Best folding utility knife

[Robinson1]

For the past 10 years I carry a folding utility knife pretty much constantly while I'm working.

I started with a Sheffield it worked but nothing great. Blade would pull out in really hard cuts. Ended up losing it in an attic.

Replaced that with a Superknife that my wife promptly claimed and put in her purse.

Got another Sheffield the clip screws finally fell out so I threw in a drawer.

Got a Craftsman from Ace broke it doing something stupid because I was too lazy to go get a prybay from my truck that was literally 5 steps away!

Got a Irwin from local plumbing supply. It was a lockback design and would never stay locked. Traded it out for another of the same model. I've used it for a couple months and it's starting to do the same thing. I think it's a design flaw. Soft steel in the lock bar or something.

So who makes the best folding utility knife?

 

[M6erfan]

Best? I have no idea. The Gerber EAB utility knife looks interesting and gets great reviews. Milwaukee has a few that are popular too.

If you liked the Gerber Superknife, why not just get another?

 

[Robinson1]

Best? I have no idea. The Gerber EAB utility knife looks interesting and gets great reviews. Milwaukee has a few that are popular too.

If you liked the Gerber Superknife, why not just get another?

I usually just grab whatever is available local when I need one. It's usually cheaper stuff from supply houses. Havent seen a Gerber Superknife locally for quite a while. I'm not opposed to ordering which is why I asked what was best. No one around here stocks Milwaukee handtools or I'd probably already have a fastback.

I think the Gerber EAB is smaller than what I want.

 

[sberry]

Make sure you are using the correct blades. ACE/Do It Best and most others are one and not the same as a Stanley.

 

[vavet]

I carry the utility knife in this combo daily. I use it at work, home shop, even cleaning the kitchen (remove the blade, scrape the **** off the glass-top stove).

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-1-5-in-Folding-Utility-Knife/1000339893

I typically use either DeWalt or Stanley fatmax blades. They seem to work well and don't break, unless you're doing something stupid.

 

[doublearon98]

The craftsman with Stanley heavy duty blades is the best combination I've found.

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[murph331]

The Milwaulkee Fastback with the disposable blades. Great little knife and its tough. quite inexpensive as well. easy to fold and unfold with a flick of the wrist when holding down the locking pin

 

[unslow1]

I have 5 or 6 brands. To me the only real difference has been how the closing mechanism works.

 

[paulsomlo]

The Milwaulkee Fastback with the disposable blades. Great little knife and its tough. quite inexpensive as well. easy to fold and unfold with a flick of the wrist when holding down the locking pin

Well built, but you need to buy the Milwaukee blades for it.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I like all my DeWalt, very sturdy ergonomics are great as well. Stanley blades are good as well

 

[Ainsley]

The lenox utility knives and blades are the nicest I've used. Amazon usually has a decent price on em

 

[Robinson1]

Make sure you are using the correct blades. ACE/Do It Best and most others are one and not the same as a Stanley.

I only buy Stanley blades usually a couple of the 50 packs when Ace runs their $2.99 sale

 

[Robinson1]

So basically everyone agrees they are a cheap consumable tool and no one makes one that's alot better than the others?

 

[M6erfan]

So basically everyone agrees they are a cheap consumable tool and no one makes one that's alot better than the others?

I mean, they're utility knives...

I'll tell you though the absolute worst I ever used was the Bessey folder. Terrible POS.

 

[seber]

Buck and Schrade make really good knives for the money. You will not be disappointed with either one. I have been carrying Spydercos for the last 35 years or so. Extremely high quality but it may be more than you need of you were happy with what you had.

 

[sberry]

I only buy Stanley blades usually a couple of the 50 packs when Ace runs their $2.99 sale

Yes, for giggles put the ace and
Stanley over top each other and notice the difference.

 

[Robinson1]

Buck and Schrade make really good knives for the money. You will not be disappointed with either one. I have been carrying Spydercos for the last 35 years or so. Extremely high quality but it may be more than you need of you were happy with what you had.

Oh I know. I've got a small collection of Buck knives and carry a 112 daily. I just keep the folding utility knife for drywall, shingles, insulation, lumber banding and the like. I hate to use a good knife for stuff like that.

 

[Robinson1]

Yes, for giggles put the ace and
Stanley over top each other and notice the difference.

If you really want a shock put one of the Wal Mart Hyper Tough blades next to a Stanley.

Supply house gave me a pack of Lenox blades to try out the other day. They work good but I wouldn't pay what they charge for them.

 

[sberry]

Are they exactly the same laid over top a Stanley? I think the only Stanley is a Stanley.

 

[d.mcfarland]

The lenox utility knives and blades are the nicest I've used. Amazon usually has a decent price on em

These to be exact:

 

[speed bump]

I have the Husky folder because I liked the Milwaukee but wanted something that wasn't as fat. Seems decent so far but I still grab a Stanley 99 most of the time.

 

[Robinson1]

Are they exactly the same laid over top a Stanley? I think the only Stanley is a Stanley.

No not even close. Blade is at least 1/4" shorter from point to point and I think notches on blade spine are in different locations.

