Leatherman just dropped two limited-edition Raptor Rescue colorways on for International Nurses Day, and they look nothing like the workhorse shears most nurses, EMTs, and search-and-rescue pros already keep clipped to their bags. One pairs deep violet handles with a rainbow-tinted finish on the shears. The other runs violet handles against rose gold shears. Both ride the same Raptor Rescue chassis underneath, so the upgrade is purely cosmetic, and that’s the point.
Price: $79.95 USD
Where to Buy: Leatherman
If you’ve ever fished around a crowded shift bag at 3 a.m. trying to grab the one tool you actually need, the appeal here lands immediately. A bold pink-and-green South Beach Raptor already stands out. A Violet/Rainbow Raptor stands out and makes a statement before you’ve even unfolded it.
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What’s actually different
Mechanically, nothing. The limited-edition Raptors carry the same 6-tool layout the standard Raptor Rescue has carried for years: 420HC stainless folding shears, strap cutter, ring cutter, 5 cm ruler, oxygen tank wrench, and carbide glass breaker. Same 5.8 oz weight, same 5-inch closed length, same locking shears, same 25-year warranty.
The story is the finish. The Violet/Rainbow variant lays a multi-tonal rainbow finish across the shears that shifts as the light moves, an oil-slick look in everything but name. The Violet/Rose Gold variant trades that iridescence for a warmer, jewelry-like contrast against the violet handle. Both finishes sit on top of the same 420HC stainless underneath.
The shears still lock open. The carbide glass breaker is still set at the base of the handle. The replaceable pocket clip is still there. If you already own a Raptor Rescue, you already know how this one cuts.
Why this matters for the people who actually carry them
Leatherman’s Raptor line has quietly become a category of its own inside EMS and nursing carry. They’re not just shears, and they’re not really a multi-tool either. They’re a six-in-one rescue device that folds small enough to live in a uniform pocket. The Rescue specifically gets the nod over the smaller Raptor Response when you want the glass breaker and strap cutter included, and you’re willing to carry the extra weight and bulk.
What the limited-edition colorways add is identification. In a busy ED, on an ambulance, or on a SAR team, kit walks. A standard black Raptor looks like every other standard black Raptor. A Violet/Rainbow Raptor is yours and everyone on shift knows it.
There’s also the gift angle. Leatherman leans hard into the nurse and EMT graduation market, and limited-edition finishes give that gifting moment something more personal than the usual black-handle default. Engraving is offered on the limited-edition SKUs, so the gift can be made specific to the recipient.
Leatherman is tying the launch to International Nurses Day directly. The brand positions these as “designed for medical professionals in honor of International Nurses Day,” and a parallel Instagram giveaway invites readers to nominate a nurse to win a pair. If you’ve got someone on shift who deserves the recognition, that’s the move.
Price and where to get them
Standard Raptor Rescue retail is $79.95 at leatherman.com, and the limited-edition colorways come in at that same price tier. A utility holster ships in the box for quick-access carry.
The official product page is the safest place to grab one. Third-party retailers tend to lag on limited-edition SKUs and mark them up once stock thins out.
Limited-edition Raptors typically don’t stick around. Previous runs, including the Glow in the Dark series, sold through quickly and often resell at a premium on the secondary market. If either of these two finishes catches your eye, the call is easy: now or never.
The bottom line
These aren’t a new tool. They’re the same Raptor Rescue you’d already recommend to a nurse heading into their first shift or an EMT building out a kit, with a finish that finally matches how much pride that person takes in their work. If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to upgrade your shears from the bargain-bin pair you’ve been borrowing for two years, this is it.
Price: $79.95 USD
Where to Buy: Leatherman
The Violet/Rainbow and Violet/Rose Gold Raptor Rescue colorways are live now on the official Leatherman site, joining eight other colorways already in the lineup. Both ship from Portland, both carry the 25-year warranty, and both stop being available the moment Leatherman’s inventory does.
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