Every so often a tool comes along that is different. Some thing that other tools should be.
Lately I have been pretty darn lucky with finding pieces of EDC kit that tick multiple boxes. All while finding it hard to switch out from my normal every day carry rotation.
Enter the Milwaukee Fastback 6 in 1 Utility Knife.
When I initially saw one of these things it was randomly in a big box store and I passed it up. Why? Well because it was a utility knife. I've carried pocket knives my whole life. And to be honest I really didn't think I had a use for a utility blade when I had a 3-4 inch folder usually on me.
And then something happened.
There were rumors floating around that these were becoming harder to get. And in some cases went way up in price for online vendors. Watching what the market was doing I figured I'd snag one. And I am glad that I did.
Is this a good tool all around? Is it the tool for you? If you are like me and skeptical lets do a full review and you make the determination. Because it was a game changer for me.
A great EDC tool should have several primary features. These features should fit what you personally need and what your preferences are. Lets talk about what features you should consider.
Size and portability
The fastback I will say right out the gate isn't a small tool. I found that the pocket clip and width were a bit cumbersome. For one, the pocket I carry my phone in is the same one I carry my knife in. This utility knife is really thick. Making it a pain in the ass to get my phone out a lot of the time. In a way I wish it was slightly thinner to make it more of a pocket friendly piece of kit, but otherwise for what it has with it for the other tools its still worth carrying with the girth.
Blade material and sharpness
Having a sharp blade is super important. Not just preference but for safety. Having a disposable blade makes this simple. You use the blade you have in it until it goes dull, you switch it around to the other side and boom you got another sharp blade right there. If you carry an extra blade you have 4 very sharp blades. You can buy very nice blades for the utility type replacement blades and get a lot of good use out of them. Well worth it. Try other brands or materials out.
Locking mechanism
I found the lock up on the main blade good. It had a press button type release and can be pressed and flicked for easy open and close. The lock up on the driver tool is way better than I expected with a liner lock type thing to get it to stay in place when you have it fully extended.
Handle design and ergos
The handle is plastic which is sucky. I wish it would have been made of metal like some of the older models. If it was even aluminum it would have been a step up I think. The texture is slick but has enough serrations and textures to make up for it.
It fits well in the hand during use.
Additional functions
• Press and Flip Opening
• Quick Change: Tool Free Blade Change
• 6in1 Multi-functionality
• Metal Body
• Folding 1/4" Bit Holder
• Reversible Phillips #2 and Slotted 1/4" Bit
• Bottle Opener
• Wire Stripper
• Durable Wire Belt Clip Reduces Pocket Tearing
• Blade Holder Designed for Scoring
• Metal Extension to Prevent Accidental Blade Removal
• Lanyard Hole
It has easy deployment, and safety features to for the assisted opening and closing. The internals are metal for the actual framing, but the grips indeed are plastic.
So the nitty gritty. What are the pros and cons.
Pros
Versatile. It has a bunch of other functions many may find very usable to have in an EDC tool. The wire stripper or gut hook, blade storage for extra blade, and folding one handed opening closing make it a great pick.
Durable. Milwaukee is known for making great rough use tools. Its got a decent construction for what its intended use is and can handle most rigorous tasks.
Blade quality. The standard cheap utility blades may work but you can spring another couple of bucks to get some very Gucci branded blades that may take it to the next level. It's nice to have that option for easy replacement.
Locking screwdriver and it can be used as a pry bar with flathead bit.
You can take the blade out and still carry the tool in places you normally could not take a knife.
Cons
Bulky. Its thick. Its not as convenient as other utility knives.
Limited blade storage. It can hold one extra blade only but that's being nit picky.
Price. Its more expensive than other tools that are similar but you are buying the brand name Milwaukee. Some will say the functions and quality though are worth the price.
Plastic scales not metal.
Non reversible pocket clip.
It may be discontinued by the time you read this.
Overall it is essential to consider the factors mentioned here. I have found the tool for the work and needs I have to be a perfect fit. Even though I was skeptical about carrying it. Even with the nit picky type cons I have found it has been well worth all of the minor gripes.
I thought having a shorter blade with less cutting surface would be not suited for my work and use but after some time I realized id rather have very sharp blades that are cheap and disposable at hand instead of having to sharpen my EDC knife regularly. Because lets face it. Most of us cut a lot of tape and boxes and that's what utility knives are great for.
I am not endorsed or sponsored by any company. This is a review on an item I paid for and purchased with my own money.
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