Knipex Knife Cutter Thing 162050. A Cautionary Tale, IMHO of course. 

That notch is for stripping large wire for termination in panels and switch gear. It appears to be a left handed knife though

This knife is an example of a tool that is useful in countries with heavily restrictive knife laws. Locking blades are unquestionably safer, but also illegal in some European countries. An electrician may need a folding knife in his tool bag in countries that restrict the carry of knives, but in the US we would likely just use our normal pocket-knife. The branding and trade specific features also mark it clearly as a "tool" rather than a "weapon" in such restrictive countries.

Finger choil is designed for stripping round cable sheat that is in use in continental Europe. First you cut around the cable with half moon part of the blade from the place you want to star stripping the cable then you cut along cable with the tip of straight part of the blade to finish stripping. It is designed for Europe,I dont know why they sell that knife in US in the first place. I dont know if I menage to explain to you with my bad english :)

That notch is for scoring cable jacket. This knife is basically a folding splicing knife. There was a lot of overthinking and misuse of the tool displayed in this review.

A sheeps foot blade needs a lock even less than many others. You're not stabbing or piercing with it, and all cutting puts force on the blade into the open position.

I’m a Knipex fanboy and recently bought this knife. I’m a low voltage tech and I’m not sure it’s very practical for everyday use in my trade as I don’t work with heavier gauge wire.

It is designed for cables used in Germany and i don't know why you would use it in USA. The packaging of the cables can be opened using the first part of the knife. The second part can the be used to remove the outer mantle, which is round in Germany. or to sharpen common pencils. Costing less then 10€. it is more or less a cheap cutter that has some few/limited electrictian features. You can also use other cutters or knifes to do the job. It is probably mainly in the line up of knipex so they have a knife for their sets. I doubt that they make it themself.

The stripping function is can be done differently with the blade open using it in a paring fashion. It is difficult to describe easier by video. Face the blade up lay the wire across the scallop and put pressure on the wire with you thumb while rotating the wire with the other hand. Don't align your thumb directly with the edge

Hi there but your using it wrong .I,m an electrician from europe and we use them all the time. Its right handed. it has a specific porpose , stripping large single or multi stranded cable. Nenad Stokic is right. if you want to carry a knife on your person in most european countries the blade must be under 3 inches. You never use it in the partialy closed position.

It’s a Euro pattern that’s pretty common . Personally I’m pretty comfortable with it ( being teethed on slipjoint work knives , locking folders are frowned on in some European jurisdictions ( UK being a prime example ) !

An electrician knows how to skin wire with that knife. Not difficult.

Great review of all the specifics. After seeing this it does not look like one of the Knipex tools I need.

When I was in the Navy working on aircraft electronics, one of the weirder tools we had was a KaBar Electricians Folding Knife. It had a half round sharp edge for stripping wire/cable. No blade lock. Totally useless thing that was rusted solid every week I did tool inspections and maintenance. Never got sharp enough to cut anything, best use was making PB&J's with it.

Your using it wrong. The curved part of the blade at the bottom is for stripping a type of cable called SWA cable you don’t get that stuff in the USA.

Turn the knife over and use your thumb to hold the wire to the stripper so you pull and your thumb controls pressure for more accurate depth. What are you even doing trying to spin the knife half open lol. I am an electrician and I can see that notch being very useful on larger wires. Anything 8ga or smaller I’m using strippers, but something like 00 and up using your thumb to hold the wire to the stripping blade and rotating that way would work well. That’s how I currently do it with a utility knife.

Thank you for another great video. I have this knife, and managed to strip out cables with no issue. Of course, as you've stated, need to be extra cautious with where your fingers are. What bothers me more, is the poor build quality of this knife. On my knife there are severe gaps between the scales (plastic grips) and the metal skeleton of the handle. In fact, when I hold the knife, I feel the scales bounce. I'd prefer a dedicated stripper pliers anytime.

I don't know man. I've been using this knife as a commercial electrician for about two years it works great. Granted I've never tried it on 12gauge wire like you because I have wire strippers for that and I was taught to use the proper tool for the job I use it for stripping anything over 8gauge wire and it works wonderfully. I strip 3/0 feeders wires with it extremely fast and safely. Never have I ever been concerned about cutting myself with this knife because I know how to strip wire with a knife properly. Maybe you should try using the tools for the task they were intended before putting out a review on a tool. Just a tip

Nice review from america. xD I have a hazet version of this type of knive. It is very good for the most common round wire 3x2,5mm here in europe! Cutting pvc or all normal things you need to cut in a job.

I received mine today from KC Tools and I gotta tell ya I'm not impressed with this knife.I have a small number of Knipex tools that I love this one I think is going to have to grow on me.

I kind of want it just because it’s cool. It’s only 24$ on Amazon. Really wish it had a lock though.

Can I ask what model CRKT utility knife that yellow one is?

The first English speaking Utuber who pronounces Knipex correctly!

Knipex being a large European brand the no locking is probably to make it carry legal in countries like the UK and netherlands which have strict knife laws

the notch could also be used for cleaning up inside of electrical conduit after you cut it. maybe? knipex is great!

