Tiny box cutter for keychain that has a lock?

[noid]

I've been using the korcraft as my main box keychain box cutter, great size, great lock, but the blade retention screw keeps coming loose, even after using loctite.



With toddler aged kids around, I need something that has a lock.

Any recommendations?

 

[PCustoms]

How many boxes you opening with it?

In a pinch I've always just used an actual key. Looks like there are plenty of "sharp" keys or key like objects out there capable or breaking tape but not actually sharp enough to hurt anyone

 

[seber]

How many boxes you opening with it?

In a pinch I've always just used an actual key. Looks like there are plenty of "sharp" keys or key like objects out there capable or breaking tape but not actually sharp enough to hurt anyone

In a pinch probably OK. But I had a coworker who used to use his car key for boxes in the office. That is until it no longer worked in his car due to wear. Keys are soft brass. They wear really fast when they encounter paper or cardboard. I use a P38 that I have carried since 1970. I think I might have replaced it once. It serves many uses but is ideal for none other than opening cans.

 

[m6z]

Give the Canary box opener a look.

 

[PCustoms]

In a pinch probably OK. But I had a coworker who used to use his car key for boxes in the office. That is until it no longer worked in his car due to wear. Keys are soft brass. They wear really fast when they encounter paper or cardboard. I use a P38 that I have carried since 1970. I think I might have replaced it once. It serves many uses but is ideal for none other than opening cans.

Yeah I certainly wouldn't do it every day.

I have a promo bottle/can/staple opener on my keychain that works, I know I've seen them with an "edge" specifically made for boxes.

Lots of options without a razor shar exacto blade on a keyring

 

[NoahG]

Is the Gerber Prybid too big for your needs?

 

[noid]

Is the Gerber Prybid too big for your needs?

Give the Canary box opener a look.

I think size is the limiting factor for both of these, really need something small as its going on a keychain.

 

[tamaraw]

Keys are soft brass. They wear really fast when they encounter paper or cardboard.

Most are traditionaly brass (or nickel plated brass) but some are steel, stainless steel, or titanium.

Still wouldn't recommend using them for cutting stuff.

 

[liliysdad]

I just carry a pocket knife....

 

[Shiftless]

I just carry a pocket knife....

For me it varies.
Sometimes I carry my old Buck 112. But on my keychain, which is always in my pocket, is a Leatherman Micra. The little blade works great for ripping tape and even cutting corrugated cardboard sorta kinda in a pinch. I don’t think a toddler could very easily get his/her fingernail into the slot and get the blade open.

 

[liliysdad]

For me it varies.
Sometimes I carry my old Buck 112. But on my keychain, which is always in my pocket, is a Leatherman Micra. The little blade works OK for ripping tape and even cutting corrugated cardboard in a pinch. I don’t think a toddler could very easily get his/her fingernail into the slot and get the blade open.

I never “sometimes” carry a knife. It’s as much a daily thing as pants and shoes. The only variance is which one I have that day.

I despise carrying keys and normally don’t. Pocket knife? Always.

 

[tamaraw]

I despise carrying keys and normally don’t.

How do you leave your house? Even if I ride my bicycle, I still have a key for the lock.

Teach me how to master this dark art

 

[Shiftless]

I never “sometimes” carry a knife.

I get you.
If you count a Leatherman Micra as a knife, then I too always carry a knife. If I’m doing outdoor activities expecting to have to cut things somewhere I’m going, I will add my Buck 112 to my pocket.

edit: I too carry a key to my front door, the Leatherman Micra and a Fenix AAA flashlight on my keychain…and If I’m driving somewhere, the keyless entry fob to my car. Because of bulk, I don’t always carry the key fob to the car.

My cousin lives in a very small rural town in the Midwest. He doesn’t carry a key to his house because it is never locked. He used to never take the key out of the ignition on his car or his truck either. Then some punk kids started to go joyriding in his neighbors cars so that stopped.
Being a city boy myself, when visiting long ago, it always impressed me that he could drive to town, leave his windows down with the key in the ignition and walk away without concern.

