The Rundown: Tim Leatherman

Of All the Multi-tools You’ve Made, What’s Your Favorite:

The one I carry today — the Leatherman Charge TTi.

How and Why Did You Invent the Leatherman Tool:

Here’s the story in a nutshell. In 1975 my wife and I were young and took a budget trip to Europe. We bought a used 1969 Fiat 600 D in Amsterdam for USD 300. We carried a Boy Scout type knife, but often needed pliers. Thus the idea, “add a pair of pliers to a pocket knife.” The trip was long, for nine months through Eastern Europe and all the way to Tehran, Iran and back. Upon our return to Portland, Oregon I asked my wife if she would support us for three months while I went to the garage and tried to build a prototype. Three years later I had a prototype I liked. After another five years in the garage, I finally built a prototype the market wanted. And boy did they want it. In 1983 we (by then I had a co-founder in the business) shipped 200 of our original Leatherman Pocket Survival Tools. In 1993 we shipped over 1,000,000 of them.

Favourite Place You’ve Visited:

Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), Norway.

Craziest Situation When You’ve Been Glad You Had a Leatherman Handy:

Crabbing in a bay on the Oregon coast. Four of us are in a small boat with a small outboard motor. The motor stops. The outgoing tide is so strong it prevents us from rowing back to the dock and is sweeping us to the ocean. My Leatherman tool is the only tool on board. With the pliers I’m able to unscrew the spark plug. I clean it with the file. The motor starts. Hero.

Best Story You’ve Heard of Someone Using Your Tools to Get Out of a Tough Spot:

We get a lot of them, but one of my favourites is about saving the life of a baby deer. A bicyclist was riding through the countryside. He happened upon a fawn caught in a fence, with the mother standing by helplessly. The bicyclist cut the fawn free with his Leatherman tool. The cyclist swears that as the fawn and doe started to walk away, the doe turned and gave him a look of gratitude.

Favourite Place You’ve Visited:

Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), Norway.

Craziest Situation When You’ve Been Glad You Had a Leatherman Handy:

Crabbing in a bay on the Oregon coast. Four of us are in a small boat with a small outboard motor. The motor stops. The outgoing tide is so strong it prevents us from rowing back to the dock and is sweeping us to the ocean. My Leatherman tool is the only tool on board. With the pliers I’m able to unscrew the spark plug. I clean it with the file. The motor starts. Hero.

Best Story You’ve Heard of Someone Using Your Tools to Get Out of a Tough Spot:

We get a lot of them, but one of my favourites is about saving the life of a baby deer. A bicyclist was riding through the countryside. He happened upon a fawn caught in a fence, with the mother standing by helplessly. The bicyclist cut the fawn free with his Leatherman tool. The cyclist swears that as the fawn and doe started to walk away, the doe turned and gave him a look of gratitude.

Favourite Place You’ve Visited:

Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), Norway.

Craziest Situation When You’ve Been Glad You Had a Leatherman Handy:

Crabbing in a bay on the Oregon coast. Four of us are in a small boat with a small outboard motor. The motor stops. The outgoing tide is so strong it prevents us from rowing back to the dock and is sweeping us to the ocean. My Leatherman tool is the only tool on board. With the pliers I’m able to unscrew the spark plug. I clean it with the file. The motor starts. Hero.

Best Story You’ve Heard of Someone Using Your Tools to Get Out of a Tough Spot:

We get a lot of them, but one of my favourites is about saving the life of a baby deer. A bicyclist was riding through the countryside. He happened upon a fawn caught in a fence, with the mother standing by helplessly. The bicyclist cut the fawn free with his Leatherman tool. The cyclist swears that as the fawn and doe started to walk away, the doe turned and gave him a look of gratitude.