Have ever wondered how first responders cut through clothing, seat belts, or even metal to help people in critical situations? It all comes down to training, quick thinking, and a reliable pair of trauma shears. And the Leatherman Raptor Rescue was designed to be the best.

It can take up to two years for a Leatherman multi-tool to move from concept to storefront. But you might be surprised to learn that the engineering doesn’t stop there.

The Wave® is the best-selling multi-tool of the Leatherman® brand and the best-selling multi-tool of all time. Don’t believe us? Just ask Ben Rivera.

This is the story of the tool that started it all, straight from the source. If you’ve ever wondered how the birth of the first American multi-tool began, listen as owner and creator Tim Leatherman recounts the early days of the Pocket Survival Tool® and the origins of how Leatherman® came to be.

Stephen Gladieux, Senior Operation Excellence Manufacturing Engineer here at Leatherman, is part of a group called High Desert Climbers Alliance. The group organizes monthly rebolting projects at Oregon’s famed Smith Rock state park where they climb, clean, and maintain popular routes. Here’s a day on one of those projects as told by Stephen.