DeWALT Folding Retractable Utility Knife - Mini Review

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DeWALT Folding Retractable Utility Knife - Mini Review

I helped a professional plumber and master electrician work on a family home last weekend. I used a Spyderco Paramilitary to remove a bunch of old caulk and and to cut up a big carboard box. The knife lost its edge halfway through the cardboard.

The other guys had razor knives. I used one of theirs, and the truth is that the thin cutting edge was more effective than my Paramilitary for the jobs we were doing. Since their other tools were very high quality, it seemed weird to me that the “pros” would use cheap knives.

It got me to thinking and on my next trip to the Home Depot, I bought the DeWALT model DWHT10035 Folding Retractable Utility Knife for $9.95. When opened, it is about the size of a standard utility knife with a slight curve to the handle. A liner lock slides into place when the knife is opened. It looks relatively thin, but held up to my efforts to forcibly close it. A catch in the handle opens it to store spare blades. Changing them is very easy. There is a quick release button to slide the old one out and the new one in.

There is a flimsy pocket clip attached, but it doesn’t seem to add too much utility. It is tip-down only when it really needs to be tip-up so you can clip the opened (but retracted) knife in your pocket. Since the blade is retractable, I found it easier to just leave the knife open with the blade retracted and stick it in my pocket. Folding it and unfolding seems like an unnecessary step.

Is the $10 DeWalt better than the $100 Spyderco? Yes, when it comes to box cutting and similar tasks. No, when it comes to slicing up chicken for dinner or chopping a tree root or prying something with force. While the high grade Spyderco steel holds it’s edge longer, utility knife blades come pretty cheap. The Spydie is staying in my pocket, but the DeWalt is going in my tool box.

 

[JayGoliath]

Refreshing! Thanks for the review.

 

[dogstar]

Right tool for the job. Cutting boxes = box cutter. Razor has much less drag. Some folks insist on using their expensive folders for this

Thanks for posting this; it was a nice change of pace.

 

[shecky]

The tacticool boxcutter has been a thing for a few years now. Wide variety of designs, with quality levels mostly around the low end. But the folding and retracting ones I find a bit silly. Also the folding ones that are almost as big as a regular Stanley when folded.