 

[liliysdad]

How do you leave your house? Even if I ride my bicycle, I still have a key for the lock.

Teach me how to master this dark art

My front door has a keypad, and my wife works from home. My truck has a keypad and I leave the key in the ignition and lock the door. If I drive one of my older trucks, the key ring has at most two keys on it.

 

[liliysdad]

I get you.
If you count a Leatherman Micra as a knife, then I too always carry a knife. If I’m doing outdoor activities expecting to have to cut things somewhere I’m going, I will add my Buck 112 to my pocket.

If it works for you, great. I would feel like I didn’t have a knife if all I had was a Micra.

Something like a Spyderco Endura, Case Kinzua or Longhouse are the usual.

 

[kyrbz]

I don’t know how many I’ve lost or had confiscated by the TSA, but I like keeping one of these on my keychain. No bigger than a key but several more functions than just a blade. It doesn’t lock, but I think a toddler would have a hard time opening it. Takes a sturdy thumbnail to get it open.

6-IN-1 UTILITY KEY-SWISS+TECH

www.swisstechtools.com

 

[GeoBruin]

If it works for you, great. I would feel like I didn’t have a knife if all I had was a Micra.

Something like a Spyderco Endura, Case Kinzua or Longhouse are the usual.

I feel you. I'm currently at the beach. No shirt, no shoes, certainly no keys, but I've got a knife clipped to the pocket of my trunks. It's been this way for years. But not everyone is like that.

I have a micra on my keys, but not for the blade. The scissors, screwdriver, tweezers etc all come in handy. I don't think I would trade for just a box cutter.

The real question is... why am I on Garage Journal while at the beach?

 

[Shiftless]

If it works for you, great. I would feel like I didn’t have a knife if all I had was a Micra.

Thanks
I know what you mean though. Recently I had a young fellow helping me with a fence building project in my back yard. I had a 50 foot roll of temporary plastic garden fence to put up to keep the deer out of my wife’s flower garden. I had a couple of sections to nail up to wooden posts. I pulled out my Leatherman to cut the first section off the roll and it took about 20- 30 seconds to cut through 4 feet of the plastic mesh. The second cut we had to make he pulled out a modern pocket knife with a wide partially serrated blade and cut 4 feet in about 10 seconds.
Not doubt his was the more appropriate tool. I should have had a better tool myself.

 

[Shiftless]

I have a micra on my keys, but not for the blade. The scissors, screwdriver, tweezers etc all come in handy. I don't think I would trade for just a box cutter.

The real question is... why am I on Garage Journal while at the beach?

I use those other functions of mine are just as important. The bottle opener is quite handy and makes a statement about self sufficiency when you open a cool one somebody hands you.

 

[Shiftless]

I don’t know how many I’ve lost or had confiscated by the TSA, but I like keeping one of these on my keychain. No bigger than a key but several more functions than just a blade. It doesn’t lock, but I think a toddler would have a hard time opening it. Takes a sturdy thumbnail to get it open.

6-IN-1 UTILITY KEY-SWISS+TECH

www.swisstechtools.com

Im glad to see a bottle opener included on that tool.

 

[Sumboodie]

I'd have a keychain rivaling a school janitor if I kept the keys together.
I just keep them all seperate and either key stays with whatever or it's on a board inside and I grab what I need.

 

[tamaraw]

I think size is the limiting factor for both of these, really need something small as its going on a keychain.

There is stuff like the Olfa TK-4 (has a keychain hole but no lock):


Or Slice Mini (has a slide "lock" on the heel and you could drill a keychain hole):


But I wouldn't really trust a sliding mechanism like that in a pocket. They also have larger surface areas, which is good for grip, but maybe a bit large for a keychain.

How often do you really have to open packages with a keychain tool when something better isn't within reach? Most of my package opening happens at home or at work where I have dedicated box cutters available, but YMMV.

Cutting tape on boxes is messy and any non-disposable knife, particularly a folder, is likely to get gummed up over time and require cleaning. But a dedicated knife can be useful for a lot of other stuff as well.

