Folding utility knives...ick!

[Planterz]

But the Tirant flipper is too good

The "maker" gets these shipped from China, laser engraves them with a logo, and charges you $25-30 more. At least you get a warranty though.

They're good quality. I like the balisong version, but obviously those aren't sold on Amazon. The sliding blade one suffers from the same blade rub all of that basic design do.

 

[RBB2]

The other thing I hate about folding utility knives is that they aren't good for much else than cardboard.
Not good for carving wood.
Sucks for cutting a sandwich or hiking food prep.

Takes up all the space of a pocket knife with less utility.

It's a 7 inch knife with a 1 inch cutting edge. No, thank you.

 

[RBB2]

There really is an absence in the market for really nice, high-end folding razor knives. There's an overabundance of overpriced RUK-style sliding blade holders but options for folders are pretty limited. Is there anything other than the SE Utilizer or the Tirant Razor?

Chaves CHUB

Edit: may be discontinued, I guess.

 

[Drop bear]

There really is an absence in the market for really nice, high-end folding razor knives. There's an overabundance of overpriced RUK-style sliding blade holders but options for folders are pretty limited. Is there anything other than the SE Utilizer or the Tirant Razor?

They have them. But they are mostly sort of meh.

I just quickly rustled up exceed designs as an example. Which goes for about $130 over here.

Already mentioned. I just noticed.

Also ones that use more of the blade.

But I have no idea if they are good. I don't spend the money on them.

 

[sailfish]

The other thing I hate about folding utility knives is that they aren't good for much else than cardboard.

I have to strongly disagree here. Wire stripping, cable sheath stripping, cutting wire pull string, zip tie cutting, drywall scoring, gasket scraping, gasket cutting, ceiling tile trimming, duct board and insulation cutting, cutting silicone seals, cutting tape, reaming copper pipe, just a few of the things I use my knives for on a near daily basis. While I typically prefer conventional knives, these a are jobs that a folding utility knife would be just as good at (if not better on some). That doesn't even cover things I wouldn't want to use my regular knives for like cutting carpet.

Sucks for cutting a sandwich or hiking food prep.

This is actually one of the last uses on the list for any of my knives that aren't kitchen knives.

 

[sailfish]

Chaves CHUB

Edit: may be discontinued, I guess.

Alright. I'm really digging that CHUB flipper. Thanks for making me spend more money after I said I was done this year.

 

[sailfish]

Alright. I'm really digging that CHUB flipper. Thanks for making me spend more money after I said I was done this year.

Actually nevermind. That price is pretty steep for made in China.

 

[jmh33]

My SUK!!
John

 

[Lesknife]

I usually keep a utility knife around not necessarily a folder style but I use them when I’m cutting some nasty stuff that sticks to the blade or if it’s corrosive or abrasive material. I hate getting my pocket knife blade all tarred up or etched by corrosion or unnecessarily scratched up when a replaceable utility blade is sufficient to do the nasty work.

 

[mobilerd]

I love the Tirant.

 

[stabman]

Update:

Yesterday I went to get a coffee, and on the walk back checked out the encampment site.
More areas were burnt, and as it had reached freezing temperatures, the homeless guy abandoned camp, likely to go to an emergency shelter.
But what had he left behind...his valuable folding utility knife!

So, I finished my coffee, put it in the empty cup and took it home.

Here it is all full of crud, after being sprayed with Lysol:

I then soaked it in bleach for 40 minutes, flipping it every 10 minutes to get full soaking:

I washed it with soap and water, dried it, and sanded the guck off the blade:

Here it is disassembled:

Here are some of the internal components after washing and alcohol soak:

And here it is in all its current glory, clean, reassembled, with added flair.

The blade is wiggly in the holder...the dirt, grime and guck is what held it stable before.

I will never use it for anything ever, but it makes a great addition to my Hobo Knife collection.

 

[emjay]

Update:

Yesterday I went to get a coffee, and on the walk back checked out the encampment site.
More areas were burnt, and as it had reached freezing temperatures, the homeless guy abandoned camp, likely to go to an emergency shelter.
But what had he left behind...his valuable folding utility knife!

So, I finished my coffee, put it in the empty cup and took it home.

Here it is all full of crud, after being sprayed with Lysol:

I then soaked it in bleach for 40 minutes, flipping it every 10 minutes to get full soaking:

I washed it with soap and water, dried it, and sanded the guck off the blade:

Here it is disassembled:

Here are some of the internal components after washing and alcohol soak:

And here it is in all its current glory, clean, reassembled, with added flair.

The blade is wiggly in the holder...the dirt, grime and guck is what held it stable before.

I will never use it for anything ever, but it makes a great addition to my Hobo Knife collection.

You have a hobo knife collection? Mind posting pictures? I'd imagine that it would be quite a diverse array of knives, since I'd think that a homeless person would be happy with anything that has the ability to cut, baked beans can lids included.

 

[stabman]

You have a hobo knife collection? Mind posting pictures? I'd imagine that it would be quite a diverse array of knives, since I'd think that a homeless person would be happy with anything that has the ability to cut, baked beans can lids included.

