You know how most people have the right tool for the right job. Well I have always had the right knife for the right job. I have a hunting knife for deer hunting, a filet knife for fishing, a hobby knife for carving, a throwing knife for whatever may come up and so on. However, last year I bought the Kobalt Quick Change Folding Lock-Back Knife. I didn’t expect a whole lot; I’ve owned well over a dozen different utility knives including standard fixed blade knives, quick change knives and folding quick change knives. However, the Kobalt has topped them all for a couple of reasons.
First, I can open and close it with one hand and not worry about dropping the blade. That would be like drawing a gun out only to have the clip fall out. The beauty of the opening mechanism here is that it’s tight enough to stay closed until you want to open it (I know, novel concept). I don’t feel that I am in the process of cutting my thigh open – or anything else for that matter – when I put it into or take it out of my pocket.
That’s another plus: it fits in my pocket like a… well pocket knife (again novel). That means when I need to strip wires or shave drywall or trim my toe nails (you know instead of using a wire stripper, drywall rasp or my teeth) I don’t have to search through my tool bag and pull out every screwdriver and nail punch that has found its way into my 700 lb tool pouch. I reach in my pocket and voila there it is ready and begging to cut and dice. This means that you can get to it and start cutting faster than a fat puppy chasing a hot dog cart.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the quick change mechanism is the best I’ve tried. The spring-locked wheel lifts the lock bar and the blade slides in and out. Others I have used before require removing a screw (which is absolutely ridiculous) or a hinged tab that only locks on a raised bump. I can’t tell you how many times I lost the stupid screw or opened the tab while pulling the knife out of my pocket and consequently lost the blade. The Kobalt spring-lock really only opens if you try, but opens easier than LiLo’s purse at a Tiffany’s showcase.
Oh, by the way, Kobalt has a fantastic tool policy. If you do somehow break the knife you can bring it back in for a new one no questions asked. And that’s my no guarantee-guarantee or my name isn’t Earl Shyster. No really it’s the truth.
Can not close knift
I found this knife in my dad’s apt. He is no longer here to show me how to completely close it. The brass colored blade holder stays angled 5/8″ above the handle when closed. Dad was smarter than me. It was completely closed when I found it.
I was able to remove the old blade. The brass colored ridged barrel does not turn. You push downward on it to release the blade.
I like a Fixed Blade Utility Knife best of all but you don’t want to carry one in your pocket. At Lowe’s Home Improvement I bought a Kobalt Quick Change Folding Lock-Back Utility Knife. (Item #: 240888 – Model #: 50416) Lowe’s gives all Kobalt NON-POWERED Hand Tools a Lifetime Guarantee. I’m embarrassed to admit I was too lazy to take the long walk to get a pry bar I needed. I managed to damage this knife by using it as a pry bar and I bent one side of the handle so the knife wouldn’t fully close. I took the knife to the in store Lowe’s Customer Service. I wasn’t asked how the knife was damaged. Lowe’s took the damaged knife and gave me a new one no questions asked. That’s reason enough to buy Kobalt Products from Lowe’s. Ladies like to carry a knife just as much as the Men do. I often buy this knife to give as a Gift Item for Men and Women.
Hi! I love the Kobalt knife, but how do we change the blades? My husband and I have tried and tried. We always purchase your products.
Thanks, Elena
how about a pictorial showing how blades are changed ? Or atleast a verbal desccription?