As multi-tools have morphed in every direction, you can buy one for just about any purpose you can think of including for weapons maintenance. I reviewed 3 of the best weapons-centric multi-tools and decided that each of them had their advantages and each of them would suit a different type of Multi-Tool MacGyver.
The MultiTasker Series 3x was the most weapons focused of the 3 and was also the highest quality beating out the excellent Leatherman MUT for the highest quality. Now enter the Multitasker Twist. A pen-shaped mini-multi-tool for when you want to travel light and with a gun. It’s not your usual multi-tool but can it do enough to be the only weapons maintenance tool you ever need to carry or is it just a nice toy?
Full Disclosure: Multitasker sent me the Twist with the express instructions to do anything I want with it. So I could have a good look at what it’s capable of I decided to give it my trademark unbiased review.
Carry-ability
Multi-tools don’t come much easier to carry than the Multitasker Twist. After all, it’s basically a pen with a pocket clip. Weighing in at a paltry 1.8 oz (52 gms) it’s not going to bother you if you’re hunting on foot through the bush. Include the 10 piece hex bit kit that comes standard with the Twist and it’s still not going to be a problem at a total weight of 3.6 oz (102 gms).
Drop the Twist in your pocket or instead clip it to your pocket, belt or pack strap. As a bonus, the pocket clip can also be used as a light duty flathead screwdriver.
Multi-Tool-Set
I’m guessing Multitasker named this the Twist because you can twist off the bottom section to expose a set of weapon maintenance tools and you can twist off the top section to use the 1/4″ hex bit driver. The cap top has a couple of pins for use as an aimpoint turret adjuster. The hex bit driver is magnetized and comes with an AR15 front sight tool bit. But of course, you can choose any of the 10 included hex bits you want to leave loaded on the driver – a medium and small flathead screwdriver and a No. 1 Phillips screwdriver, a T10 and T15 Torx plus 4 sizes of Imperial hex head bits. That’s it for the tools for the top section of the Twist.
Twist off the bottom section and you have 3 attachments securely sitting in their own metal cutouts. You’ve got a carbon scraper, a pin punch and my favorite tool – a dental pick. Choose one and screw it into the 8-32 male thread in the top (or should that be the bottom) of the cap you’ve just twisted off. Use it like this or for extra leverage or screw the top back onto the body of the Twist. The screw thread size makes it compatible with Otis cleaning kits for extra flexibility.
Use-ability
We’re used to multi-tools with folding pliers or knife but there’s no room for those tools here. If you need to have these on your weapons maintenance tool then you need to look at Multitasker’s Series 3x. What we have with the Twist is a light and easy to carry tool for common weapons maintenance tasks.
The top section has a 1/4 inch magnetized hex bit driver that adds to its use-ability by having a long arm. The extended arm means it will give you access to more places and of course being magnetized means you won’t need to swear because the hex bit fell out down a hole! This is where you get to use any of the 10 supplied hex bits or of course any of your own. The 10 bits come in a flexible inline bit carrier and they aren’t going to slip out. But there’s also nowhere to put them other than in your pocket or bag.
If you’re like me and don’t keep the tidiest or most organized bag, you might get frustrated when you can’t find the bit holder quickly. Cole-Tac comes to the rescue here with a Twist Pouch that carries the Twist and the bit kit side by side in a tough Cordura pouch. You can buy the pouch from Cole-Tac by itself or with a Twist included for what I think is a good price. On sale at the time of writing this.
Unscrew the bottom section of the Twist to get to the 3 screw-on tools. The tools screw into the base of the section you’ve just unscrewed. Choose the tool you want, screw into the cap and put the cap back on to the main body and it’s ready to use.
The 3/32 inch pin punch has a handy design touch with grip jimping machined into the base to help with screwing and unscrewing. Multitasker warns you not to use the punch as a pry bar. I don’t know why you would use it for prying purposes as it’s clearly not suited for that sort of task but obviously, some owners have done this. I’m not an engineer but a pin punch is designed for force to be applied in line with the punch tip, not diagonal or twisting force that prying tasks require. Anyway, you’ve been warned. If I had to pry something and the Twist was all I had with me I would put one of the flathead bits in the hex driver and carefully use that.
A dental pick is a great weapons maintenance tool and the one on the Twist is the best I’ve seen. This thing could handle a crocodile’s annual dental check-up! It’s ideal for getting into tight spaces that other maintenance tools won’t reach or use it for pulling out retainer pins. I wish more multi-tools included strong dental picks like this because they are a good general purpose tool to have around. This one has a brass shaft with some knurling to help with grip.
The last of the 3 screw-on tools is the carbon scraper. It’s sturdy and does its job. Not much else to say other than I notice it doesn’t have any machining to help with screwing and unscrewing grip. A small omission from Multitasker.
To add to the existing functionality, you can attach Otis style cleaning tools as the base cap screw thread is compatible.
Pocket It or Pawn It?
If the Multitasker Twist toolset is useful for your weapons maintenance tasks then you’re not going to find a better quality multi-tool in such a compact package. The Twist is easy to use and light to carry but has sturdy tools packaged in a clever way. Multitasker has packed a lot into one stealthy tool. My only suggestion would be that I’d like to see a sheath available that can carry the Twist and the included bit kit. A sheath with 2 pockets that stacks the Twist on top of the bit kit. Other than that….MacGyver says POCKET IT!
Multi-Tools – Don’t Leave Home Without One