Leatherman Core

Of all the multitools I own, the Leatherman Core is the tool I have turned to for just about everything since I picked up my first one a few years ago. Although too big for me to carry daily, the Core has played a major part in just about every home project I’ve undertaken in recent years…..

I’ve really beaten on this tool and it’s coped with everything I’ve thrown at it with ease, from prying, to cutting, sawing and most of all, using the drivers.

The Core is the predecessor to Leatherman’sSupertool 300 and was the third in the Supertool range of extra large “professional” tools.

Whereas the 4″ personal tools evolved from the PST to the Charge, the Core is based around a no-frills, no-gimmicks concept and offers only the “core” functions such as drivers in professional standard sizes.

Leatherman’s marketing of the Core made huge play of this, and the tool incorporates hollow ground screwdriver blades along with the best Phillips driver I have found from any manufacturer. Similar to the Kick, Fuse and Blast, the Phillips (pictured below) has a square shaft with very long reach and is compatible with the Removable Bit Driver making it 1/4″ Hex ready.

The tool opens in the traditional “butterfly” manner and all of the tools lock up solidly. Unlike it’s predecessors, washers have been used to prevent tool clumping, and the depth of the handles make it very easy to identify and open the tool you need. This principle was developed further on the Supertool 300 where the knife, saw and file are engineered to open with “one at a time tool selection”, but the smaller tools and drivers are allowed to clump. That is definitely an improvement, although familiarity with the Core means that I have no problems getting the driver I want with ease anyway.

The Core has what were Leatherman’s biggest and strongest pliers at the time it was released, identical to those found on the Surge.The saw and file are enormous, and the serrated blade is the finest so far on a Leatherman tool.

The huge clip pint blade and awl with sewing eye make the Core ideally suited to heavy duty tasks and it is significant that the tool selection has been kept for the Supertool 300. It is simply, just right!

The rumour is that following the release of the Supertool 300, the Core’s days are numbered and whilst I concede that it’s replacement does offer many, well considered improvements, I will remember the Core fondly as my main “goto” tool.Two of the Stainless Steel finished tools I have currently bear the NATO stock number (similar to one of my Supertool 200s), which suggests that the Core is issued or available to NATO forces somewhere. Using this tool for a short while will leave you understanding why that is!