Leatherman Original PST vs. PST II?

[CCK]

Hello,
I am seeking advice from you who have used both the first version of the PST and the PST II. I tried a SuperTool 300 and it had too much blade play and seemed bulky and overloaded without a great build quality (hence the excessive blade play, but I mean no offense to anyone who likes this model). I have heard that the older models are quite well made with a nice finish, better than the newer models, albeit the newer and bigger models have beefier pliers.
From what I can tell from looking at profiles on the web of both the first PST and the PST II, the difference is the first PST has an awl and a simple straight edge blade, whereas the PST II looses the awl and adds a scissors and has combo straight/serrated blade. For me either combo will do as I also carry an old SAK that has both scissors and an awl, and my EDC knife is a Benchmade with a combo straight/serrated blade. What I am wondering about is the quality of the steel, the design and function of the tools, the overall impression and satisfaction between using the first PST and the PST II.
Any thoughts and help you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Cliff

 

[znapschatz]

Hello,
I am seeking advice from you who have used both the first version of the PST and the PST II. I tried a SuperTool 300 and it had too much blade play and seemed bulky and overloaded without a great build quality (hence the excessive blade play, but I mean no offense to anyone who likes this model). I have heard that the older models are quite well made with a nice finish, better than the newer models, albeit the newer and bigger models have beefier pliers.
From what I can tell from looking at profiles on the web of both the first PST and the PST II, the difference is the first PST has an awl and a simple straight edge blade, whereas the PST II looses the awl and adds a scissors and has combo straight/serrated blade. For me either combo will do as I also carry an old SAK that has both scissors and an awl, and my EDC knife is a Benchmade with a combo straight/serrated blade. What I am wondering about is the quality of the steel, the design and function of the tools, the overall impression and satisfaction between using the first PST and the PST II.
Any thoughts and help you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Cliff

With experience of each, I believe both PST versions are equal in build quality. Choosing between them depends entirely on the kinds of chores the user tends to encounter, and that is very much an individual matter. In mine, I use an m-t knife a fair amount and preferred the PST because of the PE blade. Also, I really liked to have an awl on hand, and the PST's was easier to use than SAK awls. Those are good, but their backspring mounting makes them more awkward and sometimes impossible to use.

OTOH, scissors are good to have and are the most used implement on my son's PST II. Also, the diamond coated file with fish hook groove is much better than the one on the PST. However, since my scissors needs were finessed with a Micra, which also supplied a few other tools, on balance, I went PST.

Actually, not long after settling in with a PST, I got introduced to the Super Tool. It was love at first sight. We went steady for the next nine years, during which time I seldom used the PST. Sure is pretty, though.

 

[collim1]

I still occasionally carry my original PST and prefer it to the PST II. I am one of the rare ones that finds scissors useless on a multitool and much prefer the awl of the original PST. However, I find Leatherman's awl on the PST considerably less functional than the awl on say a Vic Farmer.

I also almost always prefer a straight edge to a serrated or combo edge.

I love the Leatherman tools, but find myself rarely needing a plier based tool. I generally carry a Vic Tinker or Farmer and save the Leatherman tool for when I predict the need for pliers.

As far as the quality of one vs the other goes as far as I can tell they are both the same. Both will take a fairly sharp edge, but lose it rather quickly in my experience. The good news is they sharpen up very quickly on most any sharpening tool you have around. I prefer to have a dedicated knife in addition to the Leatherman, but there have been times when the blade on the PST has come in handy. In my younger days in scouts I often hit the trail backpacking with my only knife/tool being the PST. It handled a few days of light camp chores and whittling wood just fine, but needed a sharpening when i got home.