Knives & Multi-Tools

Knives and Multi-Tools

Knives and multi-tools are portable hand tools that combine a folding or fixed blade with integrated functions like pliers, screwdriver bits, wire cutters, scissors, bottle openers, can openers, files, and saws in a single compact body designed for Everyday Carry (EDC), outdoor, professional, and tactical use. There are 5 major knives and multi-tools brands — Gerber, Leatherman, Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT), SOG, and Opinel — that manufacture multi-tools ranging from $5 keychain tools to $175 premium EDC folding knives. Multi-tools serve 3 primary use categories: professional use (electrical work, plumbing, construction, United States Military field operations), outdoor life (camping, hiking, fishing, bushcraft), and daily carry (package opening, fastener tightening, bottle opening, emergency preparedness). This guide covers knives and multi-tools by brand with models and prices, tool functions and blade steels, multi-tool types by activity, and selection factors for choosing the right pocket knife multi-tool.

Gerber Knives and Multi-Tools

Gerber Gear designs and manufactures 79 multi-tool products that range from pocket-sized utility clips to full-size plier-based multi-tools built for the United States Military and professional tradespeople. Gerber multi-tools use 4 opening mechanisms: one-hand opening, traditional butterfly opening, assisted opening with spring mechanisms, and fixed-position tools that require no deployment.

Gerber Plier-Based Multi-Tools

Gerber plier-based multi-tools integrate spring-loaded pliers as the primary tool with additional functions housed in the handles:

• Dual-Force ($124.99): a full-size multi-tool with dual-action pliers in black finish
• Suspension-NXT ($54.99): a mid-size butterfly-opening multi-tool with spring-loaded pliers, a plain edge blade, scissors, and screwdrivers in black finish
• Truss ($64.99): a full-size multi-tool with Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE)-compatible sheath in black finish
• Multi-Plier 600 Basic: a classic butterfly-opening multi-tool with needlenose pliers
• Multi-Plier 600 (black, carbide cutters, needlenose, leather sheath): the premium Multi-Plier 600 with replaceable carbide wire cutter inserts and a leather belt sheath
• Center-Drive Plus: a center-axis multi-tool that opens the primary blade from the center of the tool for a full-size knife grip

Gerber Pocket Multi-Tools

Gerber pocket multi-tools offer compact, lightweight tool sets that fit in a pocket or clip to a belt without the bulk of plier-based designs:

• Dime ($34.99): a keychain-size 12-tool multi-tool available in black, green, and red with spring-loaded pliers, a blade, scissors, tweezers, and a package opener
• Armbar Trade ($57.99): a folding knife-format multi-tool with a 2.5-inch (63.5 mm) blade, an awl, and a pry bar in burnt orange, onyx, and silver finishes
• Armbar Slim Cut: a slim folding multi-tool with a blade and scissors in an EDC-friendly profile
• Prybrid Utility Clip ($20 to $34.99): a pocket clip tool with a replaceable utility blade, a pry bar, and a bottle opener in burnt orange, Olive Drab (OD) green, and urban blue
• Broadhead (black): a compact multi-tool with a broadhead-shaped blade
• Hatchet (black, silver): a folding hatchet multi-tool that integrates a hatchet blade with pliers and a saw

Leatherman Multi-Tools

Leatherman manufactures 8 multi-tool models that span from keychain-size tools to full-size 18-tool professional instruments, and every Leatherman multi-tool carries a 25-year warranty. Tim Leatherman invented the original Leatherman multi-tool, and co-author Chris Kornelis documented the company's history in The Leatherman Book published in September 2026.

• ARC: Leatherman's premium multi-tool with a MagneCut steel blade and replaceable wire cutters
• Wave Plus: an 18-tool multi-tool with replaceable wire cutters, a serrated blade, a plain edge blade, pliers, scissors, a wood saw, and screwdriver bits — the Wave Plus is Leatherman's best-selling multi-tool
• Skeletool CX: a minimalist 7-tool multi-tool with a carbon fiber (CF) handle, 154CM steel blade, pliers, and a bit driver at 5 ounces (142 grams or g)
• Signal: an outdoor multi-tool with a fire striker, emergency whistle, diamond-coated sharpener, and a hammer in addition to pliers and a blade
• Raptor Rescue: a folding medical shears tool with 420HC stainless steel shears, a strap cutter, a ring cutter, an oxygen tank wrench, and a carbide glass breaker for first responders
• Micra: a keychain-size 10-tool multi-tool with spring-action scissors as the primary tool
• Rebar: a heritage-style multi-tool with accessible locking tools and replaceable wire cutters
• Wingman: a spring-action plier multi-tool with one-hand opening and a pocket clip

CRKT Multi-Tools

Columbia River Knife and Tool manufactures 6 multi-tools that range from $10 pocket tools to $175 premium EDC folding knives with integrated tool functions:

