Product Review: Bessey D-BKWH Quick-Change Folding Utility Knife
It has recently occurred to me that one of the biggest reasons I am a Book Arts Concentrator may be as an excuse to own a slew of nice, bookmaking tools. Though I have used many a utility knife in my day and borrowed a few from my father, I had never bought my own. So, realizing that a proper book makers kit needed one, I set about shopping around to find a good knife I can keep with me, hopefully forever. I settled on the Bessey D-BKWH Quick-Change Folding Utility Knife, with the hard wood handle of course. I figured I would post up some large, detailed images of it and write a quick review to help anyone who may be shopping around in the utility knife department.
First off, when shopping around I found out that price wasn’t really going to be an issue in my decision: almost all of the decent utility knives I looked into were 10-12 dollars; cheaper than I thought. The notable benefits of this particular knife over some very similar ones are a. the weight and b. the mechanism which locks the blade in place.
I chose to go with the heaviest knife I could find for a few reasons. First off, a heavier tool is usually indicative of higher quality materials and manufacturing processes, at least in my experience. Secondly, the weight of the knife allows you to be decidedly more precise with it where as a lighter knife would be more likely to shake and quiver with the natural shakes in your hands. I shake considerably more than the average person, so the weight really helps me feel more in control. Plus, with a sharp blade the weight alone will cut through most paper without the user applying any real pressure. Very smooth.
Bear in mind, the knife is certainly not too heavy; I carried it around in my back pocket all last week and barely noticed it.
There are two major types of locking mechanisms I found for holding the blade in place on this style of folding utility knife. The style the Bessey features has a two layered, hinged thinger that holds the blade firmly in a snug pocket. The other style merely has a latch on the top that allows for a marginally quicker blade change, but doesn’t hold the blade as tightly: with a well (or poorly) placed thumb and a flick of the wrist you can actually hurl the blade out of the handle. While that does sound like oodles of fun in a different context, I will stick with the more reliable blade holding mechanism.
In addition to the aforementioned things, this particular knife has the added beauty of the hard wood accents in the handle, and the brass pins which go perfectly with the 50 pack of Lenox 20351-GOLD50D Gold Titanium-Edge Utility Knife Blades I ordered with it. All in all, I spent about $35, including shipping, for a beautiful knife I hope to keep with me for my whole life and enough blades to last me at least the rest of the way through college. Not a bad price at all for the feeling of being spoiled everytime I get to cut something.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
12 Comments
Damn, now I want one! With blinged out blades!
The blingin’ blades are pretty key.
At the first moment I can think of a use for this knife, I may also be purchasing it.
I saw this and had to have one! It was a pain finding one in the UK, but I did it and it’s ordered! It will be so nice to have a knife that lasts.
@Rick – It has treated me well and I use it even more than I thought I would; congratulations on your purchase.
YES! It came today after over a week of waiting, it’s so nicely made & feels nice in the hand. Hoping this one lasts me longer than all my past utility knifes! Bad ass stencils here I come… :D
Congratulations Rick, I am glad you like. They should be paying me for referrals!
Thank you for the great review. I just bought one.
@Kevin – You are very welcome. Almost a year later and I am still pleased with this workhorse of a knife.
Fantastic review and photos! I’ve been eyeing this on Amazon, comparing it to other utility knives, but I’m ordering the Bessey right now.
@Bill – Glad to hear it! 1.5 years and still going strong!
I’ve just been given one, best gift I ever received. A very well made knife that looks good and feels good. I’ve only had it for two weeks and used it a lot already (only cut myself twice so far!)