Mod Right Leatherman Mods: Hammer and Bit Holder Upgrades for Surge and Skeletool

Introduction

Leatherman makes some of the most refined multi-tools on the market, but there has always been a community of owners who want more out of them. Mod Right, a small company founded by mechanical engineer Ben Gruce in Greenwood, Arkansas, builds precision modifications for the Leatherman platform across several of its designs. The idea is simple: take a tool you already trust and make it genuinely more capable.

We spent time with three of Mod Right’s mods: a hammer mod for the Skeletool, a hammer mod for the Surge, and a full quarter hex bit holder for the Surge. Each arrived well made, well thought out, and packaged in a usable tool container, which is a nice touch that reflects how seriously the maker approaches even the small stuff. There are around ten mods available in total, and the rest of the lineup covers things like utility and scalpel blade holders.

Why Mod the Skeletool?

The Skeletool is designed to be exactly what its name implies: a skeleton tool with just the bare necessities. In stock form, the butt end is a lanyard hole and a carabiner-style bottle opener, which leaves a lot of emptiness. That dead space is precisely what the Mod Right hammer mod fills.

The hammer does not get in the way, does not add much weight, and gives the Skeletool an entirely new function. The concept proved itself on the Leatherman MUTT, where a similarly integrated hammer has held up as a genuinely powerful addition to the platform. The same logic works here, and it suits a tool that was always meant to stay lean.

Mod Right Surge Hammer Mod: A Serious Hammer on a Serious Platform

Put the Skeletool hammer on steroids and you get the Surge version. The Surge is a very large platform to begin with, and adding a hammer to it created real engineering challenges. A simple flat plate on the end would work for striking, but it would knock out an entire wall of the Surge’s internal tools.

Mod Right’s solution is smarter. The hammer plate includes a small hook, so you release the lock, open the plate, and keep access to the tools underneath. Nothing is sacrificed for the sake of the mod. The whole assembly locks in rock solid once installed.

There is real engineering behind it. This was not thrown together until it kind of worked; it went through many prototypes and testing. The result is a hammer that makes one of the biggest multi-tools in Leatherman’s lineup even more versatile, and it fits neatly alongside the Surge’s already substantial toolset.

Surge Quarter Hex Bit Holder: The Small Mod With Big Payoff

The stock Surge carries Leatherman’s thin double-ended bits, which many owners find limiting. The Mod Right quarter hex bit holder changes that completely, converting the frame into a full-on quarter inch bit holder that accepts standard hex bits.

It does have a practical limitation worth knowing: if you stick a longer bit in there, the tool cannot fully close while the bit is loaded. You can still drive fasteners with it thanks to the lock, but the pliers will not close until the bit comes out. That is a reasonable trade for the flexibility of standard bits.

Installation also opens up an interesting question about which internal tools you actually use. In our configuration, the small screwdriver earned its place while the large one came out, the awl stayed because it gets surprisingly regular use, and the can opener and bottle opener went back in because they see real weekly action. Rethinking the tool wall is half the fun of this mod.

What Else Is Available

Beyond the three mods covered here, Mod Right offers a few other Surge options worth a look if you are planning a build. One holds standard trapezoid utility blades, which makes sense for anyone rough on their cutting edges. Another holds replaceable scalpel blades, which could be a genuinely useful addition for hunters. Both involve the same depth of prototyping and testing as the hammer and bit holder mods.

There is also more coming for the Leatherman Wave Plus, which remains one of the most beloved platforms in the lineup and a natural fit for this kind of customization.

Buying Advice

Start with the platform you actually carry. If you run a Skeletool and value its minimalist character, the hammer mod is the standout, adding a new capability with almost no downside. If you carry a Surge, both mods are worth considering, but the quarter hex bit holder is probably the highest-impact upgrade for most people, especially anyone who drives fasteners regularly. The hammer mod is the more dramatic transformation and suits owners who want maximum capability from a single tool.

One practical tip: think about your internal tool wall before you install anything. Knowing which blades you genuinely use makes the installation process much more satisfying.

Conclusion

Mod Right’s mods do something rare in the aftermarket space: they enhance a tool without undermining what made it good. The engineering is serious, the fit is solid, and the added capabilities, a real hammer on a Skeletool, a hammer that preserves tool access on the Surge, and a full quarter hex bit holder where thin bits used to live, all earn their place. For Leatherman owners who like to tinker and use their tools hard, these are some of the most interesting upgrades available.