Dewalt has a new retractable utility knife, DWHT10054, that they describe as a “demo knife.”
Dewalt says:
Take on a variety of jobsite tasks with an innovative demo-assist end capable of hammering, prying, and pulling light duty staples.
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It basically has a small prying nub at the end of the handle.
Their sales sheet says that the steel demo-assist end cap is a “first-of-its-kind feature.”
The Dewalt DWHT10054 utility knife features all-metal construction, tool-free blade release, and an “enhanced ergonomic grip” designed for comfort.
The utility knife features built-in blade storage with space for up to 5 replacement blade. Dewalt says that the storage compartment offers glove-friendly access.
Price: $13
COO: Made in USA with global materials
Discussion
I’m a fan of Dewalt fixed-handle retractable utility knives, and I don’t think I have ever used the carabiner clip feature built into some of their ends.
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A steel end cap for “pounding, prying, and pulling light duty staples” might be useful.
Can you see any potential downsides?
Plain+grainy
Most times I prefer the right tool for the job, vs a do anything type tool. This might be good for an occasional staple pull. Off Topic: CPO has the Craftsman 2000 series 26” 4 drawer rolling cart at $159.00 free shipping.
Jeremiah D
I like that it has the small tab for prying staples and such. If im seeing the pic correctly the reinforced end for hammering on seems pointless and encouraging dangerous behavior. Hammering the tip of my utility knife into something has never occured to me and I cant imagine a scenario where it would be a good idea. I can imagine hammering the back near the blade to drive it through material, although that sounds like a bad idea too.
MikeH
The end can be used to hammer (like pound in a small nail sticking out), it is not intended for hammering the knife into material. That being said, some will try…
Jeremiah D
Thanks Mike, that makes more sense. I have used my knife as an impact tool a few times even though it works poorly. I usually go for the channellocks though. I was thinking similar to a demo type screwdriver (which i also use somewhat often for pounding)
Steve
I have a Leatherman multi tool with a similar hammering surface at one end. It’s less than ideal as a hammer and I almost never use it, but I will say that, every once in a while it does come in handy for some little task where I hadn’t expected to need a hammer … saves me from having to take the time to go grab a hammer. It’s the kind of thing where it’s not going to even remotely replace a hammer for regular use, but having one side of the tool that is designed for occasional limited hammering is better than having that side of the tool designed to do nothing.
Mike
Maybe I’d consider using it to “hammer” drywall if there is a missed screw hole, or paper tare… But I can do that with a good ol OLFA already.
William Crawford
I have used my hammer to drive the blade of my utility knife to make cuts before ….( I’m that guy )
James Eppich
HVAC guys hammer a utility knife into ductwork. It’s honestly the best way.
Bappa
Hey if I wanna hammer with my kinfe and knife with my hammer, that’s my business.
Frank
I don’t think it’s meant for hammering your blade into anything, I believe it is meant for light tapping of an object. Common sense should tell you that you never hammer a sharp thin blade into anything.
GML
Seems like it would actually be a pain in the butt, pulling it of a pocket/tool belt and it getting caught up.
Beto
Great point. I was digging this knife. Until your comment made complete sense. Its gonna catch on something.
Michael m brennan
Yerp like your skin could be a nice lawsuit
Jeff
marketing over usability
Greg
Reinventing the utility knife is like reinventing the wheel
Mackenzie
Some people carry lots of tools on them to do small tasks that only occasionally come up. I can already think of several scenarios in which this helps me. I carry a utility knife and a small prybar. There are some jobs where this would replace the prybar while also suiting my knife needs very well.
Abe
Agree, a good ol fasion stanley with no features other than it being retractable has outlasted every other knife. I pull staples , take off switch and socket plates, mark boards for power saw cuts, cut out door strikers, clean under my finger nails, cut out in grown toe nails, fishing knife, cut everything and can even defend myself with it………….classic
Joe Allen
The wheel gets reinvented all the time.
Bonnie
Seems handy to me. I’ve definitely used the blunt side of the basic version of this knife to tap something in, and in a pinch I’ve pried out a staple with the tip of the razor blade (bad idea I know) so all in all this seems like a good set of features. I do agree the staple pulling tab looks like it’s going to snag on your pocket/belt every time.
Todd
Grind that tail off and you got a nice knife.
Leo B.
Looks like it might tear up your hand if you’re pulling back with some pressure and slip. I think the hammer cap by itself would be more handy than the addition of the tab with it.
MM
This reminds me a bit of the Olfa snap-blade utility knives which have a little prying tab added to the handle, though this one has the added hammer cap function. It might be useful for something as simple as popping the lid of a paint can and then hammering it back down but I don’t think I’d use it for much else.
I like having that kind of feature on my kitchen knives though. I use Glestain TK series which have a very thick and heavy flat pommel on the handle. This is fantastic for smashing garlic, spices, etc. It also gives the knives excellent balance in the hand
Mxx
Looks like a good lawyer injury income generating device. Hammer with that blade out hello emergency room.
