Branch Locator

Home Tool ReviewsThe Panel Decides: Best Knife For An Electrician

Tool Reviews 1 August 2024

The Panel Decides: Best knife for an electrician

If you’re looking for a new knife, look no further! Our experts have done the hard work so you don’t have to.

In this Article:

Our panel put three knives to the test

What did our experts think?

There are some pretty forthright reviews this time out!

The Tools

WATTMASTER – Marvel Folding Knife

HAMER – Knife, curved stripping sheep foot style

KLEIN TOOLS – Electricians Folding Pocket Knife

RRP $72.35

RRP $53.90

RRP $43.65

THE LOWDOWN:

The single-blade folding knife features a heavy-duty, hollow-ground 70mm blade designed to handle tough tasks with ease. Crafted from special heat treated, high-carbon steel, each blade is meticulously hand-honed to achieve razor-sharpness. The blade is safeguarded by a non-conducting hardwood handle, which not only provides a secure grip but also enhances safety during use.

THE LOWDOWN:
The Hamer curved folding knife is the perfect tool for stripping cables, and great for any utility blade functions. The KCS curved blade allows for removing larger outer sheaves and safe stripping of single insulation, folding neatly and safely into the handle.

THE LOWDOWN:

Klein Tools pocket knives are trade-tested, valuable for splitting cable and stripping wire, as well as for performing everyday tasks on the job site. The knives are durable, with long-lasting, sharp blades. This electrician’s pocket knife has wire-stripping notches on the stainless-steel blade and an aluminium handle for corrosion resistance.

Joe Francisco

from Francisco Electrical Services

Experience: 24 years

Patrick Mulligan

from GC Construction Management

Experience: 35 years

Matt Watterston

from All Hours Electrical

Experience: 9 years

The Verdict

WATTMASTER – Marvel Folding Knife

“Durable everyday choice.” – JOE

Joe:

Durable everyday choice.

The steel blade appears durable, while the wooden scales of the handle add to the aesthetic. The knife wasn’t too sharp, which could be a considerable issue. While the timber handle is supposed to be non-conductive, my own continuity test discovered that the blade and handle are indeed conductive. I was also unable to open it one-handed.

Patrick:

Poor finish and lacking a locking spring.

This knife looks good and the
thick blade feels strong. It was an OK sharpness out of the box but could have been sharper. Unfortunately, it offered a poor fit and finish – there are a number of things on this knife that just weren’t right.
The blade lock was positive but without a locking spring I would hesitate to use it on a heavy-duty task.

Matt:

Not a favourite, unfortunately.

I use Wattmaster gear regularly, and this is a slim, straight knife, which I liked the look of. However, it was stiff to open and close, I didn’t like the spring loading on closing, and I didn’t feel I had any control with this knife at all.

VERDICT: Good for everyday tasks.

RATING: 6/10

VERDICT: Overpriced.

RATING: 3/10

VERDICT: Not Practical

RATING: 3/10

HAMER – Knife, curved stripping sheep foot style

“NOT WORTH THE MONEY.” – PATRICK

Joe:

Too task specific.

The blade features a midway stop when closing, which acts as a safety feature to prevent fingers from being in the line of fire when closing.
The hawksbill blade is perfect for stripping the outer sheathing of large cables, making it highly functional for specific tasks.
However, it isn’t very versatile and is task-specific. Furthermore, the hawksbill blade design makes it difficult to sharpen.

Patrick:

Unusable.

The wood handle felt nice and offered a positive grip. The blade lock was not positive and did not feel like it would hold the blade open at all during use. The pivot was loose and the blade easily moved sideways. The blade was not very sharp out of the box.
The knife felt, looked and was finished poorly. Obviously poor quality control from the factory.

Matt:

Stay Away.

I liked the curved design of this knife, and it was easy to control for stripping circular cable – however, that’s where the positives end.
The handle felt unnatural to grip, I was actually concerned I might get splinters from using it, and I felt the spring-loaded close was really dangerous.

VERDICT: Limited use.

RATING: 5/10

VERDICT: Not worth the money.

RATING:1/10

VERDICT: Dangerous to use.

RATING: 5/10

KLEIN TOOLS – Electricians Folding Pocket Knife

“IT’S A WINNER.” – MATT

Joe:

One-handed winner.

The folder features thumb studs and a liner lock – and it is convenient for one-handed deployment and closing. The knife includes a pocket clip, enhancing its accessibility and allowing for quick deployment in a pinch.
One area for improvement would be making the pocket clip adjustable, allowing users to change from a tip-down to a tip-up configuration in their pocket.

Patrick:

Top Pick.

This is a good-looking knife with a nice shape and attractive finish. The locking blade makes it safe to use. The blade is a handy length, and the twin thumb knobs for assisted opening make accessing and opening the blade quick and easy. The finish of the handle was too smooth and could be slippery, while the cable-stripping cutouts were too sharp and caught on my pocket a few times.

Matt:

Looking Good.

First impressions were strong – the colour and design stood out, and it felt good to hold.
It was easy to retract, and my only criticism is that the knife could be sharper.
Aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to use, this one’s my top pick.

VERDICT: Best of the bunch!

RATING: 7/10 *TOP PICK*

VERDICT: Great, versatile knife for under $50!

RATING: 7/10 *TOP PICK*

VERDICT: It’s a winner!

RATING: 8/10 *TOP PICK*

Find the latest knives at your local Gemcell Member branch

Find a Branch