I’ve been using snap blade knives very infrequently, and for a long time now. Years ago, I don’t remember why – there was probably a convenience factor to them. More recently, it’s because I have a couple of review samples floating around on occasion.
OLFA, known for their cutting tools, wants to change that. They want to convince me that their snap blade knives are versatile multi-purpose, durable, and high-performance cutting tools.
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They say that their blades are ultra-sharp and more convenient, since each 8-section blade gives you the same number of cutting edges as 4 standard double-ended utility knife blades.
I am absolutely convinced that OLFA believes in their marketing claims. Am I convinced that an OLFA snap blade knife will become my go-to utility knife? Not quite. But I do look forward to having the opportunity to find out.
After some back and forth, we came to a sponsorship agreement, where OLFA will finance some testing and a custom project featuring their knives. At the end, I will be producing two one-page PDFs for them, one detailing my experiences with their snap blade knives, and another detailing the project that I’m going to be working on.
The project will be simple – a small display box, positioned on top of a small stand made from materials that the OLFA snap blade knife is designed to work with.
As for the test materials, I have specific construction and fabrication materials in mind already, and am definitely open to requests.
At the early stages of the sponsorship discussion, I proposed using a selection of OLFA knives and tools on the project, and their snap blade knives for cutting cardboard as prototyping and mock-up materials.
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CARDBOARD?! That didn’t go over very well. We then talked about all the other kinds of materials that OLFA snap blade knives are well-suited for cutting much more than that, such as drywall, foam insulation, ceiling tiles, rubber cable housings, and all kinds of other construction materials.
Apparently a lot of users, myself included, see snap knives as disposable blade box cutters. According to OLFA, they’re capable of so much more.
OLFA sent me some samples, and I have started planning out the testing sequences and project build. They make their “X-Series” of professional utility knives in 3 sizes – 9mm, 18mm, and 25mm. I’ll be working with all three sizes, and it seems the 18mm knife is the most popular.
I think this is going to be fun.
So far, I can tell you that the OLFA LA-X 18mm snap blade utility knife is far different – and better – than the cheap snap blade knives I used years ago. These might turn out to be everything that OLFA says they are. I don’t know if I like the multi-purpose “pick” feature at the end of the handle, though it does seem like it could be handy.
Oh, what’s that? You want to join the fun and see what snap knives can do besides open cartons or break down cardboard boxes? Good news – OLFA has agreed to kick off a free sample offer, just for us.
Update: All of the samples have been allotted.
Go to that link, put down your info to request a free knife sample, and then read more about what you’re getting. The offer is open to US and Canada residents, and sample quantities are limited.
Let me ask you – what kinds of materials would you use this knife to cut?
P.S. I just checked the packaging, and the knife is made in Japan.
If you miss out on the sample offer, or want to buy more, here’s a purchase link. It’s currently $9.88 at Amazon. Their 18mm UltraSharp heavy-duty blades are ~$10 for a 10-pack. So that’s $10 for 80 cutting edges.
Buy Now(18mm knife via Amazon)
Buy Now(Replacement blades via Amazon)
JMG
Tools in Action sponsored one of these OLFA giveaways awhile back. I received one of these knives from them, and they are an excellent item for the tool kit. The quality of the tool was much higher than expected, with the only downside being the single blade capacity, for this particular model.
It is an item that will sell itself, and when I wear the one I currently have out, or lose it, I will definitely replace it with another of the same brand. Grab one while you can…
Jeremy
That back “blade” is perfectly suited for opening boxes. You can press down and cut through packing tape with no risk to the contents. Very handy for ham fisted employees. Will open paint cans in a pinch, pry open a stuck cabinet or crease surfaces for folding. If you are not used to a quality snap knife they are right up there with vice grips for the do everything tool.
The multi blade ones are frustrating, and frequently rust up.
