Leatherman Signal

I think they make this as a urban SHTF scenario survival tool, that doubles as a camping tool. Nowadays most people do glamping not traditional camping, or bushcraft. So I could see the use of the bit driver for all of the comfort items people bring now. Good review. You make some good points about the additions that could be made, and the limitations of the awl. I agree about the combination blade.

Pummel means to strike.
It’s a verb snd an action.
Pommel, on the other hand, is the very end of a knife handle.
It’s a noun because it’s an object and a thing.

I agree that it needs two separate blades straight & serrated.

Enjoying your videos keep on doing them please

I agree with you on most of what you’ve said on this tool. However, the wire capabilities can help prevent that survival situation. I used to have a Signal and I was out riding my dual sport. Some wiring broke on me which caused the bike to shut down. It took a while to get everything bandaged up and I did end up spending the night and finishing the job in the morning but the Signal having wire cutters and crimpers kept me from having to push my bike out of the woods (god knows how long that would have taken) so I will say that I like the choice of plier head for this tool

Great review and you have some interesting points on the Signal. In 2021, the Leatherman Signal is still in the lineup on the website. It's one of the best sellers AND considering all that you said, it's the ONLY tool (In the Leatherman lineup) that can help start a fire. Consider that when you are stranded in the wilderness and you have your Rebar in the pocket!

I still think that a multi tool should be as generalized as possible. A MT for this, a MT for that... if I‘m able to foresee what’s gonna happen, I can bring specialized tools- which are always superior. I do like some ideas on this, like the pommel with the hex driver, the removable file, too. But almost everything else is mediocre at best. My favorite MT is still the Victorinox Spirit S. And then combine it with some...

I only use my Signal as redundancy for my other tools when I go camping/hiking/trekking

It is just skeletool with some plastic crap attached

Excellent review; logical, thorough & your recommendation of an appropriate alternative/s, remains within the Leatherman product line (hence; unbiased). Considering the Lenox wood cutting blades you've discussed (& demonstrated) in one of your videos (which fit the Leatherman Surge) - my preferred survival tool is the Leatherman Surge; no hesitation

The half serrated blade was my biggest hangup with this knife. I absolutely detested the factory blade! The solution was to make a custom blade for the Signal. I have a video on my channel showing the blade and the process.

Pretty sure this tool was made for emergency situations such as getting hit by a hurricane or massive floods and u needed a tool to make it through the day. Hence the signal name incase u needed help or make alot of noise with the whistle to get help. Ferro rod to make a fire.

You lost me at, “I don’t like combination blades.”

This things seems like half a wave, i would rather have that and add a sharpal (small sharpener, has integrated ferro rod and whistle and useable diamond file rod)

I choose to carry a Leatherman Rebar with me when I'm camping, it makes the most amount of sense to me. It's a little bit lighter than what is usually on my belt, I don't really mind added weight but being able to dial it down a little bit is nice.

Nope, I am glad leatherman is exploring this market, but they definitely need more dirt time. I think a reboot of the signal with an actual outdoorsman, survivalist or backpacker would result in a much more functional tool, and probably would focus more on a fewer number of really quality tools rather than a bunch of gimmick ones.

You missed one tool, at least I think you did. The tip of the pommel tool also serves as a tool that will grab the bolt of a rifle in order to clear rifle jams. I would prefer a replacement straight edge blade instead of a combo serrated blade. My biggest negative is that there are too many plastic bits sticking out and in my experience, nothing made from plastic will survive long in the African bush.

best is SURGE.
I have one, had the MUT as well and gave it to my friend

You say that the 1/4 driver is just to add functionality on paper, but that 1/4 inch driver was my only tool mated to a hex screw driver to squeeze in between the the windscreen and dashboard to get the dashboard screws out on my 40 year old Land Rover!

I dig the signal. The sharpener should have been a micro file similar to the file found on the Wave+ IMO. Then we’d get a durable diamond coated knife sharpener plus a file. The whistle/ferro would have been better suited as a magnesium block with a beefier ferrorod. But other than I always pack it when going out in the woods and tethered to my belt via 550 when fishing. All in all I think it’s a great tool for outdoor use. I treat it as a tool that has several backup items that will likely never get used (aka sharpener/ferro).

not very useful for camping. this is a hiker multitool.

