How old are multi tools?

[Branson]

A lot older than I thought.  From 1560 to 1570:

http://www.design-is-fine.org/post/108959819159/universal-tool-1560-70-germany-iron-case-with

From 1580, this one really astonished me:

http://www.design-is-fine.org/post/108822354954/multi-tool-1580-iron-with-etched-decorations

Moving to the 18th Century, these:

http://www.design-is-fine.org/post/111405022074/saw-sets-combination-tools-hammers-and-a-signet

got a couple other pictures that I'll post in the appropriate sections

[jimwrench]

 Very neat. Back then we had artificers and artisans who spent lots of time embellishing their work. Finding any of these would definitely increase my heart rate.

[PFSchaffner]

This, I think, qualifies:

http://webapps.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explorer/index.php?oid=70534

[Papaw]

All of those are outstanding!

[Twilight Fenrir]

This, I think, qualifies:

http://webapps.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explorer/index.php?oid=70534

Wow...

I guess, for as long as there have been tooks, there have been people trying to smoosh them together into one :P

But, now I'm going to have to forge myself a leatherman-like tool to take to historical reenactments and I can point at this page and say, 'they existed, see?!?' :P

[Yadda]

Plyerman has a collection of multi tool information that includes a lot of photos.  He also has a pretty nice collection of unique multi tools. 

The 19th century until now is the golden age of multi tools. 

[Bill Houghton]

I find myself wondering, given the level of decoration, if these weren't "gentleman's" tools, not intended for actual use.

I'm tempted to argue that multi-tools go back farther than that...

...but I guess that would be unfair.  I mean, the really old ones don't have a corkscrew or church key, even (an omission I also note on the examples Branson posted), so how can they be multitools?

[Branson]

This, I think, qualifies:

http://webapps.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explorer/index.php?oid=70534

Wow!  Roman!  Quite the piece!

[turnnut]

the human hand is the oldest tool, and it could do many task.