OLFA 9mm Precision Utility Knife (XA-1) - Multi-Purpose Retractable Precision Knife w/ Fiberglass Reinforced Handle & Snap-Off Blade

Love it.

Just right

Im constantly cutting things at work - the handle gives good control, easy to use

I used everyday I love work with knife

Ive got to say, out of every snap knife Ive used over the years, the Ofla Xa-1 1075449 is probably the best one I have ever had the chance to use. Not only is this the safest snap knife I have ever used, but its also the most environmentally friendly, easiest to clean and the only snap knife Ive ever used that could actually cut wallpaper, linoleum, rope and even leather. I really like that is how is made in Japan as well. But what I really like most about this snap knife is compared to other brands (Dewalt, Hyde, Craftsman etc) how much safety features were put in this snap knife. Not only is there a thumb guard with a anti-slip comfort grip, but there is also blade channel (made out of entirely stainless steel metal) when the knife protrudes. In addition, when the lever is pushed to make the knife come out, this knife automatically locks in to place. In addition, there is absolutely no delay in the locking mechanism either, providing maximum safety. But the safety doesnt end there, no not in the very least. In the event one wants to snap off a portion of the blade off, there is a removable pocket clip that functions both as a pocket clip, but also a blade snapper. Instead using another tool (or in the event no tools are presently around) your hands, this is much safer, quicker and will leave you with a perfectly even blade. I dont mean to make safety sound so vital, but truth be told, safety really should be a top priority in using any tool of any kind. In a era where work is needed to be done at a much quicker pace, having products that can provide additional levels of safety is really a plus. But I heavily stress, even though this tool has a vast amount of safety features, there is still a chance injury could occur given that this item is sharp, as it should be. In fact compared to the regular Ofla AB blade, this blade is 25% sharper. But before any more progress is made, it should be noted with this particular model comes with the ABB blade. The finish on this blade is very similar to black oxide finishes that are common in drill bits and some of Klein Tools products. There are three types of blades, AB, ABB and lastly ABS, these blades are interchangeable to change them is very simple and is entirely tool free. The AB blade is a standard blade, the ABB blade is 25% sharper and has a black oxide finish and the ABS blade is entirely made out of entirely stainless steel metal with a secondary stainless steel finish as well. What is nice about ALL these blades is that they are environmentally friendly due to the 2 snap edge system. This provides 10% less waste in landfills than regular snap off blades. In a world where landfills are steady becoming more and more full, any way to be environmentally friendly is always a good choice. I really like the fact this tool is also Acetone resistant as well. Not only does this make the tool last longer, this also makes the tool appearance much nicer as well. Ask any contractor, do it your self person (DIY) or an engineer and theyll likely agree that having a tool that lasts longer is worth getting. This isnt the first tool Ive bought from Olfa and every tool Ive bought from has held up exceptionally well and not once have Ive ever had a single issue with any of their products. I cant say this about every product Ive ever bought, but Ofla remains to be one of very few companies that truly produce premium level tools for reasonable prices. I highly recommend this tool to anyone who is looking for a snap knife either for home, industrial and even contractor usage.

I bought both the 9mm and 18mm Olfa utility knives for sharpening artist pencils. This one works great for my pastel and charcoal pencils since has the smaller blade -- and I am less likely to put too much pressure on the core with the smaller blade. Im happy with my purchase. I have used this 9mm one in my travel kit for pencils as well. They both perform as expected. This one works better with softer wood casings on pencils.

I got this OLFA XA-1 after my beloved OLFA SVR-2 9mm Stainless Steel Auto-Lock Utility Knife was confiscated by an airport officer. I took the blade out and thought it was good enough. But officer insisted on confiscating it anyways on the basis of it still looked like a knife and made a (threatening) clicking noise. I got this model because it was cheaper replacement and would be a little less painful if I stupidly take this to an airport again or if it decided to walk away from me. Actually, this model is much more comfortable to use. Because the handle is larger and more ergonomic its much easier to hold. Sure, its plastic and not as attractive as all stainless steel SVR-2 but it has stainless steel blade channel so it should be as durable and more practical. The only downside it is a bit bulkier. update: Dec 18, 2013 well, this thing decided to walk away from me after 3 months and now i have to get another knife. but now the price has almost doubled and price difference is only $1 with SVR-2, i may pick up the svr-2 again. XA-1 was more practical knife but svr-2 just looked nicer and made me more proud using it. i dont understand why the price on amazon changes so much so fast though.

Use this knife for automotive window tinting and love it, knife feels great in your hand, is super comfortable because of the rubber grips and the clip makes it really convenient to carry in a tint apron, love this knife, am going to order a couple more as backups.

Well-built and stays sharp. As close to a buy-it-for-life razor knife as exists.

I use this knife everyday. Have cut thousands of yards of material with this handle over the last 9 months (in a professional graphics setting). This is the Olfa blade handle I prefer due to its contoured handle and its wider than the all stainless handles(which makes it more comfortable) and the squared off plastic handles. As a pro I would pay 4X the price for this handle. It is an incredible value.