This Pocketable, Minimalist Utility Knife Deserves a Spot in Your EDC

Boker’s new Cutweazle is sleek, compact and boasts a clever design.

two boker utility knives on a black background

Published July 25, 2024

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Utility knives are sort of the unsung heroes of the knife industry. As their name suggests, they’re utilitarian blades that prioritize function over fashion. Although they’re eminently useful for the tasks most of us use pocket knives for — i.e., opening packages and making precise cuts — most of us still prefer to carry a folding pocket knife.

But lately, utility knives as a category have been making moves. Over the past year, we’ve seen several new examples that put some real effort into their designs, making a compelling argument that this type of blade belongs in your EDC arsenal.

The latest EDC utility knife comes to us from Boker, and its sleek and compact package is just begging to be clipped to your pocket.

Boker Cutweazle

$57 at Boker

Sleek, Small and Sharp

Boker’s new utility knife is the Cutweazle, and smirk-inducing name aside, it looks pretty fantastic.

The interchangeable trapezoidal stainless steel razor blade measures 1.18 inches and sits inside a grooved G10 “handle.” This sliding black grip sits inside a thin stainless steel frame, which together function as the knife’s handle.

At the base of the G10 handle, there’s a round button showcasing the Boker logo. You press this button to unlock the sliding blade, with the option to pause at a few stops along the way for a shorter blade or deploy the full length all at once. Then, push it again to slide the knife back into its sheath. This push-button sliding system also functions as the knife’s locking mechanism and makes one-handed operation a breeze.

Flip the ultra-thin form factor around and you’ll not only get a skeletonized view of how the sliding mechanism operates, but you’ll also see a surprisingly rugged stainless steel pocket clip for tip-up carry. As KnifeNews points out, the clip is wide enough to use as a money clip instead of a pocket clip if you’re looking to further minimize your EDC.

A Familiar Design?

Depending on how deep you are into the world of independent EDC knifemakers, you may find the Cutweazle’s design familiar. That’s because it’s actually a version of the V2/V2M utility knife from knife designer Ben Logan, better known as the one-man-operation behind Turnback Knife Co.

As Logan explains on Instagram, he became aware of the Cutweazle after Boker previewed it at this year’s Blade Show. As it turns out, Boker was offered the Cutweazle design by one of its overseas manufacturers, who had passed it off their own original design without crediting Logan.

turnback knife co utility knife — A Turnback Knife Co. V2M in titanium, designed by Ben Logan.

After learning that Logan was the real brains behind the Cutweazle, Boker offered the designer two options: Boker would cancel the release of the knife and destroy any that had been produced, or they would give Logan his deserved designer credit along with royalties from the sales.

Logan chose the latter, which is why his clever design is now reaching a wider audience via Boker. The Cutweazle even features a “Turnback Knife Co.” logo engraved on the side of the frame for further exposure.

Ultimately, the way Boker handled this situation is pretty impressive, as now a deserving knife designer is getting true recognition for his hard work.

Buying a Cutweazle

Given that Boker is a decent-sized company, it’s able to produce a more polished-looking product than one individual working in his garage, and I personally think the Cutweazle’s sleek and minimalist design looks fantastic.

To my eye, it looks like a utility knife The James Brand might design — it’s that eye-catching. The good news, though, is that it’s more affordable than a TJB product. The Cutweazle available now on Boker’s website for just $57.

For anyone who prefers the more custom look of Logan’s original V2 and V2M designs, he’s still making them, and you can purchase them from the Turnback Knife Co. website.