In addition to my Swiss Army Explorer knife, I carry this Gerber Multi-Plier 400 Compact Sport multitool in my EDC. While some of its component tools overlap with the Explorer, its pliers and different size in-line Phillips screwdriver have come in handy on more than one occasion. My friend Perry introduced me to this Made in USA Gerber tool back in the early 2000s when he was using his to work on his computer. Soon thereafter, I picked one up for my tool kit.
My dad gave me this Explorer model Victorinox Swiss Army knife when I was 16 or so. I know that it was manufactured before 1991, because it doesn’t have the updated hook.
While it’s neat accessory feature is the magnifying glass–for inspecting small things or helping start a fire when the sun is out, the part that I’ve used the most is the in-line Phillips screwdriver in the top layer tools. Unlike models with the back-side Phillips, the in-line screwdriver works in so many more situations. In particular, I can’t count how many computers I’ve worked on with this knife’s screwdriver–removing cases, installing components, etc. It has held up remarkably well over the years despite how often I’ve used it. However, it does need a proper cleaning.
