OLFA Graphic Art Knife Set (AK-4) - Precision Hobby Craft Knife Kit (1 Knife & 4 Blades) w/Cushioned Grip, Replacement Blades: OLFA KB, KB4-F/5, KB4-NS/3, KB4-R/5, KB4-S/5, KB4-WS/3 Art Blades

Higher quality than I was expecting, even after reading the glowing reviews. It is actually made in Japan!Plastic Body: feels sturdy, similar to shatter-proof plastics I have felt. Has a ridge at the back to curb rolling around on your work area.Rubber Grip: smooth, but very grippy yielding excellent control. Allows for easy tightening and untightening.Safety Cap: Actually stays on and functions as it should! Isn't directional, so one mustn't pay attenetion to how it is connected.Tightening Mechanism: Unlike others, the mechanism is actually two pieces, allowing for a tighter grip. Also has a slot in the top for standard hobby knife blades. This is in contrast to most other hobby knife handles because it means the tension on the blade comes from front and back, rather than the sides, which means your blade won't slide back when you put some pressure on it. What a great idea!The only thing I would have liked to see would be a threaded insert in the handle instead of the metal tightening mechanism screwing directly into the plastic. But, like I said, the plastic seems very heavy-duty and I haven't had any trouble with it yet.EDIT with update: This is, straight-up, the best hobby knife handle I've ever used. If you're looking for the best, buy this one.

Nice weight and Grip, standard #11 blades easy to replace but the most outstanding feature of this knife is the ability to keep blade secured into handle. used Xacto, excel... other brands and all of them seem to lose grip on blade and require frequent retightening

Excellent product! Super sharp, so sharp that is catches on and cuts through everything! Incredibly Japanese craftsmanship!

These are definitely a step up from your average hobby knife. As soon as you pick it up you will feel the weight difference. This has a very solid feel and at least twice the weight of an X-Acto knife. The grip of the blade is also far superior to the X-Acto system and it loosens easily. This is something every hobbyist needs and a cut *cough* above the competition.The knife is well designed. The nub on the back keeps it from rolling off your desk and straight into your foot like an X-Acto. Seriously, why has no one addressed this before? The cap also fits securely and won't come off.As far as blades go, it come with three, but you can also fit standard X-Acto blades in it and it holds them just as securely. That's good because X-Acto generally has good blades and they are cheap and available everywhere. I really purchased this as a saw. The OLFA saw blades are perfect for modelers and hobbyists who need a razor-fine cut.This is the best hobby knife I have ever found and a pretty good bargain. Tamiya and others rebrand this knife as their own and charge 2x more. I will probably buy a few more to keep as spares.

I bought one to try and have bought two more as gifts for friends because these are unique. Most knife handles clamp the blade on the two flat sides and hold it in place by friction. If you too have experienced a blade shifting in a handle then you will appreciate these too. These handles grip the blade by clamping the two edges. There are two slots that hold the blade and then squeeze it edge to edge. You will snap off the blade before you move it in the handle. The blade is easily changed with about a half turn of the clamp collar. They are heavier than an aluminium handle, have a stud that prevents it from rolling, a softish rubber material in the grip, and are guaranteed for life. I'm a fan of OLFA blades but any art/hobby blade will fit.

This is an amazing craft knife. Very comfortable to use. Has a great balanced handle. The part that holds the blades is very strong and sturdy. Only have used it for two months as a custom picture framer and artist. I use it daily and I know it will last a long time. I’ve used exacto for years and was okay with the #11 but I knew there was something better then I ordered the fiskar and I liked the size of the handle but it fell apart at the blade clamping section. This Olfa is the superior #11 craft knife.

Good for leather working precision cutting. Just a little difficult to change blade. Hope they stay sharp longer.

I'm very happy with the OLFA art knife. The quality is better than X-ACTO knives. The OLFA pencil is nice, sturdy, and balanced very well. I like how the blades are not covered in oil like some others, the blades are also a bit thicker too. At first I was kind of put off that the pencil was plastic but after using it for a few minutes I didn't mind it and started to like it. Later I put some pressure on the blade by putting force on it at the table. It bends a bit and goes back to normal without breaking. I used another art knife, just taking off a thin piece of plastic that was covering a screw on my Nintendo DS, which I wanted to take apart. The tip of the blade broke off with out me putting any real pressure on it. I returned that art knife immediately. I'm satisfied with OLFA.