This Affordable EDC Utility Knife Could Be One of the Strongest Ever Made

Thanks to its super-tough, fidget-friendly lock, this razor-based folding blade far outpaces others in its class.

Close-up of a folding knife handle with a textured black grip, three visible rivets, a circular pivot screw, and a partially visible silver metal blade with a thumb stud. The background is a plain beige color.

Published 2 hours ago

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A traditional folding knife isn’t the answer for everyone. For those who live in places with legal restrictions, for instance, they could be wholly illegal to carry. Others might just not like the maintenance involved.

Razor blade-based utility knives can often offer a compromise. They’re typically more legal to carry and require less care. Some even borrow elements from outstanding classic everyday carry knives.

Such is the case with the Demko Knives Razor-Shark. A hybrid of an EDC folder and a utility knife, this affordable tool is among the most formidable utility cutters.

Folding utility knife with a bright orange handle and a sharp, silver blade partially extended. The handle has a textured grip and several visible screws. The blade has a straight edge with a slightly angled tip. — The Demko Razor-Shark combines elements of traditional EDC folders with those of utility knives.

Apex EDC predator

If you go down to your local hardware store, most of the utility knives will likely have plastic or metal handles with sliders on the top to extend their razor blades. While inexpensive, they’re often not the best quality.

By contrast, the Razor-Shark is built like a genuine folding knife, making it both more compact and formidable than its mass-produced brethren. Open, it measures 6.0 inches, but folds down much smaller, and weighs just 3.1 ounces.

Apart from the removable razor, this knife is indistinguishable from other solid EDC knives.

It also has a GRN (glass-reinforced nylon) handle, which is textured and grippy, and also offers excellent stability, strength and resistance to moisture, chemicals, temperature changes and more.

The blade housing, lock and pocket clip are all stainless steel, offering a great balance of strength and durability. Apart from the removable razor, this knife is indistinguishable from other solid EDC knives, especially when you consider its best feature…

Compact folding utility knife with a black textured handle, a silver metal clip on one side, and a partially visible silver blade. The handle has several small silver screws and a circular pivot point. The blade has a serrated edge near the handle. — The knife’s banner feature is the Demko Shark Lock, named for its fin-like actuator.

High potential, low investment

Maybe the most interesting thing about this utility knife is its locking mechanism. Designed by Andrew Demko himself — the owner of Demko knives and the designer of this very knife — the Shark Lock is among the strongest and most fidget-friendly locks in EDC.

It’s similar to classic back locks or even Spyderco’s legendary Compression Lock in that the lock is housed in the knife’s spine. This makes it incredibly robust and extremely difficult to break or otherwise fail.

This formidable lock is often found on knives twice or thrice the price.

However, it’s also distinct from those others in its actuation. See that small jimped fin on the back of the spine? That’s the lever that releases the blade. Users need only to pull back on the forward ramp to disengage it. Open the knife again, and it snaps right back into place.

It’s an astoundingly robust mechanism, especially for a relatively affordable utility knife, like this one. This formidable lock is often found on knives twice or thrice the price.

Utility knife with a sharp, wide, silver blade and an orange textured handle featuring metal screws and a thumb button for blade adjustment or release. — The swappable razor blades mean you’ll never have to worry about sharpening or blade care.

Pricing and availability

The Demko Knives Razor-Shark has two handle colors — black or orange — and is now available on the brand’s site for $75. If you’d prefer to buy from a reputable retailer instead of directly, it’s also available on KnifeCenter for the same price.