Mark Underwood unveils the innovative features of the Leatherman MUT, a multi-tool for firearm maintenance and beyond
Would you like to appear on our site? We offer sponsored articles and advertising to put you in front of our readers. Find out more.The MUT (military utility tool) is marketed by Leatherman as the first multi-tool that functions as a tactical and practical tool for military and civilian shooters alike. It carries a
number of functions not found on other multi-tools and they are certainly practical for shooters.
In terms of standard features, there is of course a good strong blade made of 420 HC steel, with straight and serrated sections, a saw, regular and needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, bottle
opener and bit drivers. All these tools are high quality as you would expect from Leatherman, and the pliers are very substantial and strong.
The more shooter-specific tools include two threaded locations for attaching cleaning tools or rods. These allow you to turn the MUT into a ‘handle’ when cleaning your firearm, although it’s not very practical if attaching a cleaning brush directly to it because it gives you no reach down the bore. You really need to attach a cleaning rod first to be able to get a
brush into a rifle barrel.
The bronze carbon scraper is a very useful tool and lets you get into all sorts of nooks and crannies on a firearm and remove deposits. The long, and replaceable, disassembly punch is also
handy if you need to take a gun apart in the field.
The bolt over-ride tool is a strong hook on the rear of the MUT, intended to be used to drag back the action of an AR-type weapon if it has jammed, but it is actually a handy provision with lots of other uses. A front-sight adjustment tool, designed for A2 type sights, also functions as a magnetic bit-holder, making it a practical feature with other uses.
The replaceable cutting hook is another good feature, allowing you to cut rope or straps without having to deploy the blade, and the hammer is cleverly designed so that it uses the
weight of the tool itself to function pretty well.
A great feature of the MUT is its ability to carry several tool bits within the handles. One handle carries two long double-ended Leatherman tool bits, held securely in place with a
cross-button like the safety on a Ruger 10/22, and the other holds a single, short, double-ended bit.
The MUT is also supplied with bits that can be swapped in, enabling you to carry bits specific to your gun to give you a fully customised tool kit.
CONCLUSION
This is a good, strong and substantial tool that can be fitted with six different bit heads to suit your needs. It can be carried with the large and removable pocket clip, on the carabiner clip or in the supplied Molle sheath, so it is always to hand. The tools are all useful for a shooter, and not just for the specific guns it is designed for, and it makes for a very useful item to carry – where legally permitted.
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