I prefer the type with the rotating lock screw, Olfa and Milwaukee make them now. I probably have a dozen on the shop floor at any time. Olfa makes the better one(I’m not sure why Milwaukee QC on their hand tools is so poor, but that’s another discussion, up there with Dewalt snap “carbide” snap blades for junk tools). The best Olfa handle is a bit counterintuitive. It’s not rounded but more square bodied with a rubber insert on one side. For heavier use the square body gives you a flat surface to push on comfortably while the more rounded(and seemingly more ergonomic) body starts to hurt the hand.
Their black blades are excruciatingly sharp, and we use them to the exclusion of all other knives in the shop. Use it until dull, extend, snap, repeat. Need to shave a big surface, or saw through something, extend the blade all the way cut and retract.
Need to cut sealant out around a window? Extend the blade, run it in flat to the glass, and cut with the tip, no stress on the glass, clean cut on the sealant.
Far, far superior to the ones that take the short parallelogram blades.
Materials cut today with them:
Fiberglass cloth
Fiberglass mat
Fiberglass 24 Oz roving
Caulking tube tips
A set of RV windows(glued in).
Pencils
Some wood trim edges.
Scraped some gunk with the square edge(after a new snap it’s sharp on the edge like a mini scraper
Zip ties
Some flexible copper wire when side cutters weren’t handy
Carboard for templating
vinyl decals
My incoming mail
A bent edge of a fingernail
some splinters dug out(pull the blade out, use the back corner, it is perfect for spliter extraction)
Jeremy
https://olfa.com/professional/product/rubber-inset-grip-ratchet-lock-utility-knife-l-2/
This is the best handle for constant use.
Whiskey and wood
I signed up to get one because I’m in the same belief boat: snap blades aren’t very useful and I’m not going to spend my money on them, so we’ll see if this changes my mind!
Hawk
I am with you Whiskey, though am anxious to see if working with this snap knife will change my mind.
Todd
I have both disposable blade and snap blade knives from Olfa and Tajima, and I find myself grabbing the snap blade knife more often as so long as there is more then one section left, I essentially have a brand new blade on hand (and the particular knife I use most stores 2 extras in the butt of the knife. Only thing I really use the disposable blade knife for is scoring sheetrock, and when convenient the fixed blade is better for sharpening pencils.
Henrik V
Excellent japanese knifes, got many of their products. Here is a structured overview (Swedish e-tailer, no export – just for Toolguyders as example):
https://www.proffsproduktershop.se/verktyg/olfa-knivar/
Stuart
There’s plenty on their US site too. I left it out because I wanted to keep this post as a short and brief intro.
https://olfa.com/professional/products/?filter_product-type=utility-knife
Henrik V
Got it – I linked to a local Swedish non-exporting site just because they’ve structured the knife displayed in a best practice way.
This is by the way my all-time favorite – a must have time saver and EDT;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/OLFA-other-purpose-made-hand-tools-CS-5-217B/192481228033?hash=item2cd0c67501:g:Ry4AAOSwUg9aac4~
Scott
Lets hope so, or I will feel bamboozled. Not by you, but by them. I work for a Japanese company and I don’t think that’s would be appropriate in their culture to do so intentionally, but I can see an “oops, we don’t have one for you and we didn’t think of how to end the signup” situation.
My mother has owned OLFA rotary cutters for years that were always good. I’d be happy to replace an old Stanley knife that falls apart too easily.
Nathan
Do you get any confirmation that you met the cutoff to receive the free knife?
I signed up – look forward to trying it. I’ve used olfa cutters for a number of things but never thought about keeping one in the garage.
I liked the one my wife uses that has a lock nut for want of another term – good blade support – good ergonomics – and that blade sliced carpet like it wasn’t there.
Stuart
I don’t know? I was under the impression that the signup would deactivate at that point, either automatically or manually.
Stuart
I’m told that all available samples have been requested. I modified the link and added an update.
Joel L
I’m excited to try out the snap blade knife. I’ve heard great things about them but never tried one out.
