Why is the Skeletool considered a full sized tool?

[Leatherman123]

This has been bugging me, why on earth is the Skeletool considered a full sized tool? Compared to a Charge the Skeletool is like a toy. The Freestyle has the same plier head as the Skeletool and it's a pocket sized tool. I don't get it. I have seen many broken Skeletool plier heads too.

[Gareth]

I'm guessing it's down to the size of the thing when folded rather than when deployed, at 4" it's the same size as most of the other full sized tools.  Didn't it used to be classed as a pocket tool?  It's maybe just been bumped up due to the arrival of the Freestyle.

[Leatherman123]

Yeah, but the pliers determines if it's full sized or not in the LM line up, IMO.

[Mr. Whippy]

Quite frankly, a lot of the catagorizing that LM does on its website is pretty humorous.  Their "Product Finder" function is best used as a drinking game.

I think you're right Gareth, the Skeletool used to be "pocket sized" moving it up gives it a cleaner separation from the Freestyle for marketing purposes.

[Gareth]

Yeah, but the pliers determines if it's full sized or not in the LM line up, IMO.

I agree, but it seems that LM doesn't.

[HBlaine]

I was just out at Wal-Mart (yuck), and found myself browsing their (overly small) knife selection.  Was kinda surprised they had the Skeletools.  Against my better judgement, I asked to look at one.  The thing was just so small and pathetic, I took pity on it and (against my better judgment) bought it.  I've got it in my pocket right now, and I have to say, the Wenger Traveller I have in my other pocket feels more substantial.

Granted, the thing is so light and small, I won't have a single problem carrying it.  Definitely a plus, as it's unobtrusive.

Haven't had a chance to put it to the test yet, but I have a feeling that my Charge and Surge don't have much to worry about...  (Nor my Juice & SwissChamp, for that matter...

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah, but the pliers determines if it's full sized or not in the LM line up, IMO.

When I started this site I needed a way to classify tools that seemed to not want to be classified.  The best I could come up with was the length of handles when folded, which of course excludes fixed plier heads, one piece tools and non plier based tools.  Ultimately I expanded that to be "carry size" which meant the most compact a tool could be for carrying.

As such, the Skeletool is just as big as the PST, Spirit, Crunch, Pocket Power Plier, MP600 and so on, and so it's in that class.  It's hard to go by plier heads when there are so many tools based on other functions (how would you classify the LM Hybrid or FROG tool since neither have pliers?) when trying to compare hundreds of different tools.  Of course you can look at them and reclassify them any way you like, but to keep it organized for the occasional visitor I set it up the way it is now.

Def

[Leatherman123]

Your 100% correct, I didn't really think of it that way. When I said the pliers I meant the work it can handle. If you've noticed the SURGE, Wave, and Skeletool are all in the "full size" class now. Can the Wave's pliers withstand as much abuse as a SURGE's? Can the Skeletool's pliers withstand as much abuse as the Wave's? I think the answer is NO, LOL. Plus, the SURGE/CORE/ST300 are 4.5 inch tools and they are in the same category as a 4 inch tool.

"Our biggest, strongest tools are designed to get your hardest jobs done with ease." That's what LM says about there full size tools.  The Skeletool should not be included in this LOL.

[GraysonK]

Quite frankly, a lot of the catagorizing that LM does on its website is pretty humorous.  Their "Product Finder" function is best used as a drinking game.

I think you're right Gareth, the Skeletool used to be "pocket sized" moving it up gives it a cleaner separation from the Freestyle for marketing purposes.

LOL That's just too funny and I agree.  I just cannot drum up any excitement for the Skeletool.  Maybe because it's funky looking or maybe because I just didn't like the way it felt when I got the opportunity to fondle it.  I don't know.  I just like my Juice's and my full sized MT's (Pulse and Wave).  I would love the Core too, I think.  Not saying it's a bad tool, not at all.  Just a matter of taste, I think. 
Gray

[HBlaine]

Just for the heck of it, for comparison's sake, I took some shots of the Skeletool alongside a couple of the other tools I was carrying.  Just to give a bit of perspective.

[HBlaine]

And another couple...