New for 2019, the KT5024 is NexTool's latest offering. A few elements we've seen, along with a few new ones to round off the tool. Let's see what it is all about.
Dimensions and other infoShow content
Length: 4" (10.3cm)
Width: 1.42" (36mm)
Thickness: 0.59" (15mm)
Tool weight: 6.8oz (193g).
Tool and sheath: 7.37oz (209g)
Handle fasteners: Torx 8
Blade material: 30Cr13
Blade cutting edge: 2.67" (68mm)
Saw cutting length: 2.6" (66mm)
Scissors cutting edge: 1.45" (37mm)
Ferro rod length: 1.8" (46mm)
Ferro rod diameter: 5/32" (4mm)
Finish: Black
Price at time of review: $27
Warranty: 10 Years
Implement listShow content
Pliers; spring-loaded (hidden spring), needle-nose
Scissors; spring-loaded (hidden spring), adjustable pivot (Torx 8 )
Blade; non-locking, oho, drop-point, plain edge, hollow grind, sharpening choil
Saw; wood, one-handed (left hand), bi-directional, locking (liner-lock)
Ferrocerium rod; removable
Phillips #1-2
Flathead; 1/8" (3mm)
Bottle-opener
Pocket-clip
The tool comes in a cardboard box, with a sheath and a pamphlet with information in Chinese.
The sheath is made of soft nylon, it is single-stitched and has velcro closure. Vertical carry only. This sheath was not made for this tool, as it is too big for it. If you close the sheath tightly, the loop pad and the hook pad do not align, and there is very little overlap. To get more of the hook and loop to engage, the tool has to be left a little loose.
The blade deploys with one hand. Very smooth action, but a little awkward, as the thumb-hole is placed a little too far from the pivot.
It was sharpened impressively well for a budget tool and slices through material with ease. Beautiful sharpening job, and high marks for the clean sharpening choil. The shape is also quite nice and convenient for the odd everyday job you may pit it against.
It is a slipjoint blade, but the detent is positive, plenty to keep the blade firmly deployed. Retention when closed is also excellent.
Ergonomics are good. My fingers rest on the rounded-off scissors handle. The other side is also rounded, and although the woodsaw's spine is sharp it was not at all annoying. The tip of the saw handle, on the other hand, did leave a mild impression in my palm after prolonged use.
Opposite the blade, we find the woodsaw. Also one-handed, though with the left hand. Positive liner-lock at 50%, it remained firm throughout. Decent cutting edge length for the tool's size, and with the spine thinner than the teeth, it cut very efficiently and effectively. The spine edges are 90°, which allow scraping.
At one corner, we can find the shorter implements.
They ride on back-springs, and deployment is very easy and natural. Each deploys individually.
The ferrocerium rod tucks away along the edge, in its own little holder, and is of course removable. Retention is excellent, thanks to the positive back-spring and wonderful holder. The ferro rod is held by friction, although it is a convincingly tight fit, and there is no fear of it slipping out. When tucked into place, its tip is also blocked by the handle, eliminating any concerns of it getting lost.
It threw more than adequate sparks for its size and would undoubtedly be a great comfort in a dire situation.
The little holder is plastic with a metal piece which is what the backspring pushes against. No wear on the plastic.
The Phillips and flathead have great reach and detent, but their thin profiles limit them to light duty tasks. The tips are properly ground to fit screws and not rounded-off. The Phillips fits #1 and #2 screws very well. Both drivers have excellent retention when deployed. The paint will not survive multiple screws, and the tips will show signs of wear.
The bottle opener opening is not deep enough to engage properly and remove the cap in one motion. The first attempt to remove the cap was only partly successful, and tore the cap a little. It took a second attempt to remove the cap.
Opening the tool up, we find the pliers. The action is smooth, and there is no play between the jaws. The tips meet in a nice, fine point, for the most delicate tasks. Turning bolts was also easy enough, as long as the pliers can fit around them.
The wire cutters never failed to cut paper, before and after cutting soft and hard wire. For coat-hanger wire, there was some flexing, but the tool won. The wire-cutters were not damaged, although the paint will not survive multiple hard wires.
The handle edges are nicely rounded, with nothing protruding to hinder use, and handle splay is average for the tool's size. Smaller hands may experience slipping towards the pliers, due to the paint and sleek design.
