It is such a nuisance arriving at your destination and not having your favourite knife available for those simple tasks like peeling an apple, opening a box, cutting a rope etc. It is also awkward to have to post your knife ahead for pick-up or buy one then throw it away or post it back – but there is a better way, as they say: the folding utility knife.
‘Stanley Knife’ blades are available ‘everywhere’ for just pennies. For example Bunnings have a ten-pack for A$1.99.
What you need is something convenient to put them in which you can carry onto the plane – sans blade! Do remember to trash its blade before you fly though!
The cheapest/simplest/best I have found is the Screwpop Knife US6.95 (July 2020) and .7 oz (20 grams) below. It may not open quite as far as some of the others, but should suit your purpose nicely. It opens one notch further than shown in the photo below, so definitely over an inch. The blade length is (31/32″ with a four-notch blade, 11/16″ with a two: 24 & 18mm).
It is very small. The knife itself has a magnetic so the blade just sticks to it. Safe. There is a lever on the reverse side which you use to adjust the blade depth and lock it in place open or closed. You can (just) see it in the drawings below.
Specifications:
Utility Holder: Stainless Steel w/ Brass Eyelet
Blade: Tool Steel (uses standard 2 or 4 step blades)
Size – 3/16″ x 13/16” x 3 1/8”
Weight – 0.8oz (w/ blade)
Blade Catch: Neodymium Magnet NB: You should not place the magnet near your phone/camera. It may ‘eat’ and SD card!
It takes both the four and two notch blades – more adjustment being available with more notches. Screwpop has a number of other wonderful ultralight products which I will make the subject of a future post. What an amazing manufacturer.
Another very light contender (1.5 oz) is EDCFans Utiity Knife . The blade does not extend as far as I would like but it has other handy features including a 1/4″ wrench, rule, bottle opener etc. A14.47 on Amazon (July 2020) plus $8.07 delivery.
Another contender is the Outdoor Edge Slidewinder at 45.4 grams. Utility razor blade locks open with a push of the slide, and springs back with relase button. Built-in flathead and phillips head screwdrivers, bottle opener and pocket clip.Replace standard utility blades easily with the push of a button. Sturdy stainless steel and glass/nylon composite frame. Includes 1 standard utility razor blade.
Another beauty is Gerbers’s EAB Lite and its many copies but it requires a screwdriver to change the blade which is a nuisance. It is available from Amazon for less than US$13. It weighs 2.2 oz and is 5.1″ long open. It is a really solid useful little knife. Just a pity you need a screwdriver to change the blade.
I think you could easily have something in your kit (the end of your trowel perhaps?) for this purpose but of course in the hardware store where you go to buy your blade you will be able to use a screwdriver they have for sale to tighten the screw with.
You get a great blade length with this one 1 7/16″ or 36mm.
The Workpro is lovely and does not require a screwdriver to change the blade – so better, but also a little heavy Model: W011020 Material: Stainless steel. Blade Width: 19mm. Blade Length: 6cm. Total Length Open : 133mm. Closed approx 67 mm. Weight: About 52g. This would be a good choice. It has a locked blade I measured at 1 1/1/8″ (28mm) with a two notched blade and 1 3/8″ 33mm with a four notched blade. It is beautifully easy to change the blade. This knife is a real beauty. You might easily make this knife your everyday carry if you don’t need a long blade. Available various places from about A$20 plus delivery. This one appears to be about the lightest currently available. Aliexpress has a knock-off of this knife available delivered (to Australia) for A$13.54.
The Revo is another knife which may fit the bill but does not seem to be currently available on Amazon. Available from the manufacturer though for US24.26 (July 2020). Lock blade, interchangeable blade without tools. Amazon gives these dimensions: 16.5 x 1.3 x 3.8 cm & 150 g, so a little too heavy for our purposes.
Another currently available knife I have found is Pedro’s. It appears to weigh around .4 of an ounce! and costs US$18 (July 2020) from Pedro It is a folding utility knife with replaceable Blade. Made from stainless and aluminium. Folding design locks open during use. Uses standard replaceable blades. Weight 70 grams. Dimensions are approximately 9.5cm x 3cm x 1.5cm. This one should be the ‘bee’s knees’! Mine are on the way already!
PS: The usable blade length on these last few knives is approx 3.5 cm or 1 1/2″. I also think you could butcher a sambar deer with one, but if you want even lighter, try this: The Dragonfly – Ultralight Titanium Knife – 10.4 grams.
PPS: You can buy titanium edge 4 notch Lenox utilty knife blades for best results and deepest cutting, eg at Amazon a 50 pack will cost you A$36.70
PPPS: As usual Aliexpress has its own ‘take’ on this type of knife (weight unspecified) for under $A10 delivered:
See Also: The Olfa Knife
PS: For a more encyclopaedic review of utility knives see this post: https://everydaycarry.com/best-utility-knife
