Always on the lookout for a new boxcutter, I was intrigued by the X-blades folding utility knife found at Costco. What interested me the most was the price (five for $17), and that the blades were replaceable razor blades. Each knife comes with ten replacement blades, or sixty blades to a box, or one hundred and twenty cutting surfaces. Sounds like a bargain, especially for someone like me who is too lazy to keep a knife properly sharpened.


Image from a random eBayer.

I brought the X-blades home and cut into the packaging with a pair of scissors, of all things. Strike one: the packaging for each knife is blister-sealed to the absolute edge of the product. It’s impossible to get the knife out without a lot of scissors work. I know it’s minor in lieu of what I’m about to write, but it was a bad omen.

The X-blade has a clip on one side and a stem on the blade area. The stem is there to allow one-handed opening. If I’m holding a box and want to open it, I should be able to reach into my pocket, retrieve the blade easily due to the clip, and open it easily due to the stem. Unfortunately the X-blade knifes have an incredibly rough action, and it is impossible for me to deploy the knife one handed. I tried using a spray lubricant and working the knife opened and closed (thanks, boring conference call!), but the action was still too tough. Using two hands to open a knife? That’s so 1980s.

Despite being bargain-priced, the X-blades folding utility knife does not suit my needs if it can’t be opened with one hand. I’ll keep the knifes around as basically throw-aways, but I’m very disappointed.

Two out of five STFU mugs.