Leatherman 74204003 Juice CS4

by Leatherman

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Packing 14 individual tools into a remarkably compact, metallic blue, anodized-aluminum body, Leatherman's cool new CS4--a.k.a. the Glacier--is a midsize member of the company's exciting, new Juice line of multitools. Only 3-1/4 inches long, and weighing a mere 5-1/2 ounces, the Glacier really is small enough to carry comfortably in your pocket. Like other Leatherman tools, the Glacier butterflies open, exposing the needle-nose pliers/wire cutters/wire stripper, with access to three flat-head screwdrivers, a Philips driver, and a lanyard attachment--the same tools you'll find inside Leatherman's KF4 Solar. The Glacier's handles, however, harbor a different combination of tools that are perfect for picnickers: scissors, a can/bottle opener, corkscrew, a saw, an awl, and a straight knife. Like the entire Leatherman's Juice line, the Solar positively snaps into the open position, and the individual tools are all made of high-grade stainless steel. The Juice multitools do lack the blade-locking mechanism found on Leatherman's Wave, but the blades click crisply into place and hold securely. Looking for a gift for your favorite technophile or gadget lover? You can't go wrong with the Glacier. Made in the USA. --Jon Groebner

Product Description

The Juice CS4 is packed with excitement. Built on the same medium-sized chassis as the KF4 it is protected by ice-blue anodized aluminum handles. The CS4 comes with pliers wire cutters and four screwdrivers as well as a convenient saw and awl. Extremely useful serrated scissors are easily accessed along with a handy corkscrew perfect for an emergency picnic on the slopes. A lanyard attachment ensures that your Juice is always nearby at the ready. The color is "Glacier." The CS4 is made in theU.S.A. and covered by a 25-year warranty.

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 1 x 1 inches ; 6.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000059GVG
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 74204003
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #125,158 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best pocket knife in existence!, March 13, 2002

By 

David S. Rose (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leatherman 74204003 Juice CS4 (Tools & Home Improvement)

WOW! This is an absolutely extraordinary tool. There is no question that I would have to rank it not only as the best pocket knife I've ever used (by a country mile), but also as a definite contender for "product of the year" across categories. I'm the kind of guy who always carries a pocket knife in my back pocket; I've done so for several decades, and have been through virtually every one of the Swiss Army varieties, plus a couple of Leatherman Micras. Since I'm not working on cars or using this as an industrial tool, there's no way that I could (or would want to) fit a full-size Leatherman Wave into my pants pocket. I liked all the tools on the Swiss Army knives, and loved the size, quality and flexibility of the Micra. But then...

...ahh! I came across a Juice display at a retail store, and it was love at first sight! The Juice CS4 is, to my mind, the absolutely ideal combination of size, style, tools, build-quality and functionality that I have ever seen, and without a close second. Let's step through it:

The packageis bigger than a Micra, but much smaller than a full-size Leatherman; about the size of a medium-large penknife. The color is cool blue, which I happen to find quite attractive. The tools are everything you'd expect, and then some. There's an open-spiral corkscrew (the best kind), which actually has an "assist", just like a professional bartender's folding corkscrew. I have *never* seen this on any other pocketknife. The primary fold-out tool is a gorgeous pair of needlenose pliers with wire cutters (unlike the Micra, which only has a scissors), but it ALSO has a strong fold-out scissors on the side. NEAT!

Let's keep going! When it comes to screwdrivers, you just can't beat this thing: it has small, medium and large flat-heads, plus a Phillips (not a dinky flat one, but a real, 3-D one) and best of all, every one of these blades flips out from the center, allowing you to re-close the handles and have a superbly balanced, correctly proportioned, long-handled screwdriver; the best I've ever seen, without question. But don't stop there. This thing has a saw, a can/bottle opener, and an awl with sewing eye.

And a knife! A nice, loooong one that is the sharpest I have ever seen on a pocket tool. It has a solid, tapered blade that cuts through stuff like butter, making it a joy to use.

I realize, on re-reading what I've written so far, that it must sound as though I've gone off my rocker (or work for Leatherman, which, of course, I don't). I really am aware that one just isn't supposed to have feelings like this about a pocketknife! But all I can say is that I simply adore this tool, carry it with me 24/7, and wouldn't trade it for anything. It is simply the finest combination/compromise on size, style and functionality that you will find in a pocket tool (including the rest of the Juice line). It is more costly than most, but without question worth the price. Trust me on this [grin].

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Judge the tool for what it is - Not what it isn't., May 19, 2002

By 

William Kious (Northwest Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leatherman 74204003 Juice CS4 (Tools & Home Improvement)

I've always been a fan of Leatherman "multi-tools", so my review may be biased toward the positive, but there are a few things I would like to say about the Juice CS4. First and foremost, judge this device for what it is: A handy little pocket tool with some very helpful extra features.

The Juice CS4 is roughly the same size as a Swiss Army type knife, yet its construction lends it to more rigorous use. The tool opens to reveal the jaws of the pliers with a satisfying "click". The bits, blades and other tools slide open smoothly and there is no sway or loose rivets to be found. The larger scissors on this tool will quickly become a favorite!

The most-used tools are available without having to flip the tool open - A feature I love in the Leatherman Wave, and adore in this "little brother" of the Wave.

If I have any complaints about my Juice, it would be about the layout of the tools. To access the saw blade, I have to first open the sewing awl. The same holds true for the corkscrew. The bottle/can opener must be partially open to use the corkscrew (unless there's a function to this feature that I'm unaware of.) Another criticism is that there's no positive locking feature on the knife blade, so great care must be exercised to prevent the blade from folding in on the fingers.

One reviewer commented on the sturdiness of the tool. I highly doubt that the Leatherman company ever expected (or designed) this tool to service a heavy-duty work load. If you attempt to use your Leatherman as a torque wrench, it WILL break! Also, if you neglect the steel, it will eventually rust, a fact that holds true for all stainless steel. However, as a light all-purpose tool, the Juice CS4 is a champ.

Another good element of the Juice is its visual appeal. It may sound corny, but this tool is a pleasure to just look at and hold in your hand. The Juice line's smaller size and lighter heft make it the perfect purse companion for my fiancé, a great everyday pocket knife for me and a great gift for any occasion.

My compliments to the Leatherman company for producing a small hand tool with such an elegant, functional design. Its solid build quality (backed by a 25 year guarantee) ensures me that I will be using my Juice for years to come.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finer fit and finish than any other Leatherman I have owned., November 24, 2001

By 

Druce MacFarlane (Half Moon Bay, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leatherman 74204003 Juice CS4 (Tools & Home Improvement)

This is a good knife. I have had lots of Leathermen in my time. I am impressed with the construction of this new line that they have created. The construction of this knife leaves all of the other Leathermen I have owned looking sort of amateurish.

I have only three complaints about these knives. The first could be either a complaint or a virtue, depending on your needs. It is a bit smaller than the other Leatherman series. Not as small as the micra, but notably smaller than the Wave, etc.

Second, there isn't a version of the Juice that has a locking mechanism on the blade, which always makes me a little uneasy.

Third, all of the "blades" on the knife are very stiff when you first get it. I assume that these loosen up with use. However, that being said, when I first got it, it drew blood while I was opening one of the attachements (no, not the knife blade, I think it was the can opener). Not that noteworthy, except, the next FIVE people that I handed it to had the same experience, each with a different attachment (and none of them the knife blade). We joked around about it working like a samuri sword, needing to taste blood each time it taken out. Regardless, it was a little disconcerting.

My complaints aren't serious enough for me to not recommend it. All in all, if those points don't concern you, it is a good knife.