If they put that clip on the Rebar, Leatherman would have officially beat the game. Fire your entire design team, they're done.

The diamond file was made to duplicate as a cocaine bumper ;)

By far my favorite leatherman, and favorite multitool. I never leave the house without both the signal, bit kit+bit extension. It’s served me extremely well these past 2 years. Love this multitool!!

I own this tool and use it for restaurant work. I'm a bartender/manager. It does a great job. But, I would rather own a Curl with the hammer/bottle opener. I don't need the saw and would rather have the file. I also don't mind the combination blade because the curated blade works great for cutting cardboard. I absolutely love the removable diamond coated file/knife sharpener. Being able to sharpening your blade is a great thing.

A thought occurs: perhaps the rod is best struck with the wire stripper given that its rounded and profiled the way it is? Not sure, but that's my first thought on the matter

🔥 what about the fire starting capabilities. Surly a must for the outdoors 🔥

No MT is a "survival tool" anyway. For example if I had to take one tool it would be a strong full tang knife. Even though I usually take only the lightest folder available on hikes, I do on occasion take at least the F1 if there is a realistic chance to get stranded. Which means that I would always have at least a folder (including EDC) in every situation I'd have a MT. So it's blade is at best a second or even third backup (I would probably not carry a MT at all on a hike, never had, it is just theoretical). Same for every other tool on it.

Don't actually need a knife at all. If built on personal design I might even completely ditch it, or better put a fully serrated one only.

The advantages I see in this tool are multiple carry options and modularity, as the whistle/rod and sharpener can be exchanged with 3d printed alternatives used as bit holders, which is more useful around town. The ability to use standard hex bits with more leverage in that position is also interesting.

I would say a knife+modded signal+micra+hex-bit-set-with-extender combo would cover most casual uses that do not require a full toolbox and it all fits in a small cellphone-sized pouch.

Survival seems gimmicky to me as a field itself, don't realy care and such tools are more often than not just unnecessary weight. Than again Europe has little extended wilderness and good orientation skills are more often than not all the survival skill one needs in the wild. Alaska might of course be very different.

So interesting as a modular tool, not realy for survival.

Just got this MT and im replacing the sharpener and whistle etc with bit holders so ill have 3 bits, like a super skeletool. I like it so far. Def not for survival tho. Great EDC option.

Thank you for your feed back on the Signal….I had been interested a little bit in this, because of the light weight EDC, the awl and the fire striker….and to be honest the colors availability…. Thing is, I carry the Wave + for years and still do….it is my EDC, I wear it leather holster I made on my belt, rarely is not strapped to me…unless its going out to a fancy function or if I am jogging….I like the Ideal of having something a little lighter and not bulky….hence the clip was a +. That being said, living in Montana…working on ranches and in the lumber/Hardware store in town, riding checking stock, hunting, camping and etc…the Wave +, has done every thing I have needed it for. Your comment in regards to feeling that bit heft of the Wave+…is reassuring. For me….the single most valuable change for me doing ranch work….in which Leatherman could improve the Wave….would be a GOOD awl….use that tool as much as I do the both knives on the Wave+. If Leatherman could ditch the eyeglass screwdriver and replace it with a nice useable awl….the Wave + would damn near perfect for me! I understand this video is a couple of years old….but incase you read this….thank you for your input!!! from Montana….have a great week!

Thanks Ben from a fellow Texan.

I'd much rather cary my G10 Earth one better. It's similar in weight, more robust and better tools.

All I need to do to it is put Rebar awl in it. Coming soon!

It is a Bitholder, guess you missed that.

There is no other SINGLE tool that can make you a fire or send smoke & sound signals. Yes i also know that stuffing an Axe in my trousers a fishing rod, fire steel, koocking gear etc makes way more sense...but you end up with a bulge in your trousers right? So as a single tool that can make fire and can help you make fish traps etc i would go for this SINGLE tool. There is just no other like it exept for stuffed bug out bags with multiple tools.

love your multi-tool reviews and found you based on your knot videos which are excellent as well. happy 50k subs TXTC!

