Dave's MultiTool Blog

	I have had something in the region of 50 Leatherman Sideclips pass through my hands in the last couple of years as I have organised forum group buys and internet auction sales, but there was a particular version of the Sideclip that eluded me up until recently....

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The original Sideclip was finished with a "matt" (bead-blasted) effect, which whilst attractive and providing good grip, was notoriously prone to rusting and corrosion. It appears that Leatherman Tool Group attempted to remedy this by finishing the handles with a high polish in the later models. It's possible that the "shiny" finish was less prone to holding moisture, thereby minimising the opportunity for rusting to take place.

Strangely however, the polished variation of the Sideclip does not seem to have been in production for very long at all, in fact they are something of a rarity, and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my friend Poncho for allowing me prise his away from him!

The Sideclip has long been one of my favourite Leatherman tools, due its slim profile. There is no better multitool that I have come across for carrying in a suit breast pocket for example, and the polished finish makes it aesthetically pleasing too.