Review: Multitasker Tools Ultralight

The Ultralight box lists several of the features of the tool.

Multitasker Tools makes a line of compact, multifunctional tools that are designed specifically to service the AR-15. I previously reviewed the TUBE from Multitasker and loved it. After the review, I was very eager to try out more Multitasker Tools. Thankfully, Shane at Multitasker Tools was generous enough to provide one of his excellent Ultralights along for me to try.

The first thing that I noticed about the Ultralight is that is has a form factor similar to a Swiss Army Knife (SAK). This is a great form for a tool like this since it allows the tools to open in such a way that they are basically straight and inline with the handle. The Ultralight is what MacGyver would have carried if he wasn’t such a sissy about guns.

The Ultralight comes with everything shown in the picture.

The Ultralight has a useful lanyard loop and pocket clip.

In the Box

When you purchase an Ultralight you will find several useful items in the box. There is the tool itself, a bit holder with an assortment of 10 useful bits, and a heavy duty MOLLE compatible sheath. There is also a paper that spells out the limited lifetime warranty and has some instructions for usage.

Sheath

The sheath is designed to accept both the Ultralight itself and the bit holder (with bits). There is an elastic sleeve in the back of the sheath that holds the bit holder in place and keeps it from rattling against the Ultralight. The back of the sheath features a MOLLE strap that allows you to attach the Ultralight to your chest rig, belt rig, plate carrier, pack, or any other MOLLE webbing.

The sheath is MOLLE compatible.

The bit driver uses standard 1/4" bits so you can easily tailor your kit to your AR.

Bits and Bit Holder

The bit holder is made from a flexible rubber material. It relies on friction to retain the bits and it retains them very well. The Ultralight comes with an assortment of useful bits that should cover a wide variety of tasks like tightening a scope ring. If the included bits don’t work for you, you can easily add any standard 1/4″ bits to suit the specific fasteners found on your gear.

The Ultralight has 4 main tools with many intended and improvises uses. They are (from left to right): castle nut wrench, bit driver/front sight tool, dental pick, and bolt scraper.

Even if you generally don't scrape your bolts, you will find other uses for this versatile tool.

Tool Selection

The Ultralight has 4 tools, many with multiple uses. The first tool is the castle nut wrench (AKA stock wrench). The castle nut is the notched round nut that holds the end plate and receiver extension (AKA buffer tube or stock tube) in place. The castle nut is notorious for coming loose at inopportune times and causing malfunctions. This is why many people stake it in place and why it is extremely wise to have a tool in the field that is capable of tightening it in a pinch. The castle nut wrench also has a flat blade screw driver tip and is capable of being used as a bottle opener.

The second tool is the bit driver. This comes with a very easy to use front sight adjustment tool installed but it can easily accept any of the included bits. Many multitools use non-standard sized bits but Multitasker Tools insist on the extra function, ease of use, and versatility that comes with using standard 1/4″ bits that are available in any hardware store. Thanks to the way the tools opens and locks inline with the handle, the bit driver is very easy to use. It feels much like a standard screwdriver in the hand. You may want to consider adding an extension to your kit.

The bolt scraper is the third tool. It has a thumb stud that allows you to open it one handed. The end of the scraper is bent 90 degrees and is rounded. This allows it to conform to the unique contours of a bolt tail. Many users have also reported success when using this tool to clear brass stuck in the chamber of their AR or correct bolt override malfunctions.

The fourth tool is a dental pick. The pick is shaped to be helpful in cleaning the very small corners that can be found on an AR-15 bolt. It is also shaped to be a useful for removing the bolt retainer pin from the bolt carrier. The pick can be removed from the tool to reveal a threaded post that will accept an OTIS cleaning cable. This allows you to use your Ultralight as a handle for pulling your cleaning cable through the barrel.

Every tool on the Ultralight locks open.

The liner locks are very well executed. You can also see the bronze washers used to keep the tools moving freely.

Details, Fit, and Finish

Many of the construction methods and materials used in the Ultralight are similar to those used in quality folding knives – like G10, locking mechanisms, and bronze washers.

Sometimes a single detail will stand out as a glimpse into just how much experience and thought went into the design and manufacture of this tool. The Ultralight features handle scales made from G10. G10 has some incredible properties that make it ingenious for this application. It is extremely hard and durable so its surface can be machined to provide a lot of grip and it is resistant to solvents. So it is basically exactly what you would want on a tool that is made to work in and around mechanical devices that require the heavy use of lubricants and solvents in order to maintain operation.

Each individual tool locks in place when fully opened. The castle nut wrench and bit driver use a sort of short lock back mechanism. The dental pick and bolt scraper both use liner locks. The liner locking tools both have stops ground into the tang of the tool that prevents the liner lock from over traveling. This is a very functional safety feature that I have never seen before.

There are bronze washers sandwiched between the tools and the liners. Those of you who are familiar with folding knives will recognize this as a desirable feature. The bronze washer allows the tools to pivot smoothly even though they are sandwiched in the tool very tightly. They also serve to shim the tools a bit to reduce side-to-side play. These are the kind of touches that go unnoticed by most but reflect the quality of a Multitasker Tool.

All the metal parts of the tool are finished in an attractive black oxide finish that seems to be very durable. Even after a fair amount of use the tools show little to no finish wear on the tangs where the locks engage which is generally a very high wear area.

The Ultralight also features a lanyard loop and pocket clip. The lanyard loop is very useful for dummy cording the Ultralight to your gear so it can not be dropped or lost. I found the pocket clip useful for keeping the Ultralight clipped in a pocket during tasks where I knew I would need it frequently like zeroing a new optic.

Even with gloved or oily hands, the G10 scales provide excellent grip.

Overall

There are so many uses for the Ultralight both intended and improvised. The quality is great, the design is ingenious, the materials used in its manufacture add to the functionality, and its functions are many. What more can you ask from a tool? The Multitasker Tools Ultralight would make a very worthy addition to your range gear.

You can purchase your own Ar-15/M16 Multitasker Tools Ultralight Multitasker Tool at Brownells.