The Victorinox SD is a solid multi-use option if it has to be on a keychain. Scissors and tweezers are nice to have day to day, and while the blade is small, it can work on stuff like tape or food in a pinch. Mine is from my mom, it's at least 30 years old and I have carried it in my pocket for about 10 of those. Length is just slightly longer than a house key, they are cheap, and come in dozens of colors.


I also carry a Boker Titan II in my purse, which is still very slim but has a slightly more substantial blade for cutting food like fruit or cheese when I am out.



A similar option would be the Gerber Ultralight LST:


Or Otter Mercator:

 

[RTM]

would be the Gerber Ultralight LST:

My EDC up til COVID, when I didn't leave the house. I've never used it on a keyring tho.

 

[bonneyman]

This is the one I'd carry EDC. Found it at an estate sale. Probably a promotional give-away.
Just drill a hole in the **** end for the keyring and Bobs' your uncle!

 

[Fixr]

There is stuff like the Olfa TK-4 (has a keychain hole but no lock):


Or Slice Mini (has a slide "lock" on the heel and you could drill a keychain hole):


But I wouldn't really trust a sliding mechanism like that in a pocket. They also have larger surface areas, which is good for grip, but maybe a bit large for a keychain.

How often do you really have to open packages with a keychain tool when something better isn't within reach? Most of my package opening happens at home or at work where I have dedicated box cutters available, but YMMV.

Cutting tape on boxes is messy and any non-disposable knife, particularly a folder, is likely to get gummed up over time and require cleaning. But a dedicated knife can be useful for a lot of other stuff as well.

The Victorinox SD is a solid multi-use option if it has to be on a keychain. Scissors and tweezers are nice to have day to day, and while the blade is small, it can work on stuff like tape or food in a pinch. Mine is from my mom, it's at least 30 years old and I have carried it in my pocket for about 10 of those. Length is just slightly longer than a house key, they are cheap, and come in dozens of colors.


I also carry a Boker Titan II in my purse, which is still very slim but has a slightly more substantial blade for cutting food like fruit or cheese when I am out.



A similar option would be the Gerber Ultralight LST:


Or Otter Mercator:

Victorinox SD guy here. I realized like 30 years ago that I had never needed to skin an elk that wandered into the shop, or fight off ravening zombies, or cut a burning tire off a magnesium minilite wheel.. As a mechanic, I mostly opened the boxes that parts came in. And the toothpick, tweezers and nail-file were useful. I used the scissors maybe every 5 years.

Edit: And I had gasket scrapers and wire strippers and a bunch of other tools to efficiently do particular things that a pocket knife or even a Bowie knife weren't really good at. Knives are good at slicing and dividing in two.

 

[mike93lx]

How do you leave your house? Even if I ride my bicycle, I still have a key for the lock.

Teach me how to master this dark art

I have no keys for my house. The doors are all keypads without even a key slot.

Cars are all keyless push-button, so just a fob

The only keys I have are a small ring in my console for my roof rack, cargo box and one that does all of my paclock locks for the hitch/trailer

 

[mike93lx]

Slide Lock Titanium Craft Knife - Coming Soon!

New Small Batch In Stock! Split Ring / Locking Nut / Screw / Body = 100 % titanium Here's a product driven by the internal want/desire of our Art Department. They wanted a knife like our Folding Titanium Craft Scalpel, BUT using standard #11 hobby blades. This compact Slide Lock Titanium Craft...

countycomm.com

 

[tamaraw]

My EDC up til COVID, when I didn't leave the house. I've never used it on a keyring tho.

Yeah, that's what my dad had for apples when we were little.

To be clear, I wasn't recommending it on a keyring, but it can easily and discretely fit into any sort of pocket.

 

[tamaraw]

Slide Lock Titanium Craft Knife - Coming Soon!

New Small Batch In Stock! Split Ring / Locking Nut / Screw / Body = 100 % titanium Here's a product driven by the internal want/desire of our Art Department. They wanted a knife like our Folding Titanium Craft Scalpel, BUT using standard #11 hobby blades. This compact Slide Lock Titanium Craft...

countycomm.com

I like the materials and craftsmanship on that but I suspect it would have the same issue as OP's current knife (lock knob coming loose).