Chad
Been using Olfa knives for years can stand the cheap plastic knock offs. Great Knives
Esa
I started using OLFA knives as a little boy in Finland for cutting balsa wood when building free-flight and RC planes. For perfect cuts, there just wasn’t anything better available. Since then, for the past 30+ years, they have been the only knife I use on any project. The 18mm size seems to be the best all around knive. I can’t even start listing all the materials I’ve cut with them over the years while building a house from ground up, doing three complete remodels on my homes, and working on hundreds of other projects. The blades are extremely sharp and deserve respect (I won’t tell you here why/how I know that!). The Chinese copies where the blades are not that sharp or don’t lock well have probably given these types of knives a bad name. I’ve always used the manual locking 18mm knife as my go to knife and probably own five of them. Now I’m curious to try the auto-locking version. However, I hope that for your project OLFA gives you both models to use. You can never go wrong with a manually locking blade (they use a threaded knob that locks the blade very securely). When you are experimenting with the limits of the knife, having the blade locked securely is important. I look forward to your review and comments from others. For me OLFA has been part of my life, on two continents, longer than any other tool brand I’ve owned!
Henrik V
Agree – there is a tough knife competition in the Nordics with very strong and local made brands, and Olfa is one of very few that have been able to compete.
Rami
I am a tool salesman in Finland and it seems like snap-off knives are much more popular than disposable knives. I use snap off knives maybe 50 times more than disposable blade knives. Fixed blade knives like mora and hultafors are also competing partially on the same markets.
Henrik V
A similarity to snap-offs is the so called Scandinavian grind, that is just one bevel, starting near the blade center, and tapering all the way to the edge. Most common steele qualities are Uddeholm UHB 20C carbon steel and the Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel (“razorblade steele”)
John
I also feel the same way about snap blades, e.g. maybe good as a box cutter but not much else. So I signed up for the freebie to test one out.
Jim Felt
We’ve been using them for decades. Both at the studios and I’ve kept some at home as well.
Lowe’s if all places seems to have a consistently good selection. Lowe’s?
Oddly I actually Amazoned the black blade 18mm version a couple of weeks ago to try the new shape and so-called sharper blade. So far no useful comparative test has appeared but I’m looking forward to it.
(That said I have a 27” Kutrimmer paper cutter I use frequently in place of any pull knife. But it ain’t at all portable).
Josh
I recently bought an Olfa knife and have been enjoying using it for craft projects. I’d love to try using a heavier version for home renovation
Tom
I recently had to cut a ton of 2.5 inch thick EPS insulation. I don’t think that there is anything better than a snap-blade utility knife for the job. Clean cuts and way less mess than any other tool I could think of to try.
Jerry
I always liked the concept of knives like this, but the ones I’ve been around seemed flimsy for much more than package/box opening. If as well made and sturdy as they claim, it could be a winner. Will find out for sure when my sample arrives in optimistic, though, from the reviews on Amazon
Farid
When I was younger, I did not have X-acto. All I had was a Staedtler made snap-blade knife. I used it to build models and pretty much everything else , including , splitting balsa, & pine, hardwood veneer, curving wood, cutting cardboard, etc.
A few years ago, I went back home and my parents still had one of my made-from-scratch models. I looked at the scale propeller and was amazed that I was able to get it carved as good as it looked in the first place with just the limited tools I had back then.
Fast forward a few decades, and I still use a snap-blade knife. I currently use a Dewalt model. It cuts carpet like no other. I’ve used it to cut, cardboard, thin strips of wood, wood shims, drywall, thin plastic, Lexan, framing mats, etc. I actually prefer to use on on occasions where I need a clean cut and sharp edge every time, such as on framing mats. I find I have better control than using and X-acto, and more convenient than a utility knife.
I signed up for the sample. I hope I get one.
Joe
OLFA has sponsored many people. Quite a few YT channels have gotten sponsored briefly and given out free samples. The Journal of Light expo last week in RI had an OLFA booth handing out free samples. I’ve received free samples before. Is it better then a very basic box cutter , yes. Is it for construction, no. Dewalt makes a nice box cutter.
