David C Anderson here coming at you from the KnifeCenter and
today we're looking at the Leatherman Signal survival multi-tool let's check
it out lots of people have carried a Leatherman while camping
I myself have kept a Wave on hand for many years when I head out but never has
Leatherman made a tool that's so suited for these pursuits as their Signal
series to give you an idea of size the signal is longer than the wave but it's
also thinner and it even weighs almost a full ounce lasts only seven point four
ounces of course the tool is still centered around a pair of combination
pliers that fold out of the handles this combines a standard plier grip as well
as needlenose functionality and we also get a set of replaceable 154CM wire
cutters these can come in handy from everything to repairing gear to making
snares or traps the thing that really makes the signal great for campers and
hikers though are the hidden survival items that can be popped out of the
handles the first is a combination whistle and fire starter now the whistle
is an essential piece of survival gear that can be used for signaling
especially important if you're lost and trying to be found the firestarter
portion consists of an embedded ferrocerium rod or firesteel that'll
throw sparks now these aren't as easy to use as a lighter or matches but they
will work in just about any conditions including when windy or wet in addition
to keeping you warm a fire can help cook your food and it can also provide a nice
signaling method again if you're lost in a survival situation that can be
essential and it's those two functionalities embedded into this tool
that give the Leatherman signal its name these are two great pieces of kit that
you should be carrying anyway but it's nice to have another backup set just in
case on the opposite side is a small diamond coated sharpener it's great for
touching up the edges on your knife blades or even a machete or hatchet if
that's part of your kit speaking of edges the signal comes with a
utilitarian knife blade that's accessible from the outside of the tool
you don't have to fold out the handles which are available in several different
colors to get to the blade it has a small cutout for one-handed opening and
a liner lock to hold it securely when you're cutting
the steel is 420HC and it features a partially serrated edge it's useful for
things like rope or cordage but less so for whittling but not impossible but the
spine of the knife is chamfered which is useful for when you need to put
pressure on the spine with your thumb I think the handle is also more
comfortable than the aforementioned Wave also when you're using the knife at
least in my hands on the opposite handle also accessible from the outside and
backed up by a liner lock is an effective saw it cuts pretty
aggressively given its short length this is great for making clean cuts on
smaller diameter branches helpful for anything from trap making to more common
uses like preparing a tent stake the spine of the saw blade also comes in
useful as it's crisp enough to strike the fire steel meaning you don't need to
carry a separate striker to use the included unit inside the signal we have
a toolset that's been pared down to only the most useful stuff for the
outdoorsman we get a sharpened awl which is useful of course for putting holes in
leather or for sewing and repair of heavier materials like your pack or a
belt there's also a can opener for getting into the food you've brought
along and their excellent bit driver it comes with a two-sided bit with
flathead and Phillips ends and it's reversible to access either one but
other bits are available for purchase separately so that you can tailor your
bits to the gear you take with you all of these inner tools share a
spring-loaded lock on the backside to keep them secure closing the tool back
up we come to the final feature and it's tailor-made for campers but it has
applications back in the real world as well and that's this integrated hammer
this is great for driving in tent stakes or cracking open a nut among many other
things we also see a quarter inch bit driver a 3/16 inch box wrench and a
bottle opener with an integrated carabiner gate which allows you to
attach the signal to your pack there's even a small lock that'll prevent the
tool from opening while you're moving around if you'd rather not carry it on
the outside of your pack there is a clip on the side for pocket carry as well as
a very high quality nylon belt sheath with a snap closure that rides
vertically on your belt as I'm sure you can see by now the Leatherman Signal is
a fantastic tool and it should be at the top of your list if you're shopping for
a multi-tool to take on a camping hiking or fishing trip
throw one in your pack on your belt or in the glove box of your car so you
can always have the survival essentials that offers wherever you go to get your
hands on one click the link in the description below to head over to KnifeCenter.com