Is a Christy Knife worth it - What is your preferred replacable blade boxcutter?

Hashishiin

Hashishiin

Joined
Dec 29, 2021
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I am looking at Christy knives simply because of how classic, lightweight and thin they are. Aesthetic is great. I am looking, in general, for an inexpensive, replacable-blade boxcutter. What would you guys say is the best for the money? Christy is around $35, about $13 for old, rusty used ones on the bay (wonder if knockoffs are made or if those auld'jins are worth it), and replacement blades are 12 dollars.

Lifetime warranty, handmade USA, nostalgia... this is a factor for me, I like to enjoy what I carry. They are longer than a traditional razorblade, giving more cutting edge. Any of those utility razors have dual-edges you can flip? I could probably get a hundred razor blades for 12 bucks though, I don't know. Wish they sold packs of blades. A replacement blade - that's an Opinel no. 6 right there. Now that I think about it, you Christy knife users, how does that surgical stainless (when I hear that I think 1446 Krupp, and I hope 400-series) hold up in real use? If the blade is many times more durable than a traditional razor, I may consider it... but, imagine I got a job involving cutting carpet all day tomorrow,

So, what's your opinion on the Christy knife? Is it worth it, does it truly have an edge up on the competition? Is it overpriced nostalgia?
Also, aside from that, weighing cost and ergos, (holding that tiny Gerber EAB would not be pleasant for me, even as a Cricket-enjoyer) what would be the best box-cutting knife? Nothing $100 ano'd ti type stuff.

TW: dreams and rambling about my unicorn-razor-knife...

If Spyderco made thin little reverse-S Cricket-sized "razors" on some sort of tiny handle with ergos like the Cricket, I would use that forever. Or a Cricket/D-fly shaped handle made of whatever they can cheapest use, steel, alum, FRN, that accepts razors with the same head, of various shapes, like a razor version of the D-fly Wharncliffe, the leaf shape, modified clip blades ala Delica, of course the reverse-S, even a traditional/modified, pointier Janicliffe razor which I find very useful for utility in my thinned down, Janicliffe Endura - my most useful Endura. A guy can dream....
 
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I don't know anything about the "Christy" knife but . . .

For a box cutter, there's nothing better or cheaper than one of these, which usually sell for just $1 @. I've got at least 6 of these scatted around, here/there.

iu


If you want to spend more $ for something more sturdy/versatile, you can usually buy one of these on "sale" for $5. At least, I did.

iu
 
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Huh, sweet choices. JIFFI cutter. I was like... "Is that "Liffi or LLfi?" the J was cut off, ha.
 
I use a Kobalt folding box cutter that has a lock back and pocket clip. It's heavier than what I like, but has a good handle for using all day.
 
If a knife doesn't fit your hand at least well enough so that you can control it for various tasks, it's not really a knife, in my book. But, if you like it, and have the money, why not get one and find out how it handles?
I'd take a gander at the A G Russel featherlight. It's a surprisingly useful, 1.4oz locking wharncliffe-ish thing. Only box it doesn't check is that its not US-made.
I have one from Taiwan in VG-10 and from Japan in AUS-8 (which for me is a perfectly useable, easy-to-sharpen chore steel).


Edit - to actually answer OPs question, I cut boxes with whatever's in my pocket. I cut drywall, shingles, or whatever in the construction line with a plain-jane Stanley box cutter - neutral handle, any grip, metal, the fewest moving parts i can find on one.
 
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I bought this one by Outdoor Edge for $10
It's spring loaded for the closing position and has two drivers on either end. It uses standard blades that can changed by pushing the safety button.
Stainless steel on the opposite side with a pocket clip.

IMG_1393.jpg
 
Magnus SlideClick is the best there is if you want something small, light, thin, unobtrusive, etc. Not cheap though. But for me it's worth it.

280495125_5008807969214450_2179183186150362891_n_edited-jpg.1814978


Sorry, I can't comment on the Christy Knife, apart from saying that I'm aware of them, but never really wanted one. I have cut plenty of boxes with Opinel N°6s though. I also cut a lot of boxes with my Spyderco Ladybug in ZDP-189. Thinnest blade Spyderco makes (I think), and ZDP-189 holds a great edge and is stainless. K390 would be even better, if I weren't worried about rust.
 
I really like to carry a Christy. It has all of the great attributes mentioned in the OP, plus the blade length is adjustable; if I don’t want to pull out the full blade, I can just stick out the tip for a quick slice.
That said, if I wanted a dedicated box cutter, I would look into the other options listed here.

Speaking of knock-offs and nostalgia, I found a Christy knock-off on the ground at the town carnival when I was a kid. I’ve still got it around somewhere. I’ve kinda had an interest in them ever since.

P.S. The Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades subforum would be a good place to ask about the Christy Knife itself, if you’re more interested in the knife than a box cutter. There’s been a few threads about it over there.
 
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If you’re just looking for something to cut cardboard, these are the Cadillac model:

Linen Micarta Shop Knives

Edit: currently in the process of making some more. Will post an update when available. Feel free to post a comment if interested, along with color preference (can do black or brown at this time, other colors are special order) Thanks everyone. $65 each + $7.65 priority shipping US. Thanks all!
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
I use a Fiskar Pro retractable knife. Most comfy handle out there imo. Admittedly not the sleekest design out there but most comfortable if you have a lot of work to do. As a member of the big hand club, I like big, cushiony grips. It reminds me of the Gerber Gator or Mora type grip. :thumbsup:\

edit: they make a compact too

pro-compact-folding-utility-knife-1062939_productimage.jpg


I'd just go with a *normal* retractable box cutter of some type but I know that might be boring.
 
