Leatherman

Leatherman is a leading brand of multitools and knives made by Leatherman Tool Group of Portland, Oregon, US since 1983.

After spending his childhood in Oregon, Tim Leatherman stayed local and received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State University.

Time spent traveling abroad – which included staying at hostels and driving an untrustworthy $300 Fiat – convinced Tim of the need for a pliers based, multi-purpose tool. Tim set to work developing and patenting his idea. Shortly after his return he partnered with college friend Steve Berliner to continue building concepts and reaching out to potential prospects for sales. On July 5, 1983 Tim and Steve officially incorporated Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. based on a few simple, but fundamental principles: manufacture the highest quality products that deliver excellent value to the consumer, while providing good, living-wage jobs to the local workforce. It was in that same year, after nearly a decade of knocking on doors and perfecting his idea, that they sold the very first Pocket Survival Tool (PST). And as the story goes…the rest is history.