Jared
Fair, but they put glass breakers and pry bars on the ends of some pocket knives too. I imagine they’re hoping people can figure out how not to injure themselves.
Maybe it comes with warning stickers or an operator’s manual?
Mg
I’m already seeing OSHA logs increasing.
Jared
Seems alright to me. I understand not everyone is going to want the additional features, but it’s not like this is Dewalt’s only retractable utility knife.
Prying and the occasional “tap” are the two activities I think people might be most tempted to do with their utility knifes that they aren’t designed or intended for. Here’s a knife that can do it.
In most situations those “features” probably go unnoticed, but they’re there if you find yourself with a need for them.
Ct451
People will use the back with the blade out and with their focus on the other end slice something up they shouldn’t.
Bill
Be sure to retract the blade before using it as a staple puller or the occasional hammer. For that risk alone, I don’t think it is a good idea.
Saulac
A knife + hammer combo seems like an odd combination. To come up with better combos, I proceed by recalling what I have used utility knife “off-label-ly”: prying tool, flat screw driver, measuring tool, deburring tool, scrapper tool,…and what I came up with is a thick strong “blade” in the opposite end. Must be in the right shape though.
Norse
I have mixed feelings on the staple puller tab. If it doesn’t dig into my hand at some point while I am using the blade or pulling the tool out of its slot in my tool belt, it could be a win. Pulling staples is one of those tasks that I find myself doing all too frequently. Units of lumber come with staples holding the tarp in place. Sometimes one board could have a hundred staples in it. I am not joking. All sorts of things in the residential construction world get temporarily stapled together. If I had a nickel for every staple that I have pulled…. That being said, I bet even with a tool to pull the staple, only one leg of the staple would come loose. Now we need pliers. Oh wait, did we just invent a multi tool with pliers, staple puller, and retractable, replaceable blades?
Norse
I just thought of another use. Painters. I wonder if it could open a paint can? Then it could tap it shut. We might be on to something.
IronWood
Good idea, first valid use case so far! “Demo” seems like a real reach…
Jeremiah D
I agree thats probably the best use for this or similar
IronWood
Seems like a very poor design that will snag in my pockets, hurt my hands, tempt me to do stupid things, and be worse at the job than the hammer, prybar, or screwdriver that is likely close by anyway. I’ll keep my old $5 Stanley 99.
JoeM
Just ordered the two ToughBuilt knives… I feel like I’m good on utility knives for now. We’ll see where things go in the new year, and how things perform.
Mark M.
I’ve been guilty of using a lot of things for hammers that aren’t, but never a utility knife. I’ve also ended up in the emergency room courtesy of a utility knife, an experience which emphasized the importance of respecting that tool. All that to say: complicating an already potentially dangerous tool seems like a bad idea to me. Better idea is to simplify it and keep your brain focused on safe cutting.
Mac
I’d rather use my knife as a hammer than a screwdriver. It looks like it could lift a plastic Romex staple without putting a point need the jacket too, but I can’t really tell how much clearance/reach it has. Has a different form factor/angle of leverage for other tiny prying tasks than a flathead or flush cutters. I’d like to see a physical one. I could definitely buy this. Wish it was a different color, but I think it’s smart nonetheless
When Jeremiah D
Id rather use this knife as a hammer than a screwdriver. When I use a screwdriver as an impact tool its usually just hitting with the butt of the handle and mostly in lieu of a mallet.
Mac
I was vague in my phrasing that these features are more useful than the bit or bit holder. Leveraging or tapping something is more likely something I’d want to do than use my knife to turn a screw.
Ray
I thought it was a bottle opener, perfect for Demo.
NoahG
I bet that would open and close paint cans like a boss.
1day@atime
As someone who does demolition and remodeling on a regular basis, this has got to be one of the dumbest tools ever invented for any such task. What can this prying nub demo? Staples? Nope. You still need pliers to pull em out. Shoe mould or quarter round? Nope. There’s not enough nub to pry up any such material without breaking it. Salvageability is key to the proper removal of any finished mouldings in the event that the mouldings are no longer manufactured or available. This is especially essential when remodeling older homes. So, what can this be of any use for? What can it get behind or get under and pry without destroying whatever it is you’re trying to remove? Flat bars work off of a fulcrum. There’s no fulcrum point in the design of a utility knife. Flat bars are made with the intention of being struck by a hammer. Utility knives are not. If I hit this knife with the same amount of force that I strike a flat bar with, this knife would be rendered useless due to severe deformity from proper use of this function. Flat bars are not ergonomic. They’re not comfortable to use. They’re made to take a beating while you hold on to it as you absorb the blows from your hammer as you’re striking the tool. That’s how they work. Utility knives are not designed for prying. They’re designed for cutting and scoring. They are not prying tools. This is purely a gimmick of modern day tool quackery that should be dismissed for exactly what it is.
John Schultz
Ive used the hammering end many times, while throwing a temper tamper…works great for that! I generly get alot of attention.