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The operative spec for duty carry isn’t tool count, it’s whether the tool actually opens one-handed while wearing gloves — an officer with a radio, flashlight, or a subject’s wrist in the other hand can’t stop to unfold a traditional plier-first multi-tool. Every pick below states plainly whether it’s a true one-hand design or a standard two-hand tool included for its capability or durability instead.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leatherman OHT (One-Hand Tool) | $100-$130 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Leatherman Free P4 | $130-$150 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Gerber MP600 | $90-$105 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Gerber Suspension Multi-Tool | $40-$55 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Leatherman Skeletool CX | $85-$100 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Leatherman Charge+ TTi | $160-$180 | Amazon · eBay |
| 7 | Leatherman Wave Plus | $100-$120 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | Leatherman MUT (Military Utility Tool) | $140-$170 | Amazon · eBay |
| 9 | SOG PowerLock EOD | $70-$90 | Amazon · eBay |
| 10 | Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit X | $130-$150 | Amazon · eBay |
| 11 | Kershaw Select Fire | $45-$70 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Leatherman OHT (One-Hand Tool)
Designed specifically for one-handed operation — pliers and every other tool deploy and lock with one hand, a genuine advantage when the other hand is occupied.
- One-handed opening for every tool, not just the blade
- Includes a strap/seatbelt cutter and carbide glass breaker
- Spring-loaded pliers
- True one-hand operation across the whole tool, not just the blade
- Glass breaker and strap cutter suit emergency/rescue use
- Heavier than the Skeletool
Leatherman Free P4
Leatherman’s newer magnetic-architecture flagship — all 21 tools are held closed magnetically and pop open one-handed with a thumb push, the broadest one-hand-everything design in the current lineup.
- 21 tools, all one-hand-accessible via magnetic architecture
- Outside-opening blades
- Premium nylon sheath and pocket clip included
- Most tools of any true one-hand design on this list
- Magnetic snap-closed action stays reliable with gloves on
- Most expensive Leatherman on this list
Gerber MP600
The multi-tool platform that’s been the US military’s top-selling issue since 1998, built around one-hand opening the same way the OHT and Free P4 are.
- One-hand opening for blade and pliers
- Needlenose pliers, RemGrit saw, multiple flathead sizes
- Locking tool mechanism
- Long, proven duty/military track record
- Genuinely one-hand deployable, not just one-hand-assisted
- Fewer specialty tools than the Leatherman MUT
Gerber Suspension Multi-Tool
A butterfly-opening design that deploys with one hand faster than most plier-first multi-tools, at a lower price than the Leatherman lineup.
- Butterfly one-hand deployment
- Stainless steel construction
- 12 integrated tools
- Fast one-hand deployment
- Lower price than comparable Leatherman models
- Fewer premium touches (replaceable parts, etc.) than Leatherman’s top tier
Leatherman Skeletool CX
A minimalist 7-in-1 open-frame design that’s become a common recommendation specifically for police duty carry — light enough to actually wear every shift rather than leaving in a locker. The blade opens one-handed; the pliers still need two.
- 7 tools including needlenose pliers, combo knife, bottle opener
- Open-frame lightweight design
- Carabiner/pocket clip
- Stainless steel construction
- Genuinely light enough for daily duty-belt carry
- Fast one-hand knife access
- Pliers require two hands to open, unlike the OHT/Free P4/MP600
Leatherman Charge+ TTi
A premium titanium-handled EDC/auto multi-tool with an outside-accessible S30V blade, for officers who want top build quality even though the pliers open the standard two-hand way.
- 19 tools, titanium handle scales
- S30V premium steel blade, outside-accessible
- Replaceable wire and hard-wire cutters
- Best blade steel of any tool on this list
- Replaceable cutter inserts extend service life
- Pliers open two-handed, same as the Wave Plus
Leatherman Wave Plus
Leatherman’s best-selling full-size multi-tool, with 18 tools and all-locking blades — the most total capability on this list, at the cost of needing two hands to open the pliers.
- 18 tools, all locking
- Replaceable wire cutters
- Spring-loaded pliers
- Includes saw and file
- Broadest single-tool capability on this list
- Replaceable cutter inserts extend its working life
- Two-hand opening for the plier-based tools, unlike the OHT/Free P4/MP600
Leatherman MUT (Military Utility Tool)
Built originally for military use with firearm-maintenance features, adopted by some officers who want the most rugged, replaceable-parts tool in the lineup even though it isn’t a one-hand design.
- Firearm disassembly/maintenance tools included
- Replaceable wire cutters and file
- Carbide glass breaker
- MOLLE-compatible sheath available
- Most rugged, mission-oriented tool in the Leatherman line
- Replaceable parts extend service life
- Two-hand plier opening, and the heaviest/most expensive Leatherman here
SOG PowerLock EOD
An all-420-stainless multi-tool built with EOD/technician-style tools including a wire crimper and cutter, aimed at officers who need electrical/wire work capability over one-hand speed.
- Full 420 stainless steel construction
- Wire crimper and cutter
- Compound-leverage pliers
- Wire crimper is a genuinely uncommon inclusion
- Full stainless build resists corrosion
- Compound-leverage pliers open two-handed, like a traditional multi-tool
Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit X
A Swiss-made precision multi-tool included as the deliberate two-hand contrast pick — no one-hand opening, but corrosion-resistant construction and machining tolerances ahead of the tactical-focused options here.
- 24 functions including pliers, wire cutter, metal saw
- Swiss-made precision construction
- Compact, lightweight (5.75 oz) with leather/nylon pouch
- Best fit/finish and corrosion resistance on this list
- Compact and light for the function count
- No one-hand opening at all — traditional two-hand Swiss Tool mechanism
Kershaw Select Fire
A knife-first multi-tool rather than a pliers-first one — a full-size one-hand-opening blade paired with a bit-driver set, for officers who prioritize fast blade access over pliers.
- 3.4″ 8Cr13MoV drop-point blade, one-hand flipper opening
- 4-5 piece bit driver set with bit storage
- Built-in ruler
- Fastest one-hand blade deployment of anything on this list
- Cheapest tool here from a name-brand maker
- No pliers at all — not a substitute for a full multi-tool
Buying tips
- If the tool needs to come out fast with one hand while the other is occupied, the OHT, Free P4, MP600, and Gerber Suspension are the true one-hand designs here — everything else needs a free hand to open the pliers.
- For a duty belt worn every shift, weight matters more than tool count — the Skeletool CX stays light enough that officers actually keep it on, at the cost of two-hand pliers.
- A strap/seatbelt cutter and glass breaker (OHT, MUT) are worth prioritizing if the tool is meant for emergency/rescue use, not just general utility.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.