What’s A Utility Knife
Utility knives come in many sizes and designs, but the one common factor is that they are a compact, workhorse knife that is suitable for all cutting tasks from kitchen to retail store. At it’s most basic, a utility knife is a razor blade enclosed in a handle. The knife design allows you to replace the blade when it gets dull. At its most complex, it’s a fixed blade knife with a completely slip-free handle and a high carbon steel blade that’s up to everyday, hard use and is easy to carry.
Why Do I Need A Utility Knife?
Having a good, reliable utility knife in your kitchen drawer, tool box, hunting or fishing gear and at work is indispensable. There are so many tasks that they’re perfect for like opening packages and boxes, cutting cord or rope, cleaning fish and even just slicing an apple.
Top Utility Knives on the Market
After looking at several utility knives, I’ve compiled a list of the top on the market, giving you a selection of designs and sizes.
Gerber Prybrid Utility Knife
Oaky, at the top of my list and a modern update on a classic design, the
Gerber Prybrid Utility Knife combines a replaceable utility blade with a compact multi-tool. The just over 4” in length, dual-ended knife is designed to be carried on a keychain or unobtrusively in a pocket. Along with the standard replaceable utility blade, the hybrid has eight tools including a pry bar, nail puller, wire stripper, small flathead driver, large flathead driver, bottle opener and cord cut notch. The handle is textured G10 that comes in a choice of olive drab or grey and it has a thumb slide to deploy and retract the blade. The Prybrid Utility is the only tool you’ll need for quick tasks at the job site or at home.
Bushmaster Utility Knife
A great addition to your tackle box, tool box or bug-out bag, the
Bushmaster Utility Knife is a great, all-purpose utility knife. It has a thick and sharp blade made out of 1065 carbon steel, making it absolutely up to a wide range of jobs including cleaning game, cutting sticks for a campfire and cutting fishing line. Especially capable in wet environments and weather, the knife has an overlaid rubber handle with a grooved and ridged pattern that is completely slip-free. The Bushmaster Utility Knife can be easily carried everyday in its ABS, self-draining belt sheath.
Schrade Ultra Glide Cleaver Pocket Knife
The list wouldn’t be complete without a folding pocket knife. Although a less common design for a utility knife, the
Schrade Ultra Glide Cleaver Pocket Knife definitely fits the bill as a utility knife. It has the classic straight-edge utility blade profile made of premium 9Cr18MoV steel that’s tough as nails. The all-purpose blade can be easily deployed with either the flipper or one of the thumbstuds. The liner lock handle is textured, glass fiber nylon and it has both a pocket clip and a lanyard slot.
MTech Multi-Functional Combat Straight Knife
What I really like about the
MTech Multi-Functional Combat Straight Knife is that it has an open-ring pommel, allowing you to hold it like a karambit knife, making vertical cutting tasks easier. The straight-edge, stainless steel blade has finger jimping to give you even better control over the blade when using it and letting you perform precision slicing jobs. The hefty The TPU handle scales have ridges and are grooved to fit comfortably in your palm. At an easy-to-carry 8” length, the utility knife fits conveniently at your side in its nylon belt sheath.
Gerber Exchange-A-Blade Lite Utility Knife
At only 5” in overall length and weighing-in at only 2 1/2 ozs, the Gerber Exchange-A-Blade Lite Utility Knife is the smallest and last on the list but certainly not the least. Packing the full power of a standard sized, replaceable utility blade into a package that’s just under 3”, when closed, this utility knife also doubles as a money clip. The stainless steel body has a liner lock design with a tapered shape with rounded edges and it features deep finger grooves providing a secure grip. This lightweight, pocket-sized cutter is perfect for a variety of tasks from opening boxes to slicing rope.
