Review The stanley knife you never knew you needed!

[skotl]

OK, it's not a welder, and it's expensive for a (almost) stanley knife, but it's still a cheap tool and I'm in love with mine so thought I'd share!

I've always bought 99p fake stanley knives, and have even bought 12-for-a-fiver bundles from Screwfix, and they have always felt and behaved like what they are: cheap rubbish.
Flimsy, blades hard to seat and tend to wander, blade disappears into the handle when you're using them, etc.

Then I really pushed the boat out and spent £6 on a genuine Stanley knife. Much better, or so I thought. Then I drove over it with the mini-digger the other week and was really annoyed

I was about to buy the same again and then thought I'd look at what you get for some more dosh, and this sprung up on Amazon for £17:

Linky: Bosch Professional 1600A016BL Universal Folding Knife Compartment in Metal Handle (Including Two Replacement Blades, in Blister Packaging): Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools


Honestly... night and day. Really solidly built - the blue and silver bits are metal, with the rubber top grip. The top grip lifts up to expose a space for three spare blades.

There's a locking butting that you press to open and close it so there's no chance of it opening unintentionally and, crucially, no chance of it folding shut while you're using it.

A two second, no screwdriver, job to swap a blade - just press the other button and slide it out.

And it comes with a belt clip - what's not to like? Best £17 I've spent in ages!

 

[Cuthy246]

Looks a good one. My favourite are the Irwin FK150

 

[Bornfree]

no gimmicks on this one but incredibly strong.

 

[Cuthy246]

View attachment 287226no gimmicks on this one but incredibly strong.

Mate is a carpet fitter and won't use anything else.

 

[qwakers]

stanley still make the best one...

Stanley FatMax Retractable Folding Knife

Take on the tough jobs with this Stanley FatMax folding knife - it's a general-purpose utility knife with a retractable blade to offer plenty of cutting power within a safe and durable design.Need to replace a blunt or worn blade? It couldn't be easier with this knife - blade storage within the...

www.toolstation.com

 

[brightspark]

i have the 15 quid dewalt one best ive ever had. nice top hold and solid got 2 from autojumble 7 quid each . id have bought more if they was any always used stanley but there not up to much.DeWalt Retractable Auto-Load Folding Utility Knife | Knives | Screwfix.com

 

[chunkolini]

But does it still try and bite when you are distracted.
Then hide all by itself?

 

[skotl]

But does it still try and bite when you are distracted.
Then hide all by itself?

You're right - I should go buy another immediately as a backup...

 

[KimB]

OK, it's not a welder, and it's expensive for a (almost) stanley knife, but it's still a cheap tool and I'm in love with mine so thought I'd share!

I've always bought 99p fake stanley knives, and have even bought 12-for-a-fiver bundles from Screwfix, and they have always felt and behaved like what they are: cheap rubbish.
Flimsy, blades hard to seat and tend to wander, blade disappears into the handle when you're using them, etc.

Then I really pushed the boat out and spent £6 on a genuine Stanley knife. Much better, or so I thought. Then I drove over it with the mini-digger the other week and was really annoyed

I was about to buy the same again and then thought I'd look at what you get for some more dosh, and this sprung up on Amazon for £17:

View attachment 287211


Linky: Bosch Professional 1600A016BL Universal Folding Knife Compartment in Metal Handle (Including Two Replacement Blades, in Blister Packaging): Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools


Honestly... night and day. Really solidly built - the blue and silver bits are metal, with the rubber top grip. The top grip lifts up to expose a space for three spare blades.

There's a locking butting that you press to open and close it so there's no chance of it opening unintentionally and, crucially, no chance of it folding shut while you're using it.

A two second, no screwdriver, job to swap a blade - just press the other button and slide it out.

And it comes with a belt clip - what's not to like? Best £17 I've spent in ages!

View attachment 287218


View attachment 287219

View attachment 287221

View attachment 287222


View attachment 287223

I too have started buying the fold out type. I have some cheap ones but as you say they just feel cheep. I bought the bottom one in the pics at tool station for £6 and liked it so I bought another. I do find it irritating that it has three different open positions so I end up having to use two hands to open it generally.
I was in a builders merchant a few weeks back and saw the Milwaukee one for £12 so I bought it, something about it but it just feels so much nicer a than the £6 one. I can easily open and close it with one hand.
Both have blade storage too which I love.

 

[brightspark]

But does it still try and bite when you are distracted.
Then hide all by itself?

i dug a thorn out with my knife and then cut my self with it

 

[123hotchef]

View attachment 287226no gimmicks on this one but incredibly strong.

My go too also know as dolphin knife

 

[sako243]

I've been using the Stanley Fatmax version for a few years now and really rate that. Can store I think 5 spare blades inside the handle which is nice as well. Quick check shows £11 from Screwfix but I think I paid about a fiver a few years back for the same thing.

 

[Hood]

I got this as a thankyou from a friend, had it a few years now and it has been extremely handy.

 

[julianf]

I was in a builders merchant a few weeks back and saw the Milwaukee one for £12 so I bought it, something about it but it just feels so much nicer a than the £6 one. I can easily open and close it with one hand.
Both have blade storage too which I love.

Ive got the milwakee one too. Because i only use it for packing, its not got grimed up (yet) and is basically like a flick knife. Theres no restriction on opening it, so, press the button and flick - although theres no spring, its equally as quick.
Almost surprised its legal.

 

[mtt.tr]

I have these

Stanley 010073 Folding Pocket Knife with Wooden Handle : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders. Shop Stanley 010073 Folding Pocket Knife with Wooden Handle.

www.amazon.co.uk

These are nice also

Bessey DBKWH Folding Utility Knife with Wooden Handle (Blade Included)

Get a great deal on the Bessey DBKWH-EU folding utility knife here at Kelvin Power Tools, plus next working day delivery! We're an official Bessey supplier.

www.kelvinpowertools.com

 

[Ali]

I covet all of those, especially the one with spare blades, but they’re all a bit too chunky to go in the little mini pocket in your jeans and I can never get on with stuff with belt clips. I think these are about as compact as they come and tougher than you would think, current one is around 6 years old

 

[bricol]

And if you are left handed, all they do is leave the blade behind in the cut as you go . . . designed so as you use them left handed, they release the blade . . .

All fixed blades, such as these, are banned on our site (in-fact, I think world wide in all our plants)

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Prefer the retractable but the folding do the job

Having to unfold a knife is a pita when it's used many times a day

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I just buy the silver line 18mm snap off ones...they are excellent when you need a longer blade. I buy them in a box of 36 and I get thro them in no time...I have no idea what happens to them all!

Like the look of that bosch...going to keep an eye on the amazon price. The camel camel tracker says they often go down to £13 so I'll see if I can swoop in and buy a couple at the lower price if I can.

 

[pedrobedro]

Mate is a carpet fitter and won't use anything else

Friend of mine was a carpet fitter and they used something called a Dolphin knife that looked a lot like
the Stanley.