Do you need a new utility knife? Want to try something new? Over at Home Depot, they have this Milwaukee Fastback utility knife 2-pack set priced at $15 for the holiday shopping season.
The set comes with a FastBack folding utility knife with blade-storage, and a FastBack compact folding utility knife.
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Is this a good deal?
Well, the Milwaukee FastBack utility knife with blade storage, 48-22-1502, typically sells for $15 by itself at Home Depot and other authorized dealers.
The compact FastBack knife typically sells for between $8 and $9, depending on where you’re shopping.
Both of these Milwaukee FastBack utility knives feature a hand-flip opening mechanism and button locking mechanism. They were released late last year, as updates to previous iterations of similar designs.
I think this is a good deal, and one I have taken advantage of (and probably will again).
Sale Price: $15
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Approximate value: ~$21.49 to $24
Even better, you get free shipping if you order online, with no minimum order amount required.
These are great utility knives. $15 is a good price for what you get, even if you only want the knife with built-in blade storage.
Why haven’t you bought one yet?! Seriously – I’m curious as to why you might pass this up, unless it’s because you’re all set with utility knives, in which case I’d love to hear about about your current favorite.
Post Update History
This post was first published on 11/7/2020 when the deal appeared for the winter holiday shopping season, and was updated and republished on 5/24/2021. This is still a great deal and I couldn’t pass it up. The deal has returned for the Black Friday 2021 holiday shopping season.
L. Bauer
As a matter of fact, I’m all set, mostly because I bought this deal last year with the blades included. The Compact is my most used, but the full-size one is my favorite. Go figure. For what it’s worth, the blades they include have been my favorite so far, and they come very sharp. I think $5 more for them is worth it, but to each their own! Thanks for your hard work, Stuart!
Stuart
That’s good to hear, and thank you!
Jorn
Same situation here.
These are the first cutters of this type that I’ve used and I’ve really enjoyed having them around.
Scott
I’m having trouble getting it shipped – tells me delivery is not available in my area (Long Island). That was in app, tried in browser to and it gave that same error before I even logged in/entered any address. Didn’t try anything else, not sure if it’s just this knife or HD in general. Guess I’ll try back later.
Also notice the DeWalt storage containers ($10 with 10 compartments) are no longer available for ship to home, only in store pickup.
Tom D
If using Home Depot there’s ship to home and deliver to home – the second sends a truck from Home Depot to you instead of just using FedEx.
fred
Certain knives seem to come up as “illegal” in some loacles.
That might be the case with one of these.
I’ve had the issue with some seemingly innocuous knives on Amazon – so I ship them to my place in Florida.
Stuart
Ah. Yep, must be a built-in restriction.
If I recall correctly, some if not all utility knives can’t be shipped to NY. You can still buy them in stores though. *shrug* It’s complicated.
Joe R.
Purchased as a gift for daughter’s growing toolbox. Along with suggested Milwaukee $9.98 bit set, Milwaukee rafter squares and new cheap Husky 20oz hammer & claw set (I gave her my better day to day hammer) and the DeWalt storage containers (for me). Thanks for the suggestions Stuart. A couple month’s back I bought her some Milwaukee 12V tools in the bundles they were offering through Home Depot that you mentioned. She’s pretty happy right now.
Koko The Talking Ape
I got the deal with the blades last year as well. The Compact is also my favorite. I use it mostly for marking cuts. Nearly as fast to deploy as a cheap snap knife, but more reassuring in the hand.
Dave
For at least a couple of years, this bundle included 50 Milwaukee iron carbide blades.
Last year it included 50 generic blades.
I am almost positive I paid around $15 both times, which of course makes those bundles a better deal. However I think both knives may have been updated by now, making these a bit different than before.
The compact is my favorite.
Stuart
2017: Fastback knife, Compact Fastback, 50pc blades: $15
2018: Fastback knife, Compact Fastback, 50pc imported blades: $15
2019: (Updated models) Fastback knife w/ blade storage, Compact Fastback, 50pc imported blades: $20
2020: (Updated models) Fastback knife w/ blade storage, Compact Fastback: $15
I did not confirm what kinds of blades were included in the 2017 deal. If the knives were being made and packaged overseas, it’s reasonable for them to be packaged with blades made and packaged overseas as well.
