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Leatherman Skeletool
- Thread starter navihawk
- Start date
So what gives everyone on the forum is saying that it is a combo edge only for the CX 154CM version, a deal breaker for me, but when I look online I see plain edge too (PE). Do a google image search with Skeletool CX and you will see it clearly too. Is it available or not?
-Mat
(a knife guy that want a pocket clip multitool... of quality... not the Kick)
-Mat
(a knife guy that want a pocket clip multitool... of quality... not the Kick)
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2006
- Messages
- 8,210
I'm not sure whats up. I can also find images of the Skeletool CX with a plain edge (see photos below). But on the Leatherman site, the Skeletool CX has a combo edge and the Skeletool has a plain edge. Maybe the photos were of prototypes. I really can't say. 
But I'd rather have the plain edge blade.
But I'd rather have the plain edge blade.
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2006
- Messages
- 8,210
I think the plain edge was just a prototype. See Doug's site:
http://www.equipped.com/ORSummer2007.htm
http://www.equipped.com/pp/pic1959.htm
...What do you guys think of the design for accessing the screwdriver? The handles need to be unfolded to use the screwdriver. On occasion, I'll use my SwissTool Spirit with the handle extended but it doesn't look like a comfortable grip on the Skeletool. The following photo is from equipped.com:
http://www.equipped.com/ORSummer2007.htm
http://www.equipped.com/pp/pic1959.htm
...What do you guys think of the design for accessing the screwdriver? The handles need to be unfolded to use the screwdriver. On occasion, I'll use my SwissTool Spirit with the handle extended but it doesn't look like a comfortable grip on the Skeletool. The following photo is from equipped.com:
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2006
- Messages
- 207
Sharpening serrations is about as fun as chewing on nails. Well thats mainly the reason for me not so keen on the CX anymore.
So if they weren't any more difficult to sharpen, the combo blades wouldn't be an issue?
One would think there has to be some ingenious way to automatically sharpen knife blades and serrations without being super-expensive.
Ritter's said in either that or his previous coverage of the Skeletool that it was actually comfortable to hold relative to other multitools. (I think he was mainly comparing it to the Charge from the context, but I could be wrong)
Of course, he also dissed the combo edge blade (I'm not sure why, maybe the sharpening thing?).
The problem with the Skeletool as a knife imo isn't in the combo edge, it's in that once again the knife blade is relegated to half the tool in height and does not have good handle ergonomics relative to a high-quality dedicated folder.
The knife blade in the Skeletool is compromised for the pliers. The design is more of a Charge Jr. than a true knife-centric multitool, imo. Which is too bad-- if you see what they did with the carabiner, they instead could used that asymmetrical bulge and curve for the knife blade and made it wider. The carabiner could just be something rotated outward like on their knives. The handle could've been much better for a knife if they introduced asymmetries for your hand shape and used a more textured material like G10 on the handle.
I think the way you use the screwdriver is fine, and folding it open like that (with a Charge) actually lets you use it in some applications that are difficult to reach.
One would think there has to be some ingenious way to automatically sharpen knife blades and serrations without being super-expensive.
Ritter's said in either that or his previous coverage of the Skeletool that it was actually comfortable to hold relative to other multitools. (I think he was mainly comparing it to the Charge from the context, but I could be wrong)
Of course, he also dissed the combo edge blade (I'm not sure why, maybe the sharpening thing?).
The problem with the Skeletool as a knife imo isn't in the combo edge, it's in that once again the knife blade is relegated to half the tool in height and does not have good handle ergonomics relative to a high-quality dedicated folder.
The knife blade in the Skeletool is compromised for the pliers. The design is more of a Charge Jr. than a true knife-centric multitool, imo. Which is too bad-- if you see what they did with the carabiner, they instead could used that asymmetrical bulge and curve for the knife blade and made it wider. The carabiner could just be something rotated outward like on their knives. The handle could've been much better for a knife if they introduced asymmetries for your hand shape and used a more textured material like G10 on the handle.
I think the way you use the screwdriver is fine, and folding it open like that (with a Charge) actually lets you use it in some applications that are difficult to reach.
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2006
- Messages
- 207
Well one of the big reasons behind people not liking combo blades is that there is neither enough plain blade or serrations to be really useful for specific things. I mean serrations are great for cutting rope and netting but if your not doing that it would be much more practical to have a plain edge. Since its half and half, its kind of annoying since I cut with the center of the blade most of the time and that is right in between the serrations and plain edge which results in me jerk cutting.
Personally I want this tool because all I really need is the knife, carbineer, pliers, and pocket clip; so the screwdriver argument for me is null since I'd only use it once in a blue moon. Although I also want the 154cm blade, which is only on the CX, and that has a combo blade...so I will probably wait until after release to see if they offer an alternative plain blade option.
If not I fear I will eventually cave in regardless.
Personally I want this tool because all I really need is the knife, carbineer, pliers, and pocket clip; so the screwdriver argument for me is null since I'd only use it once in a blue moon. Although I also want the 154cm blade, which is only on the CX, and that has a combo blade...so I will probably wait until after release to see if they offer an alternative plain blade option.
If not I fear I will eventually cave in regardless.