Knife & Chisel Reviews & Buying Guides

From folding pocket knives and utility knives to woodworking chisels, we put our hands on everything that cuts or slices. When Pro Tool Reviews evaluates pocket knives, we look for blade steel, handle design, sharpness, and ergonomics. A knife has to fit your hand well and offer an edge that doesn’t dull after just a few cuts. Utility knives have found a place in our heart and we use them for nearly everything in the shop. The best utility knives feature either a snap-off blade design or easy-to-replace single blade system. We look at how easily the blade extends and retracts. The blade storage also affects how well a utility knife ranks in our system. For chisels, we take into account steel hardness and the overall design of the tool. From “demo” chisels to fine woodworking and carpentry chisels you want to understand the intended use and advantages of each of these tools.

Benchmade Triage 916 Knife Review

Benchmade Triage 916 Knife Review

The Benchmade Triage 916 Knife might be one of the best tools to have on hand in an emergency. Even the name “Triage” imply the three main purposes of this folding knife which include a flip out strap cutter, carbide window breaker and rugged, purpose built blade. Grippy G10 handle scales, backed with full stainless steel liners, inspire confidence because of its rigid construction. The simplicity and power of the AXIS blade lock makes blade deployment and folding nearly effortless. Thankfully, we have not been in (or had to create) a “situation” to use this knife as it was designed. After our own testing and use, we find it very reassuring to know that having this knife clipped in a pocket could literally prove the difference between life or death.

Kershaw Compound 1940ST Folding Knife Review

Kershaw Compound 1940ST Folding Knife Review

The Kershaw Compound 1940ST is a partially serrated knife that features the company’s Speedsafe assisted open and a durable glass-filled nylon handle with pocket clip. The knife is a tad unusual in that the handle tapers down to a very thin, just 5/8-inch depth at the base of the handle. With a partially serrated blade, the Compound 1940ST is perfectly suited for both slicing and cutting tougher cords or rope. We liked the weight of the knife and the way it fit snugly and deeply into our pocket, with only the smallest amount peeking out – so as an every day carry (EDC) knife this may be an excellent choice for you.

Milwaukee Pliers, Snips, and PEX Cutting Hand Tools Preview

Milwaukee Hand Tools – Pliers, Snips, and PEX Cutting

When we attended the Milwaukee New Tools Event this year, Tim Albrecht showed us some of the new hand tools that fall into three basic categories: Pliers, Snips, and PEX Cutting. At the time, the info was under NDA, but now that has been lifted and we an bring you all of the first impressions and info we learned first-hand about the new tools. First up was a focus on build quality. First off, the new hand tools are all drop forged, machined for maximum precision, and treated to resist rust. In fact, using chrome plating instead of nickel, Milwaukee demonstrated the advanced corrosion resistance of their new tools by leaving two new aviation snips left in salt water overnight and then in the sun. Milwaukee’s tool showed considerable resistance to rust while the other brand had a ton of rust around the hinge points and across the blade.

GyrosGuard Rotary Tool Safety Shield installed

GyrosGuard Rotary Tool Safety Shield Review

If you have ever used a mini cutoff wheel with a high speed rotary tool, you just might know what it’s like to have tiny pieces of a cutoff disk thrown at you when it breaks. To ensure a safer user experience with just about any rotary tool on the market, the GyrosGuard Rotary Tool Safety Shield offers protection, visibility and performance for rotary tool users. This unique blade guard does not impede visibility, yet offers complete coverage of the cutting wheel or blade. Thanks to an ingenious spring loaded design, and an easy to operate thumb stud that makes opening the guard easy, you can access and cut the material that you are working on. Along with the GyrosGuard Rotary Tool Safety Shield, Gyros Precision Tools offers a complete line of rotary tool accessories and miniature tools.