Leatherman Arc Obsidian v Free P4 | Worth the Upgrade?

[@JonniP1]

I love my P2, I even find use for the small ruler. I'm a guitarist and it's handy for measuring string hight action on the fretboard. So a depth ruler.

[@bretts6127]

Love my p2. Its noticably slimmer and an easy carry. If you dont need all the blades. The awl is compromised but handy for small battery screw and glasses. And no need for extra bits or kits to carry or drop. The back of the plier head is a maul when closed ,nice addition. The price hikes on Leatherman stuff is ungodly and other brands are really inovating.

[@JROTCBALL]

I don’t own either atm I’m leaning towards getting the arc.. I definitely want one from their custom shop with some blade and handle graphics

[@scizzahands]

The gap is for wire stripping works great stripped tons of wires on my projects no issues

[@MarineX]

Gotcha

[@mikelalonde6874]

I have both. I customized my p4 with post mordum scalple, and a standard bit holde/ micro bit holder wich anodized thumb studs on both blades and the saw. I find myself carrying the p4 the most over the arc. But both are great stock. You really can't go wrong. You might find yourself using the cheaper p4 more as your not as worried about tool wear if your odc with your leathermans. Use your tools people! Wear adds character

[@slush714]

Which thumb studs did you add? Are you able to flip the knife open or is it still a slower opening?

[@lancewatson2839]

I have a T4 and thought about getting a P2 but just bought some Stanley combination pliers and saved myself a heap while still having the same tools

[@MrCaptaincoffee]

I upgraded from the p4 to the arc mostly because of the better file, better knife and the warranty protection since i modded the p4 which voids the warranty. Both are very good for creating network cables and the arc is better for wood work due to the file. I did miss the serrated blade on my p4 since i use the tip as a scraper or chisel.

[@jesseadams45]

Because of the way the locks work on the P4, years ago when I first got it, I swapped the blades so the plain edge is the "left handed" option instead of the serrated.

[@gravestone62]

Hey dude I've got to tell you this is one of the most informative videos I've ever seen on any Leatherman tool ever. Kudos and congratulations got a question for you. Can you take the magna cut blade and install it on the free P4

[@hazor09]

Gotta say I also go for my free P4 over my arc and even more so after modding it like yours!

[@Mezna539]

First thing I did with the original ARC was swap the wire cutters out of my P4. Problem solved. Then I got the Obsidian and wish I had a set of black cutters that are like the P4 style. Still love it though. Great video.

[@SlipYoke6081x]

I got an obsidan to replace a surge I lost. I love flicking it open but I do miss the beefiness of the surge, grabbing pieces of tube from a lathe and cleaning welder tips. I’ll get another surge eventually

[@justindudo8169]

I love your presentation and production quality. I would suggest adding weight when comparing the two. Weight is very important to me when considering what I will put in my pockets.

[@MarineX]

Thanks much!

[@jrnumex9286]

for older history and toy buyers. 1967 corvette 327 or 396 fuel injection. many in the day turned down the 396 as didn't see much difference for $300.00. i don't have either here but it would be obsid.

[@JacksonGorilla]

I had been thinking about upgrading my multitool recently, and I was stuck between the surge and arc. I ended up going with the surge because of the t shank mainly. But eventually, I think I will get the arc obsidian because I really do like it as well. But I sure as heck, am not going to pay full price for it.

[@CrawlerFlorin]

The fact that you don’t need bit drivers makes the P4 better if you plan to walk around without a sheath.

[@NZComfort]

I’ve had the P4 for about 3 years now. I use it everyday and have no complaints. As a hiker I would vote for the Free P4, easier to replace if you lose it. However, if you have the cash, go for the Arc.

[@Gambit166]

For the price, Arc Obsidian should've had titanium handles. If it came with titanium handles, I would've bought it day 1. Still tempted to get one though...

[@jesseadams45]

I've had my P4 since it first came out. My Surge and others are so broken in that the pliers open almost the same as the P4. I carried the P4 for several years almost every day but have since gone backward a bit and picked up an old '94 PST, and I'm starting to really prefer it. I'm not sure why, but I think it's the weight reduction over all my other Leathermans.

[@LeathermanSurge-q6l]

Can't make up my mind i go back and forth between the leatherman surge and the leatherman super tool 300 which i think are the best multi tool's for the working man

[@stevenbyington3493]

I’m a commercial service plumber. Those are the only two options for me. I honestly think the ST300 is tougher, but I like the one hand access to the serrated blade for cutting insulation. First world problems 😂

[@tombeckett2442]

I have a Supertool 300. Looking at the free series for one handed access

[@LeathermanSurge-q6l]

​@@tombeckett2442my super tool 300 is one handed 😅

[@w00ey21]

ST300 is easier to carry i found, its pretty easy to one hand open the pliers too

[@stevenbyington3493]

@@w00ey21 once they’re broken in you can flip them like a butterfly knife, or pretty close to it.

[@waltherjaksx8172]

I got 2 arc's because one was a gift from my wife and a p2, im getting the p4 just for the serrated blade 😅

[@cayana-r4p]

Apart from different individual implements, are there any improvements in the Arc's basic frame and plier that make it better than the P4?

[@monoecoco5819]

If you're coming from a more basic letaherman like wingman, sidekick or rev I'll say it's worth it, but from the p4 or p2 not really, you're paying for luxury rather than the tool it self. I'll much rather have the tool set from the wave or charge at a lower cost (s30v steel balde in the charge). But if you're more into edc and showing off definitely go for the arc.

[@duanerobinson935]

I have them both and I use the P4 the most. I gave my P2 to my brother in law. He loves it.

[@MarineX]

Did you mod your P4?

[@duanerobinson935]

@@MarineX nope. Still factory. The mod you did is nice though.