• Viva Multi-Tool ($10): a compact stainless steel multi-tool with basic functions at the lowest price point in the CRKT lineup
• ToGo Driver ($38): a pocket multi-tool with a magnetic bit driver and integrated screwdriver bits
• CRKT Micro Tool and Keychain Sharpener ($20.99, on sale from $23): a keychain-size multi-tool with a built-in knife sharpener
• Fial Liner Lock ($130 to $175): a premium folding EDC pocket knife with liner lock mechanism, available in 2 blade steel options including M390
• ExiTool Compact ($19.99): a compact emergency tool with a seatbelt cutter and window breaker

SOG Multi-Tools

SOG Knives manufactures 11 multi-tool models in the PowerAccess, PowerAssist, PowerLock, and specialty tool families:

• PowerAccess Assist MT ($119.95): an assisted-opening multi-tool with compound leverage pliers in black or stonewash finish
• PowerAccess Deluxe: a full-feature multi-tool with additional tool functions beyond the standard PowerAccess, available in black and satin finishes
• PowerAssist (black, nylon pouch): a dual-assist multi-tool with compound leverage and a nylon belt pouch
• PowerLock (black or satin, scissors or V-cutter, nylon pouch): SOG's flagship multi-tool with compound leverage pliers, available in 4 configurations combining black or satin finish with scissors or V-cutter blades
• SwitchPlier: a one-hand-opening multi-tool with a sliding plier mechanism
• Tellus MT: a mid-size multi-tool for daily use
• Flash MT (silver and black): a compact multi-tool with assisted blade opening

Opinel Multi-Tool Folding Knives

Opinel USA manufactures stainless steel folding knives with outdoor multi-tool functions including tick removers, fire starters, and integrated tool blades:

• No.08 Stainless Steel Folding Knife Outdoor ($38.25 to $45): a full-size outdoor folding knife with an 8.5 centimeter (cm) or 3.35-inch stainless steel blade in 4 handle colors (blue, orange, brown red, brown green)
• No.12 Outdoor Explore Folding Knife with Tick Remover ($65): a large outdoor knife with a 12 cm (4.72-inch) blade and an integrated tick removal tool for hikers and campers
• No.12 Outdoor Explore Folding Knife with Fire Starter ($46.75 to $55): a large outdoor knife with an integrated ferro rod fire striker in orange and green handle options
• No.07 Outdoor Kids Folding Knife ($32): a junior-size outdoor knife with a rounded tip blade for young users in junior blue, junior khaki, and junior violet colors
• Medium Outdoor Sheath ($23): a brown leather belt sheath for No.07 and No.08 size folding knives
• Large Outdoor Sheath ($27.50): a leather belt sheath for No.12 size folding knives in blue and brown leather

Opinel's Neoprene 6 Opiflex (Neo6 Opiflex) line uses a flexible handle construction, and Opinel produces kitchen knives in the Parallele Collection and Les Forges 1890 Collection alongside the Perpetue Flatware line for table use.

Multi-Tool Blade Steels

Knives and multi-tools use 5 common blade steels that differ in edge retention, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening:

• 420HC (Leatherman Wave Plus, Rebar, Wingman): a high-carbon stainless steel with good corrosion resistance and easy sharpening at 58 HRC hardness
• 154CM (Leatherman Skeletool CX): a premium stainless steel with higher edge retention than 420HC at 59 to 61 HRC
• M390 (CRKT Fial, Hacksmith Smith Blade): a powder metallurgy stainless steel with the highest edge retention and corrosion resistance at 60 to 62 HRC
• 12C27 (CRKT models): a Scandinavian stainless steel with balanced toughness and corrosion resistance at 57 to 59 HRC
• 420J2 (budget multi-tools): a low-carbon stainless steel with high corrosion resistance and lower edge retention at 54 to 56 HRC

Choosing a Knife or Multi-Tool by Activity

There are 3 activity categories that determine the best knife or multi-tool type: professional use, outdoor life, and daily carry:

• Professional use: full-size plier-based multi-tools with wire cutters, screwdriver bits, and wire strippers — the Gerber Center-Drive Plus, Leatherman Wave Plus, and SOG PowerLock handle electrical, plumbing, and mechanical tasks in construction and field maintenance
• Outdoor life: multi-tools with saws, fire starters, and corrosion-resistant blade steels — the Leatherman Signal with fire striker and whistle, Opinel No.12 with tick remover, and SOG PowerAccess serve camping, hiking, and fishing needs
• Daily carry: compact multi-tools under 5 ounces (142 g) that clip to a pocket or keychain — the Leatherman Skeletool CX at 5 ounces, Gerber Dime at keychain size, and CRKT Micro Tool handle package opening, bottle opening, and light fastening tasks

Knife vs Multi-Tool Selection

A dedicated folding knife provides a longer blade, a more secure grip, and faster one-hand deployment compared to the blade on a multi-tool, and a multi-tool provides 10 to 21 additional functions in exchange for a shorter blade and heavier total weight. Carry a dedicated pocket knife for tasks that require extended cutting (food prep, batoning, carving) and a multi-tool for tasks that require pliers, screwdrivers, and multiple tool types in a single package. Multi-tools with locking blades (Leatherman Wave Plus, Gerber Suspension-NXT, SOG PowerLock) provide blade security comparable to dedicated folding knives during cutting tasks.