Broke my Leatherman today.
I won a raffle in 2008 I think.
The first prize was a gift card which I used to buy the most expensive leatherman that was available in the store at the time.
I have used it so much and still somehow taken way too good care of it. Never abused the blades. I bet the tool I have used the most have been the pliers and the screwdriver.
The leather holster that I used occasionally looks still almost like new.
Cutting hot dog buns for kids when out and about, fixing my bike…
F for respect 🫡
Perhaps so. I expect you’d have a difficult time comparing tools over that time period 1:1
Leatherman plier castings are made in Mexico and have been since their supplier in Indiana moved their manufacturing there. Other parts like blades are all US. I think some files and mabye a few accessories are made in Europe. Tim Leatherman has stated he loves the fact that they have jobs here in the US and seemed dis-inclined to move any manufacturing (even of some parts) to China.
I have tools from the 70’s and 80’s and some of them are dogshit steel, so… . Anyway, I don’t think the leatherman was ever chinesium and certainly not in 2008 - I haven’t kept up for 2026. If you want good quality you pay for good quality regardless of source. Knippex & Wera are excellent steel, but I’ve broken tools from both before too and I consider them to be fine German exports. I’ve had my Charge since they came out and I’ve not broken a tool yet. I’m less than gentle with my tools. So YMMV!