As a collector on a budget, I am resigned to the fact that there are some rare examples of Leatherman tools that I am very unlikely to add to my collection. Every now and then however, I get a pleasant surprise...

Since it's introduction to the Leatherman lineup in 1996, the Keychain sized, scissor based Micra has proved to be incredibly popular. In 2002 Leatherman introduced the Squirt range, with the Squirt S4 offering the same tool selection as the Micra with externally accessed tools and a much more refined finish. It seems reasonable to assume that the S4 was intended to spell the end for the Micra, but it didn't pan out that way at all.

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....

I'm not hugely into modifying my Leatherman tools, beyond refurbishing and restoring old beaten up tools that I pick up on the cheap. During the last week however, I seem to have been quite busy producing no less than three custom tools...