Multi-tools date back at least 1,800 years to an ingenious Roman tinkerer who was way ahead of the curve. You could even make a case for Stone Age flintknappers who took a shallow piece of flint and added a graving tip, spokeshave* and scraper for daily chores. Other iterations like the farrier’s knife and scout utility knife popped up much later, though nothing turned the multitool market on its head like the successful Leatherman PST (Pocket Survival Tool) when it hit the market in 1983. Multi-tools today are a popular, firmly entrenched segment of the worldwide cutlery market, show no signs of slowing down and make highly versatile everyday carry knives.
A simple multi-tool that fits in the palm of your hand is
