I came across the Milwaukee 48-22-1513 utility knife this week and thought to myself – ooh that’s new and different.
Looking deeper, this is a fixed blade knife with metal body, tool-free blade change, lanyard hole, overmold grip, and internal storage for up to 5 spare blades.
This looks interesting, right?
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But then I noticed the blade doesn’t retract – this is a fixed blade knife. OH. Fixed blade, as in non-retracting, as opposed to non-folding.
I took a quick look in my inbox and found the press release; it seems Milwaukee launched this utility knife a full 3 years ago, in November 2019.
Oops.
I own a single fixed blade knife, a silver-bodied Stanley that I equipped with an incredibly hard-to-find plastic scoring blade. I’m not sure where it is right now, as I started using other scoring tools a few years ago.
I would feel about missing the existence of this style of knife, but my local Home Depot stores don’t carry it either. I can find all of the different types of Milwaukee’s FastBack folding utility knives at local stores, plus their non-folding retractable knife, but not this one.
That leads me to wonder – have you seen this Milwaukee utility knife before? How likely are you to buy a fixed utility knife?
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For me, the exposed blade is a no-go. I could easily store it in a drawer, but I am so accustomed to closing and carrying all manners or retractable and folding blades; I simply wouldn’t know how to work with a fixed knife like this.
Am I missing out?
Price: $8-10 (regularly $10, on sale at the time of this posting for $8)
Joellikestools
It looks similar to their spring-retracting package opening knife which has great ergonomics. I have bought at least a dozen milwaukee utility knives and have not seen that one. I personally won’t use non retracting utility knives. It is not worth the potential trip to the ER due to my clumsiness.
Leo B.
I use Fiskars fixed blade utility knives in my tool belts exclusively. They have a moving guard that works like a folding knife, with tool less blade change and blade storage in the tool. As safe as folding with all the strength of fixed. They’re very ergonomic, strong, and a pleasure to use. They’re also pretty cheap. I would highly recommend one- they’re my favorite of any utility knife I’ve used. I don’t work for Fiskars, but I just love this model that much.
eddie sky
The Fiskars pro utility knife is $27 (maybe less when on sale or other merchant) and can store up to 5 blades. I like the looks and slide to protect the blade. Anyone that does drywall knows that after a few cuts, the blade dulls and has hard time retracting.
Didn’t know Fiskars had such a knife…thanks!
Leo B
My pleasure! It’s about $12 on Amazon right now-https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GLCM18Y/
Nathan
how would one carry it – does it come with a sheath or such.
That alone would keep me from using it. otherwise I have something simlar already in a stanley that retracts.
Surprised OSHA would let you make something like that today.
D3t
They’re generally just kept in a pocket on a carpenter’s toolbelt. At least that’s how I see them stored.
fred
Stanley sells at least 2 kinds of fixed blade utility knives. This one comes with a scabbard:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015R4YOIC/
but you might also buy a holster or tool belt pouch as others have noted. I think that some roofers and carpet layers may prefer fixed blade knives because there is less possibility that the retracting mechanism will slip when lots of pressure is applied.
Looking at an old inventory, I see that we purchased a batch of these AJC knives – I think because some of the guys liked them:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004Z2F0/
mark
At all the warehouses and mfg areas I’ve work over 10ish years I’ve seen us go to auto retracting items where if you aren’t actively pushing a lever to KEEP the blade out it retracts quickly. Studies showed these reduced the injury of cutting towards yourself. Probably moving towards the guard based ones where you have to press a lever AND the blade has guard that has to be in contact. Every bitched but this type of injury was always one of the top 2 year over year until these were implemented.
Or even worse they have these crappy ones where it’s like a seatbelt cutter with a blade molded into plastic such that only a small slot is left to use to get through tape. Those sucked and would break over time and exposed the blade to the user. But of course they were cheapest per unit.
Blocky
A fixed knife is good with a dedicated sheath when doing one repetitive cutting task all day or at a fixed work station. For critical cuts, it can be nice to have less play in the blade by eliminating the mechanism.
I’m getting older. I don’t like that extend/ retract thumb motion 1000x/ day.
Matt+the+Hoople
For me, my fixed blade Lennox is not a general purpose tool. I use it for specific cutting tasks where so know I will be making a lot of cuts requiring significant pressure. For this it is perfect. Most recent use was when shingling my new shed. I did all my cuts on the workbench so having a fixed blade was convenient and not a safety issue. I have used on a tool belt with a dedicated sheath. Again, for jobs with a lot of repetitive cutting.
For general purpose day to day use, I use a retractable if I have a tool pouch. If just in my pants pocket for a small task, I use a folder.
Wayne R.
