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For a while there, it was quiet. Most of us had a multi-tool stashed in our glove box but forgot it was there. Our old Boy Scout and Swiss Army knives had long since been relegated to the back of a dresser drawer collecting sock lint. Our tactical folders got all

That was yesterday, this is today! All that technology has now made its way into the multi-tool and multi-blade market and this has now become one of the hottest, rapid growing segments of the cutlery market. Some of the new cornucopia of multi-taskers are recognizable standards, while others feature cutting edge design foreign to anything we ever imagined.

The folding knife dates back to Roman and Viking times. These were simple "clasp knives" but many were very ornate, especially those of Viking age Scandinavia. Technically speaking any knife with more than one blade is a multi-blade, but we tend to think of these knives in terms of "the more blades and tools" the merrier. Highly developed multi-blade knives with multiples blades and tools such as files, saws, can openers, screwdrivers and toothpicks were being produced in Sheffield, England in the early 1800s. Since knives were handmade at the time, the quality rivals that of custom knifemakers today.

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Multi-tools differ from multi-blade knives in they tend to be centered around mechanical tools, such as pliers, as opposed to blades. Early examples of multi-tools can be seen in the O. Barnett pliers knife and Cattaraugus Cutlery adjustable wrench knife produced in the early 1900s. These two knives used a knife handle as a platform to showcase their mechanical tools. These began to evolve into more tool-oriented designs in the 1940-50s, but the multi-tool that put these mechanical wizards on the map was the Leatherman Tool first introduced in 1980.

Iconic

The Leatherman Tool set a new trend in multi-tools and became the generic icon of the genre over the years. Originally designed as a "boy scout knife with pliers," the Leatherman Tool went for many years unchallenged. That all changed when the patent ran out, and if today's new offerings are any indication, the multi-tool is poised for even great growth.

Because multi-tools and multi-blade knives are relatively small in size, both can be easily carried, packed for camping, or tucked away in the glove box. The choice of carrying one or the other may just hinge on how badly you need a pair of pliers, as many of the same functions carry over from one type to the other.

A Look

The Buck X-Tract multi-tool was done in collaboration with renowned mountaineer Peter Whitaker. On the outside it looks like a decent sized folder (4.25") but there are some interesting twists separating it from its peers. Everything on the X-Tract is designed to used one-handed, including accessing a 3" drop point main blade, pliers and nice assortment of other tools.

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The hidden pliers (which also have a built-in wirecutter) are larger than those found in the typical multi-blade knife and slide out of the handle into position. In addition, the jaws are spring loaded to make manipulating your task a bit easier. The handle--available in black or camouflage--is a steel frame topped with soft thermoplastic scales. This multi-tool feels very comfortable in the hand and the main blade has a liner-lock mechanism for added safety. The X-Tract packages a nice assortment of tools and the price is right. At $50.00, the X-Tract packs a lot of tools in a tight, affordable bundle.

CRKT

Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT) rose to be a viable contender in the cutlery industry by taking risks on designs that would scare the pants off the majority of the competition. Their new multi-tools, the Guppie and Zilla-Tool, are two superb examples of the company's zeal for pushing the edge of the sheath, so-to-speak.

At first glance, the Guppie and Zilla-Tool, part of a new CRKT line called "I.D. Works," may strike the serious user as a bit too whimsical. The Guppie resembles a mechanical version of its aquatic namesake and the Zilla-Tool has a profile reminiscent of a lizard or gar. Designed by two free-thinking creatives with a knack for engineering, these tools are unusual but do not sacrifice functionality for art's sake.

The 3.5" Guppie revolves around a crescent wrench as it's main feature, with a host of interesting functions thrown in. A rectangular portion on the rear of the Guppie houses two Phillips and two flat screwdriver bits and an LED light. The bits pop into a socket located at the rear of the Guppie and the entire bit and light housing is magnetically attached so is completely removable. The carabineer function built into the tool allows you to attach the Guppie to a belt loop or pack strap and also pops the cap on your favorite beverage. A 2" drop point blade on the topside is at the ready for light cutting chores. Ingenious.

The Zilla-Tool started life as a pair of pliers and wire-cutters, then grew a 3" knife on its spine and a ratchet on its tail. At 6.5" overall, the Zilla is considerably longer than its Guppie sibling. A comfortable, ergonomic handle allows you to bend, slice, and drive screws (two bits, a Phillips and flat-tip screwdriver are located in the handle) with relative ease. A latch keeps the pliers folded into the handle when not in use and the knife blade has a convenient flipper on the backside making accessing the blade a snap.

Better yet, both the Zilla-Tool and Guppie are very affordable. The Zilla retails for a very reasonable $39.99, the Guppie for $29.99, or about what you'd expect to pay for a good fried catfish dinner for two at your local restaurant.

Gerber

Gerber is into multi-tools in a huge way. I counted over 16 different models and variants on their website and decided to pick one of their newest models of interest, the Gerber Suspension. This is a state-of-the-art multitool similar to the original Leatherman fold-out but with lots of style and features. The spring-loaded plier is one feature in particular which makes using this tool a cinch. You'll never find yourself fumbling around with your fingers trying to re-open the jaws--the spring does it for you.

The Suspension is a mid-sized multi-tool. Fully extended it's 6" in length and folds down to compact 3.5". Gerber offers larger ones if you have the need. The most striking physical trait are the skeletonized "open frame" handles which add both style and weight reduction. Finished off in a Titanium gray coating, this is one of the slickest looking multi-tools around.