Christy knives aren't really box and carpet cutting knives. Think more like a thin office carry type knife suitable for opening boxes more than breaking them down. Nobody will freak out when you have one, they aren't really obtrusive and definitely aren't "scary". You can sharpen the blade too, they're pretty easy to get sharp. I gave mine away to my kid but now that you've got me remembering I might get another. Oh yeah- they're small. Like, too small to hold all day cutting anything even moderately tough. You can put them on your keychain.
 
Yes you need a Christy knife.

But first, look at what the Christy knife isn't. Its not a box cutter to break down boxes all day, although a few boxes here and there is okay. Its not a carpet knife. Its not a knife to bail out over the Amazon jungle with and hope to build a raft to float down the river to civilization. Its not to skin a moose, nor a bear.

What it is, is, a nice little pen knife for opening packages, plastic blister packages, cutting light cordage, peeling an orange, and opening your mail. With the blade extended to the first lock point, it does make aa great box cutter and the blade can last years if you don't aggressively over sharpen like a knife nut. I've had Christy knives since I was a kid, because my dad was an enthusiast of them. At one point he bought 50 of them to hand out to the people in his section when he was the guy upstairs in the D.C. spook shop that he was with. They are a light duty pen knife of a novel design, but are capable of more than you would think on first handling and examination. When my sister was in her early 20's and came out from work late one night, a Christy knife saved her from something bad. Her attacker was taken to the hospital to have a few stitches in his neck just over where the carotid artery was when she he'd the blade to his throat in a surprise counter attack he never saw coming. Dad had taught her how to use the little Christy in a very nasty weapon way.

At this point in time, the Christy knife is outmoded and antiquated, but so is the Colt 1911A1, The Kabar, but they still have their fans and they still work at their intended task very well. For the price of a Christy and spare blade, you can get a more modern and "better" knife like a spyderco lady bug, or other modern whiz bang. But the Christy has a unique history and proven track record in the real world to include WW2. They were sold in navy exchanges and army PX's, and there are documented instances of a Christy knife actually saving a life here and there. This included a navy pilot, wounded badly and trying to bail our of his crippled fighter, having to cut his belts loose to jump.

Theres a long list of what a Christy knife isn't. But what it is, is a very very handy cutting tool that drops in a pocket and is so small and light you forget its there until you need to cut something. Then you pick how much blade you need, do your cut, slide blade back in and drop back in pocket until next time. I didn't appreciate the Christy as much as a young man full of vinegar, but as I aged and finally got some common sense, I saw just how good the little Christy was. After my mid 40's, when I sold off/gave away most of my knife collection/accumulation, the Christy became a very regular part of my EDC. After 50, it became common for me to have a small multitool/SAK for utility and a Christy for my cutting tool. Its a great every day slicer because living in a urban or suburban environment we don't really need much knife to get by. Theres no enemy paratroopers dropping out of the sky to takeout while yelling "WOLVERINES!", I seriously doubt the end of the world as we know it is going to happen and we'll all go live in the mountains like Jeremiah Johnson. But...even in a suburban life, theres stuff to cut, and a Christy will cut. Cardboard, string, plastic packaging, light food duty, whatever. Thats when a small sharp blade that cuts like a razor is a nice thing. Thats a Christy. It may be dated, but its still an effective cutter of light duty penknife jobs.

Its a nitch knife, but you need one, if only as a bit of interesting cutlery history. With the death of Earl Christy, his son has sold the big building that they were in and now works as a one man shop out of his garage. I hope he's doing okay, but if you want a Christy knife, get one now. Hal is trying to keep it going, and I wish him well, but he has some very stiff competition in a cut throat market. But for me, the love of Christy is a sort of personal connection because of my dad's use of them, along with his love of the little Case peanut carried and then retired to carry the Christy.

If you want to break down boxes, just get a box cutter for a dollar. But if you want a neat little penknife that you will appreciate more as you actually carry and use it day to day, then you need a Christy knife.
 
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1911bphil said:
I use a Kobalt folding box cutter that has a lock back and pocket clip. It's heavier than what I like, but has a good handle for using all day.
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Yeah, I've got one of these too but, as I recall, it cost around $9-10, which makes it the most expensive "box cutter" that I own. However, it is cool because I can open it pretty quickly one-handed when I remove it when it's clipped to my pocket but I never actually carry it. LOL! ;)

iu
 
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AntDog said:
If you’re just looking for something to cut cardboard, these are the Cadillac model:

Linen Micarta Shop Knives

Edit: currently in the process of making some more. Will post an update when available. Feel free to post a comment if interested, along with color preference (can do black or brown at this time, other colors are special order) Thanks everyone. $65 each + $7.65 priority shipping US. Thanks all!
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
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Then this must be the Ferrari at $175 and up: https://www.chavesknives.com/chub

The Gerber EAB is ok if you want a folder, and runs closer to $10: https://www.gerbergear.com/en-us/shop/knives/all-knives/eab-22-41830
 
Ajack60 said:
Outdoor Edge knives, go check them out.
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JPD1998 said:
I bought this one by Outdoor Edge for $10
It's spring loaded for the closing position and has two drivers on either end. It uses standard blades that can changed by pushing the safety button.
Stainless steel on the opposite side with a pocket clip.

View attachment 1890936
Click to expand...
Almost reminds of the Dodo with that choil! I like it.
 
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