When putting together a list of Lowe’s Pro Black Friday tool deals, a new ToughBuilt utility knife caught my attention.
Some multi-functional utility knives have carabiner clips, others have screwdriver bit holders. This new ToughBuilt utility knife has a pry bar and nail puller.
The pry bar is built into the business end of the knife, with tapered edges and a central notch.
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The pry bar component features a full-body tang, for added strength and leverage. Meaning, it’s not just a small piece screwed into the end, the pry bar extends into the full length of the tool.
The utility knife folds out, and is closed via button release. ToughBuilt added an internal bearing to the pivot for smoother opening and closing.
The pry bar tip doesn’t look to get in the way of things.
The knife also features a small cut-out, which serves as an integrated wire cutter and stripper.
It has rubber side panels for improved user grip and comfort.
It also features a deep pocket and belt clip.
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The knife has built-in storage for up to 3 spare blades.
Price: $9.98
Discussion
Do I need a prying bar on my utility knife? I could see this coming in handy for tasks like opening paint cans.
Will it get in the way? That’s a more important question, in my opinion, and from what I can see, I don’t think so.
Nobody’s going to use this tool to pry open a shipping crate, but the same could be said about the countless one-piece pocket prying tools carried by many EDC enthusiasts.
Not your cup of tea? Here are some other ToughBuilt utility knives:
Scraper Utility Knife – $22.99 at Amazon – Reviewed Here
Reload Utility Knife – $19.98 at Lowe’s – Reviewed Here
2pc Utility Knife Set – $9.98 at Lowe’s
Compact Utility Knife – $9.98 at Lowe’s
Peter
I will take a look because I carry a utility knife at work constantly and if not I need one.
If that does not add too much weight and size I will try it out.
Thank you for you for the post.
mark
The Gerber prybrid seems smaller and might be useful for you.
Koko The Talking Ape
I guess the pry bar doesn’t retract? It seems like it wouldn’t have been hard to have the one button allow both the knife to open and the pry bar to slide forward. As it is, I couldn’t really carry it in a pocket.
Marc
Since the pry bar is full tang I’m not sure how it could be made retractable.
Koko The Talking Ape
The bar wouldn’t be fixed to the handle, but could slide forward within the knife handle and lock in place. The handle could be made strong enough easily, especially because it’s so short.
Mitch Bonnett
Tongue firmly in cheek, when speaking of “scary” tools (Halloween titles this week) nothing says safety to absent minded retirees on blood thinners (like me) like putting your razor cutting blade and pry bar on the same tool – and so close to your hand!
Perhaps the tool can ship with a torniquet that can be applied with the hand with all of the fingers still remaining?
For me, this falls into the “What was someone thinking – April Fools Day is in … April.
Joe H
The blade part folds away before you use the pry bar and the pry bar doesn’t appear to interfere with anything so what’s the issue?
Stuart
This is a folding utility knife.
Your hand shouldn’t be near the business end of the pry bar tip or open blade holder.
Steve L
If painting the pry bar knife is a slam dunk. I don’t paint every day so not sure I want a pry bar at the end of a knife.
But really appreciate ToughBuilt looking to make tools better. They will have things I will want.
Joe H
The amount of people I see using their pocket knives to pry on stuff always amazes me. I’ve repaired many tips on pocket knives that people have brought me because they snapped it off prying on something.
James
The OLFA 1” knife has always had a paint can opener on the “business end” – although it’s not super robust I pry on all kinds of things with it and use as flat screwdriver etc. Super handy.
That knife sits in my right hand back pocket, always.
Last night I was about to give my 3.5 year old her piggyback ride down the stairs and as she sprinted up to me I sat down on the hallway floor….her (still quite small) big toe somehow got pinched on the “business end” and she let out a bloody scream. Her toenail got sort of dislodged (which is painful as f for anybody, I don’t care who you are) and she had a small amount of blood and a bit of a limp this morning…..as soon as I saw this post I couldn’t help but think that if I had this knife, the added strength might have finished the job on the toenail transplant lol.
Berg
There’s half a dozen knives from Toughbuilt that seem to be pretty new. The have 2 other retractable ones that also have pry bars built in, though it’s smaller and less of a focus on those versions.
The autoloading one seems interesting, it can apparently hold up to 20 blades, which is more than I’ve seen any other knife able to hold. I’m not entirely sure how you could go through that many blades in a day, but there’s probably someone out there that needs it.
