(...) I'm going to ship it to Leatherman with a note and see if they can clean it up.
--dan
Alert us to what happens, and the quality of what you get back. This was not their smoothest product release.
If QC issues get taken care of, I might just get the Skeletool (CX?).
I EDC a Leatherman PST. Sometimes, even it is a touch bulky. My only needs above it are a good file (they hadn't gone to diamond, yet), a better blade, and smaller pliers.
But, it seems Leatherman decided to just cram more and more into their tools, rather than reach a good balance (why the blasting cap ring on everything?). One thing that made the oldest models great was that with the solidly connected tools, they were all good for improvising, and none of them were made too specialized (oh, and not as big as the Core). The Kick/Blast/Fuse do not really offer much over the old PST, and in some ways are inferior. The Wave and friends are big, with lots of stuff. I want less bulk, not more! The Squirt and Juice are just too small.
Do I sound like Goldilocks, yet?
A mildly cut down Blast (no saw or scissors), with Ti handles, might just do it for me. Even the Blast, though, uses a socket for the eyeglass screwdriver (AKA punch/micrprybar).
I would not rid myself of my good old PST, but this tool definitely speaks to me. A properly locked bit holder, and the handle design, make the Phillips look useful, even as a bit, the blade looks OK (I won't be the first to say I think a plain edge blade would be better on the CX, but I've sharpened my PST blade all of twice over the years...so meh), and it actually looks pretty easy to hold and use. The carabiner is pretty neat, too. It's no heavier than my old PST, designed from the start with one-handed opening in mind...and I can't count how often I've needed to short pins or move a jumper, and gotten separate pliers, because the PST's are too thick (which is worse on the Wave family, and not meaningfully different on the Kick/Blast/Fuse). Yes, lack of a can opener (also box opener, new DVD plastic slicer, cord ripper, etc.), file, and awl (I don't even know how you're
supposed to use it...) are negatives, but no more so than using flimsy bit holders for a freaking punch tool and prybar (I mean, um, screwdrivers)!
I could maybe EDC the Skeletool, with my PST happily in my briefcase, and then maybe add a surge to my glove box. I really wanted to like the Charge Ti, but...just couldn't. This one is quite appealing. Every multitool is a set of compromises, and I like the ones they made on the Skeletool. Screwdriver bits, thin pliers, and a nice rectangular steel shape (you've never used yours as a mini hammer or chisel?) will take care of 90%+ of my needs, the knife another 5%, and I like that it's not made too small to get all four fingers on for a grip. I use other tools, but can go without them easier, if it means a tool that is easier to carry.