DeWalt DWHT10035L 2-1/2" Rugged Metal Body Folding Retractable Utility Knife

I am not a contractor. I have bought this knife to open shipment boxes. This review is based on initial impression. The price will buy you 10 cheap box cutters that feel really cheap, unsafe and inconvenient. This knife is much better than that, and it comes with 3 double bladesThe knife is compact and sits well in my (smaller) hand. My thumb is right over the lever that retracts the blade, and tip of my thumb is on the rubber area. I can easily retract the blade to any length (3 positions) with no effort. It seems to stay firm in position. The knife opens with no effort, and folds with light pressure on the internal spring. Once opened, it is held open with a spring latch - seems pretty secure. I have inserted a blade in 15 seconds. This was the first time I own a contractor grade knife, so this was VERY easy. I have also tried removing the blade, and it is also quite easy, just press a button, and the blade can be pulled out with no effort. I liked that the blade, when hidden, is still available in a little hook to be used as rope/wire cutter. It is hard for me to judge if it would be easy to remove the remainder of the blade (if it breaks). But hypothetically if there is any part of it protruding, using twitzers should work just fine. On the other hand, if nothing protrudes, you MAY be able to still remove the blade by accessing it through the rope hook or just hitting the knife against a hard surface while pressing the blade release button - the blade should go out. Otherwise it is probably not easy to disassemble the blade holder.The knife is actually quite pretty, and resembles a shark when open. Yellow/black color makes it hard to misplace. And of course it cuts boxes and wraps really well. Is it ready for a tough job? well, probably not poking at granite tiles - the blade could be brittle, although not that much if extended 1/3 of the way. The knife itself feels solidGenerally I find the knife quite nicely designed, and well made, although I do not have much comparison. An overkill for my needs. For $10 I can certainly afford it, and replace in the unlikely event if breaks. By the way, it has a lifetime warranty

A very nice utility knife for whatever that is worth to you. It also folds up when not in use and has a clip for easy carry on your trousers or a belt. There is storage for 3 blades not including the blade in use. Mine actually came with two extras so I imagine yours will as well. My only issue, if you can even call it an issue, is the packaging. I am a fairly intelligent dude but it took me a second to figure out what I had to do to get the packaging off. I don't know if it is a poorly thought out idea or the instructions need to be improved but basically, it gives you arrows and not so clear directions. It has been awhile so I sadly can't recall how to make the directions clearer. What I can tell you, that some may not realize is---A) right where the belt clip attaches to the knife, underneath is where you will find the part you have to release if you want to fold the knife back up. B) Also, the big black portion on the handle lifts up to reveal storage space. You release it with a black 'knob' at the back of the product, also on the bottom. Just pull it back a little while pushing toward the top and you will see how it works. C) Installing a blade is done using a black button on the left front of the knife. You move the retractable toggle all the way forward, push down said button, then insert blade. It will go in more than half way, release the button, and the toggle will retract the blade.Much of this may be intuitive to others but I was thoroughly confused the day I received this knife so maybe what I shared here will help you. Overall, a solid product from Dewalt. Granted it is just a utility knife but the others I have do not fold and I specifically remember one that needs to be taken apart for a blade change while this one takes seconds.

Easy to open deliberately, difficult to open accidentally. Very safe. Storage in the handle for extra blades. Very satisfied.UPDATE APRIL 2018:Y'know what, seven months later, I don't think I said enough nice things about this knife, so here's some more. I bought this to replace an otherwise perfectly serviceable utility knife that was a bit... eager, if you know what I mean, especially when I was going up ladders. I wanted something that wasn't gonna surprise my thigh with a friendly slash, so I went for one that required two very deliberate actions to open. Well, it opens, it extends, it cuts, it retracts, and it closes, and nothing's lost tension or started to get squiffy yet, so job's a good 'un.My finger rests nicely parallel with the blade on a wee surface with grippy knobs, without the retraction lever getting in the way, which means cutting with this thing is as easy as sliding my index finger down the thing I want to cut. When folded up, it's small enough to fit in a pointlessly-tiny compartment of my overstuffed toolbox. It's solid, heavy enough to not feel cheap, light enough that I don't begrudge its weight when picking up my toolbox. It's bright yellow, so it's hard to lose. I haven't even managed to chip the paint, and I'm not gentle. To replace the blade, press the black button at the end of the knife and pull on a part of the blade that isn't sharp.I'm racking my brains trying to think of an improvement that could be made to this thing, and I really can't. Nice work, Dewalt.(aha - last-second before I hit the submit button - swap the colours. Have the silver part yellow, and the yellow part silver - that makes the knife more visible when it's open. People who buy two-action utility knives like this are thinking of safety, and a bright yellow thing in the corner of their eye will remind them to close the blade.)