Craftsman Folding Utility Knife Review: A Solid Beater for Around $15

Introduction

Some work knives try too hard, and some just work. The Craftsman folding utility knife sits somewhere in between. It is an assist-opening folder with a modified flipping mechanism, a drop-point blade with a serrated section, and a price that hovers around $15. There are quirks here, including a small secondary lever you must press before every deployment, but the overall package is a surprisingly solid general-purpose beater knife.

This one earns its place next to established work-knife options like the Milwaukee Fastback and Klein’s hawk-bill folder, both of which have their own strengths and compromises. The Craftsman is not perfect, but for easy deployment and a traditional blade at this price, it is worth a close look.

What You Get: Size, Blade, and Lockup

This is a good-sized knife. Measured overall, it comes to about eight and a half inches, with a blade just under three and a half inches. The blade uses a mostly standard drop point with a fairly sharp tip and a serrated section near the handle, which is a sensible choice on a work knife.

One odd design detail is a rectangular cut-out machined into the upper blade near the spine. It is not a blood groove or a fuller, and it does not appear to offer any mechanical advantage. It does thin the blade slightly in that spot, but the reason for the extra machining effort is unclear.

The liner lock uses thin spring metal, but the lock bar travels almost all the way across the handle. That leaves little room for wear over time, though it also means the manufacturing tolerances do not need to be precise, which helps at this price point. Inside, the washers appear to have a bronze tone and the action is reasonably smooth, if not silky. The handle scales are held down with plenty of screws across their full length, and the pocket clip has a seated section to keep it from rocking back and forth, a small touch that not every budget knife bothers with.

Deployment: Easy Opening With an Extra Step

The interesting part of this knife is the opening system. It is spring assisted, meaning the blade deploys under spring power once you start it moving out of the handle. But instead of a push button or a traditional flipper machined into the blade, this one uses a separate tab that stays still and simply pushes the blade clear of the handle. That looks like a cost-saving measure on a knife that sells for around $15.

There is a catch: a spring-loaded locking lever must be pressed before deployment, and then you flick the tab and the blade fires out. The lockup is solid, and the release sits in a different spot from the deployment lever, so you have to remember two separate controls rather than one button doing both jobs. The locking lever is also on the small side, which is an odd choice for something required on every single opening.

Still, deployment is genuinely easy. Compared with knives that need a button press plus a wrist swing, this one launches the blade with a simple flick. The safety lever gets in the way a bit, and most other assist knives skip that extra step entirely, but it is not a deal breaker. There is even a practical argument for it: in a crowded toolbox or tool bag, a blade that could fire open if something presses against it is a real hazard, so having it locked in the handle is not a bad idea for a utility knife.

How It Compares

Against the Milwaukee Fastback, the Craftsman holds its own as an easy-opening folder with a more traditional blade shape. The Fastback line is well regarded and holds up well, though the steel and sometimes the blade shape are not always the greatest, and some versions use slippery hard plastic handles. The Craftsman’s handle feels less slippery, and it leans a bit more toward an outdoor knife as a result.

Klein’s hawk-bill folder remains a favorite in this space, with a replaceable hawk-bill blade and a back lock. It is a good, solid knife, though slightly harder to deploy. The Craftsman’s serrated drop point is a different tool for a different preference, and its sharp tip can be a positive or a nuisance depending on the task.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Quality control on this knife needs work. The tip arrived with a small ding from the factory, the kind of flaw that suggests these knives come tumbling off the assembly line without much inspection. The company is clearly experimenting with different knife designs, and the finishing is not where it should be yet.

The blade does come very sharp from the factory, which matters more on a beater knife than a flawless finish. The extra safety lever is a genuine annoyance that some owners may be tempted to modify out of the system, though digging into the spring-loaded mechanism carries its own risks and is best left alone if you are not comfortable with that kind of work.

Who Should Buy It

If you want a general beater shop utility knife with a traditional blade, especially one with serrations, this is an easy recommendation at around $15. It deploys quickly, locks up solidly, comes sharp, and feels sturdy in the hand. The compromises are real: the small safety lever, the unexplained blade cut-out, and hit-or-miss quality control. None of those outweigh the value proposition for most workshop users.

Conclusion

The Craftsman folding utility knife is not a flawless tool, but it is a practical one. For easy one-flick deployment, a solid lockup, a sharp serrated drop-point blade, and a price around $15, it earns a place in the toolbox. If you can live with a small extra safety lever and some rough factory finishing, this is one to consider.