Modify the design so the front is curved down about a half inch---for knuckle clearance.

I have a pet peeve about engineers---they do good work, but often have no idea of how their designs are in actual use---ergonomically. For an example of the above opinion, you need to actually use a utility knife to cut carpet, install vinyl siding trim material, or a host of other uses.

Right on handy! Best research is done "hands on", "gettin' down and gettin' dirty"!

Tools of the trade recently did a stint on utility knives and as usual compared many different brands. You'll have to go to the archives section of their website as i dont recall the issue. Here's the link:

Here is a link that might be useful: tools of the trade

Visit a big boxer and check out the variety of styles now available. A lot of the complaints have already been addressed. For instance, Stanley's Fat Max line does curve down in the front.

But not all "improvements" are what they're cracked up to be! I inadvertently bought a "safe" utility knife. There is no point on the blade; and the blade stays down only if you continue pressing a nob on the side of the handle. Very tiresome. And it doesn't cut well. Good for little kids, I guess. But's it's a tool I quickly tossed into the "spare tool" box.

My remaining complaint is that the blade tends to retract if more than a modest pressure is used.

Now my regular utility knife is a cheap folding pocket knife .

thanks, i appreciate the opinions. As a college student or any engineer for that matter, I dont have the time to put a carpet in a house or hang sheetrock up to experience the flaws of a knife during every project, therefore I ask other, more experienced users, who have spent time doing these things to help with opinions...thats all. I've used utilty knives many times, but the more opinions the better. I'm sure I haven't done every project a utility knife can be used for, hence my asking. The "knuckle scraping" issue makes a lot of sense, keep the complaints coming..

These knives work best when the blade is changed often. My peeve is that so many of them are very hard to change. I bought an expensive Stanley knife at HD. I couldn't change the blade. I took it back and guys working there gave me that "you can't do that because you're a girl" look. Three of the men in the hardware department couldn't do it. They tried it with another knife off the shelf. After 10 mins of trying, they finaly got it, but only when one held it, while the other one carefully placed the blade.

They gave me my money back, but they continued to sell them. I guess they were just waiting for someone else to have the same experience as I did. If they didn't have the time to return it, maybe they would just throw it out.

The best blade knife i've used but would not recommend is an old stanley that did not retract. It was also hard to change blades. The advantage was it was locked in for true cuts at any pressure. The disadvantages are that it's dangerous, wears out the knife pocket in your bags, and the blades dull easily when thrown in the tool box.

My complaint with most reractables is that they tend to wear and end up not handling pressure without retracting.

I currently use a stanley retractable that as freedee mentioned is a hassle to change blades, but so far is able to stay in place w/ pressure.

You stated you dont have time, but by making the time to go around to remodel job sites and getting various scraps, you can do your own hands on research coinciding with what you learn here and from others.

I'd like to see a better mechanisim for the blade retraction/extension.

One that lasts, that locks the blade open to the correct depth and keeps it there, and makes replacing and storing blades simpler.

I own several, and none have really met my expectations for more than a few dozen use cycles.

What i hate most is that just as soon as i find one that seems to fill my needs someone comes along and re-invents the wheel and the trustworthy one is replaced with some high tech non-sense.

Perhaps they could figure out a way to make a tool that is as strong as the blister pack it comes in, then if they could only figure a way to make it theft proof they would have an instant hit.

I hear ya lazypup. You use your old delapitated knife blade to wrestle open the blister pack for the new high tech hot rod model only to find that it's a piece o' crap!

I've been using a Lutz 357. The handle is curved to provide knuckle clearance, and flares at the back end to make it easy to grip while pulling it through a heavy cut. Extra blades are stored in the handle. The handle can be opened and blades changed without tools. The blades easily find their register in the blade carrier, and the carrier stays where I put it. All that is to the good.

Shortcomings...

The galvanized steel blade carrier does not slide smoothly in the die-cast aluminum body. It was better when new, but now the action is very grabby, probably due to dust and the roughness of oxidized aluminum. With gloves on or with fingers stiff with cold, it's almost impossible to operate. A thin layer of some high-density, low-friction plastic could probably improve the mechanism dramatically.

With any retractable knife, grime and goo of various sorts get pulled back inside the body with the blade, but few knives are designed with easy-to-clean interiors.

The part of the body that's pulled out and rotated in order to open the body and change the blade is almost but not quite symmetrical. As a result, it's very easy to reassemble the knife with this part turned 180 degrees from its proper position. If any part is asymmetrical, it should be extremely, obviously asymmetrical.