I like the USA-made blades, and while others are decent, I like the consistency that comes with using the same brand blades, and so I don’t miss not having extra blades with this bundle set. Plus, a $15 price point is more appealing that $20. To give you 2 knives and blade pack for $15, they’d likely have to downgrade the main knife to the one without blade storage.
Personally, I think a full-size knife with blade storage and compact knife without are a very good complement to each other.
I am fairly certain that last year’s deal had the then-new models, and those same models appear to be in this year’s deal.
With this deal, you save $5 and don’t get the 50pc set of imported general purpose blades.
A 50pc pack of the USA-made general purpose blades is usually $9 to $10.
Compared to earlier deals, this bundle gives you the Fastback model with blade storage, and compared to last year’s deal you get a lower price but no extra pack of blades.
Earlier deals featured a Fastback plus other non-changeable folding knife.
https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-fastback-utility-knife-bundle-deal-h2019/
https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-utility-knives-and-blades-holiday-2018-bundle-is-live/
https://toolguyd.com/more-about-the-milwaukee-tool-fastback-utility-knife-holiday-2018-bundle-deal/
https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-fastback-utility-knife-bundle-deal-h2017/
Dave
The beauty of a knife w changeable blades is that I have no qualms in abusing the blade to scrape, cut thin wire or tiny cable, or anything else. Makes the “knife” an all-purpose tool.
Takes a lot of blades. I need blades.
If I’m going to treat a replaceable-blade knife with caution ( not needing many blades), then I’ll just get a much less usable (for me) fixed-blade knife.
I need a lot of blades. I want the blades.
Adam
I strongly dislike the blade storage models because the blade compartments don’t have a strong positive lock to keep them closed, just a little springy friction nub. I find that, way too often, my (possibly meaty) hands will somehow wiggle that compartment open while I’m using the knife, so the feature is a failure in my book.
That said, the non-storage ones are my favorite utility knife, bar none.
Stuart
On this model or in general?
I typically don’t mind them, and I only recall maybe one knife opening up when I dropped it, and that was a Dewalt if I recall correctly.
Adam
Specifically in the new model Milwaukee Fastbacks. I use them frequently as marking knives for hand tool work. It’s not a dire situation – I just don’t keep extra blades in them – but it is annoying to have the compartment open up while it’s in my hand.
Greg
Your Knife must be defective. Go trade it in.
Jonathan
I saw this deal on youtube last night and for some reason once I added to cart for local store pickup the price went down to $11.23. Wish I would have grabbed more I just tried now and they are back to $15
Lyle
I have a bunch (maybe 6 at home and a few at work) of the Dewalt folding utility knife.
DEWALT DWHT10035L Folding Retractable Utility Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051QIBGI/
I love it and it has internal blade storage and is very compact. I’ve never had the blade compartment open accidentally.
I have a lot of friends that like red tools and I’ve read a lot of positive comments on this site for the red version that is a part of this deal or past deals. Therefore I needed to order a bunch of utility knives (maybe 8 of them) for work so I ordered the red one. Ugh, big mistake. My fault for not realizing that the blade doesn’t retract. I’m so used to being able to retract the blade that this version is actually dangerous for me to use. Compared to the Dewalt I can see no advantage of the red version and it’s bigger. Probably just personal opinion but I’m not a fan at all.
Stuart
Let’s say you have one quick cut to make, and you don’t need depth control. The Dewalt requires two steps to access the blade, the Milwaukee takes one. Closing the knives requires the same number of steps. So for the Milwaukee, there are 2 steps to open and close, the for the Dewalt there are 4.
It’s a matter of preference.
I have one or two of the Dewalt knives, and I like them, but I tend to prefer non-retractable folders like the Milwaukee or fixed handle retractable knives like Dewalt and Milwaukee both have.
Everyone has to try different styles for themselves, and what better time to try one than when it’s on sale? =)
Lyle
Yeah I agree, personal preference. If I was concerned about the number of steps then I’d be using the fixed blade utility knife.