I need a new multi-tool, and need help picking out the right one. I've basically narrowed it down to Leatherman. I really like the Charge Xti cause it has a gut hook on the serrated blade, and the handles are titanium. Any suggestions or feedback? BTW, price is not an issue, its a graduation present to myself.

I was reading a seriess in outdoor life about 2 years ago. The magazine was interviewing the worlds foremost outdoorsmen, guides, and survival experts. Over about 6 issues nearly everyone interviewed chose the leatherman wave as thier choice. But they all, to a man, had a dedicated hunting knife they carried. some chose small flexible knives, some chose big hefrt knives. But most chose the wave as well
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I have a micra-leatherman that I have had for 5 years and I carry and use it every day. Leatherman puts out a great product. Here is a whole page of them http://www.swissknifeshop.com/products.asp?dept=14&c1=g6&source=Leatherm an&kw=ad2

I'm on my 2nd leatherman. The first was a PST II, which was decent until I lost it. I just purchased the Wave a few weeks ago, and it is FAR better than the one I lost. It just has a feeling to it like the builders knew what they were doing and wanted to make something of quality construction. I like it a lot...it has what I need, and it's more comfortable in the hand than the one I lost. The tools on it all make sense and are in convenient locations, and all are locking so you don't accidentally close something down on your fingers. I got mine new off ebay for a great price.

Thats what I have been looking at Riverotter, ebay seems to be the way to go. The Charge Xti is the same as the wave, its just more expensive because it has titanium handles. The only real diffrence is no scissors and the charge has a gut hook. Thanks alot!

Just a few additional thoughts...I'm not sure that the Charge XTiis worth the extra money. You won't save any drastic amount of weight by going to titanium handles, and the standard version has stainless steel which while not completely corrosion proof is pretty decent. I find that I'm a lot more likely to use scissors in dayto day use than a guthook. When I'm likely to use a guthook I'll have my hunting knife with me, which is a Buck Zipper (has the guthook on the back of the blade). One other thing to think about...if you're using the guthook on deer, you're a lot more likely to get the rest of the tool crapped up with hair and other mess. I'd rather have something simple to clean when I'm doing that kind of work.

Wife bought a wave to replace myoriginal leatherman, has everything I need. I agree a dedicated knife or knives is preferred for field dressing duties. I would think a gut hook on a leatherman would be rather small and plug up easily, plus cleaning it would betime consuming after the job was done.

PS: If you like guthooks checkout the kershaw blade trader it hasa large gut hook/skinner blade attachment that worksvery well and doesn't plug up!I still prefer a drop point forfield dressing, personally.

Buy one made in America and don't buy it at a Wal-Mart.

Well, if you are an Aggie I would stay away from the sharp ones. Just kidding and I'm sorry I couldn't stop myself.

I have 5 different Leatherman's and a Gerber Multi tool. They all function well and I think you have to choose a tool that suits "your" need. Only you know which blades/tools you need for it's intended use.