I love mine, but really miss a pair of scissors. Got a Victorinox SwissCard and carry it in the signal big nylon sheath along with a mini flashlight and a proper magnesium flint from SOL. It all fits great!

Thanks for oyur honesty. I bought the Signal, I do not like the blade for the exact reasons you pointed out. After owning the Signal, I came to think of it as the Boy Scout of the multitool lineup. Functional and handy but doesn't go far enough.

Dave Canterbury also uses the Supertool 300 from time to time. I don't think you would ever see him with the signal.

Hey I am just seeing your videos and I totaling enjoy them. I only watched 3 videos so far. In your personal opinion which is the the best Leatherman for camping instead of the signal would you recommend that has a straight blade knives & window breaker & most importantly can & will cut a 5 ought hooks as I fish alot that is much needed in my life. It would be great if had a window smashed as well. Thank you for your honest feed back.

Ben the combo Serrated/Straight edge Blade is a better all around Emergency blade for cutting Synthetic especially wet and under tension with a cleaner cut than a full Serrated, a full serrated will ruin the end of your line that you cut even if you tape the end, but a Combo blade (especially wet line under tension, the serrated will start the cut by breaking strands and the straight edge will use that momentum of cut and make a cleaner better cut, thats why The knives for this environment are designed that way, wet, tension must reuse the line,

Tom Hank gonna love this tool but he not lucky... every body different opinion ,🌝, but with me I love everything of signal... cuz I'm thinking if I was or any body like Tom Hank in cast away movie... this is a bomb... dong you think Sir... 😂

You said you wouldn't trust your life with the Signal. Would you trust the Rebar then? Is it as robust as people tell? I like the carabiner on the Signal for dangling on my pants. Greetings from Germany.

Can the combination blade be replaced?

So if you had only one choice of multi tool to bring out in the wild you would choose a multi tool that doesn't have the ability to start a fire? That's crazy ahah

I think people misunderstand the intention of the Signal. It's not meant to be a primary survival tool, but a back up set of tools for redundancy. Generally people who are prepared to use these tools will already be carrying a fixed blade knife, a folding saw, a ferro rod, and a whistle.
As bushman, I personally would swap out the awl for a cord/strap cutter, or swap the combo blade for a serrated blade for the purposes of cutting cord. I'd also swap out the can opener and 2d bit driver for a 3d bit driver and add a glass breaker for vehicle egress.

That multitool was crap it barely has any tools on it at all I traded mine super quick I’m happier with a Gerber

The point is that the signal can do a bad job at all the needed things. And in a survival situation you will be happy to have something that does a bad job than having nothing. And while you aren’t using it most of the time, you are happy that it doesn’t weigh much, basically making it not noticeable, so that you can enjoy your trip, hike whatever… and if shit hits the fan, this will get you out of a jam in a pinch. And that’s why it is my EDC of choice.

I edc a signal. The form factor is great and all the tools except the fire starter/whistle are useful to me on a daily basis. I agree with you about the knife blade, there’s no good reason for the signal to have a partly serrated blade, and I would prefer if the saw was replaced with a T-shank adapter. Otherwise, the tool is almost perfect.

The use case is more as a multitool that you can use in the woods than as a multitool meant to be used in the woods, if that makes sense. If I’m going into the brush for a week, I might prefer a surge or a MUT instead (I don’t own either, but I’m judging off of toolsets) but the signal wouldn’t be detrimental. However, if I’m going on a short hike that goes longer than I expected, then that’s when the signal’s toolset makes sense

For a survival tool I’d take the rebar over this any day. Have a dedicated ferro rod on you and a whistle. 1,000 strikes on a rod and a real whistle is gonna be a lot better. Full sized knives and all as well

Never heard such a load of bollocks! My Signal packs in my plate carrier/body armour, I use it in its intended environment, and trust me, it works well! This review is really flawed…if you’re Carrying an Axe, you can carry a separate file for it! The bit slot is for a bit, it’s not a spanner! As for: “the awl doesn’t function when in the tools closed position”? Oh please, deliver me!

Trust me! I use this multitool in some of the toughest situations on, and behind , the Ukrainian Front Lines; it’s a great piece of kit!

My Active Service can be proven, upon request.

Who ever buys this piece of kit, will absolutely benefit from it, in the harshest of environments! Fact!