Following on from a post below.
A Leatherman "Crunch" multitool.
The reason for it's [almost] uselessness isn't the gadget itself though -- as the sharp knife is great for cutting cables, opening boxes, etc. and the mole-grips, screwdrivers and file are pretty useful too.
The reason it has been almost useless to me is that it's now illegal to carry or have in the car in the UK because it has a locking blade. So now it just sits on a shelf and only gets used for the odd job at home.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 13:46, 14 replies)

They're illegal?
Are the little Leatherman tools OK? I carry a titchy Leatherman Squirt in my pocket everywhere. It's been incredibly useful.

I had one confiscated at Jersey airport years ago as the woman at customs seriously believed I would be able to hijack the plane with a blade that is just over an inch long.
(BearWithLittleBrain, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 14:00, closed)

As far as I am aware.
It is illegal to carry any knife with a locking blade in the UK, unless you have "good reason" -- which would usually mean you're a farmer in your field cutting things or a fisherman using a heavy line.
I don't have time for a proper google, but this is pretty much how I read the relevant laws last time I found them online:
www.goxplore.net/guides/Knife_law_%28UK%29#Carrying_Knives_in_Public
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 14:04, closed)

Its a shit law
My friend was hiking and was stopped and searched by the police, in his hiking rucksack along with his tent, cooking equipment, sleeping bag etc. they found a lockknife. They arrested him, took him to the station, cautioned him and took the knife. Apparently "I'm hiking/camping and wanted a knife that won't accidentally close on my fingers" is not a "good reason"
( Peej, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 14:22, closed)

Is your friend Ray Mears?

(LetsGetDownToIt, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 15:02, closed)

nope but we went talking less than a 3" blade

( Peej, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 15:17, closed)

Less than 3 inches is safe
Size does matter after all.
(BearWithLittleBrain, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 16:29, closed)

The length is irrelevant, as far as I can tell.
The three inch rule is for pocket knives -- which must fold without any resistance and not be locked open. A lock knife is classed as fixed-blade knife, all of which are illegal to carry without the aforementioned "good reason".
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 17:28, closed)

You're fine
with it, as long as it's not accessible.

Stick it in a tool box in the boot of the car.
(username failed moderation, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 16:47, closed)

I don't have a car now :-(.
I'm not convinced that's OK unless you're transporting it to a rope-cutting contest or something though. I read the law as being that you could only transport weapons (which a lock knife is now defined as by president) to and from places where they would be used or kept and when you are transporting them they must be locked in the boot -- in much the same way you're not allowed to go driving around every day with a rifle in your car unless you're going to be using it legally every day.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 17:32, closed)

fucking presidents, telling us what we can and can't do... We're not even American for fucks' sake.

This would never have happened under Reagan.
( Happy Phantom has been to Hastings, Brighton, and Eastbourne too, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 18:33, closed)

Gah!
That'll learn me for posting from the pub withoug proof reading.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Fri 30 Sep 2011, 18:45, closed)

If you attach the knife to the rifle a la bayonet
You could claim you were a professional war reenactor!
( number5 has been fighting tramps and losing., Sat 1 Oct 2011, 9:59, closed)

The current UK laws...
As researched online and confirmed by the friendly chap at the local nick when I stopped past to ask them about it...

It is perfectly legal to carry a knife as long as it is a folding pocket knife with a blade of under 3" length.
All knives outwith this limit are illegal to carry without due reason - so you are allowed to carry it as long as you can give a good explanation - a builder heading to work on site carrying a Leatherman is fine, a chef on the way to work with a roll of kitchen knives is fine, a fixed blade in the pack of someone heading off camping for bushcraft is fine and so on... A kitchen knife carried for stabbing people who get in your face is somewhat obviously not fine, and sadly neither is 'I am carrying a Leatherman because it is bloody useful' to most cops.
Actually getting caught with an illegal Leatherman is generally unlikely unless you are doing something stupid, and it does come down to the discretion of the officer that catches you - some may let you off with the Leatherman with an appropriate explanation, some will throw the book at you...

I should probably mention that despite folding away when not in use, the blade on a larger Leatherman when locked open is effectively a fixed blade, so that is what it is classed as. The smaller Leatherman tools (juice and squirt series, kick) are fine to carry, as are normal sized Swiss army knives and other pocketknives.
(442, Sat 1 Oct 2011, 15:13, closed)

I'm going to ask you everything from now on.
I like it when someone puts in time and effort where the rest of us can't be bothered. Good show.
( number5 has been fighting tramps and losing., Mon 3 Oct 2011, 17:20, closed)