In 1975, after earning a Mechanical Engineering Degree, Tim Leatherman left Oregon to explore Europe on a post-university budget. The trip challenged Tim with car troubles and plumbing issues which were often too tough for him and his pocket knife to fix. When he returned, Leatherman drew from his experiences to design the original Leatherman PST (Pocket Survival Tool). In 1983, he and his business partner received their first order for 500 multi-tools. By 1993, they had sold more than a million Leatherman PST multi-tools worldwide.