X-ACTO Retract-A-Blade Knife, #11, 5.25" Plastic Handle, Blue/Black

Up front, it is mostly plastic and it was obvious from the description and picture. The mechanism to move the blade in and out is plastic as well as the outer tube. The blade holder, however, is metal which is a big plus there. The reason I chose this one was that it uses #11 xacto blades which I have some and can get them pretty much anywhere. I keep this in my pencil holder by my chair. I'm not a crafty person, but it's good for light weight cutting. Cutting paper, opening/breaking down boxes, opening blister packs, removing warning labels from electrical cords that tell you not to put it in water or do other stupid things with it (duh), etc. Certainly a good value for the cost.

I had one of this for 13 years and it finally broke. Ordered a replacement without ever second guessing it. Very comfortable and since erhe blad retracts 100%, it's very safe and easy to store. It's about the thickness of a large sharpie marker for comparison.

I love that this X-Acto knife is retractable. I have used one for many years and it’s still sharp. It’s great for opening up medicine battles, and security packaging. I love it so much. I love the ease of using it.

Good design, not so good execution. I chose this product because I wanted something to make my hobby knife safer to keep on my desk. I regularly use it for cleaning small electronics, and sometimes small amounts of filth may be left behind on the blade. Of all the retractable no. 11 knives I found, this is the only one whose housing stands so far off from the blade while retracting, making it perfect for my use case. The first issue I have with it is that the internal part that the metallic holder screws into is plastic and gives quite a bit when tightening, reducing my confidence in it's longevity and and it's hold on the blade. Second, there is some wiggle when the blade it in it's business position. I would have liked to see more precision engineering from a name brand precision tool such as this one, even if they needed to charge more for it. I was able to fix the latter issue with the minor modification, pictured, where i wrapped some silicone tape around the knurled metal collar.

Very happy with the purchase. Wish they had an optional safety cap that could be used when the blade is fully retracted during storage and transport. My concern is if the blade somehow moves outward, it could causee an injury, especially if reaching your hand into a pocket. Very nice product, but an option to include a safety cap would be preferred.

Nice product. I needed a sharp knife to keep in my pocket to help peel the backing off label tapes. This retractable blade works well and keeps the blade from accidentally cutting me when not in use. I trust X-acto products. The vendor shipped it quickly and safely

While this is a great idea, it is executed poorly. I explain: I use X-actos all day in the sign business, so I know what works and what doesn't. I will start with cons as they are necessary for a stipulation on the pros. Cons: 1) It is important to note that I get the blades that I can order from my suppliers, granted they are never X-acto brand but... MANY manufactures of no.11 blades don't fit in the holder. There is a small part of the blade that goes outside of the width of the "tang" of the blade (part that goes in the holder.) The opening on the knife is ONLY the width of the tang, so any bigger and you cant close it without forcing it, which damages it. 2) The holder is crap. The switch that slides the knife out does not stayed latched where it needs to be to work with the knife. Makes it frustrating. 3) A continuation of 2: The construction feels cheap, the latch is shotty, overall not a good execution. Would have been better if it were made a bit more rugged, with an aluminum outer case perhaps with a switch that works. It would cost more, of course, but I would pay it. Pros: It is cool to have a knife you can close, if you can find a blade that fits and the latch works for you. Can anyone ever keep up with those clear caps!? NO. How about some color guys! But I digress; if you don't used it all day like I do, and buy only xacto blades, it is a cool idea, just needs to be better. TO XACT-O PEOPLE: Call me, I have a design that will work better.

As described and I love that it is retractable so I don’t have to worry about where I put the cap.

I have had Xacto tools since my teenage years in the 1950s, They have been very helpful for the days I was building my model railroad to my needs now for a specific application working on electronics. In this case there is a need for a small, very sharp knife in my portable electronics tool case. The tool needs to fit into a pocket in the case. I already have several xacto blade holders, but none would be suitable for the blade is protruding while the knife is in the pocket. I could remove the blade before storing the handle in its pocket, but that need is now unnecessary, for the blade can retract into this new handle for storage. There is some wobble when the blade is extended and the blade deployed; the blade can move from side to side while being used. Such wobble is removed simply by extending the blade fully out of the handle and exposing the knurled clamping nut; simply grasp the nut, the wobble disappears and the blade can be fully retracted while residing in the pocket. In brief, it is almost identical to the other small handles with the added safety of blade retraction for safety. I like it.

best purchase I have done in a while (knife wise) finally a knife that dent loose its safe Gard! easy to use excellent quality. I am an X-acto person through and trough was totally worth it

Very sharp and precise

Light, sharp, just a little bit of a wobble

I lost the lid for my old X-Acto, so I bought this. It works very well. The bonus is, it came with a little plastic guard that isn't needed once the blade is retracted. So I put it on my old knife which I WAS going to throw away. The slide lock is solid, no slippage. The overall weight is a little light, but not a big deal. I can't address durability since I only just got it. It hasn't broken yet. ;-) NOTE: There's a review by another buyer that complained about the blade being wobbly and thus dangerous. At first mine was wobbly, but I loosened the blade clamp, removed the blade, and then reinserted it, making sure to push it firmly into the clamp so that it seated at the base. Wobbles no more!