Leatherman ARC review
Leatherman ARC Multi-Tool (MagnaCut)
By Tom Calder
The ARC is Leatherman's current flagship and the natural upgrade path since the Free P2 was discontinued. It earns its premium price with genuinely excellent steel, but it's built for a kit at home, not for carrying around or keeping in the car.
- Best for
- Home and workshop kits where blade quality and edge retention matter more than price
as of 4 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- CPM MagnaCut blade holds an edge and resists corrosion far better than steel on cheaper multi-tools
- 20 tools cover most home and vehicle repair jobs from one unit
- 25-year Leatherman warranty
Worth knowing
- One of the most expensive multi-tools on the market
- Locking blade means it can't just be carried around casually
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Our review
The ARC is Leatherman's flagship: 20 locking tools built around a 7cm MagnaCut blade, the hardest and most rust-resistant steel the company fits. The rule that governs how you own it is the lock, because UK law only exempts a folding knife from the carrying offence if it does not lock and its edge is 3 inches or under. It suits a home or workshop kit; it does not suit a pocket or a glovebox.
What it is
Leatherman lists 20 tools: needlenose and regular pliers, replaceable wire and hard-wire cutters, a wire stripper and electrical crimper, a saw, spring-action scissors, an awl, a wood/metal file, a diamond-coated file, an edge file, a pry tool, can and bottle openers, a large screwdriver, large and small bit drivers (Phillips #1-2 and 3/16in bits supplied), an impact surface, and the blade. That blade is a 7.01cm modified drop point in MagnaCut, hardened to 60 to 63 HRC, with a black PVD coating; the frame is 420 stainless. Closed it is 10.8cm, open 16.38cm, 1.73cm thick, and Leatherman gives 8.6oz, which is 244g. Every tool, pliers included, opens one-handed and locks in place, and the magnetic FREE architecture snaps them shut. It is made in Portland, Oregon.
Why the steel is the story
Leatherman calls the ARC the first multi-tool with a MagnaCut blade and says the steel holds its edge longer and resists rust; it gives the hardness as 60 to 63 HRC. For a multi-tool that sits in a drawer for months and then has to cut rope, strip cable or open packaging, resistance to rust matters as much as edge life, and that combination is what you are paying for. The PVD finish on blade and frame is a second layer against damp. Leatherman's warranty does not cover sharpening, so budget for a sharpener suited to a hard stainless.
UK knife law
The gov.uk rule is simple: a folding pocketknife escapes the offence of carrying a knife in public only if its cutting edge is no longer than 3 inches and it is not a lock knife, meaning no button, spring or catch is needed to fold it. The ARC's blade is under 3 inches but it locks, so the exemption does not apply, and carrying it in public needs a good reason, such as using it for your work. The maximum penalty for an adult is four years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Owning one at home is lawful. Our car emergency kit checklist explains why locking multi-tools stay out of a vehicle kit, and the bug-out bag vs grab bag guide covers what goes in a bag that leaves the house.
How it compares
On the comparison the Leatherman Wave Plus has 18 tools, two 420HC blades (one plain, one serrated), weighs 241g and carries the same 25-year warranty for a fraction of the outlay; it is the sensible full-size Leatherman if steel is not your priority. The Victorinox SwissTool Spirit XBS has 25 tools, a 56mm locking blade, 208g and a lifetime guarantee, but its blade is not one-hand opening. The ARC is the heaviest of the three by a few grams and the only one with a premium blade steel; the Wave Plus shares its replaceable wire and hard-wire cutters.
Living with it
Leatherman's 25-year warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship and excludes sharpening, colour finishes, and most sheaths and accessories. UK claims go through Whitby & Co, the UK and Ireland warranty centre: you complete the online form, print the packing slip and post the tool, and Leatherman returns it by Royal Mail 48 age-checked tracked post; it asks you to allow 10 to 15 working days for the claim. A sheath and the full bit kit are sold separately, and the pocket clip is removable. At the time of checking, Leatherman UK listed the ARC as backordered.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want one multi-tool for the house kit and workshop that will still cut cleanly after years of occasional use, and you accept that it lives at home. Skip it if you want something to carry: a non-locking folder with an edge under 3 inches, or the Wave Plus kept in the toolbox, does the job for far less. Our emergency kit list shows where a multi-tool sits in the wider kit.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 21 Oct 2026. Sources: Leatherman UK: ARC product page and specifications; Leatherman UK: 25-year warranty and how to claim; GOV.UK: selling, buying and carrying knives.
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it to carry day-to-day in public — under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 s.139, a locking blade like the ARC's cannot legally be carried in a public place without good reason, and one kept in your car can count as one you have with you; owning it and keeping it at home is lawful.
Key specs
| Tools | 20 tools inc. pliers, saw, scissors, awl, file |
| Blade | 2.8in CPM MagnaCut, DLC-coated, locking blade |
| Weight | 244g (8.6oz) g |
| Warranty | 25 years yr |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for A do-everything full-size tool for the home and shed that you buy once and keep for decades.
as of 4 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A do-everything multi-tool for the home or workshop kit that should last a lifetime.
as of 4 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A dedicated outdoor tool where the fire-starter, whistle and one-hand-openable blade earn their place.
as of 4 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
Is the Leatherman ARC legal to carry in the UK?
Not without a good reason. Its blade locks, so it falls outside the gov.uk exemption for folding pocketknives with a cutting edge of 3 inches or less, and carrying it in public can bring up to four years in prison and an unlimited fine. Keeping one at home is lawful.
What steel is the Leatherman ARC blade?
MagnaCut, a stainless steel that Leatherman hardens to 60 to 63 HRC, in a 7.01cm modified drop point with a black PVD coating. The frame is 420 stainless.
How heavy is the Leatherman ARC?
Leatherman gives 8.6oz, which is 244g. It is 10.8cm long closed, 16.38cm open and 1.73cm thick, so it is a toolbox or kit-bag item rather than a pocket one.
Does the Leatherman ARC come with a sheath?
No. Leatherman sells the sheath and accessories separately. The tool comes with a removable pocket clip and Phillips #1-2 and 3/16in bits, and it works with Leatherman's bit kit.
How long is the Leatherman ARC warranty?
25 years, against defects in materials and workmanship. UK and Ireland claims are handled by Whitby & Co, with the repaired or replaced tool returned by tracked post.
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