Hart 16 in 1 and flip Utility Knife Kit.

[Chako]

I noticed that the local Walmart is now carrying Hart stuff. I always like EDC kits and thought this would make a nice addition to my collection. This one is a mixed bag. The included utility knife is actually not that bad. It is compact and has a nice pocket clip. It is however made of a lot of plastic, and the locking and opening mechanism involves pressing a button. That can get annoying quick. There is no built in seatbelt cutter function either. At least changing the utility blade is easy, and the locking mechanism is positive and solid. The multi-tool on the other hand is another differnt animal. I remember when the market was flooded with super cheap Leatherman PST clones. Some of those offerings were so cheap I ended up tossing them into the trash as I didn't even want them in my collection. This Hart multi-tool runs along those same lines. Uber cheap and feels it also. The one positive I can say about this tool is the inclusion of a fish scaler (a distinct mark of quality). The  included sheath is not all that bad except the pockets are so deep that both multi and utility knife are hard to fish out of there (see what I did there?).

20240601_091044 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_091054 by Chako, on Flickr

I had to press the tools up from the bottom to get this photo. They sit so low that you will have to push them upwards from the bottom of the sheath.

20240601_091110 by Chako, on Flickr

If you see a multi-tool that looks like that in general shape...run away. I have a few like this in my collection and they are all lowest quality junk.

20240601_091128 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_091149 by Chako, on Flickr

20240601_091221 by Chako, on Flickr

All hail the fish scaler!

20240601_091320 by Chako, on Flickr

What more is there left to say? The multi-tool is the lowest bottom tiered junk. The utility knife is ok if not the best  design, The sheath will swallow both tools whole making getting them out probably more energy then worth. I do have another pair of Hart utility knives which are nicer than whats in this kit...so I haven't completely given up on Hart just yet.