BTW, the Bucket Boss knife sheath is pretty robust and isn’t so tight that using it is difficult. $6.54.
https://www.amazon.com/Bucket-Boss-54042-Utility-Sheath/dp/B00004TBFD
Rman
I’ve used a fixed blade utility knife when I was hanging drywall. My tool pouch had a dedicated holster for the knife. The catch was if the blade broke or the tip got dull had to carry a slotted screwdriver to change the blade. Much easier now when the folding Milwaukee knife can hold two spare blades and no tools to change blades
fred
I see that some fixed-blade utility knives now come with a thumb screw – no screwdriver needed:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003O684QO/
The classic Stanley – now seems to allow for either a slotted or Phillips driver:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00002X209/
Julian Tracy
Couldn’t do that nowadays – no matter the brand: Milwaukee, Dewalt, Husky, USA, China – all the home center available to buy blades for razor knives are absolute crap. I buy the multipacks at Xmas and so always have a bunch, but change blades multiple times a day, and not from mis-use. Especially doing drywall. Haven’t found a quality blade yet at HD and certainly no tr going to switch to buying teh fancy carbide tipped $$$ gimmick blades.
fred
I know that our crews would often pick up blades and other consumables on the fly – usually at a HD near a jobsite. If they stopped into our workout center – we were stocking Tajima blades. But that was 10 + years ago – so I don’t know if that’s true now – or how well the current crop of Tajima blades performs.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NY8R9OU/
mark
Project farm has a video on utility blades. Might be worth you checking out if your searching for good replacements. Some carbide options reviewed , etc. From what I recall.
Jared
Does the tool-free blade change give you a reasonably fast way to stow the blade in the handle? E.g. maybe it’s not that big of a deal to unscrew it and put the blade away when you’re done.
I probably wouldn’t use this style either. I often prefer folding over retractable knives and this is going the other direction. However, if it was easy-enough to put away safely after a project, I see how it would have a place.
Steve L
There are times a fixed blade would be nice (Fred is right about applying pressure) but I am not that hard on a knife and always use the folding Milwaukee which can be slipped into a pocket.
Earl Spam
I don’t have much luck with utility knives. Two trips to ER after trying to cut open those horrible clam shell plastic things that so much stuff comes in. One trip after splitting open my thumb using one to graft apple trees. Another trip stripping copper wire insulation. I finally got a chainmail glove.
Jeremiah D
For clamshell packaging try using tin snips
MM
Agreed, or any sort of heavy-duty scissor really. Those “penny cutter” EMT shears work well, poultry shears from the kitchen, etc.
fred
This is my go-to for clamshell packaging opening. They have the leverage to cut easily, spring loaded opening for quick work, and offset blades to keep your hands out of the way. Made in Japan by Allex (Hayashi Cutlery Co.):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001M0E5YO/
Jared
Another option is the “seat belt cutter” tool found on some multi-tools and rescue knives.
Because they have a “J” shape, the cutting part of the blade is on the inside, and they’re small it would be pretty challenging to cut yourself with one.
Scott F
Have never seen this one, but don’t look too often at all of the knife selection. I do have three Milwaukee knives – the retractable utility knife and the 2-pack black Friday special fastbacks. I like the retractable most (also lost the larger of the fastbacks around day 6 of ownership).
And that same silver Stanley, which I just found stored in a junk drawer yesterday. … For good reason, I have relocated it to the garage but it won’t see much use. Wouldn’t buy another fixed blade, Milwaukee or otherwise. I wanted to get more knives for BF, but I don’t even like the fastbacks that much to get more – I want more standard, retractable utility knives.
Not even enamored by the Milwaukee one, the quick blade change mechanic is terrible and takes a lot of fumbling to get working. Would not mind a different brand.
Tim+E.
I’ve been particularly pleased with my Toughbuilt “magazine style” retractable knives from Lowe’s, which were reviewed here previously. Got a couple packs at that suggestion, which has worked out quite well, I keep a magazine of cheap regular blades in the first knife, hook blades in the second knife, and then have serrated blades in a spare magazine and either carton or carbide blades in the other. Almost want to get another set just to have a spare body and the two more magazines to have the carton and carbide both loaded, and add drywall or extra heavy duty blades to the other (I use them interchangeably for drywall).
Scott F
Awesome suggestion – thanks! I remember reading about them, buy never crossed my mind. Seems like the Toughbuilt stuff is pretty decent in general from reading around here, I am yet to try any.
Joellikestools
One of my coworkers has the Toughnuilt utility knife/ scraper combo. It seems really nice. It is used in a harsh environment for tools and has geld up for a few months.
Charles_A
Yeah, I ordered one of those not seeing where it was a fixed blade.
It’s a bladeless paperweight – too scary w/o a retraction feature.