Automatic razor utility knife?

[Toolate]

Has anyone seen one commercially made? Would really love one for edc in CT to be legal but cant seem to find one. Lots of manual units out there though and all are very clumsy. I work as a building contractor and right now just carrying a Stanley utility knife which is super convenient/comfortable in the hand but looking to downsize and carry and automatic but still retain the of the razor blades if possible. Fingers crossed that someone might have a solution for me.

These blades for the record.

Thank you!

 

[The Aflac Duck]

You're basically looking for a switchblade that uses utility razors? I've never seen one.

I just carry an actual switchblade and a Stanley classic 99 if needed.

 

[Toolate]

You're basically looking for a switchblade that uses utility razors? I've never seen one.

I just carry an actual switchblade and a Stanley classic 99 if needed.

Me too- got it from my father for my 16th birthday about 25 years ago but looking to downsize to a folder but would like the convenience of an automatic. Mine has an aluminum body so its nice and light- I think all the current models are steel. Hard to beat the stanley for comfort in the hand but its pretty big even closed... Thx

 

[The Aflac Duck]

Me too- got it from my father for my 16th birthday about 25 years ago but looking to downsize to a folder but would like the convenience of an automatic. Hard to beat the stanley for comfort in the hand but its pretty big even closed... Thx

I've seen razors that open with the press of a button and a flick of the wrist, but they are junk.

IMO the classic 99 is the Cadillac of utility knives I've had all the fancy ones and they always break on me.

 

[DocJD]

I've seen many types of folding , lock backs that take that blade , but never an automatic . Interesting idea .

 

[Toolate]

I am in CT so it would be ct legal too (<1.5"). Driving around in a truck all day with 100+ replacements too.

Wonder if I could convert one from button lock to auto? Assuming no one can find a good one that is already being made.

 

[NJBillK]

I am going to be doing some running around today. If I come across a button lock utility knife, I will pick it up and do some tinkering.

I was thinking that heavy guage piano wire may have enough resiliency and not take a set to be functional.

 

[Toolate]

I am going to be doing some running around today. If I come across a button lock utility knife, I will pick it up and do some tinkering.

I was thinking that heavy guage piano wire may have enough resiliency and not take a set to be functional.

There are lots of them out there but most have the button in a place that just holds the blade open sadly. From googling around anyway... Would be fun to try though if the right knife could be found. Good luck!

 

[NJBillK]

Milwaukeehas one that retails for around $10 that is held open and closed by the button lock. I believe my local Home Depot has them available in stock.

I already have some ideas going, and I believe it can be done fairly easily. Especially considering most of them are not built with CRK like tolerances, so the interior room ought to be adequate.

 

[vanadium]

Personally I would never carry a tool that repeatedly exposed thin sharpened pieces of fast-moving metal to shock forces they weren't designed for.

 

[NJBillK]

Personally I would never carry a tool that repeatedly exposed thin sharpened pieces of fast-moving metal to shock forces they weren't designed for.

The way that I look at it, any utility knife is going to be subjected to horrendous working conditions. Abrupt blade contact, jarring hits, and other conditions that having it rigged to be an auto, shouldn't exceed, as long as the action isn't made to be too strong.

That being said, I do not know how long the mechanism or knife would last. Hardware may come loose, (more) blade play, et al may occur, and likely will.

The beauty of these knives, is that they are disposable by design, so if replacement is needed, it is not cost prohibitive. Yes, they are more hardy than a plastic utility knife, but they have to be out of necessity. By taking advantage of them being designed to take a beating on a job site by folks that wouldn't otherwise care for a knife, they may very well survive for a longer than expected.

 

[vanadium]

The way that I look at it, any utility knife is going to be subjected to horrendous working conditions. Abrupt blade contact, jarring hits, and other conditions that having it rigged to be an auto, shouldn't exceed, as long as the action isn't made to be too strong.

It would be worth doing the math on this, but my hunch is that the forces are in another league. I can't move my hand nearly as fast as a soft auto action, and my working surface is unlikely to be as hard as metal if I'm using the tool properly. And if somehow I'm moving an ordinary utility knife that fast, or I'm moving it against metal/ceramic/stone, I'm an idiot and at risk of injury.

 

[NJBillK]

It would be worth doing the math on this, but my hunch is that the forces are in another league. I can't move my hand nearly as fast as a soft auto action, and my working surface is unlikely to be as hard as metal if I'm using the tool properly. And if somehow I'm moving an ordinary utility knife that fast, or I'm moving it against metal/ceramic/stone, I'm an idiot and at risk of injury.

I am only speaking from experience I have had on various job sites, and I will not put a limit on human stupidity.

I am a walking example of this.

 

[vanadium]

I am only speaking from experience I have had on various job sites, and I will not put a limit on human stupidity.

I am a walking example of this.

Okay, but then it least its your/my own stupidity at fault! "Use the tool as designed, or you're on your own" is pretty basic. But selling a product with stupidity built-in is another story.

(The Journal of the Army Ordinance Association, Sept-Oct 1920)

 

[panoz77]

There are two styles of the Milwaukee fast back razor knives that open with a button that you might be able to convert to an auto. They work well one handed without being an auto IMO.

 

[LastRodeo]

I have a Craftsman folding lockback utility knife. It’s got a thumb stud and pocket clip.

I bought it on impulse, it was on the checkout counter, but it’s a nice tool.

 

[wazu013]

 

[Lapedog]

Has anyone seen one commercially made? Would really love one for edc in CT to be legal but cant seem to find one. Lots of manual units out there though and all are very clumsy. I work as a building contractor and right now just carrying a Stanley utility knife which is super convenient/comfortable in the hand but looking to downsize and carry and automatic but still retain the of the razor blades if possible. Fingers crossed that someone might have a solution for me.

These blades for the record.

Thank you!

First of all may I ask, where is CT? I have not heard of a place where autos are illegal but if they have a box cutter blade that makes them legal.

That said I don’t know of an automatic box cutter. The highest end box cutters I know of are...

Rexford Boxcutter. These are quite expensive for what you get, and probably too small for your intended task.

A more realisic Box Cutter that is looking mad pimp.

Skeletonized version.

Then they have these guys which automatically put the blade out when you squeeze the handle. When you let go of the handle the blade retracts automatically.

 

[benchwarmer380]

Lapedog , CT is the US state of Connecticut. I believe that for an auto to be legal, the blade must be under 1.5 inches. Hence why a box cutter blade would probably be ok.
Knife laws vary from state to state, city to city and from understandable to idiotic.

 

[Lapedog]

Lapedog , CT is the US state of Connecticut. I believe that for an auto to be legal, the blade must be under 1.5 inches. Hence why a box cutter blade would probably be ok.
Knife laws vary from state to state, city to city and from understandable to idiotic.

There are many companies who have made Autos under 2 inches for California laws. I wonder if there are any under 1.5 inches.