Reviews > Knives > Folding > Leatherman e307x > Chari Daignault > Initial Report

Initial Review: Leatherman e307x Knife

January 13, 2005

Tester Information

Name: Chari Daignault
Age: 43 Gender: Female
Height: 5’ 6" (1.68 m)
Weight: 135 Pounds (61 kg)
Email address: chari@cdaig.com
City, State, Country: Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.
Backpacking Background: I've been an ultra light hiker for 33 years -- I take the bare minimum with me and prefer a pack under or close to five pounds. I've hiked all the Florida State Forest trails in Central Florida and climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan when I was nine. I have hiked dry & sandy, rough & rocky and wet & boggy trails and as a result, have found what does and doesn't work for me in terms of equipment and clothing. Central Florida affords a lot of sun and rains, with high temperatures and massive humidity. It's a great testing area for clothing, footwear and headgear.

The product

Manufacturer: Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.
Web site http://www.leatherman.com
Product: e307x Locking Liner Serrated Knife [shipped with optional Bit Kit Accessory]
Year manufactured: 2005 MSRP: $100.00 (US) / $110.00 (US) w/7 pc. Bit Kit

Per the manufacturer:

Blade opening: One-hand Blade Launcher, thumb stud
Lock mechanism: Locking liner [a strip of metal which is pulled aside to unlock the blade]
Closed length: 3.875" (0.10 m)
Open length: 6.7" (0.17 m)
Blade length: 2.8" (0.07 m)
Weight: 4.2 oz. (118 g)
Blade style: Combination straight and serrated
Blade finish: Polished and ground
Handle material: Machined aluminum with glass-filled nylon inserts, stainless steel bolsters

Included Bits: Phillips #1 & #2
Screwdriver 3/16" (0.48 cm) & 1/4" (0.64 cm)
Screwdriver 1/8" (0.32 cm) x Torx #15
Verified weight: 4.3 oz (122 g)
Color tested: Silver/Black
Colors available: Silver/Black

Warranty: (Quoted from web site), 25-YEAR Limited Warranty: If within 25 years from the purchase date of your genuine Leatherman® tool you find any defect in material or workmanship, you can count on us to make it right with fast warranty service.

Product description

As shipped, the e307x came with a nylon sheath, three double-ended bits installed on the knife unit itself [one in the folding bit driver and two stored in the handle] and an optional Bit Kit accessory with seven additional double-ended bits stored in a small, plastic sheath. The nylon knife sheath has a stretch pocket inside that holds the plastic Bit Kit accessory sheath so all can be carried together. The nylon sheath closes with a flip-over Velcro closure.

The knife has a metal pocket clip on it that can be removed utilizing a #8 torx screw bit, if so desired. The knife itself is stainless steel, with black plastic grips on either side, one of which stores up to two double-sided bits. The other side has the removable pocket clip on it.

The blade of the e307x has a device called a "Blade Launcher" on the butt end that enables the user to open the blade one-handed. It's essentially a grooved trigger that when pushed with the index finger, partially flips the blade out, enabling the thumb to then push the "Thumb Stud" to fully open and lock the blade into place. The blade is a combination straight and serrated edge blade, with approximately 3/4 of the blade being straight from the tip and the last 1/4 near the butt end being serrated.

A folding carabiner clip can be flipped out, enabling quick fastening to belt loops, back packs or lines. The carabiner can also be used as a bottle opener. A fold-out, partial locking Bit driver holds the included double-ended bits for use as a multi-tool screw driver.


Initial Impression

My initial impressions of this tool are positive. I like the weight of the tool, it fits nicely in my hand and it looks as though the Bit driver will lock enough to keep it from closing while being used. I am able to open and lock the blade with one hand, as the manufacturer intended. Although the nylon sheath is nice to store the tool and its accessories, I’ll most likely use the carabiner or the pocket clip to carry it around. I’ll keep the most used bits stored in the Bit driver and on the handle.

Testing Strategy

I will be utilizing this tool for, the most part, at work [indoors].

a) cutting wires [blade]
b) stripping wires [blade]
c) opening boxes [blade]
d) dismantling computer equipment [screw driver bits]
e) configuring network racks and shelves [screw driver bits]
f) poking holes in drywall for anchor bolts [screw driver bits]
g) wearing the knife [sheathless] on my belt or belt loop, consequently smacking it into everything [carabiner & pocket clip]

I'll also be taking the tool on daily 3 mile hikes here in Central Florida [The average temperature for the Central Florida area I'll be testing in is 70 degrees Fahrenheit [21 degrees Celsius] for this time of year, and the elevation is about 12 feet [3.6 Meters] above sea level. The terrain is mostly flat, with sand, scrub brush, local trees and the occasional creek or river to cross] and along on a one-day trip to Jamaica, where I'll be hiking, zip-lining and rappelling in the Ocho Rios jungle [average temperature year-round of 86 degrees Fahrenheit [30 degrees Celsius] the elevation is from sea level up to 2,000 feet [610 Meters] above. The terrain goes from flat to mountainous, with highly wooded jungle trails, roots and trees to climb over and high humidity].

a) wearing the knife [sheathless] on my backpack [carabiner]
b) cutting bandages when necessary [blade] Trust me -- I do this quite a bit
c) cutting vines [blade]
d) removing splinters and hitchhiker weed stickers from both my clothing and my person [blade
e) opening cans or bottles -- not that I'll need to, but just in case [carabiner/bottle opener]
f) anything else I can find a use for this tool

I've been handling the knife quite a bit since having received it. This entails me constantly flipping the blade out partially [without locking] with the Blade Launcher and then closing it with the Thumb Stud. If this doesn't wear it out, nothing will. I'm interested to see if it will need oiling, and when. The manufacturer's web site has links with instructions on how to re-oil the tool when needed.

Many thanks to Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this product.

Reviews > Knives > Folding > Leatherman e307x > Chari Daignault > Initial Report