Box cutter edc?

J

Jesse D.L

Joined
Jul 31, 2009
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475
Hey guys, I want to ask you all a question. I have been thinking about getting a folding/sliding box cutter with replaceable blades for edc at work since I dont really want to wear my good knives down and I think it would be more people friendly (I work in an office supplies store). I thought it would be kind of neat to have a titanium or more knife nut friendly version that was a bit higher quality but haven't really been able to find anything online. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot and Happy New Year!
 
I have to use a retractable blade at my job, it sucks. So, I got an Irwin and use their Ti coated Bi metal blades. I've looked for something better as well, but it's the blades that wear out fast.
Gerber made a folding razor knife, the Exchange A Blade, but there are plenty of other options like that at hardware stores.
 
I recently started using a Milwaukee Fastback Flip Open Utility Knife. One handed flip open and closed, works good so far.

::EDIT::

This thing sucks. After 2 months of frequent use at work the clip and pivot came loose. It uses a torx #3 (I think) screws which looked stripped before I even touched it (which I don't have anyway) so this thing is useless now. I filled out the online form for Milwaukee and they got back to me to send it back.

I bought a Dewalt 10046 retractable knife and a Stanley Classic99 which both should hold up much better.
 
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Personally, I use my edc knives for nearly all cutting tasks including at work where they frown on it. I think for the knife world to become more people friendly we need to use them in the open more often. With that said , I have not seen anything I would call high end in terms of box cutters. Mostly I see new designs with safety in mind such as Martor from Germany and the ceramic one from Slice(?) . The ones from Martor have retractable blades that slide back in when pressure is let up from the material you are cutting. I have a few from work and never liked them.
 
russianpolander said:
Personally, I use my edc knives for nearly all cutting tasks including at work where they frown on it. I think for the knife world to become more people friendly we need to use them in the open more often. With that said , I have not seen anything I would call high end in terms of box cutters. Mostly I see new designs with safety in mind such as Martor from Germany and the ceramic one from Slice(?) . The ones from Martor have retractable blades that slide back in when pressure is let up from the material you are cutting. I have a few from work and never liked them.
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I agree with both points. These "safety" knives suck, and we knife users should demonstrate safe uses of knives as tools. Yet, at my work, and plenty of others, it is not allowed to use anything but a retractable safety blade. I do carry a pocket knife, may or may not have used it, but I'm not supposed to.
The only people that are allowed to cut anything are "material handlers", so not everyone can even use a knife. If anyone has an injury, a cut for example, it's going to get reported, investigated, announced to everyone, etc.. The trade off is the pay and benefits, I just got this job back in July. So, in my case, I'll keep the knife in my pocket and keep making more money than I ever did anywhere else. My trade off, keep knife in pocket so I can afford to buy more knives, hawks, and axes.
 
What about a chisel ground knife with the flat side carbidized?
 
Jesse D.L said:
Hey guys, I want to ask you all a question. I have been thinking about getting a folding/sliding box cutter with replaceable blades for edc at work since I dont really want to wear my good knives down and I think it would be more people friendly (I work in an office supplies store). I thought it would be kind of neat to have a titanium or more knife nut friendly version that was a bit higher quality but haven't really been able to find anything online. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot and Happy New Year!
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I modded some Opinels for use as box cutters. They work a charm. Carbon steel and razor sharp. Certainly answers the description for a low profile folding knife to work with, when not wanting to use your good knives. Opinels are cheap, razor sharp and they work.
Opi2.jpg

Opi4.jpg

Opi3.jpg


As for titanium, my MISSION MPU fits the bill. Its low profile and flies under the radar - a few knife geeks will reqognize it.
Its not so cheap, razor sharp and it works.
MissionMPU3.jpg
 
I carry a knife at work.
You won't mess up your better blades if you don't beat it up.
Just use it to cut the things that need cut.
Clean the tape residue when you get home.
Keep the knife lubed at the pivot.

You should be fine. I carried a Para 2 to work for a while.
 
That Opinel mod is great! :D Im looking into the Gerber EAB too...it seems like a great travel knife too. Throw it on your keyring without a blade, get a blade from a store when you arrive and your good to go! And with the different exchangable blades out there today, the EAB shows good potential as a do all knife. It will NEVER replace a nice, worn slipjoint or small fixed blade, but it could be handy and practical...IMHO of course :)
 
I'd look into the Gerber EAB and get some good blades for it. I'd recommend the IRWIN blue blades. They're bi-metal, Stainless I think for most of it, and the actual cutting edge is High Speed Steel (HSS)

HSS is used in metal cutting applications because it is very very hard and durable. I've never actually dulled one of these blades, only nicked them beyond repair. I generally sharpen my disposable blades because I'm cheap.

Stanely makes these blades as well I think, but they use Tungsten carbide for the edge instead. Its much harder than HSS but more brittle. There is always a draw back. If your only cutting cardboard I think these ones would be better. I haven't used them so I don't really know though.
 
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Gollum said:
I recently started using a Milwaukee Fastback Flip Open Utility Knife. One handed flip open and closed, works good so far.
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This is what I've been using too. The EAB is good for a quick cut, but somedays I am literally cutting boxes for hours. I also like having relatively cheap throw away blades. Sharpening an EDC daily is a pain, and I have yet to find a knife that performs as well as a razor when dealing with cardboard.
 
A kershaw needs work if you could get away with it. I talked a few people into letting me carry mine since it looks different than a "normal" knife and has bright color handle. It is great as a box cutter.
 
I really like the wrap on this grip here:

MissionMPU3.jpg


Box cutters, utility knives --

I went to the box cutter/utility in the Fire Dept. where sometimes the duty gets nasty and abusive. The Husky brand, sold at Home Depot for about $8 is a good design.

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It cuts open boxes, bags, slices through packing tape, plastic packaging -- most of the utility stuff you need to cut into out on a fire dept. call. If this knife doesn't do the job, we have some serious cutting tools in the pumper. *LMAO* :eek:

The blade secure mechanism has been improved and is more positive than the previous "fold over lock down" design. Now the blade locks into the frame with a positive button. Nice thing about these knives is that the replaceable blade has two working ends. You can abuse one end, save the other end for fine work. when the blade dies in battle, they're cheap to replace.

We once needed a flat point screwdriver in the field. Snapped the tip off the blade and got to work. No problem. Nice to have the "abuse option" when the battery terminals need to be scraped, stripping wire, gouging crud off something. And if you should lose it in the midst of duty, you're out the price of a decent tip for a mid priced dinner.
 
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Get a ZDP-189 Stretch. I designated my Stretch zdp to be my beater EDC knife. So, the more expensive blade I'm carrying is my firearm retention knife, and the stretch is the blade that gets down and dirty.
 
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