Customer Reviews

Gerber 01471 Suspension Butterfly Opening Multi-Plier with Sheath

5 star:		(85)
4 star:		(55)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I am not going to rehash what others have already said: it is a great tool, very solidly built, and strong. Metal is great.

However, watch out for the two different versions, and why you should purchase this in store instead!

I was at my local Target where they sell this tool. I picked one up to purchase and inspected the tool in the packaging. The metal was strangely low quality-looking with lots of pits and crevices. Overall, the quality seemed very poor: metal of poor quality, low quality bolts, and a poor surface coating where you could see pits in the paint. I looked on the back: Made in China.

I was ready to purchase it anyway when I walked back to the display and too a closer look at the other ones on the rack (same model). I noticed that some other ones had much better polished metal, smooth glossy paint, and round & smooth torx-headed bolts. I thought, wait, how can these be the same item and some be made so much better. I looked on the back: Made in Taiwan.

It appears that Gerber switched production some time in 2008 from Taiwan to China. The quality has greatly suffered as a result.
You should be aware that most of these reviews on Amazon before 2008 are for the Made in Taiwan model. This is the model you should get! Unfortunately, because Amazon stock moves so fast, you're likely to get an vastly inferior Made in China model. This is why I strongly suggested purchasing this in the store instead so you can look for a Made in Taiwan model or at least inspect the Made in China model first before purchasing.

Having owned several Leatherman multitools in the past, I decided to take advantage of a deal on this Gerber. It's a nice tool, well-constructed and attractive. The gray finish on the "suspension" part is very nice. The metal is high quality, the machining is well done, and all the tools lock firmly in place. The release mechanism was a little tight at first but now works pretty smoothly.

The emphasis in this tool is definitely on the pliers. They are sturdy, and the curve in the handle makes the grip comfortable. The spring-loading is very nice -- even my Leathermans didn't have that.

Be aware that the pliers wouldn't work well in a small hand -- even fully closed, the handles for the pliers span 2 3/4 inches. Holding a 1/2 inch diameter pen in the flat part of the pliers, the handles span 4 inches.

On the big Leatherman tools I've owned, the knife blades were nearly as long and wide as the tool itself; not so on this Gerber (or Gerbers in general, I think). The flat blade, serrated blade, and saw are each under 2 inches long. That's particularly bad news for the saw blade, of course, since you need to move it to and fro.

The scissors is the worst part of this tool. The blade has a tiny 5/8-inch bite. And the spring-loading for it is too strong; it's too hard to close given that it's pressing a fairly narrow piece of metal into your thumb. Maybe that will loosen up over time. If you don't use a scissors much, the scissors may not be an issue, but if you need something like the scissors on the Leatherman Micra then this tool is definitely not for you.

The two blades have little flanges to help you open them, but the leverage isn't good, so they're a little tough to open with one hand. But with some WD-40 it's doable. Some of the other tools are trickier to get out, but I've found that to be true on all multi-tools I've owned. What works for me is half-opening the butterfly and sticking my pinky in to pull the tools out. You'll see what I mean; it's not ideal, but it's not a big deal. If you have a fat pinky, though, you might be in trouble. :^)

Not much to say about the screwdrivers except that the Philips is not full-width. That is, they took a 1/4 x 3/32 inch piece of metal and cut as much of a 1/4-inch Philips head into it as they could. Obviously it's less than half as wide as a full head would be. I've seen other tools with heads like this; they're usable in a pinch but you probably wouldn't want to use it on a screw that's in pretty tight -- you might strip the head of the screw, and it would probably be hard on the tool as well.

The sheath is pretty basic: nylon, Velcro closure, loop for your belt. Not as durable as a good leather sheath.

It might sound like I don't like this tool, but actually I do, particularly for the price. It does have its faults, though.

Length:: 2:50 Mins

Pros:
Under $30 (bought mine for $26)
Solid, neat looking frame, very nice gunmetal looking finish
Spring loaded pliers, contours my hand perfectly
Nylon sheath
One handed open for major blades
IMO rivals $50-$60 leatherman products, I have owned both
No complaints at all about craftsmanship, plier heads line up
Blade lock mechanism works well
Cons:
inner tools are stiff
watered down phillips head is not usefull on larger screws
no file
primary knife blade is small
Overall:
Good job Gerber, I think this is the lowest price plier centered multi tool, but in no way feels cheap, does the job.

I was looking to replace my Leatherman Wave multi-plier when I happened upon this Gerber item.
There are several superior design features for this Gerber over the Wave, including:
1. The grips don't pinch when you close the plier jaws.
2. The frame is tougher, with superior rigidity.
3. ALL the tools lock in their operating positions, not just the blades.
4. The shears don't jam closed.
5. The tool is spring-loaded to open the plier jaws, a very handy & time-saving convenience.
6. Excellent value for money while still covering the essential range of tools that are needed for general work.
My main use for multi-pliers is for ranching/farming and they get used every day for jobs that range from easy to tough, and on occasion, to abuse (it's always on hand when there's no time to get the ideal tool). And it's still real handy for fixing things on-the-fly at home. It's the one item I always carry until I hit the shower.

