Folding utility knives?

[tiguy7]

Green is one of the harder colors to do. High voltage needed. They may have color samples on their website.

 

[DangerZone98]

Cold Steel also has the Click and Cut.

 

[afishhunter]

Folding utility knife?
I'll pass for (to me) practicality reasons.
With something like a Stanley 10-499 (my utility/box knife of choice) I get the tooless blade swap, a handle that is big enough for a good grip, and most importantly, I can carry up to five replacement blades with me, so I don't have to go wandering around to find more when a blade needs replaced.

 

[jackknife]

I’ve had a Stanley 99E for decades. A newer, cooler folding design utility knife could be tempting, but after so many years I couldn’t abandon my old friend. Loyalty based on decades of faithful (failure-free and breakdown-free) service compels me to stick with my trusty old 99E.

Gotta agree with that!

I actually don't know how old my Stanley 99 is, maybe 20 years or so? But its been a steady used tool with zero problems, so why would I go to a more complex tool that is a solution to a non existent problem? I've never had a problem slipping the old 99 in a pocket. And spare blades are in the handle.

 

[Skar]

I've been very fond of my husky with a wooden handle.
I've used that ut knife for just about everything you can think of.

 

[Mr.Wizard]

I find more utility in an Olfa snap knife, like the MXP-L.

 

[sailfish]

Folding utility knife?
I'll pass for (to me) practicality reasons.
With something like a Stanley 10-499 (my utility/box knife of choice) I get the tooless blade swap, a handle that is big enough for a good grip, and most importantly, I can carry up to five replacement blades with me, so I don't have to go wandering around to find more when a blade needs replaced.

Gotta agree with that!

I actually don't know how old my Stanley 99 is, maybe 20 years or so? But its been a steady used tool with zero problems, so why would I go to a more complex tool that is a solution to a non existent problem? I've never had a problem slipping the old 99 in a pocket. And spare blades are in the handle.

Good reasons. But for a tool fetishist like me it's just as much about practicality and utility as it is about having something cool and unique (but still well made). I go as far as collecting certain Channellock linesman and diagonal pliers and have my favorite model numbers which I make sure to keep duplicates of on hand to ensure I'll always have one should the model be discontinued and I break or lose one.

 

[Getahl]

I'm a fan of the easy peasy Stanley 99e. I have a couple, plus another Stanley with a larger storage chamber, but still made from the two grey halves. I forget the model number. They're cheap and comfortable, and I have one each in my car's toolkit, garage toolbox, and my in house tool bag. I'm a fan.

There's an OG Fastback kicking around somewhere, too. It's my only other real utility knife. Toolless blade change is nice, but not necessary for my use as Harry homeowner. I dig the locking mechanism the most, TBH. It's a great tool, but no blade storage on my copy.

My EAB is great for some things, but not prolonged use. It really scratches the gadget factor itch, though.

 

[353]

I find more utility in an Olfa snap knife, like the MXP-L.

Yes, this one has served me well and is still going strong. Love the snap-off feature.

 

[Tigerfan]

I have both the folding version and snap-off version in various places...a couple of folders and snap-offs in the tool box, a folder and snap-off in the kitchen 'junk drawer' (pictured) and also a folder and snap-off in the truck tool bag. The Snap-On folder pictured has a very comfortable grip, but it locks closed as well as open, so opening is definitely a two-handed affair.

 

[Bolstermanic]

My son and a buddy have a thing where they shorten up the handles of folding utility knives to make them more pocketable. Not sure of the brand they use. They are red, so it may be Milwaukee.

It must be a contractor thing. I was admiring one of my contractors' heavily modified Milwaukee Utes and he up and gave it to me. (Don't worry, I gifted him a tool in return.) But it's pretty cool, he modified it heavily. The index finger curve has been moved forward, the handle bobbed, the sides heavily chamfered, the top jimped, and what seems like the best mod to me, a forward finger choil added for better tip control.