Other then needing a longer blade then a utility knife provides, it doesn’t have much purpose in framing . Cutting foam for a tool box ,perfect.
Jesse
What are the terms on this? When I clicked the “Terms and Conditions” on OLFA’s website link (https://olfa.com/customer-service/privacy-terms/terms.html) I get a “Not Found” 404 error.
Stuart
There’s fine print on the site:
Free sample limited to first 500! US & Canada residents only (Sorry, we cannot ship to PO Box addresses). Limit one offer per household/address. Must be 18 years or older. Free samples may not be returned for cash or credit. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. You also agree to receive product related emails from OLFA® from which you can unsubscribe at any time.
I’m told that the quantity needs to be adjusted, and there are 100 allocated to us.
Jim Felt
I got that same response. Thought it was my iPhone. Nope I found out that clicking to OLFAs importer’s link provided the same “benefit”. And the same sign up interface. So much earlier today I used it. Now I’ll have two of these tools.
Aah. The wonders of the interweb.
RCWARD
I got a free one awhile back and it was much better then I thought it would be. A quality knife that is sharp and works well. Nice edition to the shop.
Paul K
I have no doubt they’re giving away 100 knives. I also have no doubt they will continue to harvest contact information from people who want a free knife long after those qualifying for free knives have been decided.
Jim Felt
Good for them. At least they’re offering compensation to us for signing up. And I might add their site has at least ten tools I did not know they made. So win win.
Mosh
The last time I used a snap blade for a lot of cuts was for foam and I heated the blade with a candle it cut like butter.
I wonder if I’ll ever use for more than that I use my trusty Dewalt utility knife for most of my hand cutting.
ca
I use OLFAs on the job instead of the standard utility blade. Just remember they’re designed for cutting, not prying.
fred
I gave a batch of the SCS1 scissors as Christmas gifts in 2016 – paid something like $14 each – and thought that was a good stocking stuffer price. Two of the recipients told me that they really liked them. High praise indeed – form folks who hardly ever give me any feedback.
https://www.amazon.com/OLFA-9765-Stainless-Serrated-Scissors/dp/B0000X1H90/
Koko The Talking Ape
I have cheap plastic snap knives from HD in every pencil jar in the house. So handy for opening packages, repairing books, trimming fabric, etc.
I also use them for marking cuts in wood. Much more precise than pencil, and if I am using a hand saw, I can actually put one side’s teeth inside the knife cut. Snap knives are light and quick to deploy. The lock is reasonably secure. They are very light, and the sharp edge is on the side, not the front, so if you drop one, it won’t go through your foot.
I had a few nicer ones from Elfa, but they were actually less handy. Thinner and heavier, and a little too long to palm easily (I like to hold them like they are an extension of my forefinger, with the rear end in my palm.)
pete
I was at our local industrial supply shop a while back and a wallpaper installer came in looking for “olfa blades”. None of the employees had any idea what he was talking about. I walked him to their razor knife section and they didn’t have any. Had to send him to home depot to get what he was looking for.
But point being- he used a razor knife every day installing wallpaper and he demanded olfa and wouldn’t accept any substitute. Ever since then i’ve been partial to olfa myself. Way better quality than the .35 cent ones at harbor freight. Granted i still buy the cheapies to open boxes and give away.
Brian
Just a FYI for anyone looking to buy. At HD the Olfas aren’t by the knife/utility knives but they’re located in paint. At Lowe’s they’re next to the utility knives.
Scott K
I’ve seen several ads recently about these. My only experience with snap off blades has been with disposables. I’m excited to try this out. I was surprised to read that they can cut through drywall- not surprised about the cardboard though. Corrugate is really rough on blades. I’m a big fan of the package opener on my Leatherman sidekick for opening boxes.
Andre
I clicked on the link at 2:02 pm EST on April 2nd but unfortunately the offer has expired. Rats!
John Sullivan
Missed it!
