What are the classification of utility knives?

Author: Pietro Lesch  |  Last update: Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Utility knives are used to cut and trim a variety of building materials including: drywall, felt paper, wallpaper, rope & twine, plastic sheet material, fiberglass insulation and more. They can be divided into 3 general categories, Retractable Blade, Fixed Blade and Snap-off Blade.

What is considered a utility knife?

A utility knife is any type of knife used for general manual work purposes. Such knives were originally fixed-blade knives with durable cutting edges suitable for rough work such as cutting cordage, cutting/scraping hides, butchering animals, cleaning fish scales, reshaping timber, and other tasks.

What are the 3 main types of knives?

The 3 essential kitchen knives every cook needs
  • Chef's knife.
  • Paring knife.
  • Serrated knife.

How do I identify a utility knife?

A pairing knife's larger cousin, the utility knife is bigger than a paring knife but smaller than the che'fs knife. This in-between size is very similar in length to a steak knife with a shape more like the chef's knife.

What is the difference between serrated and regular utility blades?

Serrated Blade Versus Straight Blade

From a design standpoint, a straight blade is just what it sounds like: a blade with a straight or smooth edge, like a razor blade. Serrated blades feature a notched or toothed blade edge. They're similar to a saw blade, but with slightly less aggressive teeth.

A brief History of Utility Knives

What's better, serrated or non-serrated?

Maintenance Needs. Serrated blades may slice meat much more quickly out of the box and can make tougher cuts easily, but they also can dull much more rapidly than smooth blades that are non serrated. A serrated steak knife might be the best choice if you are okay with constant maintenance and less edge retention.

What is a 5 serrated utility knife used for?

It's excellent for slicing ciabatta loaves, soft dinner rolls, and golden-brown baguettes; cured sausages and country pâté; hard and soft cheeses like aged cheddar or chèvre; roasted chicken breasts, grilled pork chops, or seared steak; and any type of fruit or vegetable you can fit in a big cereal bowl, such as ...

What is the classification of utility knife?

Utility knives are used to cut and trim a variety of building materials including: drywall, felt paper, wallpaper, rope & twine, plastic sheet material, fiberglass insulation and more. They can be divided into 3 general categories, Retractable Blade, Fixed Blade and Snap-off Blade.

What do you use a serrated utility knife for?

The sharp teeth slice through baguettes and bagels—as well as tender fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, peaches and summer squash—without crushing them. A serrated utility knife will also be your go-to for slicing salami and thick-skinned citrus like oranges and grapefruit.

What is another name for a utility knife?

Box cutter, utility knife, sometimes a “Stanley knife” or, rarely, an “X-ACTO knife” (both examples of a genericized trademark) although an “X-ACTO knife” can also refer to another kind of craft knife that resembles a scalpel and this is probably the more common usage.

What is the sharpest knife in the world?

What is the sharpest knife material? Knives with an Obsidian blade are considered the sharpest in the world, but this material is not fit for making kitchen knives as they're extremely coarse and brittle.

What are serrated knives best for?

Serrated knives are mostly used to cut products with a hard outside and a softer inside. A baguette is probably the first thing you think of right now. But also other types of bread, cakes and pies can best be cut with a serrated knife.

What does OTF blade mean?

An OTF Knife, also known as an out-the-front knife, sliding knife, telescoping knife, or angel blade, is a pocketknife with a blade that opens and closes through a hole in one end of the handle.

Does a utility knife count as a weapon?

This includes a “pocketknife” or “Swiss army knife,” box cutter, or “utility knife.” According to California Penal Code Section 17235, all folding knives are legal in the state and may be concealed as long as they are in the folded position.

What is a petty utility knife?

The petty knife is a small utility knife that can be used for many small precise or delicate tasks in the kitchen. Second only to a chef's knife or gyuto for usefulness as an all purpose knife, petty knives are loved by professional chefs and home cooks alike.

What's the difference between a chef's knife and a utility knife?

Since chef knives have a bigger, broader blade, they're able to chop and slice larger quantities faster. Also due to its bigger size, it features much less precision. A utility knife, on the other hand, has a much smaller (and often serrated) blade that's designed to get the job—any job—done.

When not to use a serrated knife?

A sharp serrated knife will also prevent you from squishing and damaging delicate foods. Serrated knives are excellent for making long, straight knife cuts through larger items, but they aren't ideal for slicing small foods, peeling fruits or mincing ingredients.

What is a utility knife?

Utility knives are well-suited to tasks like dicing raw tomatoes and other vegetables, thinly slicing meat, and even for filleting and breaking down whole chickens (though we don't recommend using them for hacking through bones, nor for cutting hard vegetables like winter squash).

What is the difference between a bread knife and a serrated utility knife?

Serrated utility knife

It may look like a bread knife, but it's shorter and sharper. It cuts cleanly through delicate fruits and vegetables without tearing them and works well for small slicing jobs such as bagels or cutting sandwich fixings. This knife can also be referred to as a “tomato knife” or “sandwich knife”.

What should a utility knife be used for?

The blade is longer than a paring knife and narrower than a chef's knife. A utility knife is generally six inches long and works well for slicing fruit, tender pieces of meat, or sandwiches. As the “knife of all trades,” it's a handy go-to for the everyday chef.

What is the difference between a paring knife and a utility knife?

A utility knife's blade is longer than a paring knife and narrower than a chef knife to provide precision for cutting jobs where a chef knife may be too bulky to use and a paring knife too small. They can feature a serrated or straight edge to handle a wide variety of tasks.

What size is a utility knife?

The average blade length of a paring knife is namely between 7 and 11 cm. And that of a chef's knife between 17 and 18 cm. With exceptions of 20 cm and sometimes even 30 cm long. With an average blade length of between 13 and 15 cm a utility knife falls nicely in between.

What is the difference between paring chef and serrated knives?

Paring knives have a shorter, narrower blade than their chef's knife counterparts, usually 2 to 5 inches. And while they can be used for some of the same tasks as a chef's knife, the paring knife takes center stage when it comes to handling small or delicate items, as its smaller dimensions make it easier to maneuver.

When to use a hollow edge knife?

Hollow edge or Granton edge blades

Therefore, when you cut a slice of any food with a hollow edge blade, the slice will be less likely to remain sticked to the blade, and thus you'll be able to perform cleaner cuts. This type of blade is very useful for when you cut thin slices of fish or ham.

What is the difference between a carpet knife and a utility knife?

Carpet Knife vs Utility Knife

Unlike pointed, triangular blades in utility knives, a carpet knife blade is square and less likely to snap during use. These square corners make it harder to accidentally cut too deep and damage the skirting or hardwood flooring underneath the carpet.

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