 

[Stelth]

I like this one. Titanium Avis-Pry by T&P
(Tactical & Portable)

 

[Kmikaz3]

 

[Londinium Armoury]

Mikihisa blue paper steel utility knife https://imgur.com/a/sy3tvCi

Check this little bad boy out, Mikihisa Ikeuchi Hamono in Aogami steel, it's the most fancy utility knife I own. Lockback pretty large. Wicked thin edge.

 

[sailfish]

Mikihisa blue paper steel utility knife https://imgur.com/a/sy3tvCi

Check this little bad boy out, Mikihisa Ikeuchi Hamono in Aogami steel, it's the most fancy utility knife I own. Lockback pretty large. Wicked thin edge.

That's like a kiridashi.

 

[Getahl]

That's like a kiridashi.

They have their place, I guess? I like the trapezoid shaped blades better, and more useful for my purposes. I can use a number 11 Xacto for anything requiring a kiridashi.

 

[Bolstermanic]

While we're on the topic of utes...who makes top quality blades for them? Many mfgrs don't mention the steel they use, and the few who do, specify SK2 (or occasionally SK5).

SK2 aka C120U, aka W1A-11 1/2: It appears to be an inexpensive, simple, high-carbon (1.2%), non-or-low-alloy, low-speed, non-shock-resistant, low-grade steel. May have Rc in the 58-63 range.

Larrin says: “It’s more similar to White #1, 26C3, “silver steel,” or sometimes generically called “cutlery steel.” Or W1 with a high carbon content. 1095 would be the closest very common alloy but with more carbon of course…The extra carbon brings a bit more wear resistance and hardness than 1095.”

SK5 on the other hand appears to be a low/mid-range steel with 0.85% carbon. It apparently excels as a tough inexpensive carbon steel. CRKT, CS, SOG, and Ontario make knives with SK5. It may be similar to 1084 steel.

Strategy9 says: “It appears the only real world difference between sk5 vs sk2 is 30% more carbon content, (give or take)... So in theory, all other manufacturing processes (incl. HT) being equal, SK2 will hold an edge a whole lot better, whereas sk5 will be a whole helluva lot tougher…”

Man! With so many awesome tool steels available today, is this the best blade steel we can buy for a ute??? Where's the 3V, the REX something, the M4, the Z-Tuff, Caldie, Cruwear, Maxamet???

--------------------------------
Common Marketplace Options:

* Stanley Classic? Stanley Heavy Duty? Stanley Carbide?

* Lenox Gold claims a high speed steel (for those really fast cutters out there) and a titanium coating...? Hype? Some reviewers complain they dull quickly...

* Fiskars "CarbonMax" that "stays sharp 24x longer" and are $1 each?

* RapidEdge Serrated?

* HD’s Husky in SK5?

* Some folks swear by Irwin Blue "lasts 3x longer" blades?

* Dewalt Heavy Duty promises 35% sharper, 20% stronger, 75% longer cutting due to hardening...some people say they dull quickly? Dewalt Carbide?

* Craftsman maybe somewhat thicker? USA made? Have seen complaints of fast dulling...

* Dekton, Workpro, Westward boasts SK5 steel?

* Goldblatt SK2M that “lasts 3x longer,” thinner? Several reports of brittleness?

Difficult to find good info; most links are from these so-called “Reviewers” that are just trying to make money off their Amazon links.

Some of the better sources:

http://www.steelnumber.com/en/steel_composition_eu.php?name_id=970

http://zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=sk2

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/a-question-for-steel-nerds.1751122/

 

[Stelth]

I like Lenox gold.

 

[Getahl]

Plus one on the Lennox Gold. Honorable mention to the Stanley blades that seem to hold an edge longer than the 50 pack of Husky blades I have.

 

[Londinium Armoury]

That's like a kiridashi.

It is like a folding Kiridashi, it's a very good thin slicer though, useful for more than just marking, goes through cardboard better than my Delica and Chaparral. Thin as paper behind the edge, no secondary bevel.