The best utility knife

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When I was younger, one of my jobs included about 30 minutes per day cutting down cardboard for the bailer... and bailing. The cardboard was sometimes 1/2" thick for big pallets of watermelons, etc. The least expensive retractable Stanley bux cutter or generic knockoff never left me wanting... especially for the price.

I've tried the fancier/more expensive box cutters with "ergo" angles, etc. and hate them. Most important is that the slide lever is strong enough to not accidentally become actuated in the pocket. IMO, there is a higher risk in the el-cheapo box cutters (that I actually now carry). Also, the extra $9 for the entry level Stanley compared to the 89 cent aluminum cheapo I now use, might give the blade a more secure mechanism... I haven't noticed it though.

Again, for the record, today, I use the 89-99 cent aluminum boxcutter from WMart. It's lighter and thinner than the professional versions, still retains the blade storage area, and I don't care if something happens to it. In fact, I bought like 7 of them for around $6 because all the $15-$20 boxcutters I picked up are a PITA to me (new fangled blade storage, weird handle angles, way way overly thick handles, some aren't retractable, etc.) and if they ever stop carrying them at WMart I want a few backups.

 

Ive tried quite a few over the years and this Stanley has become my favorite. Quick blade changes.

 

Stockman.

 

I just got a Husky at a yard sale for $1. It seems pretty well made, so I'm loving that.

I *really* like that Spectrum though. I like the way it utilizes the whole blade.

 

Actually the part that holds the blade on the utilizer goes pretty far up the blade meaning material being cut will catch on it. So only the tip is really useful for cuts that will go deep into the material like slicing through cardboard.