July 2007
I am not completely dressed unless I have my leatherman
I bought my first Leatherman tool many years ago when they first came out. As a Deputy Sheriff on patrol I soon found that I used my tool many times a day. The first week that I had it, I was flagged down by a citizen who told me that her neighbor' horse was caught in a wire fence. Her neighbors weren't home. When I arrived at the scene, I saw this valuable roping horse severely entangled in a barbed wire fence. The horse was lying on its side and could not move. Using my leatherman, I cut at least 6 different sections of fence and freed the animal who had obviously been struggling for quite some time. Fortunately, the horse was not severely cut, and survived its injuries.
My first leatherman did not fare as well. The wire was of such a heavy gauge that the process of cutting the wire destroyed my leatherman. After hearing about what happened, a few days later, the greatful horse owner bought me a new leatherman. Shortly after getting my second leatherman, one day I received an assist request from a Game Warden.
When I responded to his location, I saw that he was trying to free a cow elk that was caught in a fence by her hind foot. She had tried to jump the fence and got her foot caught as she went over. She was hanging upside down from this 7 foot high fence. I again seemed to be the only officer on scene that had a tool with wire cutting capability. I soon cut the wires, freeing the elk who gratefully ran off.
Over the years I have cut many accident victims out of seat belts and continue to use my leatherman many times a day. I am on my 8th or 9th leatherman by now. I now carry the Titanium Charge. Most of my other leatherman tools have met their demise getting lost or left at scenes. Hopefully the finders of those tools are still making good use of them.
Gene F.
Colorado
OK, you voyeur, you. Enough of reading other people's stories. It's time you told your own tale of gripping heroism or even just neat DIY'ism. We know there's a Shakespeare in you somewhere. Don't make us use the Steens to find it.