Have you seen Knives of Alaska? I got the Alaskan bush camp knife and cub cadet combo on clearance from sportsmans warehouse last year, nice knives I think you'd like that combo

It doesn’t seem to me it’s designed for small wire , I have tools to deal with #8 and smaller, I’d use that on maybe #6AWG to maybe a #1AWG. Anyway I ordered one, I’ll let you know how it works out in the field . Daniel Geng Electrician 25 years ~

Doc great videos,a pro electrician will not close that knife on his finger or put his finger on that cutting edge.

Anyone know the name of that crkt fixed blade?

Needs to be blade all the way, no hole, no notch, no half stop. Tip slightly more square. The tip angle helps control scoring depth. Klein got it close but the thin cheapy handles and the annoying lock.

Hey Doc I been getting into knives more n more lately and was wondering what you use to sharpen yours? Another thing is, have you seen all new mini pry bar razor knives that Gerber is offering? I also think another company called civivi? makes their own replaceable blade utility knife.

The notch blade is backward because when you are stripping a wire in a box you would be pulling it towards you and away from the box.

That knife should just be a called a pending trip to urgent care.

Noooo dont touch the bottom of the blade , its sharp too :) It works exactly like you did in the end , no worries it wont snap if you hold it correctly Hope it was nice and clean because I might have cleaned your knife :) Should be sharp and useful for a long time!

the last knife i used with no lock left a lovely slice on the top of my finger. Sure it was user error but when u are working u just dont think about the worst case at times.

👍

I caught my thumb in one of these dumb knifes and it hurt like no tommrow

Dude, love your videos. Been on a spree lately. But I gotta say, that this one was pretty bad. I'm an industrial electrician and this is obviously for larger gage wire. You would never use a blade like that to strip small wire. But hey, you're not an electrician so I won't hold it against you for not knowing

Damn, this seems totally unlike Knipex

A rare fail from Knipex

This is a confusing video - there are a half dozen "electrician's" knives in view which would suggest you work in the trade, but it seems like you have no idea how that knife works. Nothing that you did is something I would do with that knife nor does Knipex show it being used in any of those ways on their website - no cutting wire, no stripping away from me, no using it as an insulation puller, no trying to pull romex sheath off like that. Every one of those things you did will either be dangerous to you as the user or could damage the wire. This kind of knife is designed to be pulled towards the user 90% of the time. The cutting notch is for scoring sheath or insulation and for cutting a strip of insulation off on heavier gauge wires (#2-1000MCM). The hole in the blade can be used to tie a loop into to make opening the knife easier when wearing gloves. Other brands use studs on the sides for this. That's pretty much all you're supposed to do with this knife.

WTF? If one of my apprentices started using this knife as shown in this video, I would lay into him with a offensive, profanity laced tirade questioning their intelligence, fitness for the trade, and defects in their genetics. For smaller wire you'd use wire strippers: they're easier, safer, and more precise. Is it a knife suitable for bushcraft or E.D.C? No. Go back to Wal-Mart or the dollar store and get something else if you want to play Rambo. Is it a knife suitable for a trained, certified, electrical professional working with larger wire? Absolutely - it's not materially different than knives I still have that my dad bought and used 50 years ago, and have been used for generations. The half moon cut-out looks suitable to me for ringing a wire for terminations and the straight section would be used for slitting open the jacket or insulation. I would never advise "cutting away from you." Are you afraid you're gonna lose control of the knife? That would suck for your tool partner or elevator contructors 10 floors down an open shaft, or god forbid, the general public over the side and 50 floors down! The safest way I know to strip large wire is to grab the knife in a death grip, get it started several inches or feet from the end, pull your fisted knife to your chest and pull the wire past the knife. You've got the knife securely held against your chest and you're moving the cable, not the knife. And then, what you call the "choil", should remove a strip of plastic like soft butter on hot toast. Is this knife for the general public? NO! Would a trained and certified electrical professional find it useful? We've been using knives like this for generations.

I am electrician and this knife look very unpractical, also very dangerous for worker. Look like been build for scout electricians, if does exist this category. It pronouce So-lin-gen. Actually most germans hand tool brands comes from Solingen and Wuppertal.

maybe you are not electricial，you showed the wrong way to use it

Doc, According to Knipex the correct pronunciation is kuh-nip-ex. Bob

Doc? Doctorate of Medicine? Philosophy? Gender Studies? Basket weaving?

I understand the legal reasons for something like this, but in my eyes it's just so sketchy looking. I wouldn't even use that as a decoy loaner, the odds of someone cutting themselves are so high.

its tool knife, not yout bacom sandwich knife lol

Sign of the times,how we have all become somewhat woke. Back in the day a young lad would get a pocket knife for christmas or birthday. That knife never came with warnings or videos. Now days we look for the obvious to be pointed out,or lawyered out!

IMO, this thing is frightening.

Looks unsafe and poorly designed by people who don't have any experience with folding knives.

no thanks....regardless of European law, that's not a very good knife.

knipex sucks all around. buy chanelock

Before making a video based on your faulty assumptions, just google this tool or go to Knipex product page. There are pictures explaining how to use it.

kuh-NIP-x NIEf