Have owned a few multi-tools from Leatherman and Gerber over the years. Both brands have proven to make good products with a lot of thought behind them, and this Gerber Suspension Butterfly Opening Multi-Plier is no exception. My chief complaint with the early models from both companies is that the handles could be real finger pinchers if they weren't used carefully. Thankfully that problem has been eliminated with this model, and because of its butterfly design, its impossible to pinch your fingers when using the pliers. I'm a computer geek, professionally and often as a leisure activity, and don't need to deal with extraneous problems with tools that I'm using when trying to get a job done.

Speaking of the handles, the product specs here state that this multi-tool is equipped with "an aluminum butterfly-opening handle that's inspired by the precision engineering of Portland, Oregon's famous suspension bridges." OK, that explains the good looking design, but the handles didn't feel like aluminum. A magnet won't stick to aluminum, but it does sticks to the handles, which means that they are forged from steel, and not aluminum or zinc. Checking with Gerber, I found that the handle material is stainless steel, and the reason for the titanium gray color is that they're plated with super-hard titanium nitride, as indicated on the original package, which makes them for scratch and wear resistant. (Note: please see my update at the bottom of this review.)

Looking at the handles, one can see that they're also marked with small icons of whichever tool lies directly under that side. A quick glance at the tool icon and you'll know which one it is, without having to fiddle around folding each tool out to find the one you need.

The main component within the handles is the needle-nose pliers. These are accessed by folding back the handles, in butterfly fashion, to expose the tool. The needle-nose pliers are solid, and forged from stainless steel, and one immediately notices that they're spring-loaded for easy single hand operation. They have a slim profile along with excellent gripping jaws. Must note here that these are among the best needle-nose pliers that I've found, and they have a wire cutter near the pivot joint. Speaking again as a computer geek, they're top-notch for getting into tight places without disturbing surrounding components.

The handles to this multi-tool contain four tools each. Encased within one handle is a fine edge knife blade, a straight flatblade screwdriver, a flat Phillips crosspoint screwdriver, and a saw. The other handle encloses a serrated edge knife, a can and bottle opener, a small flatblade screwdriver, a swing-out lanyard hole, and some very functional scissors.

Gerber started off as a company that became famous for making fine cutlery, and the knife blades show this heritage. They stay sharp for a long time without a lot of maintenance, though I personally find the blades to be a bit short. Gerber was purchased by Fiskars a few years ago, and the nicely designed spring-loaded scissors seem to have the influence of that company. The can and bottle opener functions as it should. The screwdriver blades are better than many previous Gerber multi-tools in that they aren't so stubby. All three are long enough to outreach the tools on the current Leatherman products, adding to their functionality.

Should note here that all of the blades and tools in this Gerber Suspension lock in place when they are swung out. This is a safety feature that should be incorporated into all multi-tools, and one that I appreciate as a user who has had a blade fold back onto a finger on more than one occasion in the past. The lock releases are located on each side of the handles, and work easily. See the customer images for more details.

The ergonomics of this Gerber Suspension are excellent if you have medium or large hands, but if your hands are small, you may wish to look elsewhere. It's also a bit large to carry in ones pocket, but unlike many competing products, this one comes with well-crafted lined sheath that's made of black nylon ballistic cloth. It has a Velcro closure, and will fit in a belt in the standard vertical position. As a nice touch, it also has additional loops for those who want to carry it horizontally.

Pros:
* Excellent spring loaded pliers, some of the best around!
* Titanium nitride coating on the handles for wear resistance.
* The extra length of the screwdrivers make them more useful.
* All tools and blades lock safely into place during use.
* It comes with an excellent ballistic cloth sheath.

Cons:
* The knife blades are quite short, surprising for Gerber.
* Not so good for those with small hands.


Must say that the clamshell packaging a nuisance to open. Since almost all multi-tools seemed to be packed this way, I can't downrate this product, but one would hope that Gerber (and Leatherman) might take the hint from irritated consumers and alter their packaging to some degree. Enough said on that.

There are a lot of good things that can be said about the Gerber Suspension, but one thing that's often overlooked is that one does not have to deal with the blades or tools clumping together when they are accessed. There are little tabbed washers between each, so you'll never have two tools swing out at the same time. It just doesn't happen.

Some have noted that the tools seem a bit stiff, but that is something that appears not to be brand specific. This can be easily cured with a couple of drops of WD-40 Lubricant in the joints of each tool, along with a couple of minutes worth of movement, and then they'll be quite smooth.