I got a pack in a box of random tools from the flea market. Still in the shop somewhere but never tried to put them in a knife

 

[Tynee]

My kid has a couple of these:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-4-3-in-Folding-Utility-Knife/50109012

I like them well enough that I’ll be replacing the well-used Stanley retractable I’ve had for a decade with one of them.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

These are my favorite...Ive used this for a few years, i think it is my second or third of this style. Ive have stanley and the like but i like these the best. Hopefully it won't meet the same fate as my others which all got lost.

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[fasteddie]

I bought my first folder recently, I really haven't used it at all yet. I just bought it on looks, I liked the blue color. It seems like a well made sturdy knife ($3.99 with coupon at Harbor Freight, I only buy the best). It may not get much use at all. I have been carrying a retractable Stanley in my back pocket for so many years and can slide the blade in and out with my thumb so much faster than I can unfold this folder. The retractable is more comfortable in the pocket and in the hand and I like the in handle blade storage.

 

[sberry]

I buy a couple 3 new retractors every year to replace most mostly. I throw out anything else that sneaks its way in.

 

[Bodj Built]

Retractors ****. They never close properly after you get some sheetrock in it. I have been using this Kobalt one for 4 years now and absolutely love it. Blades fit tightly inside (don't flop around) and I haven't had any issues with them accidentally popping out.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-4-35-in-Folding-Steel-stainless-Utility-Knife/50111432

Those gold blades work great, too. The points don't round off like others.

 

[ChrisLS8]

Retractors ****. They never close properly after you get some sheetrock in it. I have been using this Kobalt one for 4 years now and absolutely love it. Blades fit tightly inside (don't flop around) and I haven't had any issues with them accidentally popping out.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-4-35-in-Folding-Steel-stainless-Utility-Knife/50111432

Those gold blades work great, too. The points don't round off like others.

I have that issue occasionally, I just pop em open and give em a quick clean maybe once a week. Takes all of 2 minutes

 

[Bodj Built]

I have that issue occasionally, I just pop em open and give em a quick clean maybe once a week. Takes all of 2 minutes

Yeah, just not something I care to do. The Kobalt I have has some nice weight to it (I like heavy knifes), doesn't have play in the pivoting mechanism, won't accidentally fold on you, yet folds easy and smooth every time. Win in my book. The only downside is that it doesn't have a place to store extra blades, which is ok with me. Less moving parts to break...

 

[ChrisLS8]

Yeah since I'm on a job site and use them all day for different things I have to be able to pop em out quickly and most the time one handed. I would love to see a folding one that has assisted opening

 

[3oheight]

I just bought this one last week https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Hand-Tools/Cutting/Knives-and-Blades/48-22-1906 so far I’m really liking it. My first folding one. Been using the regular Stanley quick change ones forever.

 

[cmandp]

I found this Dewalt one (along with a Klein 10-1 screwdriver incidentally) left by an electrician at work.

I like it alright but with the quick change blade mechanism the blade is really wobbly (not sure if it because it was well used when I got it or what).

I still like my Stanley 99's best

 

[deberly12]

I carried an EAB for several years when I had an office job. It is a great knife for in your pocket. When you use it it is terrible. Now that I work on the farm and use my knife constantly. I went for the Milwaukee fastback. I love it. But I may go grab the one without blade storage. It is a little thinner and longer.

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[gtsgarage]

I carried an EAB for several years when I had an office job. It is a great knife for in your pocket. When you use it it is terrible. Now that I work on the farm and use my knife constantly. I went for the Milwaukee fastback. I love it. But I may go grab the one without blade storage. It is a little thinner and longer.

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I agree the fastback with the blade storage is a bit thick. I may do the same and grab one without the blade storage.

 

[DerekV]

Absolutely love the Milwaukee Fastback without the blade storage.

No slop anywhere even after heavy use. Very ergonomic and seems to slip into my side pocket (pants) really naturally.

I've used many brands of blades in it and they all work, doesn't "need" to be Milwaukee as stated in an earlier comment.

 

[Mecha]

Absolutely love the Milwaukee Fastback without the blade storage.

No slop anywhere even after heavy use. Very ergonomic and seems to slip into my side pocket (pants) really naturally.

I've used many brands of blades in it and they all work, doesn't "need" to be Milwaukee as stated in an earlier comment.

Same, fastback without blade storage. Love it. I like Lenox and Irwin blades, no real reason, seem to last.

 

[sberry]

Yes, I don't know anything about brands other than Stanley. If someone had a problem with a Stanley knife 95% or my re chance it has or has had the wrong blade in it, if it comes loose or slips the other 5% chances are its being used in a manner it shouldn't be.

 

[Slednut]

I use these, one for stuff that's easy to cut and one for stuff that's hard to cut.

 

[kctyphoon]

Milwaukee fastback - no contest.

 

[ishiboo]

I daily carry the EAB Lite. In a pinch I actually used it to install an entire back hallways worth of vinyl plank flooring.

For a project, I use the Fastback or Fastback 2.