Lowe’s recently launched this 3-pack of Kobalt “Mini Rapid Aluminum” retractable utility knives.
You get one each in blue, black, and grey. From the looks of it, the mini retractable utility knives work with standard utility blades.
Lowe’s provides instructions on how to extend the blade: depress the blade and push forward until the blade hits the blade stop.
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No pocket clip. Lots of places for dust and grime to build up. At least there’s a lanyard hole.
It looks kind of cheap.
They’re going to sell a bazillion of these over the holiday tool deals season.
Price: $9.98
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Nathan
Pass.
MattW.
Have them placed them as package openers in random spots. They are not smooth or the easiest to use but there useable. I did clean up some burrs and lube them up made them far better.
Jerry
I have a few utility knives designed in a similar fashion. I have not handled one of these to see how smoothly they work, but a couple I have work pretty smoothly, others are either rough or clumsy to operate.
In my opinion, done right, a knife of this design will give you a usable utility knife in about as small/light a package as you can get. Good if you want that sort of thing, they just disappear into a pocket, both for size as well as weight. Not intended to be a heavy use type of knife, but rather to be a knife so unobtrusive that you always have it with you.
Justin
These seem to be heavily inspired by the GilTek RUK. As a daily carrier of the RUK, I picked these up and was pretty disappointed with them. The paint is very rough which causes the blade to not slide smoothly. They’re usable for throwing in various places, but I think money is much better spent on the RUK.
AE
Apparently this was a deal made with Gil-Tek
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1520478935867438
Stuart
Good to know – thank you!
DH
LOL OMG 10 bucks for that??? WOW we have come a long way in overpriced junk
mikedt
3 for $10. So yeah, they’ll sell a lot of them.
Jared
Grab the Screwpop if you’re tempted by these. That’s a similarly low-profile utility blade knife but well-made. Uses a magnet and a locking bar you slide out of the way. Still inexpensive.
Wayne R.
So this is just a sleeve that slips over the blade? And a spring.
Ooh look, it’s got a bottle opener too, lemme get my keys…
Alexk
I wouldn’t be comfortable having this in my pocket. That open back and cheap plastic would make me worry every time I put my hand in my pocket, even if it is really safe.
Mark M.
I was in a Lowes this morning and looked at these for a minute but promptly put it back. They seemed cheap and I couldn’t figure out what good they would be over a pocket knife or box cutter so I passed.
Their holiday promo displays were sort of interesting but not compelling. A lot of pastel junk-drawer tools, stocking stuffer type stuff. Their Klein promos were solidly OK, but not like knock your socks off good. The 27-1 precision screwdriver was $17 which is a good price but the same as what it is on Amazon currently. They also had a 1/4 – 5/16 short impact nut driver that’s kind of a dead ringer for the Malco one, for $7, and they throw in a PH2 bit so I snagged one of those. Here’s hoping it’s a slow season and they discount the rest of the Klein stuff in late December.