What’s the difference between the Milwaukee “Fastback Compact” utility knife, and the “regular” Fastback utility knife?
I posted about this holiday season’s bundled deal, and John asked about the size difference. It’s a great question, as the online image of the bundle isn’t to scale.
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The size difference, as you can see in the above photo, is actually quite pronounced. By my measurements, the Milwaukee Fastback Compact knife is 5 inches long when closed, and the Fastback is 4 inches closed. Open, the difference is between ~6-1/4″ for the Fastback Compact, and 7-1/4″ for the Fastback.
I also included a Milwaukee Hardline knife (3″ blade) in the comparison.
The Milwaukee Fastback Compact knife has a lanyard loop. The “standard” Fastback has a “gut hook” when closed, and a wire stripper function.
Neither have internal blade storage, but there is another Fastback knife that does.
The Fastback Compact knife (bottom) has a rectangular metal pocket clip, while the Fastback (top) has a bent metal wire pocket clip.
The Fastback Compact is comfortable to hold, but it doesn’t quite have a “full” handle. Grooves at the top help to guide thumb placement.
The Fastback is also comfortable to hold. It’s longer, and has a protrusion that guides pointer and middle finger placement.
Here’s a hand-grip of the Milwaukee 3″ Hardline folding pocket knife.
The Compact is around the same size, which seems to be exactly what Milwaukee was going for. There are larger pocket knives, or course; I chose to show the 3″ Hardline because that’s the size of EDC knife that I tend to gravitate towards.
There are other differences between the Fastback Compact and Fastback. The “standard” version has its one-button blade change mechanism on the left side, the same size as the opening button. The Compact version has a similar button, but on the opposite side.
The Fastback has a metal-bodied handle. The Compact, on the other hand, has a metal frame, separated by a plastic spacer and covered with plastic handle scales. Frankly, I can’t tell you why one style might be better than the other. The weight difference is nearly imperceiveable, and I don’t have any durability concerns.
I can feel a slight difference when opening and closing the knives slowly. During regular flip operation, the differences aren’t any different from what I see with knife-to-knife variations.
Price-wise, the Compact retails for $9, and the “regular” other one for $10.
Buy Now(Fastback Compact via Home Depot)
Buy Now(Fastback Compact via Acme Tools)
Buy Now(Fastback via Home Depot)
See Also(Hardline Knife via Home Depot)
See Also: Fastback and Knife Blades Holiday 2018 Special Buy Bundle
Which is better? I use the standard Fastback all the time, and I’ve been using the Compact every so often (it’s in the basement, or I’d use it more). The standard Fastback is kept on my workbench, and so the extra size doesn’t bother me, and I use the cutting hook on twine and other such things on occasion.
If a knife is going to ride around in my pocket, I’d want the smaller of the two.
I have a blade-storage Fastback knife or two, at least I am sure of it – none are currently accessible but they must be somewhere. I like the slimmer size of the newest Fastback (discussed here), and that same preference made me inclined to like the Compact before I even bought it.
Both are good, and I’d recommend both. Which one to choose depends on what your needs and preferences are. That’s why the holiday bundle (here’s the Home Depot purchase link) is such a good buy, aside from the great value, because it gives you the opportunity to try both. Or, you can carry/use your preferred knife, and stash the other as a backup.
If you ask me, I’d say “try both!” But if I had to pick one from the two, it’d be the Compact. The other Fastback is tried-and-true, and it does have the added features, but I think the Compact’s size would be the deciding factor for me.
As there’s only a $1 difference between the two, I don’t think that’s going to be much of a deciding factor. Instead it’ll be the little things, beyond the size, such as the style of pocket clip, that might influence users’ favor.
Thank you to Milwaukee Tool for providing me with a review sample. Both Fastback knives shown here were purchased last year, but I have another Compact that was provided by Milwaukee. The Hardline knife is also a review sample.
John says
Thanks, Stuart!
Recently at HD, I was stuck staring at the nylon bands on a fresh pile of 4x4s, and couldn’t locate the ‘starter pull tabs’ — The first customer passing by whipped out his Milwaukee Fastback and handed it to me (very trusting guy, I thought!), and I made a mental note to get one. Now, I guess I’ll get two, with plenty of extra blades!
mikeakafazzman says
The compact is great,have one sitting in my box at the shop. Use it daily.
fred says
I saw a review on the HD web page saying that they can not use conventional Stanley utility knife blades. Is that just some miscommunication?