Currently only have one other...the collection is just beginning.
I found it at the site of an encampment the cops cleared out:

I took the scales off, added the "Hobo Knife" logo, and made new scales for it...and gave it a sheath from a Ka-Bar Ek knife:

It will take a while to build the collection, because they all must come from homeless people.
I was about to see about buying a fairly neat one from a person at the encampment before the cops had cleared it out; built a rapport with some of the folks there, bringing food and water and talking to them. The idea came to me, and I was about to head over there...and then saw on the news that they were clearing the place out. Found the one knife that was somehow missed in the clean-up. It was run over by a bulldozer, so there was a bend in the blade I had to correct.

 

[DocJD]

I got nothing against replaceable blades , but seems like for causal use I always end up sharping them because I don't want to bother locating a fresh blade .

So I got a couple of Tuff Lite box cutters instead .

 

[emjay]

Currently only have one other...the collection is just beginning.
I found it at the site of an encampment the cops cleared out:

I took the scales off, added the "Hobo Knife" logo, and made new scales for it...and gave it a sheath from a Ka-Bar Ek knife:

It will take a while to build the collection, because they all must come from homeless people.
I was about to see about buying a fairly neat one from a person at the encampment before the cops had cleared it out; built a rapport with some of the folks there, bringing food and water and talking to them. The idea came to me, and I was about to head over there...and then saw on the news that they were clearing the place out. Found the one knife that was somehow missed in the clean-up. It was run over by a bulldozer, so there was a bend in the blade I had to correct.

Not going to lie, that is a very nice encampment compared to what I'm used to seeing. I'm from Cape Town and the homeless here live in very ratty tents or under pieces of plastic bags. They are also not exactly people one wants to interact with. Most are on hard drugs and some are legitimate crazy. The other day a homeless guy walked past my house and he was having a full on violent argument with someone in front of him who didn't exist. He is most likely an untreated schizophrenic case unfortunately. I'm not too ready to ask the homeless here what knives they carry, because it might be the last question I ever ask...

 

[stabman]

Not going to lie, that is a very nice encampment compared to what I'm used to seeing. I'm from Cape Town and the homeless here live in very ratty tents or under pieces of plastic bags. They are also not exactly people one wants to interact with. Most are on hard drugs and some are legitimate crazy. The other day a homeless guy walked past my house and he was having a full on violent argument with someone in front of him who didn't exist. He is most likely an untreated schizophrenic case unfortunately. I'm not too ready to ask the homeless here what knives they carry, because it might be the last question I ever ask...

We have a lot of that here too. This encampment was one of the best organized with the fewest problems, which is why it was left alone for as long as it was. Some of the folks there took it upon themselves to chase off the people who would cause the worst problems; you don't want people living around you who will steal your stuff or do unpredictable violence, especially if you live in a tent!

 

[Velitrius]

I have a Gerber EAB, I carry it mostly as a money clip, but it comes in handy to cut open packages and sharpen carpenter pencils and such.

I did cut up a bunch of scrap drywall and cardboard so that it would fit in a contractor bag. It worked wonderfully.

I bought a couple of 50 packs of Lenox Whatevrium Coated Super Gold Wonder Blades from an old guy's estate sale this summer. So I got a lifetime of blades.

When it breaks I won't get another one, but for now it's not a bad pocket item.

BTW, a Hobo Knife Collection is quite the niche pursuit... I love it.

 

[EngrSorenson]

I will say in a pinch FUKs work pretty well as layout knives for woodworking. Also that knife you loan to your idiot cousin who once used your good knife to cut carpet over cement.

 

[EngrSorenson]

I have a strong dislike for folding or retractable utility knives. But I love my Stanley fixed blade utility knives. View attachment 1998623
For heavy cardboard, asphalt shingles, fiberglass insulation. They cannot be beat.

Shoot… those look fantastic

 

[Frank Morris]

Update:

Yesterday I went to get a coffee, and on the walk back checked out the encampment site.
More areas were burnt, and as it had reached freezing temperatures, the homeless guy abandoned camp, likely to go to an emergency shelter.
But what had he left behind...his valuable folding utility knife!

So, I finished my coffee, put it in the empty cup and took it home.

Here it is all full of crud, after being sprayed with Lysol:

I then soaked it in bleach for 40 minutes, flipping it every 10 minutes to get full soaking:

I washed it with soap and water, dried it, and sanded the guck off the blade:

Here it is disassembled:

Here are some of the internal components after washing and alcohol soak:

And here it is in all its current glory, clean, reassembled, with added flair.

The blade is wiggly in the holder...the dirt, grime and guck is what held it stable before.

I will never use it for anything ever, but it makes a great addition to my Hobo Knife collection.

Maybe he lost it or forgot it. Ever have that feeling of losing a knife?
Maybe you could stop down at the Emergency Shelter and see if hes there.
Give it back to him or better yet, gift him a cheap budget knife thats better than what he had.
Maybe make a small $ donation while your there?