GERBER Crucial Multi-Tool – Black w/Clip [31-001518]

Sehr gutes Messer , nicht zu viele und unnütze Funktionen , wirkliche Einhandbedienung , Top

I purchased this after losing my Leatherman Skeletool that I’d had for several years. I truly liked it, but the prices have gone up and it’s not something that I absolutely needed so I decided to shop around.

Here are the verbatim messages I sent to a friend that ended up also purchasing the Crucial.

— Initial impression messages on from June 2018:

Similar to the Leatherman Skeletool in many ways: tools/blade are accessible from the closed position, belt clip, same types of tools, thumb opened knife blade.
Differences include: knife blade shaped like a tanto instead of pointed, color coated handles, the carabiner/bottle opener is retractable, singles sizes on the screwdrivers. It is also noticeably thicker.
Skeletool had a couple of points that were a bit sharp, this one is very smooth, no sharp edges when closed.
I’ll carry it for a while and let you know how usable it is. I do like the way the screwdrivers are done, they open and lock.
If I don’t find it as usable as the former, I’ll most certainly keep it. It’s a solid tool for sure. Usability is the only question, but it should be similar, I think.

— Impressions after owning for 3 months:

I carry it everyday still. Since this multitool is thicker, I’ve noted that some of the pants I wear don’t allow enough room in the front pocket opening to get my keys out as easily.

One of the main uses of the blade is to smooth irregularities on my 3d prints. It cuts small bumps off PLA easily.

I haven’t found the screwdrivers quite as useful as the Skeletool. They are very short and with the handle being thicker and more blunt than the Skeletool, they can be used to access some smaller screws in things like PC cases.

— Final thoughts:

All in all, for the price, I doubt it can be matched. It has the tools that I wanted, and no more. However, if the Skeletool had been the same price as I had gotten it for some years ago ($45), then I would have bought it. After having used it for 3 months, I believe I made the correct call.

TLDR: If price doesn’t matter or it’s on sale for $40, buy the Skeletool. Buy the Crucial otherwise.

Pros: good/usable tool, solid construction, light, good price
Cons: a bit bulky, short screwdriver tools

I carry everyday and pull it out for open boxes, tightening screws,. Good size, smaller and less bulky than the leatherman. Could be a good dense knife on subway. Tonto blade, sturdy. This is second one.

I bought the black Crucial as a direct replacement for the gray version which was recently lost/ stolen. I had the gray version since 2010 which was purchased from Amazon. I never had any problems with the gray one. It always did nearly every small task I needed it to do, and if I needed it to do more I would get a different tool. It does exactly what it’s intended for and is named perfectly as it has only the “crucial” tools. It’s lightweight, comfortable to carry and reasonably well built, unlike some other Gerber products that I’ve encountered. I carry it almost every day and find it perfect for those simple, on the fly tasks such as cutting cords or boxes, adjusting a screw or grabbing something with the pliers. The only difference I’ve found between the black and gray version is that the black has a strap cutter in place of the carabiner/ bottle opener which I never used for either task anyway. I could see the strap cutter actually coming in handy someday as an emergency seat belt cutter. The only criticism I have of either version is the knife blade and the screw drivers. I would prefer a knife with a pointed tip rather than the rounded edge. It still slices and cuts fine but a pointed tip would make for a slightly more functional blade, as well as serving as an emergency self defense weapon. The screw driver blades could be a little bit longer as well. I suppose if they made these three changes, the whole frame might have to be a little bit longer but that’s ok. An extra 1/4″ or even 1/2″ wouldn’t bother me. All in all, I’d recommend this tool to anyone looking for a light duty piece to escape the burden of carrying an overloaded heavy duty multi-tool.

Strong and useful. I love the seat belt cutter for opening all sorts of stuff. Packages, clothes, etc.

Its compact design is perfect for everyday carry, fitting seamlessly into my pocket. The build quality is exceptional, with durable materials ensuring longevity and reliability. The tool selection, including pliers, a knife, and multiple screwdrivers, covers a wide range of tasks. The one-handed deployment is a game-changer, providing quick and easy access to the tools I need.