Stuart says
I can’t find the same review, and so I can’t comment on it, but I just pulled a Dewalt blade from a Dewalt knife, and it fit perfectly in the Milwaukee Fastback Compact. As far as I can tell, standard blades fit perfectly.
fred says
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-Fastback-Utility-Knife-48-22-1901/202206146?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal3_rr-_-203980980-_-202206146-_-N
I figured it was apocryphal – and/or the reviewer had some other issue. Just wondered if the blade had some special difference.
Stuart says
I tried a Dewalt blade in the Fastback just now, and it fit perfectly fine, no pull-out.
Comparing the blades, there are slight geometric differences in the notch widths, but nothing that could lead to pull-out.
It’s possible that they experienced problems with their choice of blades, but I don’t see any issue with Dewalt blades.
Eric says
I can’t speak for all Fastbacks, but the one I bought last year has a problem with Stanley blades. The notches on the Stanley blades don’t come down quite as far. This allows the top part of the locking tab to engage while the bottom doesn’t. This gives a blade that feels secure when pulled on with fingers, but may dislodge while cutting.
fred says
I should have said that the reviewer was KenJ – and he’s listed under 1-star – claims that standard (e.g. Stanley) blades fall out. The review was for the standard Fastback – not the compact.
Adam says
I’ve been using the Stanley and Lenox blades on my non-compact one, and they work fine as far as I can tell. I’m not sure why they wouldn’t fit.
CyrilJ says
Can confirm that Stanley blades work quite well with Fastback. Been using them on the two knives I have. Love the shape of this knife’s handle. Fits perfectly and securely in my hand.
salmon says
I’ve carried a Gerber EAB for going on 5 years now. To me a utility knife is a lot more useful than any other pocket knife. I wish there were more options for a smaller folder. This one looks too big for the 1″ long blade.
MichaelHammer says
It’s smaller than the EAB. And lighter, and easier to open and close and rides in the pocket better
salmon says
Sorry but there’s no way this is smaller and lighter than the EAB.
ToolOfTheTrade says
The blade does fall out on these quite often. I’ve got 3 of these and every one of them has the same issue no matter what brand of blades I put in it including their own blades. I’m constantly having to push the blade back into it. The blade lock mechanism is atrocious. There’s definitely room for improvement. Aside from that, these are one of the few Milwaukee tools that I actually like. In fact when I bought mine it motivated me to loosen the blade release on all of my utility knives. Now if everybody could make them with a push button release it would be great. It would be even better if they had a front blade storage mechanism instead of in the handle. Slide back self loading is the name of the game.
Bill Clay says
Fiskars has a new fold-out knife with a dual-lock blade mechanism that I’ve been wanting to try out.
http://www2.fiskars.com/Products/Home-Improvement-Tools/Utility-Knives-and-Blades/fiskars-pro-folding-utility-knife
Redcastle says
I posted on the original post which generated this one that certain actions such as scoring plasterboard (drywall) cause the blades in all stanley knives (that is what they are called over here) regardless of who produces them to fall out which is why some people still use fixed blade knives with a big screw holding everything together.
I have knives produced by half a dozen different companies and blades produced by a dozen including Tajima and Olfa and have never encountered acompatibility issue however because I like my fingers and eyes the way they are I avoid non brand name knives which may be where problems are arising. For the same reason I would avoid unbranded blades.
Redcastle says
I just checked for my comment on the original post and for whatever reason it is it there however the same points are in my post above.
Noah says
The Compact is my absolute favorite foldin utility knife. Far more pocket friendly than the full-size and the clip sits deeper in the pocket. So many folding utility knives have terrible clips leaving almost half the knife body sticking out the pocket.
MichaelHammer says
It is important to note that if your intention is to pocket carry one of these knives, you will soon find yourself disappointed with the full size version. The wire clip is faulty and breaks easily. I now own a pile of these knives with broken clips. When the compact version hit, I seized upon it and have never looked back. I also prefer the feel of the plastic handle. Occasionally I inadvertently hit the blade release during use. It’s not really an issue, just something I have to be wary of. I don’t recall one ever coming out on its own with the exception of drywall, as Redcastle points out. I can vouch that standard Stanley blade fit.
Adam says
I’ve carried one for some years, and I’ve never had the clip break. I’m looking forward to trying the compact version, though.
Jim Felt says
I picked up a couple of these sets for gifts yesterday and later discovered I bought the same sets for the same price a year or two earlier. Obviously I found one unopened in my “gifts to be” drawer.
The difference being this set has cheaper “standard” blades and the previous ones came with “2X” upgraded blades.
Dang.