On the opposite end, we have scissors. Long, rounded handle, no handle splay, spring-loaded, flawless tolerances, excellent sharpening, and long cutting edges; everything was on spot. It made little difference what material found itself between those blades. Paracord, seatbelts, clothing, rubber, paper, cardstock, cardboard, zipties, plastic packaging. Nothing stood a chance. The scissors cut beautifully, on the first cut, with no folding, jamming, flexing, chewing or pushing the material out.
In contrast to the pliers, there was no slipping while using the scissors. The tool stayed in my hand with no issues.
The pocket-clip is well positioned, and is tight enough to keep the tool in place. It slips easily over clothing and is plenty long to keep the tool in a pocket. It is not a deep carry one, as it will leave 25mm of the tool exposed.
Construction QualityQuite good for a tool of this price range.
The action on the moving parts is smooth, and everything snaps in place very satisfyingly. Retention and tolerances on everything are excellent. No implement has any play.
The tool is well made, nicely finished, with smooth surfaces and rounded-off edges.
The paint has been applied properly. It is even throughout the tool, with no splotches or unpainted patches. It also does not hinder any functions. It does not cover the blade's cutting edge, and it does not round off the screwdriver tips.
The blade's sharpened bevel is flawless, from the tip to the sharpening choil. The saw has been ground properly to make the spine thinner than the teeth.
The screwdriver tips are properly formed and fit perfectly in their respective screws.
The pocket-clip is nice and tight, with no wobble whatsoever.
The screws are brand new.
The ferro rod is held in place very positively and is of good quality.
DesignThe tool is compact and sleek. No space was wasted. The blade and saw are as long as the handles allow. The blade's handle side appears angular, with cutouts, lines, and the visible saw's teeth, all framed pleasingly by the screws and rounded off edges.
The handles are clean, crisp and black, contrasting with the white NexTool logos. From certain angles, the blade's sharpened bevel smiles through the cutouts. The pocket-clip fades into the background, with matching cutouts and lines.
The compactness and crisp form of the black painting lend the tool a sense of mystery and elegance.
PerformanceEverything can be accessed promptly, without getting in the way of anything else. Thanks to the great tolerances, and properly machined parts, everything performed just as one would hope.
The sharps were sharpened properly, especially the blade. A nice surprise was the sharpening choil, as flawless as it could be.
The scissors tend to steal the show on this design of tools, and they did not disappoint.
The screwdrivers are nicely formed and fit their screws, but may flex against stubborn screws and care should be taken. Do not be a hero.
An interesting implement was the piggy-back ferro rod. Hard to lose, easy to use.
Using the pliers, mainly when turning bolts, hands may slip towards the front. The larger the nut the worse it will be.
The pocket clip is also fantastic. Rock solid on the handle, but not a hotspot when using the tool.
Ergonomics range from good to great. The tip of the saw handle is quite angular and may dig into your palm, but the tool is mostly rounded and quite comfortable to use for prolonged periods of time. The weight also helps.
ConclusionFor an obscure budget tool, the KT5024 did very well. It looks the part, all black but curiously shiny. It also punches above its weight, with a phenomenal blade for the price range, outstanding scissors that put most multi-tools to shame, and a nice compliment of other tools, each one well formed and effective. It is also very easy to carry, thanks to the light weight and pocket-clip, or sheath, which it comes with. Bonus points for housing a decently sized ferro rod, attached securely while quick to access.
There are definitely some kinks that could be ironed out, but even so, the tool looks great, is well made, everything on it works, and it is inexpensive. In addition to this, there are some aspects that are impressive for a tool of this price range, namely the blade sharpening, the paint application, the all-around tolerances, the rock-solid pocket-clip, and the execution and effectiveness of the scissors. The quality is excellent and defies the tool's modest price.
In short, it is absolutely worth it. It is a proper take on this design, miles ahead of the endless cheap re-branded one. The quality has been massively improved, and the tool set has been altered, with effective implements, even a ferrocerium rod, while keeping the footprint minimal. A welcome addition to the monster scissors club. Definitely recommended.
Pros-Carries comfortably, thanks to great pocket-clip, size, and weight.
-Great quality and performance.
-Paint prevents rust and fingerprints.
Cons-Blade's thumbhole is a little too far away from pivot.
-Drivers are light duty.
-Paint makes the tool a little slippery for some tasks.
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