I bought a new one a year or so ago along with a 100 pack of blades. Also got a can of fluorescent green paint at the same time so I could find it faster/easier. Always sit it down somewhere without thinking and have to stand there staring around in circles.
Cheap paint though, mars up quickly. Should have bought better paint.

I think they need to put a smear of paint or something on the end of the blades so you can quickly tell if its a new end or already been used. I like sharp blades and its sometimes hard to tell if you've reversed that blade already or not.

In general, they need to lock the blade securely when extended, yet retract easily. High visibility is good for finding it. Might be nice to be a bit longer, as well as slightly curved for knuckle room.

I used to have a stanley with a quick release blade holder + pop-out blade storage drawer. (metallic grey metal with yellow "blade drawer") That was a nice knife until the retraction became unreliable. That was the where you pushed a little side button to extend the blade out more to change it.

Ditto the idea of painting new blade edges. I bet they'd sell more blades, too.

As a variation, how about adding an LED light for work visibility? Might be interesting to have an LED under the blade, as well, for cutting lines in dim areas.

Another option, quiet the metallic jingling of the extra blades inside.

Right now I use the cheapo $2 knives from HD, but would be willing to buy a good metal body, high-visibility, quick-release type with extra blade storage again (not by unscrewing it, though). Maybe one with some added rubber for gripping (and style), too.

And if you like, there's also a need for better window scrapers. Those things desperately need an upgrade to keep them open under pressure, etc. Most are junk.

I hate that it gets dull.

I like that it's a BRIGHT color. I refuse to buy gray ones (I have one for some reason, but when I've gone to get a new one, I get BRIGHT SCREAMING GREEN).

It is hard to tell which blade is used, bcs I like to change them frequently.

Many designs, I find that it's too difficult to advance the blade; the push-button mechanism thingie can be stiff to operate. I often wish the button were bigger somehow, with a more dramatic springiness to it.

How about one with one of those Vgroove blade sharpeners built in the bottom or rearend. Few swipes on the dull end when you flip it around and its good to go for another couple of cuts!

I hate pretty much every utility knife I've bought in the last ten years (I'll have to try the Lutz). Peeves: thumb button is too small or sticks. "Safeties" that fail. Pot metal bodies that bend or are made with poor tolerances, allowing the blade and/or carrier mechanism to slip into the seam between the halves of the body. One even has the screw placed on the wrong side, so that once you've carefully reassembled the slide mechanism and mated the halves, you have to FLIP IT OVER to insert the screw.

Ian

I have the stanley, biggest plus is not needing screwdriver to change the blade, only downside is I can picture myself losing some skin when forcing the new blade in while holding onto that little yellow button, also I tried some of them "super strong" blades but didn't see much difference cept for the higher cost

Hates: difficult to replace blades, buttons to extend or retract the blade are hard to push or too small, the knives themselves are not very ergonomic, and over long use start to become uncomfortable

The one we have now is fairly decent -- it has a nice rubber grip, and is somewhat curved. The blades are easier to replace. The retraction effort is still a pain in the behind, though.

thank you for all the in-sight and suggestions

Mine's an old grey Stanley, must have had it 30 yearsa and it's still going strong. Most of the paint is worn off and the die cast aluminum is polished at the points where it has been gripped the most. Best $2 tool I ever bought.

I like its simplicity and ergonomics. It seems to fit perfectly in my hand. It has no frills or anything to break or wear out. No rubber, no retracting device, no plastic to break, just an honest hard working tool that gives me most everything I need in a universal hand cutting tool.

If I wouldn't give up any of the above, it may be nice to be able to get to another blade without having a screw driver. On the other hand if it would compromise durability or add an area of potential failure, I would keep it as it is. In too many areas I see continual improvements lead to early failure. If it ain't broke, fix it until it is. That's not just a saying!

My favorite is the white one made by Lenox. Solid build, easy retraction and blade replacement, great feel.

The in-handle blade storage takes some getting used to- it's like a little clasp you force the blades into, sharp side down. I got a few nicks at first.

In addition to the suggestions here about color to avoid loss, maybe a retractable lanyard that I could attach to my belt would be helpful - then I'd never have to lay my knife down and lose it to begin with.

how about adding an LED light for work visibility?

Like this?

First of all if you're using a utility knife to cut linoleum or carpet, then you get what you deserve. There is an old saying, "use the right tool for the job."

I like the snap-off blade knives. If you need a sharp blade tip, it's right there. Last year I bought a pretty nice Kobalt. It has a thumb screw out by the tip that tightens down to take out all the flimsiness from the blade. I have to hide that one from my kids. They lose at least one a year. That reminds me...