The Gerber Multiplier 600, better known as the MP600, is a big heavy-use multi-tool that’s built like a tank. It used to be military-issue (still is?) which usually means it’s cheap enough and good enough. And it is indeed good, even better than I expected.
First Impressions: Packaging and What’s in the Box
Right off the bat, the MP600 didn’t arrive in a traditional box, it came in a clamshell plastic container, which I wasn’t a fan of at all. Those things are notoriously frustrating to open, and this one was no exception. Inside, the packaging listed the contents simply as the tool and a sheath, along with a small multilingual caution flyer and a torque wrench accessory tucked in alongside everything else.
On the manufacturing side, the packaging made it clear that the MP600 is designed and engineered in Oregon and assembled in the US but it’s built with global parts. In plain terms, that means some components are sourced from China, and the sheath itself is entirely made in China. It’s worth knowing that going in, especially if full American-made construction is a dealbreaker for you.
The Sheath: Basic and Functional (Barely)
The sheath was about as unremarkable as expected. It was a simple nylon pouch with a Velcro closure and a belt loop for vertical carry. Nothing to get excited about, to be honest. I’d call it pretty much junk. It does the job of holding the tool, but it’s not something you’d brag about. For a multi-tool with this kind of military pedigree, a more robust sheath would have been a welcome addition.
Build Quality and Design
Once the tool was actually out of the packaging, the quality difference between it and the sheath was immediately apparent. The MP600 had a handsome black oxide finish and felt genuinely solid and built like a tank. There was a slight looseness to the handle scales, but that’s by design, since it’s a necessary part of the one-handed deployment mechanism.
One-Handed Plier Deployment
The standout feature of the MP600 is its unique plier deployment system. Instead of the traditional fold-open design where you swing the handles out, the MP600 uses a sliding mechanism: two buttons on the sides of the handle that, when pressed, allow the pliers to slide out from the front. It worked smoothly and could genuinely be operated with one hand, which is a real-world advantage when your other hand is occupied.
The Pliers
The pliers themselves were well-designed and purpose-built. The tip was a long-nose style with a bolt gripper section, and the jaws have replaceable carbide inserts, a major selling point for serious users. It has both a soft wire cutter and a hard wire cutter. There was also a crimper built in.
I tested the cutters on a few different wire types. Rebar tie wire was no problem. Solid core wire went through cleanly. Stranded wire gave it a bit of a struggle at first, but switching to the correct cutter solved that quickly. The replaceable cutter design means you’re not stuck with a worn-out tool. You can swap them out and keep the multi-tool in service indefinitely.
The Tools
Unlike many multi-tools, the MP600 doesn’t have any outside-accessible tools. Every blade and implement requires the pliers to be deployed first, which means you need two hands (or a surface) to access them. It’s a tradeoff for the one-handed plier deployment.
Blades
- Plain Edge Knife Blade – A sheep’s foot profile that came genuinely sharp. It featured a liner lock mechanism, released by pulling a small tab. Solid and functional.
- Serrated Blade – Located on the opposite side, it was sharp enough to cut wood shavings cleanly. A capable secondary blade.
Screwdrivers and Openers
- Bottle Opener with Flathead – Standard issue, nothing surprising.
- Large Flathead – A beefier flathead driver for heavier work.
- Small Flathead – Smaller, though not quite micro-sized.
- Full 3D Phillips Head – A bit short, but it was a true 3D cross-point, not a pseudo-Phillips, which made it actually useful.
- Can Opener – Not the sharpest can opener I’ve come across, but it would get the job done with a bit of determination and muscle.
File
The file was a pleasant surprise. Despite the black oxide finish, which usually dulls the aggressiveness of a file, this one had real bite to it. It featured a cross-cut side and a single-cut side, giving it versatility for different filing tasks.
Other Details
- Rulers – Both centimeter and inch scales were etched into the handle scales, a small but handy touch.
- Lanyard Hole – A dedicated hole for attaching a lanyard or retaining cord.
What’s Missing
For all its strengths, the MP600 did leave one notable gap in its toolset: there was no wood saw. For field use, a saw can be invaluable, and its absence was noticeable. Gerber does offer other products to fill that gap, but it would have rounded out the MP600’s capabilities nicely had it been included.
Final Thoughts
The Gerber MP600 Multiplier lived up to its reputation in the ways that matter most. The one-handed plier deployment was genuinely clever and useful. The replaceable carbide wire cutters were a standout feature that set it apart from most competitors. The build quality was rugged and confidence-inspiring. The black oxide finish looked great and the overall construction felt like something that could take real abuse.
The sheath was a letdown, and the lack of outside-accessible tools is a real-world inconvenience. The absence of a wood saw was also felt. But taken as a whole, the MP600 was a multi-tool with authentic military history behind it and a durable design that had clearly held up across decades of use. If you want something that was built for actual work rather than just shelf appeal, the MP600 delivered.
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