 

[jmarkwolf]

I've been carrying this small folding knife on my keychain for years. Masquerades effectively as a key.

I don't know about cutting cardboard but it works great for cutting the shipping tape typically used on boxes.

https://www.harborfreight.com/key-shaped-folding-knife-66837.html

 

[d42jeep]

Here is the little Stanley that lives in the basement and belongs to my wife. The blades were pretty rusty when I took it apart and I hit them with the 3M rotary disc. They aren’t like new but they are usable.

Next to a regular box cutter blade
Back together and hung up.

While walking through the kitchen I noticed that my wife has picked up some small box cutters at sales without me noticing. One must be a Hyde with the three hole blade. The other might be made by Stanley.
-Don

Here are a couple of key ring appropriate cutters I posted on the tiny tool thread some time back.
-Don

 

[4xdog]

The Christy pocket knife is a compact, well-made locking/sliding blade made by a small company in northwestern Ohio for decades.

The Christy Pocket Knife

The Christy sliding blade knife is the handiest pocket knife ever designed. Its slim design fits on every keychain and allows you to operate the knife with just one hand, locking the replaceable blade in three positions. It is light, safe and super sharp. All parts are manufactured by hand with...

christycompany.net

 

[seber]

The Christy pocket knife is a compact, well-made locking/sliding blade made by a small company in northwestern Ohio for decades.

The Christy Pocket Knife

The Christy sliding blade knife is the handiest pocket knife ever designed. Its slim design fits on every keychain and allows you to operate the knife with just one hand, locking the replaceable blade in three positions. It is light, safe and super sharp. All parts are manufactured by hand with...

christycompany.net

I carried a Christy through high school and college until I was drafted. I think back then they were a dollar. Thought nothing of it when I threw it into the can for basic training. Now I see they are $44. Nice little knife but that is ridiculous.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Quark

 

[noid]

Quark

Looks like it might fit the bill.

Quark looks to have gone out of business; or atleast sold out without an ETA, so lets hope the aliexpress knock off is just as good.

 

[AreBeeBee]

Mileages always vary. Mine involves a Vic Classic (the little SD) in one front pocket, a 1960s Ulster BSA knife in a rear pocket, and a Fenix LD02 (AAA, rear button switch) flashlight in another front pocket. Over several years I tried a number of Leathermen — Micra, Squirt S4, Squirt P4, Squirt PS4, some other full-size L'man. Sooner or later each was put aside because none fitted what I do daily. I'm just not a multitool guy.

Why put 'em in pockets? I don't want to use a knife-tool-flashlight-whatever when it's attached to a clump of keys -- too awkward.

The car keys (for 2 cars) are each on a split ring, with a house key also on each ring. Each ring is on a Petzl Djinn carabiner (different color for each car) that hook onto a back belt loop letting the keys drop into a back pocket. That model biner was chosen because it can be easily unhooked from the rear belt loop without looking and without snagging on it. (The critical detail for choice is where the gate locks onto the frame: no hook cutout on the locking end of the gate. Who knew?)

As I said, mileage varies.

 

[paranoid56]

i use this old thing lol

 

[bassJAM]

I carry a knife daily but refuse to use it to open boxes because I hate the way the tape adhesive gums up the edge.

Generally I use the Gerber Shard on my keychain if I can't just rip off the tape.

 

[noid]

Looks like it might fit the bill.

Quark looks to have gone out of business; or atleast sold out without an ETA, so lets hope the aliexpress knock off is just as good.

The knock-off arrived from Aliexpress and i've been using it daily for a while now. Happy to report it works awesome and is exactly what I needed - no way a toddler could open it and its ultra small and convenient.

This is the listing I bought from:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005214975621.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.110.23431802TUXuvS

 

[designer485]

I carry a knife daily but refuse to use it to open boxes because I hate the way the tape adhesive gums up the edge.

Generally I use the Gerber Shard on my keychain if I can't just rip off the tape.

I was going to say the same thing. If you don't want to carry a knife with you, the Gerber Shard on your keychain works great for a bunch of uses including opening boxes.