The Fiskars Cuts+More (CPM from now on) aren't new, however, they are new to me. During the same trip to the hardware store where I acquired the Fiskars ShopCut, I discovered that the CPM was also on sale. $13 removed from my bank card and I was on my way home to cut anything and everything needed and didn't need cutting.
When I first saw the Cuts+More, I thought to myself, how the hell did they improve and add features to a pair of scissors? Aren't scissors something that so specific in design and function that any deviation or features added would make them inadequate as a multi-functional tool and as scissors. I was wrong, those clever Fiskars folks did it right.
FormThe CPM is a pair of scissors and like it's name
and MORE. Full of facets, cuts, and grinds make the two bladed scissor really a 4 bladed tool, more on that later. From butt to tip, the CPM measures 9", a bit longer than your standard off the shelf scissors, more in tune with kitchen shears.
The CMP comes with a multifunctional scabbard, extending the utility of this tool, even more.
LooksThe CPM looks like a pair of scissors with a few odd looking cuts. The blades are thick and menacing. One of the blades is coated with black TiNi and connecting to an injection moulded black finger handle. The stainless blade is matched up with the Fiskars orange thumb handle. There is also some faux serrations on the black blade, upping it's tacticool factor.
When inside the scabbard, the CPM screams serious, '
use-me-hard', and
'I-will-cut-you-so-bad'. There is a bit of ninja tactical jimping on the black blade, a feature only realized to be well placed until you use the bottle opener. Oh yah, the CPM has a bottle opener....why? why not!
FunctionThe CPM has two smooth blades, so it is more suitable for cutting smoother, softer materials. Paper, cardboard, fabric, souls and whatever you can think. The CPMs are capable of cutting more robust materials, but having other tools that do that better, I see it as a chance to keep the CPMs sharp.
Closer to the pivot, there is something they call the Power Notch, a indented and raised portion of the blade meant for cutting rope. I cut some 3/8" cord with no problem, one snip.
On the bottom side of the black blade is a small notch for cutting twine and string, this is a nice feature to avoid having to pick up the scissors, gripping the finger/thumb holes, opening and snipping the material. It reduces the amount of moves needed to cut string. To cut light wire, a notch is made in the black blade and engages a sharpened portion of the stainless blade. This is all under the handle side of the pivot, allowing maximum force be placed on shearing the wire in twain.
Moving the stainless blade, the very noticeable feature is the bottle opener. I can see that being useful if the CPM is destined to be a pair of kitchen scissors, but beyond that, I don't anticipate carrying around a pair of scissors at my buddy's sunday afternoon BBQ (or maybe, if I feel fancy). There is a row of jumping, and upon initial inspection, I had no idea what this was for. Then used the bottle opener and magically, my thumb was embraced by a mega gripping force of a row of small tender spikes.
The bottle opener is accessible even if the scabbard is on. Nice.
I have medium sized hands and the handles can accomodate 4 fingers, but they are a bit tight. Also, the shape my thumb doesn't fit 100% perfectly into the thumb hole. I imagine with use, I won't really feel it.
The tip of the stainless blade is rounded and slides over the sharp tip of the black blade, making the CPM safer to carry closed, and if dropped would have a much lower rate of injury.
One of the best features of the CPM is it's ability to be maintained. The two blades of the CPM can be separated, cleaned and is dishwasher safe. The scabbard houses a sharpening ceramic stick system that is easy to use and can sharpen any scissor that fits in the slots. Bonus.
Carry PotentialThe CPM is meant to live on bench/countertop, the scabbard does not have a belt loop or a clip. The CPM isn't compact so carrying these on person would be awkward. One feature I forgot to mention on the scabbard is the cello tape cutter at the front. If the CPM lives in a crafty or packing friendly environment, this little plastic poker is a nice thing to have without drawing the CPM out.
MatchupThe CPM matches well with most tools, and the Fiskars' orange makes them easy to find in a pile of scrap fabric, paper and string. The back TiNi is nice but without full, two blade coverage, the stainless blade is still at risk of rusting, say in a damp garage. A gold TiNi coating would of been nice on the stainless blade (which is common on other Fiskars products)
FinaleThe CPM is a very capable set of scissors, and with practise, will offer lots of on board tools beyond the main blades.
Pros:
1. Easy to maintain, sharpen and clean.
2. Large and in charge, sharp as *insert bad-a$$-thing*
3. Jimp...JIMPING!
Cons:
1. Scabbard is already showing signs of wear, uses the pivot bolt as retention, scratches on entry and exit. No belt or clip feature on scabbard.
2. So many features that it'll take practise to use them all correctly
3. The power notch will take some getting use to, on a full extension, the notch would get caught on softer materials.