Roxon S501U KS Knife & Scissors Review: A Two-in-One Everyday Carry Multi-Tool Worth a Closer Look

Introduction

A lot of people in the everyday carry community have been sleeping on the Roxon S501U KS Knife & Scissors. It is a simple two-in-one multi-tool with a blade on one side and scissors on the other, and after spending a month with it, it has earned a permanent spot in the rotation. The sub-$28 price tag makes it easy to recommend, but it is the combination of excellent scissors and a swappable blade system that really sets it apart.

What the Roxon S501U Is

The S501U is exactly what the name suggests: a folding knife blade and a pair of scissors built into one compact handle. Roxon has a reputation for making some of the best scissors found on multi-tools right now, and the ones on this model are no exception. They cut 2-inch, 1,800-pound webbing with a 376 thread count like butter, and they handled a length of sash material without any trouble at all. For anyone who has been looking for a multi-tool with genuinely great scissors, this is a strong candidate.

The hardware is sensible for the price. The handle is made of contoured black G10 with texturing through the middle of the scale, the blade steel is 8Cr13MoV, and the blade is held by a liner lock. Four full fingers fit on the handle with no hot spots, and the contoured bottom of the scale makes it comfortable to hold. The included pocket clip is not a deep-carry design, so about half an inch sits above the pocket, but the clip tension is well judged: not too loose, not too tight.

The Swappable Blade System

The headline feature is the replaceable blade system. Two small tabs on the handle push inward to release it, thanks to the liner lock pushing the scale up, and the blade simply lifts off the pivot. Swapping blades is a matter of lining up the hole with the pivot, avoiding contact with the side of the knife, and snapping the tabs back in place.

Three of the five available replacement blade packs were tested, and each one changes the personality of the tool. The packs include:

• A clip point blade, which looks great even before it has been put to work
• A utility knife attachment that comes with two standard razor blades
• A two-sided metal file with a flathead screwdriver tip on one end
• Two hawk bill style blades, one serrated and one plain edge

The magnetic storage cases are a nice touch. The packs stick to each other, so tossing them into a backpack means they stay together. The replacement blades also fit the S502U and the S802S Phantom series, which adds to the system’s appeal.

The Utility Knife Option

The utility blade attachment is arguably the best reason to buy the pack that includes it. The trapezoid razor blade locks into the frame with a quick-release lever for swapping in a fresh blade, and a thumb ramp on the attachment fits the thumb well. There is a small amount of play in the attachment, but it is minor, and the closed form still leaves a usable amount of surface area above the handle.

With the utility blade installed, the S501U effectively becomes a box cutter, a pair of excellent scissors, and a folding knife, all in one lightweight tool. That kind of flexibility at this price is rare.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Nothing here is perfect, and two quirks are worth knowing about. First, the ball detent that holds the blade closed is underwhelming. The small detent sits in a tiny hole in the blade, and a more robust detent would hold the blade shut more securely. Second, the scissors handle is flat with an indent that covers the scissors pivot. It serves a purpose, but finger grooves would make longer cutting sessions more comfortable.

There is also a minor nitpick with blade opening: on some replacement blades, like the Worn Cliff style with an oval thumb cutout, not enough of the cutout is exposed when the tool is closed, so the thumb does not always get an easy purchase. It is easy to work around with a pinch-and-grab motion once you are used to it.

Buying Advice

For under $28, the S501U is a great, useful, lightweight two-in-one multi-tool with real versatility. Buy it if great scissors matter to you, and grab at least one replacement blade pack, ideally the one with the utility knife attachment, to unlock the tool’s full potential. If a weak detent or a grooved scissors handle would bother you daily, those are the two things to weigh first.

Conclusion

The Roxon S501U KS Knife & Scissors punches well above its price. Full-size-feeling scissors, an easy swappable blade system with genuinely useful attachments, and a comfortable G10 handle make it one of the more underrated two-in-one multi-tools available. The detent and handle-shape complaints are small ones, and neither gets in the way of a tool that earns its place in an everyday carry kit.