KENT hanson
I am a commercial carpenter for over a decade and Olfas are the only knife I’ll use. I use the 18mm x series with the hook on the back. I use the hook on the back as much as I use the knife. If you’re doing drywall there is no better knife.
Curtis Hibbs
What happened to the special offer. Its only been about 3 hours and its already gone!! 🙁
Brian
Only 100 were available. Follow some tool reviewers on youtube or instagram that haven’t already done this promo and maybe you’ll get luck. TIA and Concord Carpenter are two that HAVE already done theirs so don’t expect another one from them. Maybe Workshop addict or my buddy knarlycarl will get the offer but I have no idea. On instagram Olfa follows a lot of guys that could be on the list; Kruger, rrbuildings, toolpig, toolaholic, etc
db11
I have been using OLFA knives for 20-some years, both the 18 and 25 mm versions — depending on the job. I switched about 7-8 years ago to the newer, sharper black blades and they are fantastic.
OLFA is ubiquitous on job-sites here, only the really old-school guys still use the Stanley style utility knives. Seems to be a regional thing, maybe a bit like the worm-drive/sidewinder divide. (though not necessarily West/East in this case)
KENT hanson
Yeah I’ve noticed that as well. Here in the prairies of Canada if you have a knife on a jobsite it’s probably an olfa.
db11
…I should also note that there is a huge difference between the heavy-duty genuine OLFA knives/blades and cheap box-cutters in strength, sharpness and ergonomics.
Also, too if you regularly use your knife to pry, look elsewhere (as was noted above).
DG
When I first started in construction in Canada Olfa knives were the standard for drywall, ceiling tile, etc. very rarely would you see a standard utility blade knife on the site. When I moved to the US I found the opposite is true. Standard utility knives are the standard and snap off knives are more used for wallpaper, box cutters, etc.
Chris
Simply the best utility knives you can buy. The reason most associate snap blades with junk is because most snap blades are junk. Buy an OLFA and change your mind.
Yadda
Missed the freebies, but will be on the lookout for the feedback from everyone.
MT_Noob
Note to self -” check toolguyd first thing in the morning just in case there are freebies.” The one day I decided to wait until the end of the day to catch up is the day they have a sample… No biggie, it is great to see that fellow toolguyd readers are going to get their hands on test samples and see if they live up to their claims as well as an upcoming deep dive from Stuart. I look forward to seeing the results.
I have read/heard elsewhere that these are great tools, but the only experience I recall with anything like them was some horrible results with some “snap off box-cutter” type tool that might have been a cheap knock-off of the Olfa. And maybe that is why I had a bad experience. So I wonder if the actual name brand version is indeed something I should give a try. As I said, I look forward to the results of the testing.
Fazal Majid
I think it’s a cultural thing. Back in Europe where I came from, or in Japan, snap-blade cutters are the rule and utility knives with the trapezoidal blade the exception.
Olfa makes excellent cutting implements, unlike most cheaper snap-off products. The cutter you show is also available in an all-steel limited edition LTD-07 (also available imported from Japan on Amazon). Their 26B and 34B craft knives (available from Amazon) are also outstanding, even before considering the low price.
Noah
I always thought snap off knives were garbage until I started at my current job. The shop I’m at now has a pile of OLFA knives, and I’ve become a believer. We cut most anything with them – carpet, cardboard, saddle leather, and so on. They’re a must for cutting upholstery or insulation foam.
Like a Swiss Army knife from Victorinox, only a snap blade from OLFA will do. Accept no imitation.
Brsd
They are very useful and good knives. Milwaukee now has their version which is nice.
Wayne R.
I’ve got several of Olfa’s 9mm knives, I love them. I recently found the “Ultra Sharp Black” blades and figured wtf, I’ll try them.
Along with everything else, those things cut soft foam like a hot knife. I’ve used scalpels on stuff before thinking they were “the ultimate” (but never tried them on foam, too small). The full length of those black blades are fearsome tools.
Those crappy HF plastic knives are good for boxes. Who cares if one of them goes out with the old cardboard?