If you're looking for even more versatility, Gerber offers a very handy Tool Kit For Suspension and others (see reviews). This very functional accessory contains an adapter, three different sizes of flathead bits, cross point bits, and hex head bits for increased functionality.

I would have to say that the Suspension is easily a best buy among general multi-tools. Others worth consideration would be this Leatherman Kick Multi-tool with Micra, a true dynamic-duo combo pack that contains both the Kick and the Micra multi-tools. The Kick also seems to be perfect for medium or smaller hands, though it's junky 'faux-leather' sheath should be replaced. I've owned a small Micra for many years, and it's always performed as expected.

Another small personal favorite is the Gerber Clutch Mini Pliers Tool, which packs six stainless steel tools between its handles. This little multi-tool sees almost daily use, and the needle nose pliers are small enough to be exceptionally handy.

I like the Gerber Suspension multi-tool because it's uncomplicated and very practical, and because the designers didn't try to fit in so many extraneous features that would simply make this multi-tool clumsy and difficult to use. Compared to other higher priced offerings from Gerber, Leatherman and Victorinox, this might have a 4-star competitive rating, but when price is factored in, it's a true 5-star product, and a bargain at that.

UPDATE 1/24/2009: Since I posted this review, there have been questions regarding the handle material. I've personally seen no evidence of any pitting on the titanium gray finish on mine, and they are used almost daily for one reason or other. The Gerber Website still says "Handle Material Stainless Steel", but in my experience, stainless steel handles would have to be forged, and wouldn't crack.

I'm still quite happy with mine.

I purchased the gerber suspension with high hopes. I'd never owned a multi-tool before. Partly because the Leathermans cost so much. So.... the first one was defective. The pliers were loose. The one I got in exchange broke after one week. I was crimping a fastener and about broke my thumb off when the hinge broke. A piece just popped out. So.... I am now the proud owner of a leatherman wave. You get what you pay for.

using this tool out in the yard to tighten a nut and the pliers tool broke. The metal actually cracked in half down both sides. Very cheap

I believe, from other reviews, that the quality of this tool has dropped significantly in recent years. The handles and tools on mine look nothing like the pictures on Amazon. The edges are rough on the handles, even the torx heads look poorly machined. The jaws on mine broke after a couple of weeks of light use and since I own many other multi tools I have not bothered to send it back. I know that Gerber has great warranty service but I really don't even want another one. In my experience the multi tools made by Gerber in China are not that good, although the knives are pretty good. In short this is a good design so it gets 2 stars but the QC and workmanship is poor. I will stick with my Leatherman NEW WAVE.

This is a good product at a very attractive price, and for $26 the consumer is getting a capable tool. Gerber should be commended for producing a well-made product at such a good price.

Everyone wonders, though, how the Gerber stacks up against the Leatherman Wave. Not too well, in my opinion.

Any multi-tool is a compromise by definition. If you are in your workshop, tool box open in front of you, you would never reach for your multi-tool. A full, real screwdriver is much more pleasant and effective than the abbreviated screwdriver on the multi-tool, and a honest to God saw can cut through a board a thousand times better than the little saw on the multi-tool.

What the Leatherman Wave does, though, is get much closer to the feeling of using a real tool than the Gerber. The Wave feels almost like a real tool, like something you would reach for to do a project, while the Gerber feels like a compromise.

The Wave's blades are substantial and capable of doing some real cutting. The Gerber's blades are thin and rather short. The Leatherman's blades pop open with a minimum of effort, and close very easily. The Gerber's blades and tools are somewhat difficult to open, and very difficult to close. The locks are stiff and nowhere as easy as pushing on the button or flange on the Leatherman. I can put a tool away on my Leatherman without even thinking about it. With the Gerber I have to stop, fiddle with it, wiggle it back and forth--finally, there it goes.

Of course, it much be noted that the Gerber costs half to almost a third of the Wave, and such a savings can be a significant inducement to actually use the tool. I would never, ever take my Wave fishing as it would be too expensive to replace. At $26, though, I would take the Gerber out on the water without a second thought.

Also on the plus side for Gerber, this tool has a bottle opener--the Wave doesn't--and the pliers are spring-loaded. That is totally cool, and a feature the Leatherman doesn't have. If you're trying to get the hook out of a fish's mouth, and you have to stop and open up the pliers--oops it slipped--so stop and open up the pliers again, oops--it can turn into a massive pain. Spring-loading fixes all of that and is a wonderful feature.

Please realize that I'm not bagging on the Gerber. It's a good tool at a great price, one that will be carried and actually used. It lacks the polish and sophistication of the Leatherman, but at $26 versus $63 that's not a surprise.

So i got this for Christmas and I had it for about a week. I attempted to open a can of mandarin oranges, and I have had other multi-tools before, So the tool locking mechinism comes out of place and all the tools on that side will not lock in place. So I returned it and got a Leatherman Juice Xe6. Its double the money but it is a much better tool. So take it or leave it.