[@MarineX]

@@duanerobinson935 I need to update the description with the mod link

[@danielruprecht8932]

Do you know if the surge scissors would fit in place of one of the outside blades on the wave?

[@user-wr6wo6vr8r]

Is that the olight seeker 4 mini?

[@sudo936]

You can add a thumb stud to your free p4

[@slush714]

Nice comparison! Have you tried to install thumb tabs or studs onto the P4 to aid in opening?

[@MarineX]

They sell them on Amazon?

[@Snowcap-CrewBear]

I seem to have inadvertently gotten into collecting Leatherman Multitools. Only seven at the moment, with the Free P4 and the ARC being two of them and I'm not sure that I should even count the Tread. It is more a piece of man jewelry than a multitool...as a tool it is not very useful! Most of mine have been bought at a good discount from AAFES. Just seems to be a good and arguably healthy way to spend my "mad money!" Besides, those multitools occasionally do come in handy around the house and on the road. LOL.

[@MikeandIkes_EDC]

I'll stick with the P4. The bit mod seems really nice

[@Genesis992]

I have three Arcs. Two regular ones and the newer obsidian one. My edc one is a regular one with the saw and can opener deleted and a serrated blade put in.

[@michaelmonk4316]

I might be mistaken but I thought the P4 was discontinued by leatherman? I have both I like the thumb stud on the Arc and the bit driver but I also could have modded my P4 but they are both nice. I’m kinda hesitant to continue to carry my P4 since it looks like they discontinued it and the ones that are for sale on the secondary market are at least double what retail was.

[@MarineX]

It is. Some will available on Amazon from Leatherman though. As they clear the stock

[@danallen120]

Does the Free P4 have a hammerering surface?

[@MarineX]

Yeah

[@FreakyFredrick1]

Semper Fi brother, from a fellow Marine and leatherman fan. subscribed.

[@marcink9073]

so there is still crappy rounded wire cutters?

[@CBSUCKAFREE]

Q:Yo X, what’s the measurements on your edc tray?

[@flapxjackson]

I won’t be upgrading to any of the Arcs. While I would prefer the diamond file the Arc provides, I’ll stay with my P4. Spending $80 for a file isn’t worth it. I find the blade easy to deploy on the P4. It isn’t an issue for me. It does suck trying to deploy the blade on a T4 though.

[@bayshark7o7]

X u gotta listen to Dom Kennedys new album. The man dont miss! 🎯

[@paulbyland]

I really didn't like the smallest tools on the Free P4. I didn't purchase one until I found Zapwizards flat bitdriver which greatly increased my opinion of it. I also just go the obsidian Arc, but I miss the Fee P4's serrated blade. All that said, neither of them compares to my trusty surge. PS, can I buy the serrated blade off of you?

[@davidcallan7844]

These are collector multi tools not user multi tools . What exactly are you doing that you need to open any of these things one handed? No tradesman is using these, they carry tool boxes for their specialty, never have i seen a plumber, carpenter, electrician, air conditioner/refridgeration repair pull a multitool on the job and i deal with trades people daily. I have multi tools for minor fix its and emergency repairs and field work. Just my opinion , to each their own. Great reviews and content.🙏😎

[@moses84hickory]

If you're on a ladder I am a fire alarm technician and many instances using my tool made more sense than climbing down ladder to grab a tool I did not have on me. I have used in doing hvac as well. There are times when you may have forgotten to grab tool.

[@repairmanlevi9656]

The LM Arc is the Cadillac of MT’s…

[@TKO593]

When referencing a 1/4” driver say “quarter inch driver” not “one fourth”.

[@MarineX]

Tomato tomatoe. It literally depends where you’re from. Just like most folks say flathead screwdriver when it’s actually a slotted screwdriver.

[@mudcrutched1]

Still prefer my OHT.

[@trooper-je4iw]

I filed down my detents so they act like a ballisong. Lol I work in robots. But you can ca tech me flipping it all night lol

[@WidyaDidya]

leatherman wave for the win.

[@campfireleatherworks]

P4

[@stevenglock]

STAY AWAY from Leatherman. I paid them $240 for an Arc and paid extra to engrave my name on it, only to get the item and it looks like the engraving was done by a 3 year old. When I called them, they were snooty and only offered the $12 engraving fee back. The item is horrible looking with the engraving, as is their customer service.

[@dualsportoutdoors]

No way in hell is it worth the upgrade. I had an Arc. It's the lowest quality tool Leatherman has ever made. The frame flexed like a cheap china tool, the wire cutters broke cutting super mild wire (fencing wire), and the blade came crazy dull and wouldn't hold an edge long once sharp. The 154CM on the base model Leatherman Charge holds an edge longer than the "Magnacut" (If that's even really what it is. Doesn't act like it) on the Arc. My advjce to people is to stick to the P4 and pay less than the price of the Arc to have a custom maker make them a Magnacut blade for it that is actually heat treated (63HRC minimum) instead of wasting $230-275 on an Arc to get the clearly un-heat treated Arc that also has the frame flex and wire cutters that break on wire that even Gerber's carbide cutters have no issues with

[@FreakyFredrick1]

I’ve had none of those problems with my arc or free p4.

[@dualsportoutdoors]

@@FreakyFredrick1 my P4 was flawless. My Arc was trash

[@FreakyFredrick1]

@@dualsportoutdoors they did mess up by letting the qc on the arc slip. I guess some got lucky or didn’t

[@dualsportoutdoors]

​@@FreakyFredrick1 someone just gifted me an Arc Obsidian a couple days ago. The same problems that my original one had are present. You must have gotten lucky. I'm on my second Arc and they've both been duds

[@FreakyFredrick1]

@@dualsportoutdoors man I guess so, I’d be on the phone with leatherman getting new perfect arcs sent to me