I purchased the Signal for EDC. I love my Leatherman Surge, but find myself debating whether or not to put it in my pocket before walking out the door. It is just too darn heavy. First impressions of the Signal:
The Signal is nearly identical in length and width to the Surge. It is somewhat thinner and much lighter. The lock works with a snappy, positive action and must be used to keep the tool closed if carried by the carabiner. Overall fit an finish looks excellent as I have come to expect from Leatherman.
Outside:
The handle has an indentation for the pocket clip which is well designed and works perfectly. Carabiner / bottle opener and box wrenches have a nice matte finish and look well suited for their tasks. The sharpener is well secured and while it is small would be fine to dress an edge in the field. It is obviously designed as an emergency tool and reviewers that complain about it simply have the wrong expectations. That said, I'd like to see it with an aluminum handle instead of plastic and it could have been made 1/4" longer. The ferrocerium rod is also obviously designed as an emergency tool. It is similar in size to ones I have had glued into magnesium firestartarters and won't take a lot of use or abuse but will certainly work when needed. I'd like to note that it is very cleverly designed so that if you had a separate striking tool, it would work perfectly while still attached to the Signal. The partly serrated blade opens easily with one hand and locks into place without any play. I am a big fan of partly serrated blades for EDC and this one seems just about right. The blade is very sharp and quite sturdy. The saw is classic Leatherman, being well designed and very sharp. It too locks into place without any play.
Inside:
The pliers open smoothly and have no play in the joint or handles. The jaws line up perfectly. I love the replaceable wire cutters which look identical to the ones on the Surge. There also appears to be electrical crimper below the joint which is not mentioned by Leatherman as one of the tools. I'd guess this is because someone would say "Who needs an electrical crimper in the woods?" The ferrocerium rod / whistle is is well secure but easy to get out. The whistle is, well, better than none. As I said about the sharpener handle, I'd like to see this in aluminum too. The awl is very sturdy and the knife will close and lock with it extended. While the bit driver and can / bottle openers are also very sturdy, the tool will not fully close and lock because of the hammer. While this may seem strange I am not sure if it will really cause a problem when you actually go to use the tools.The Signal will open in a nearly linear fashion which makes is really easy to use it with either 1 or two hands.
Missing:
Scissors & Tweezers!
Summary:
I like this tool and while I don't expect to be using the ferrocerium rod / whistle and sharpener on a regular basis, it is good to know that they are there if my truck ever goes off the road and careening down a cliff in the winter time. I would have liked to see scissors and tweezers but since I carry a Style PS on my keychain it is not a deal breaker. I bought this because it has all of the tools I use regularly plus a hammer and is much lighter than my Surge (which is now going into my truck center console with my bit kit and assorted saw blades).
By the way, a lot of reviewers wonder about the awl and what it is good for beside punching holes in leather. How about punching holes in nearly anything? I have used mine scores of time to start screw holes. It lets you start the screw by hand. You never get frustrated by trying to start it by pressing down too hard with the screwdriver and having it pop out.
| Color | Stainless Steel With Nylon Sheath |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Brand | LEATHERMAN |
| Item dimensions L x W x H | 5.2 x 3.6 x 1.8 inches |
| Item Weight | 9.6 ounces |
| Included Components | Multitool |
| Number of Pieces | 7 |
| UPC | 037447571190 037447282591 037447914232 |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00037447571190 |
| Manufacturer | Leatherman |
| Part Number | 832262 |
| Product Dimensions | 5.2 x 3.6 x 1.8 inches |
| Item model number | 832262 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | Sheath |
| Style | Sheath included |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | Lifetime Leatherman Warranty |