Another great feature is the Saf.T.Plus locking system which keeps the blades and tools firmly locked into position while in use. The plier is of the needle-nosed variety, and a serrated blade courted by a host of other handy tools round out the Suspension tool box. Even better, the suggested retail price is just $45.95, which gets you a lot of tool and a load of style compared to similar offerings on the market.

SOG

Think of the SOG Powerlock $60 as a Leatherman tool on steroids. Big, brawny and geared toward the military and tactical markets, the Powerlock $60 is a brute of a multi-tool. A full size set of pliers is accompanied by a host of blades and tools including a patented "V-Cutter," a hook-shaped blade designed for cutting paracord and webbing.

When the pliers are accessed by folding the handles back, the Powerlock $60 extends to 7"; closed length is 4.6". Folding covers on each handle protect the tools from mud and grime, a feature that has made the $60 popular among military troops who have to deal with these and other damning elements in the field. A beefy main blade, saw, file and .25" socket drive are some of the features in the $60. A variant, the EOD $61 Powerlock features a blasting cap crimper and the pliers also feature wire cutting edges at the base. SOG's Powerlocks are available in a silver metal finish or can be had in a black oxide coating to non-reflectivity.

Suggested retail for the SOG Powerlock is $112.00. A slightly smaller version, the Paratool, checks in at 6.4" extended, 4.3" closed, and sells for $92.00 suggested retail. SOG is known for making some serious knives and these multi-tools carry on the tradition more than adequately.

Spyderco

Spyderco has never shied away from the unusual and their multi-tools are no exception. The SpydeRench and byrdRench (4.5" overall) are the only multi-tools featuring both an adjustable (crescent) wrench and plier--and they are the only tools in our line-up that break apart to diversify their functionality. The two tools are virtually identical, but differ slightly in production quality and price, with the byrdRench model being a tad more affordable.

Both the wrench and the pliers can be used without separating the two halves of the tool, but only the wrench is functional after separation. The tools separate by means of a special pivot on the plier. Separating the two halves gives you access to a set of four screwdriver bits: A #2 and #3 Phillips-head accompanied by a #1 and #2 flat-head. The bit housing also accepts standard-sized bits such as Allen and Torx wrenches. A 2.5" blade (with a lock-back mechanism for added security) does the cutting chores and a spring-loaded rough file/combination hole-starter is also included.

If all of this sounds a bit complicated, it's not. Once you get the hang of the SpydeRench and byrdRench pivot mechanism everything is a snap. Spyderco quality abounds and the choice of models allows a choice. Suggested retail for the SpydeRench is $149.95, the byrdRench is about $124.00.

Victorinox

Victorinox broke with tradition several years back and added a radically different handle design to their line. Considerably larger (4.5") and more ergonomic than the standard cigar pattern the Swiss Army Knife line had been based on for over 100 years, this new series is comfortably part of the company's line-up.

The Fireman model is one of their most popular, as it has just enough tools to make it very handy but is not so cumbersome as to be a burden to carry. The handles can be had in red or black, and a sliding lock on one of the scales secures the main blade and other larger tools. A wood saw and gutting blade make this an ideal multi-blade for the hunter and survivalist and, of course, leave it to the Europeans to make sure we have a corkscrew for that occasional sip of wine in the field.

The stainless steel in Victorinox knives is some of the best you'll find on a production knife. The Swiss Army Knife has been the butt of many jokes over the years but make no mistake, they are loaded with quality. The company still makes the ubiquitous cigar patterned folder in many variations and the small Swiss Classic is a standard in the line--as well as in many pockets throughout the world. Suggested retail for the 13-function Victorinox Fireman model is $57.95. Victorinox also makes several multi-tools as well, all based on the folding platform Leatherman made famous. Check out the Spirit model if you like sleek styling and Swiss vault construction.

Wenger

For many years Wenger has lived in the shadow of Victorinox as "that other Swiss Army Knife company," but the company's new Porsche-designed multi-tool is out to change all that. Wenger's previous multi-tool had pliers built into their standard Swiss Army knife. The new Porsche design is based on the same concept but the old cigar-shaped handle went out the window and a slick, ergonomic handle brings it up to new millennium standards.

An impressive pair of pliers extends out the end of the tool and when not in use lock snugly to the handle with a metal rocker lock. The main blade is 3.25" with a spear point design in the true Swiss Army tradition. Most impressive is a beefy foldout socket with an assortment of four bits (and a tire tread gauge!) which are held in a separate covered department located at one side.

The Wenger Porsche multi-tool's matte finish Ruthenium scales make for as comfortable a handle as you'll find on any knife. A nice selection of tools are designed in, and in true European style, a corkscrew is included. With a suggested retail of $250.00 the Wenger Porsche multi-tool ain't cheap, but then neither are sports cars designed by the same talented group of engineers. And if you want to stand out from the crowd, this multi-tool does it in spades.

For more info: Buck Knives, (800) 215-2825, www.buckknives.com; C.R.K.T., (800) 891-3100, www.crkt.com; Gerber Gear, (800) 950-6161, www.gerbergear.com; SOG Knives, (888) SOGBEST, www.sogknives.com; Spyderco, Inc., (800) 525-7770, www.spyderco.com; Victorinox USA, (800) 442-2706, www.swissarmy.com ; Wenger N.A., (800) 267-3577, www.wengerna.com.