Leatherman Skeletools – Stainless Steel vs. CX

When shopping for Leatherman Skeletools, the potential user is likely to discover very quickly that there are two different varieties of these stripped-down multitools available – stainless steel and CX, with CX featuring carbon fiber handle scale (which makes the grip slightly more comfortable). However, at first glance, these tools appear to be very similar other than in price.

Both feature the same basic array of tools – a pliers head with an ordinary wire cutter and a hard wire cutter; both are coated to protect them from scratches and from damage by corrosive substances which might happen to splash onto them; both include a universal bit driver, with a set of bits that fit into the handle for carrying, so that you can handle a wide range of different screwdriver drives. Both stainless steel and CX versions include a good-sized pocket knife which locks open and can be opened while the multitool is, as a whole, closed. Both also feature a carabineer clip which doubles as a bottle opener.

However, there is one crucial difference that is not readily apparent when inspecting the Skeletools visually or comparing their features. The stainless steel version has a knife which is made out of 420HC steel – a good steel, with fine tensile strength and the ability to hold a sharp edge. The CX version, however, has a knife made out of 154CM steel – this steel is far stronger, tougher, able to flex more without breaking or bending, and holds a very sharp edge even longer. In short, the stainless steel version’s blade is an ordinary, if good-quality, pocket knife, while the CX version’s blade is a very high-quality one that is more likely to last through many years of rigorous use.

The knife blades of the two versions also underwent a switch in recent years. Prior to 2009, the stainless steel version featured a smooth-edged knife blade, while the CX version had a hybrid blade with a half-smooth, half-serrated edge. Now, the reverse is true – this is because the softer steel of the stainless version is better suited to a hybrid edge, while the hard edge of the CX version is actually better served by a smooth edge.
 
So, when you are deciding between the stainless steel and CX versions, you should recognize that your decision will be between a cheaper version which is good but not as strong as the other version, and a strong Skeletool which is likelier to withstand extremely heavy use for many years. If you are only going to use your Skeletool lightly, then the stainless steel version is the one to go for. If, on the other hand, you are planning rigorous daily use of the implement, then the CX version is preferable.