The slim Stainless Olfa 9mm knives are things of beauty.
michaelhammer
I use my Tajima snap blade knife to cut batt insulation. The long blade works quite well. I have had poor experiences trying to use for other materials. The blades aren’t as sharp as Lennox utility blades and if I try to penetrate to deeply the blade can get pulled out. Finally, there are times when I try to snap the blade and it breaks unevenly. Has anyone else experienced this? I can’t imagine using a snap blade knife every day in the field.
msergiob
I am addicted to Olfa for the last 15 years. They are still made in Japan.
No one is better than them.
T
Ive carried their simple thin stainless body with stainless blade for at least a decade, same handle and the clip still holds. I have yet to find an edc knife that is as effective and useful…and safe.
The yeti
I buy the big ones. Love me some olfa knives
alex
Tried Milwaukee fastback, didn’t like it. Tried a Stankey’s one, didn’t like it. Tried the Olfa 18 mm, never looked back. I love snap blades. They are so fast to change. Plus you can have a longer exposed blade when you need it. In Canada, they are pretty much the standard. I don’t know why it’s not the case in the US. They are much more practical than the alternative.
The only thing I don’t like about olfa knifes though is that new blades are hard to separate fron each other when you buy a new box. Has anyone found a good way to do it?
The yeti
No they stick together good. I think its the oil . But im not a stickoligist. Yes to Olfa being a Canadian standard. For good reason. Just like the robertson. Not much we got thats better than the yanks .
Jkr
Can someone please explain to me why do you insist on the Stanley style utility knives? Where I grew up, I didn’t even know Stanley type existed – only snap knives were used. They make more sense, as the tip is the first to go, and are much more economical and flexible.
As for cheap vs. quality – This is always true. I had some really bad Staley style Chinese blades. Stanley makes snap blades. Irwin makes snap blades. Irwin even makes an auto-loader snap knive!
So can you please answer why Stanley style?
Stuart
Tradition? Habit? Strength?*
I have found that a lot of people don’t change blades as often as they should, whether utility knife blades, oscillating tool blades, or saw blades. A dull blade needs more power behind it to make the same cut as a sharp blade.
michaelhammer
Folding utility knives are the standard because they fit nicely in the pocket where they are ever ready. Changing blades is tool less. Disposable blades are safely put back into the sharps receptacle on the blade package. The bkades are higher quality and stay sharper longer. Snap blades are cheesy.
Redcastle
Well done you are working with some good people. I was fortunate enough a few years ago to purchase a pack of knives and scrapers in a limited edition case and have become ever more convinced that Olfa are a very good company. They seem to stick to their base of making things with very sharp blades while still managing to innovate. To compare their products such as the snap off knife (which the company founder invented) to cheap copies would be akin to comparing Fein or Festool blades to the many cheap copies. I had a conversation two years ago with the owner of the company which imports Olfa products to the UK and he said some of his team had asked why they produced a blade for one of their best selling scrapers which could be resharpened meaning less blades were being sold and the response was that would be unfair to customers. I having a Milwaukee snap off knife which came as part of a package deal and I find it works much better with an Olfa black blade. On the subject of blakc blades prior to reading the article on here I was made aware that the company which distributes Olfa in the UK is now selling a black blade for what is universally known in the UK as a “Stanley knife” and I have ordered a pack to see if they are as good as the Olfa black blades which in my experience really are better. I came to Olfa via their scrapers rather than their knives as for a number of years I was involved in a business which provided specialist repair rather than replacement of timber work on listed i.e. generally very old buildings and the preparatory work prior to decorating was crucial.
Tug
I am soooo disappinted I missed the samples. I love Olfa 18mm knives. I dont even have a regular utility knife in mu bag. I keep one in each door of my van and apme in each tool bag I regularly carry. I first got used to these type of knives working fir one of those new bathrooms in a day shops. We scored the acrylic walls and snapped off the waste. It worked well. New tip when needed was s great feature. Being able to have a long blade works great when cutting through caulk. I use the bladd back ad a scrapper. The pry part at the back end is great for opening can lids and as a quick screw driver for switch plates. It also works well when theres no other screwdriver at hand. It will turn #2 philips screws too. I sharpen the insinde edge sometimes for opening boxes etc.