I actually bought one of their new fixed blade utility knives with a retractable guard. I like how firmly it holds the blade, though I often need to double check if I have the guard I place because you slide it the opposite direction of a normal retractable and it throws off my muscle memory. So far I like it, but honestly not as much as the similar fixed blade with guard from Fiskars.
Jared
I don’t need that, but I see people prying with knives all the time so clearly some do. If anything, it seems overbuilt.
It looks like the pry tool doesnt get in the way.
mark
This type of tool is great if you’re getting a little older and have pain in your hands/fingers too because you can save yourself having to claw open packages/clam shell plastic etc. It’s a nice addition imo to a box cutter for that need
mark
I was opening alot of furniture boxes where they staple the box together. I realized this kind of tool would be the best box opener possible.
Gerber has one for sale with g10 (i think) scales and a smaller form factor called the “prybrid”. Has a bottle opener, NO clip, and spot to loop in a lanyard/pull cord (I put a tom bihn zipper pull in mine and it’s been great)
Jerry
I think you may have hit the nail on the head. I use a utility knife to open and break down packages and those cardboard staples are a bugger. Do you cut around them, do you pry on them and risk snapping the blade, or what? Assuming the pry bar part is sized so it works on those staples, I would say for some people at least, it would be a great tool to have.
mark
The pry bar tip is slightly thicker at the end than I wish but I get why they did it – it’s thick enough you can’t really poke yourself with it in a way that would create injury no matter what while it’s in your pocket. Imagine reaching in your pocket and jabbing your finger on a prybar end with a sharper edge that could get under your fingernail!
It does a good job with boxes/ clamshellstho still & is a great replacement for your fingers for that kind of thing.
Koko The Talking Ape
I can see how handy that would be.
Just as an alternative, Milwaukee makes a folding utility knife with a screwdriver bit holder. I know you aren’t supposed to use screwdrivers as pry bars, but at least the bits are replaceable, and you can also drive screws with it.
I’ve used slip-joint pliers on those box staples, but that’s another tool to carry around.
mark
The prybrid end tip is so thick I wouldn’t imagine anyone’s reasonable use would be able to chip/ snap it, thankfully.
Matthew
I’ve already filed a warranty for mine. Leg brushed a trash can and the pocket clip broke off. Didn’t bend at all. Hopefully it’s just a fluke deal and they get me a new one right away.
Ray
I carry the Gerber Prybrid. Some people have negative impressions from its blade change mechanism, but I haven’t had much trouble. For me the Prybrid would beat this Toughbuilt knife, as I value the flatter form, but a knife with blade storage is basically a different category – nice to have options available to people. I’ve not met someone who carries a prybar in their pocket, but met plenty of people who use their knives as prybars.
Jared
You’ve got a Prybrid. Aren’t YOU the person carrying a prybar in your pocket. 😄
James
I carry a little titanium pry bar around in my pouch with a SAK and mini flashlight and notepad and pen. Had it for several months. Have used it possibly twice, but I only remember once, but every time I take out the pouch for one of the useful things, people around me always have a nice conversation.
mark
Yeah prybrid isn’t best for some who goes through lots of blades, but ist definitely more compact
Mac
I’d still rather my knife double as a prybar, than double as a screwdriver. Leverage is cool. Looks sleek and compact. I’d like to test holding it
Jared
Check out the new Picquic “The Pic” for for a pocket friendly screwdriver.
I added pocket clip to mine (details on the GJ forum) and EDC it.
Brett
Hard pass. I have a similar tool from this company that was supposed to function as a box cutter or a scraper and the blade swivels out. Super cool concept, very poorly executed. Blade just falls out or gets jammed crooked and isn’t ever held in place securely. I will not buy any other Toughbuilt junk.
Noah
I just commented below about this same knife. It’s stupidly dangerous and I cut myself very badly the first time I tried to change the blade. I’m all set with tough built knives!
Noah
It looks like it might come in handy, but I still have a huge scar on my finger from trying to change a blade on their scraper/knife. That thing is a HAZARD. I’ll just stick with my Milwaukee fastback w/screw driver…
Alexander Barfield
I have been using these since they came out. Incredibly handy and I use the prybar constantly. Unfortunately, I am on my 3rd one via warranty claim for the pocket clips. One broke clean in 2, one broke off the plastic nub that holds it on, and my 3rd is already bent. Very poor clip design, hoping someone else comes out with a similar tool with a better clip