A new utility knife just popped up at Home Depot’s website, and it has me a little puzzled.
Shown here is the Dewalt DWHT10319 all-metal utility knife. What’s so special about it? Dewalt says that this new model offers the blade security of a fixed knife with the convenience of a retractable knife. They say that it has 3 times the blade retention compared to their traditional utility knives.
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Three times the blade retention, huh? That’s something I would like to see added to a Stanley FatMax folding utility knife that slipped once during use. The blade got stuck into the material I was cutting and pulled right out of the knife.
Other features include:
- Bi-material handle
- Improved blade changing system
- Blade storage for up to 5 blades
- “Ideal for use in drywall and cardboard”
- Lanyard loop
- Small cord or wire cutter
It looks to have a tool-free blade change mechanism.
Dewalt says that their new all-metal (I guess all-metal except for the grip material) is made in the USA with global materials.
Price: $13
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The new Dewalt utility knife isn’t quite yet available for purchase, as of the time of this posting, but I expect for it to be in stock soon.
First Thoughts
Did they really have to call this as an “all-metal” knife? Even the most basic utility knives are often all-metal, although I think I once saw a super-cheapened Stanley knife made from plastic.
The Stanley 99, less than $5 via Amazon (add-on), a hi-viz version with different handle contours, less than $6 via Amazon, and many other utility knives from Stanley and other popular brands, are also all-metal.
The curved ergonomics and simpler-looking blade change mechanism seems to justify the price, in my opinion.
From what I can tell, this looks to be a less-frills version of another new Dewalt utility knife that I examined at Dewalt’s 2016 new tool media event.
I discussed this knife in our 5 Hot Tools from the Dewalt Media Event post.
Actually, nevermind. The grip is different, the blade storage compartment is different, and well, it’s a completely different knife.
I’m not sure I’m enticed enough to stay on top of the release of this new all-metal knife, as I’m trying to do for the other model, but I’ll pause to give it strong consideration if I run into a display at Home Depot.
Hmm… maybe this model is meant to replace the standard Dewalt retractable knife that has in the past appeared in special promo 2-packs? I have at least 2 of these knives floating around, and while they’re great, I tend to favor more compact non-folding utility knives, and folding utility knives like Milwaukee’s FastBack knives.
I like that Stanley and Dewalt offer so many utility knife styles, and the new acquisition of Irwin and Lenox will add even more models to the ranks. I just wish that it was easier to find specific knife models and replacement blades in stores. No store carries everything, meaning I sometimes have to hunt down favored models.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
FishStick
I have 2 of the cutters in the last picture and those have quickly become my favorites. Comfortable, durable and haven’t had any problems with them. I tried a Fastback and I’ve had the blade pull out on numerous occasions. I like them for being compact but not a heavy duty cutter. Not sure if the new ones have that issue or not but I went back to Dewalts for heavy cutting. I’ll be putting these on a wishlist now for the holidays.
John
Yawn. Just an overpriced Stanley. IMO
Travis
Get the Goldblatt version at Lowe’s. Same exact knife built more solidly and with more finesse.
BikerDad
The only way I would buy the new one is if I were working on a Rose Bowl float, using primarily yellow roses. (Sponsored by the Texas Roadhouse, of course). Why?
Because EVERY utility knife in my home, save one (Milwaukee), is a high visibility color. It used to be, the damn things loved to hide from me in the shop, in the tool bag/bucket/box, and on the jobsite. When I got my first neon green Stanley, it was a bloomin’ revelation.
Those gray knives hide too well. Best visibility wise are the neon green like Stanley uses, followed by Harbor Freight’s banana yellow, then the DeWalt yellow, then Milwaukee’s red, which is so-so. White (Lennox) is either really good, or poor, depending on the surrounding environment. (Not good for drywall work, great for landscaping and likely stagehandery.)
The new knife is grey, and the little strip of DeWalt yellow isn’t sufficient to redeem it’s low visibility. Now, if you’re a ninja tradesman/urban operator, then go for the gray, or black, but as for me, eye searing is the color family of choice for a utility knife.
Jay
Normally use a Stanley 10-079 with straight blades and an old model Starrett for hook blades. The old Starrett is longer than the Stanley which helps keep your knuckles from rubbing on rough stuff like asphalt shingles. Have had several new fangled utilitiy knives break but the older simpler knives have never failed. Always on the lookout for those old Starretts at estate sales.
JML
The one from the show is supposed to be stocked at Ace Hardware stores. I’ll check it out tomorrow.
JML
In my local Ace franchisee’s store I found two of the new knife model shown at the show, and bought both. They’re slightly lighter than the previous model, which has been one of my two favorite utility knives (the much smaller original Stanley QuickSlide is the other). Less metal – all the yellow parts are plastic. But the knife is still quite hefty. The new blade change mechanism is very easy to use, perhaps the easiest I’ve encountered, and the sliding mechanism is buttery-smooth. The carabiner attachment is a nice change from the lanyard hole. The blade does have some play or wiggle when it’s in place, but so did the old version. The handle holds five extra blades, just like the old version.
The only new thing I don’t like is that the black rubbery grip section on the underside has been changed to two sections, split down the middle (the older version’s underside was one piece), so it might be prone to catching debris in the thin opening between the two halves, or tearing.
JML
Oh, the knife I picked up is $16.99 and comes with five blades in the storage compartment. Three dollars more than the old one.
TOM
I JUST PURCHASED A DWHT10319 UTILITY KNIFE AND CAN’T FIGURE OUT HOW TO INSTALL THE BLADE. I FOUND THE BLADE STORAGE AREA. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN IMPROVED BLADE CHANGING SYSTEM–BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A BIG SECRET.
SSwift
You would think that there would be instructions on the packaging, however I didn’t find any. I had to google for how to change the blades. DeWalt has a YouTube video on the how tos of their utility knives. That helped. The only thing different was the button you have to push in doesn’t exist on this newer model, but the press down button on the side of the knife is what you press instead as you add the blade. I hope this helps.
Ryan Ross
Yeah I’m the same why I can’t figure it out either