I have honed the blades on a hard arkasas stone, a fee strokes yields a very sharp edge. The only thing to watch for is the direction the blades snap off in. They are scored on one side. If you push on the scored side the blade snaps off push on the other side and it resists snapping more.
I like the balance of these particular knives and the rubber gives a good grip. The push blade lock locks well and is more convenient than the wheel lock on other versions of Olfs’s knives.
Please tell me how I can get a sample. I need another one
Jeremiah
I share the other “yanks” feelings towards snap blades, but I’ve never used a quality one. I missed the free cutoff but with all the positive thoughts Will likely give these a try. I am familiar with olfa mostly through their rotary cutters.
I do have a project at work coming up cutting a bunch of hog hair filters( the blue stuff). Probably 100+ 25″ cuts. I was thinking a wavy blade on a jigsaw but maybe I’ll try this first.
Josh A
This post and all of the comments has definitely sparked my interest. Was bummed to see that I missed out on the chance to get a trial knife.
Definitely not something I’ve ever really given a second look at since my experience has really only been with the flimsy knock offs and I was not least bit impressed with their quality and durability compared to my trusty utility knife.
firefly
It’s rare to see a brand that carry this much confident from its user base in this day and age. I don’t have any experience with Olfa knives but they will be on my short list now.
Jason / Surfjungle
Glad to see some visibility on OLFA. Some years ago, I quite accidentally and delightedly happened upon them in CASTORAMA (a kind of Home Depot equivalent) in Poland and have bought many a few of their products since including the X series knives, craft knives, scissors and more. While I haven’t heavily used them, my experience has been very positive. Especially their scissors (SCS-1) which are simply outstanding – so much so that on a recent trip to Japan, I picked up 2 pairs to compliment our current two pairs (you can’t have enough of scissors). In a Japanese toolshop, they were ~10 Euro where they were ~20 Euro in Poland which was still good value given their quality. On the scissors, one blade has tiny serrations which appear to help to grip whatever is being cut. From personal experience, I believe the serrations help cut paper straighter than regular scissors which I also think makes it easier to cut since it means the work won’t slide away from the fulcrum. They’re stainless steel, have exceptionally smooth action with zero play and cut frighteningly well with less effort than other scissors. They’re great value to boot. It’s the best pair of non-artisan scissors I’ve ever used, not that I’ve used many artisan scissors but after seeing them in Japan, I feel it’s worth making a distinction. I’ve found the OLFA scissors so good that I’ve already given 3 pairs to family and friends as (practical) gifts. As a bonus piece of trivia, for those of you that know AvE on Youtube, you’ll often see the benchtop mat in his videos – that’s an OLFA healing mat which receives dogs abuse and sometimes you’ll see him use a classic OLFA knife – it’s always great to see old stuff still being used because it’s reliable and endures. Also, according to their website, OLFA were the first to invent the breakable knife blade after the founder was inspired by breaking chocolate pieces off a bar… Interesting stuff. Haha – after re-reading the above, I sound like an ad for OLFA. I guess should state that I’m not affiliated with them and have indeed posted here before (see my tool history comment on Mafell, Baier, Hilti, Duss and Flex under Which is the Best Cordless Power Tool Brand? post. I’ve added surfjungle to my name since there is more than 1 Jason on this site).
Jason / Surfjungle
Oops, that should have been SCS-2 rather than SCS-1 for the scissors above.
Greg B
Just received my sample today, excited to try it out around the house for a while. Never used snap style utility knives before, so I’m curious to see how it holds up over time. Seems pretty nice initially, but then so do a lot of other tools when they’re brand new.
Keith
My free knife arrived today. Very nice.