The Leatherman Signal has been designed to be a survival tool, and it delivers on all fronts. The Signal offers the right selection of tools without any unnecessary bloat, and the added benefit of the DLC (Diamond like Carbon) coating helps to justify the spike in cost. I would suggest this multi-tool for anyone in the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or anyone looking for a premium multi-tool with an over-abundance of easy to use tools.
Common to Leatherman tools, the Signal is built off of two durable metal arms that act as a frame and are stylized for comfort and weight reduction. The arms are also DLC coated for added scratch and corrosion resistance.
The Leatherman Signal features a liner lock for its saw and knife blades, a lock back lock for the bit driver, can and bottle opener, and an awl. The lock back lock also acts as a retention device for the knife sharpener.
The Signal boasts 154CM steel and 420HC, both of which get the job done—especially the 154CM steel on the wire cutters.
Because of the common hardware used and the cutouts in the handles, the Signal is very easy to clean and maintain. Because they are easily removable, the whistle/ferro rod tool and the knife sharpener may have to potential for getting lost after a wild excursion.
Like most other Leatherman tools, the Signal is built to be used and will take a beating in any environment. The DLC coating on the arms is more durable than most other coatings used on multi-tools and knives.
Even after a multitude of twists and turns on some stubborn bolts and nails, the pliers have stayed aligned and only show scratches from the use. The replaceable wire cutters can shear ten penny nails in half (like they were paper clips) and still look brand new.
The usual suspects; bit driver, can opener, bottle opener, and awl on the Signal are off-the-shelf parts and are on par with Leatherman’s exceptional quality. The foray into the whistle/ferro rod combo and knife sharpener are a great addition to the Leatherman. The whistle itself has a bit of a learning curve to it and the ferro rod will probably only last a few outings—if you can get it to throw a decent spark. The knife sharpener works quite well, but can be easily lost. These parts (thankfully) are replaceable from Leatherman directly.
Survival tools are usually used in extreme circumstances, and it’s obvious that the Leatherman Signal was designed with that in mind. There are multiple carry options and all of the tools are easy to access—even with gloves on. One thing that was initially apparent was that the tool cannot be closed when using the can opener, bottle opener, bit driver, or awl.
The saw and combo knife blade on the Signal are made from 420HC which can be hardened to 56-59 HRC. It can be sharpened like a scalpel and will hold that edge for a fair amount of time, but not as well as 154CM.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Needlenose Pliers
Regular Pliers
Replaceable 154CM Wire Cutters
Replaceable 154CM Hard Wire Cutters
Wire Stripper
420HC Combo Knife Blade
Saw
Hammer
Awl
Can Opener
Bottle Opener
Bit Driver
1/4” Hex Bit Driver (built into frame)
1/4” Box Wrench
3/16” Box Wrench
Safety Whistle
Ferro Rod
Diamond-Coated Knife Sharpener
Carabiner
Pocket Clip
Hammer Lock
25 Year Warranty
