Leatherman Tool Group is a privately held company based in Portland, Oregon. It was founded in 1983 by Tim Leatherman and his business partner Steve Berliner, and it has never been sold to a conglomerate, taken public, or moved. Tim Leatherman stepped back from day-to-day leadership years ago, but the company remains independent and family-connected, with a professional CEO running it. This guide covers the ownership, the history that explains it, and why independence shows up in the tools.
The short history
Tim Leatherman spent the late 1970s building a pliers-based pocket tool after a trip through Europe in a car that kept breaking down, and could not find a knife company that wanted it. He founded his own company in 1983 with Berliner, shipped the Pocket Survival Tool to Cabela's, and sold about 30,000 in the first year. The Wave arrived in 1998 and became the best-selling multitool in the world. The company has stayed in Portland and stayed private through all of it.
Who runs it
Leatherman is run by an appointed CEO and executive team, with the founding families as owners. Tim Leatherman has remained involved as a public face and in product direction. There is no parent corporation.
Why it matters
Private ownership is why the 25-year warranty has survived, why manufacturing stayed in Portland, and why the product line evolves slowly rather than chasing trends. It is also why Leatherman's prices are what they are; there is no cheaper overseas line.
The tools that came from it
The original PST and its modern successor, the Bond, the Wave, and the Arc, all made in the same city by the same company. Every Clip & Carry sheath and holster is molded from .08-inch kydex, handmade in the U.S.A. by military veterans, with adjustable retention and a lifetime guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Leatherman?
Leatherman Tool Group is privately held, founded by Tim Leatherman and Steve Berliner in 1983.
Is Leatherman a public company?
No.
Is Leatherman owned by Gerber or Fiskars?
No. Gerber is owned by Fiskars; Leatherman is independent.
Is Tim Leatherman still involved?
He remains connected to the company as a founder and owner, with a CEO running operations.
Where is Leatherman based?
Portland, Oregon.
The bottom line
Founder-owned, private, Portland. Carry a Leatherman in a sheath made in the U.S.A.
Related reading
Where are Leatherman tools made?
What is a Leatherman?
Best sheath for the Leatherman Bond and original PST
