Milwaukee has come out with a new compact side-slide utility knife, 48-22-1511.
You would be forgiven for assuming this is just a shorter version of Milwaukee’s updates side slide knife, which I didn’t really care for as much as their older version. I found a “new old stock” of the older style knife, and even without breaking it in first, I like it better, but I digress.
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Yes, the new compact side slide knife looks to have a similar knife opening and closing mechanism, but its size changes everything. More on that in a bit.
The new Milwaukee compact side slide utility knife has an all-metal body, slide button, tool-free blade change button, wire belt clip, and tether-ready lanyard hole.
According to order pages, the compact side slide knife measures 4.75″ closed.
The new Milwaukee utility knife has a compact design, both closed and in use, in contrast to Milwaukee’s popular flip-open FastBack utility knives that are compact to carry but open up with full-sized handles.
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But, with Milwaukee’s folding utility knives, you don’t get a retractable blade – it’s all or nothing – with a focus on portability and opening speed of cutting depth controls.
Price: $9
ETA: October 2020
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Retailers are quoting late November and early December shipping ETAs.
Discussion
This is the Stanley QuickSlide utility knife, a compact model that has been very hard to find in recent years.
The Stanley QuickSlide had a solid-feeling metal body, and it didn’t offer much in the way of features, outside quick blade changes. The blade didn’t retract.
Then came an updated Stanley QuickSlide utility knife, and while it shed some weight compared to the original and also added in a new caraboner clip and bottle opener feature, it always seemed cheapened to me.
The original was a bit weighty, but I liked that about it.
Now we have this new Milwaukee side slide utility knife, and with what looks to be retractable blade cutting depth controls.
For compact carry, you can choose between folding utility knives, rare folding and retractable utility knives that take two steps to open, and now another new compact retractable utility knife.
It’s good to have options.
So who is this for? Users who want a compact retractable utility knife, plain and simple.
Given my affinity for Milwaukee’s (older) full-size side slide utility knife and Stanley’s compact QuickSlide utility knife, this looks like it would a “buy it on sight” type of tool.
Maybe we’ll see a Black Friday “special buy” to help introduce the compact concept to more users?
What do you think – is this a solid buy, or not something you’d want to try?
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Bob
Aww looks cute lol.
At first glance it seems too big compared to folders yet too small compared to full sized retractable razor knives. BUT I have found with alot of things and especialy with knives you have to physicaly hold it and see how it fits your hand. Sometimes surprising what “fits” best.
Pocket clip seems like a good idea assuming its easy and seamless to retract the blade first.
Jared
Looks a little thick for a comfy pocket carry – but maybe that’s needed for grip on such a short tool. Maybe I’d feel different about it in person. Otherwise it looks pretty good.
I don’t understand the Stanley quickslide you posted. You said the blade doesn’t retract – but isn’t the first picture a photo of it with the blade retracted?
Also, do both Stanley models you mentioned bear the same name?
Chris S
Agreed, I have that Stanley and it does indeed retract. Maybe he’s referring to something else…
Stuart
Sorry, when I think “retractable utility knife,” I think of ones with multiple blade positions. The Stanley is open or closed and that’s it.
The blade holder slides in and out, but the blade itself doesn’t retract.
Wayne R.
In think he means in or out, not stepped.
Stuart
Well, retract in the traditional sense as having multiple cutting depth settings.
The Stanley’s are open or closed. I presume this one is like their full-sizes knife with a
multi-position retraction mechanism.
Wayne R.
Doesn’t appear to hold spare blades. I’ve got a pack of 100 blades from which I refill handles. That blade pack more than offsets this thing’s size advantage. Would be hard to adjust to not having spares or to carrying a separate cache of blades.
Other than that, I like it.
Jim Felt
Thanks for the Stanley QuickSlide tip. I ordered one on Amazon and it looks kinda interesting. $20 easy come easy go
We shall see. But choices are always positive.
James C
Does seem a little thick for pocket carry. Regardless, I like the pocket clip. I often stick the clip of my fastback in a small pocket of my tool bags, leaving the knife body outside the bag.
Joe H
I might use it for my compact and portable bicycle tool box.
Koko The Talking Ape
I like these short knives. You get more control and power with your fingers close to the blade, and you can palm the end so your fingers don’t slide into the blade. (That’s why I prefer the Compact version of the FastBacks.)
I guess it’s possible your knuckles contact the material you’re cutting. But that’s why you wear gloves.
It looks like it MIGHT a little bulkier than it has to be, but like others say, you have to hold it in your hand to be sure.
I’ll probably pick one up. 🙂
salman
I use giltek titanium as my edc utility blade. This does not comes close to it.
Will
I sure would expect it not to being that one costs 10x more than the other.
Corey Moore
Fiskar pro folder is still going strong for me. Need more handle for what I do, though.
Jon
Where’s the left hand friendly version? That’s my biggest gripe with utility knives, they forget that 10% of the population is left hand dominant.
Robert Hafer
Small one step, one handed, knives like this always get my attention. I’m usually drawn to the price, convenience, and the fact that I’ll probably use it as much or more for personal purposes. They’re enjoyable because you don’t have to worry about them. Simple, to the point, uncomplicated, pocketable, what’s not to like?
Like everything else in our current pandemic economy however, “buy now” means it’s “possibly” available in late November or December. “Possibly” is the operative term. Don’t expect to get one anytime soon. In my opinion, it’s a little like playing Russian Roulette to bring anything new to the table in our current economy.
Jason. W
Being so someone who loves both the fastback and the quickslide, this thing looks like a win.