Gerber 07563 Pro Scout Needlenose - Multi-Plier
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Gerber 07563 Pro Scout Needlenose - Multi-Plier
Customer Review: Designed for many uses and it works well
Summary: 4 Stars
Quality -- The first observation I must make concerning the Multi-Plier 600 Pro Scout with Needlenose pliers (and all the other modern Gerber products with which I'm familiar) is the outstanding quality of the fit and finish. This particular product proudly wears a Made In USA label, and it features satin-finished stainless steel throughout with Zytel plastic buttons to unlock the fold out tools. It opens fairly smoothly, feels solid in your hand, and the knife blade and other tools lock in the open position for safe and secure use.
Selection -- Choosing an ideal multi-tool is perhaps the hardest task facing the user. Multi-tool marketing favors manufacturers and retailers because there are so many different configurations (too many, in fact, and you could find yourself with a collection.) I don't like that for reasons too numerous to mention, but suffice to say there's no single multi-tool that includes all the tools I might want or need. An ideal scenario would be a build-your-own concept, but that's out of the question since Gerber doesn't sell direct to the consumer.
Usability -- The 600 ProScout lets you carry a lot of useful tools in a compact package that weighs about twelve ounces. The tools are as follows:
1. The needlenose pliers are one of the best in a multi-tool. They are precision made and allow a lot of leverage and pressure to be applied to a part. They retract into the handles for storage. On this model, they must be deployed to use the fold out tools; this is one thing that makes this tool unique from some of the other Gerber tools.
2. The tool steel file, made by Simonds, is coarse on one side and fine on the other; it suffers from being too small for most of what you'd want a file for, but it still has some use.
3. There's one Phillips (crosshead) screwdriver that is about a #1 head size. It's just too small to inspire confidence when I am prone to overtighten EVERYTHING.
4. Two slotted blade screwdrivers (small and medium) are actually ground to size as opposed to just being stampings. Screwdrivers are usually the weakest link in a multi-tool because of their small size and the twisting pressures that are applied to them so you definitely don't want to pretend they are prybars, too.
5. One of the screwdrivers is also a bottle opener (opens bottle caps I guess, but I have NEVER used this).
6. There's a can opener that's well made; while it does work, it's not my choice to use in the kitchen but when camping or while parked along a roadside waiting for triple A after grocery shopping it's another story.
7. The drop point knife is a combination fine edge and serrated edge. While it's a good blade, in the Gerber tradition, you don't get enough of either edge style and it's VERY difficult to sharpen the serrated part.
8. There's a RemGrit (tungsten carbide grit on alloy steel) jig saw blade in a universal coupler. It cuts on the forward and reverse strokes and is self sharpening. I just had to have this multi-tool because it has this saw that cuts a lot of different materials. The blade can be replaced when it wears out or you could swap it with a regular wood or metal jig saw blade.
9. The Fiskars scissors are small but sharp. I'm not disappointed by their usefulness and quality, but then real men and women won't do their tailoring with this thing either.
Maybe it's just me, but cutting stuff is what this particular tool configuration is about (knife, saw, scissors) and that's why it's nice to have the file to touch up rough edges which is invariably what I get when I cut stuff. The tool would be more useful still if it had a lanyard ring on it so then I wouldn't need another model multi-tool for another hobby.
I could give this a five star rating if it wasn't for the fact that every multi-tool combo is a compromise of convenience (miniaturization) versus function. Plus you pay dearly for having many tools in the package while you have the expectation that you'll have use for the chosen tool configuration often. The Gerber Multi-Plier is a handy way to keep your life together without carrying a toolbox.
Customer Review: GERBER MULTI TOOL
Summary: 4 Stars
GOT THIS FOR MY HUSBAND, LAST CHRISTMAS, HE LOVES IT,
TAKES IT WITH HIM EVERYWHERE, AND WHEN SOMEONE NEEDS SOMETHING HE FLIPS IT OUT, AND SAVES THE DAY. LOVES IT
Customer Review: Gerber 600 Pro Scout is Awesome!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have owned my Gerber 600 Pro Scout's for going on 13 years, and although I don't really use them for their intended purpose, I still use them EVERY DAY in my line of work as an Industrial Robotic Weld Technician. I bought mine on a whim some 13 years ago while looking for some welding pliers, and wow, am I glad I did! On the few occasions I've forgotten them, I literally feel naked at work without them. I use them DAILY to change robotic welding tips, gas diffusers and nozzles, cut shrink wrap off welding wire spools, and cut welding wire and they have NEVER failed me. Also, the little scissors work great for cutting leather wrap for the robotic weld torches. I'd like to know just how many times I've cut steel welding wire and robotic torch liners with these. In the same period of time I would probably have gone through 20 pairs of dedicated welding pliers, which is why I'm so glad I didn't find any that fateful day back in 1997! And as a guy who is a tool junky anyway and constantly using tools for this or that, I can honestly say that I have never gotten as much use out of any one tool than these great little multi-pliers from Gerber. I just recently decided to retire my first pair (sentimental reasons) and purchase a new pair to use, as well as the larger Freehand model. Here's to another 13 years (or more!) of handy use!Customer Review: Gerber beats Leatherman hands down!
Summary: 5 Stars
Paul Harvey can shill all he wants for Leatherman, but, having owned both this Gerber Pro-Scout and a comparable Leatherman, I must say Gerber beats Leatherman hands down. The Gerber is s-o-o much easier to use due to its design, and its quality is second to none. I've had my present Pro-Scout for several years, carry it on my hip nearly everywhere I go (except when flying or attending major sporting events; sadly, it falls into the "weapon" category since 9/11), use it at least a dozen times a day, and would feel somewhat incomplete without it.If you are looking to buy a *serious* multi-tool, give the Gerber a long, hard look. I personally don't think it will matter whether you try it out before or after the Leatherman. Either way, unless the Leatherman model has a tool you just can't live without, I honestly believe you will go with the Gerber.
Customer Review: Gerber vs Leatherman: similar but different; different=good
Summary: 5 Stars
The dominant multi-tool on the market is likely the Leatherman Wave. The Gerber has two main advantages versus the Leatherman (and one weakness). The first advantage is that all the tools lock (not so for the Leatherman though the blade locks). A locking blade is clearly desirable, but a nice feature for other tools as well.
The second advantage is the strength of the pliers. It's hard to see from the image, but the pliers retract into the handle versus the Wave where the handles unfold to expose the pliers. Having looked at both before buying the Gerber, I suspect (but am not sure) that the strength of the Gerber design is greater. While the Leatherman's pliers have a pivot for each arm (plus the center pivot), the Gerber only has the center pivot.
This strength leads to the one weakness - that the pliers have to be opened to access any of the other tools (while with the Leatherman you can get at the blade without opening the whole tool).
Both are fine tools, what sold me on the Gerber is how the pliers retract and the cool sound it makes when you deploy the pliers and they lock into place - a very solid, satisfying metal thunk. Hint: to make sure that you can deploy with one hand, rub a little candle wax into the plier channels in the handle. Also the scissors are made by Fiskar - a specialty scissor maker - nice and sharp. Besides, it's sometimes nice to have something slightly different from what everyone else has.