I'm going to cut right to the chase on the Gerber 600 and say you'll really like this multi-tool if you understand it's design and accept it for what is.There is only two things that truly prevent me from giving the Gerber 600 five-stars and saying it's better than a Leatherman,so let's get to the review...*Body Design:I've been carrying a Gerber 600 in my pocket on the job for a little over a decade and with the handles closed it's not as compact as a Leatherman but it's not exactly bulky either.It doesn't have a fat body and it's sleek in form so except for the plier tips sticking up carry it however you wish.Even after all these years I still love the look of this multi-tool for one firm reason:the Gerber 600 looks industrial and more like a piece of hardware it just says 'use me to fix things' and not surprising it was a popular tool for technicians of all kinds.*Snap-Out Pliers/Wire Cutters:The feature on this multi-tool that really seals the deal...one handed access to your pliers.The newer models like the Diesel and Flik have varying performance on the plier sccess and nothing beats the 600 model.The Diesel does function one-handedly but it was made with different specs/parts and built a little tougher so it's not as smooth(takes a few shakes snapping out).The Gerber Flik is smooth sliding out but snapping out?the physical motion will throw one or more of the external blades out some.Not to veer off topic but I'd say expect that to happen from a Leatherman OHT(which hopes to steal Gerber's thunder)if you use the buttons directly it's fine but external access tools and blades combined with wrist action plier access isn't a good combination.The Gerber 600's dual-rail plier design is pretty smooth by either button access or wrist action and it's a function that's hard to get by without...it really seperates itself from the common multi-tool.I'd refer to the plier design as heavy-duty:utilizes dual round steel buttons and locks solidly...has never failed.The wire cutters are excellent by the way,even though there's no hard-wire notch they are pretty high on the performance scale.The wire cutters on the 600 Series is much better than the newer models because the steel is hard,the chinese models(Diesel,Flik,and others)use soft steel.Soft steel is great for knives but cutting hard wire with high tension on soft steel?expect dings to develop.But I really like the plier design because it's heavy-duty and applies force to the handles rather than rivets.*Knife Blade:The knife blade has changed over the years from a clip-point to a wharncliffe which I though was a good idea,gives a reminder that this more of a utility tool.Can't say much for it other than it was pretty sharp,good grind,and serves it's purpose.As far as the steel it's most likely something between 420HC and 440A(soft steel) but it holds a good edge and sharpens easily,it's a common and user friendly steel.*Tools:All of the tools do their function quite well-the serrated blade is well defined and cuts well.The slotted screwdrivers are machined right and do their job.The file?a Leatherman is a tad more coarse and three sided but the Gerber 600's file does just fine and since I rarely ever used the metal saw on a Leatherman...no love lost.The bottle and can opener do their function accurately and I'm glad they're not a hybrid tool like a Leatherman.A leatherman's hybrid tool would work but mine had a tedency to punch a hole in the center of the cap,the Gerber is perfectly designed.The phillips screwdriver is literally a make or break decision for someone because it's profiled like a standard screwdriver and not contoured for a wider range like an older Leatherman or Victorinox,but the low-profile phillips of the newer Gerber's has some versatility.Now on the job the phillips has never failed me,but there has been a few things during personal use where I thought that contoured screwdriver would come in handy.Someone's solution might be to get the adapter/bit-set for the Gerber 600 and you could but you'd be forced to accessorize rather than go with what your multi-tool has,a good example of that are the newer Leatherman's.Lastly the lanyard,have no use for it and never have.Given the design maybe something like a short awl or a stubby low-profile phillips for smaller stuff would have been a good idea.*Tool Locks:Never been much of a plastics fan but they work smoothly,lock securely,and I've never broken one...as many times as I've dropped my old one on hard surfaces I expected it so nothing bad to say about them.They are nicely designed to use on the face or sides with light texturing.*Blade Oxide Finish:The black finish will leave a residue on your hands at first when you get it,wiping them down(body,tools,blades,the inside) with a paper towel if that bothers you would be recommended...it's not the finish coming off the tool.The finish holds up well actually and always has-the only thing that can affect it are contact with jagged/rough surfaces...it just doesn't come off easily.I can't recommend the black enough over the stainless version which uses a bead blasted finish.Bead blasted looks good but any knife(regardless of steel quality) using this finish develops rust spots...anything from a drafty house,sweaty palms,moisture,body heat,alot of things set it off and you can't get rid off it.It doesn't thoroughly rust something to the point of where it affects use as it's more of a light oxidation but it doesn't look good...Leatherman uses it on their internal tool steel currently.Final Thoughts:This is a very durable and well made multi-tool by Gerber and it's survived many years because of the path it travels.If someone asked my opinion for a multi-tool with everything I'd lean them towards a Victorinox Swisstool or a original Leatherman Wave.If someone(like myself) who fixes things for a living and wanted a multi-tool that belongs in the hardware dept. more than sporting goods with no frills and pure function involved...look no further than the Gerber 600.As I mentioned earlier there are a few things that keep the Gerber 600 from being 'perfect' and on a personal level this was my favorite for a long time and still seems hi-tech to this day,it's good to have it back(lost my old one).But for the sake of the general public I gave it 4-stars because I don't believe in overhyping a product,it's better to know what your'e in for than not at all.4-stars,recommended multi-tool!