DeWalt 9 mm Metal Body Snap Knife

I slipped this little 9 mm snap knife into my pocket for a week of light-site work and shop chores, and it quietly became the thing I reached for most. It’s a compact, metal-bodied cutter that fits where a full-size utility knife feels clumsy—opening boxes on a ladder, trimming tape and shims, squaring up veneer edges, and slicing plastic packaging flush without overcutting. It’s not trying to compete with a heavy-duty trapezoid-blade knife; it’s for precise, light cuts you want to control with a fingertip.

Build and ergonomics

The body is narrow and all metal, with a ribbed exterior that gives some purchase without relying on rubber overmold. In dry hands, that ribbing works well; in wet or dusty conditions, I still wished for a small patch of soft grip on the spine or belly. The handle is short—around 4 inches—and it carries easily in a pocket or pouch without printing. There’s no clip, but the slim profile makes it pocketable in a way most contractor knives aren’t.

The chassis feels tougher than the plastic-bodied 9 mm knives I usually keep around. It shrugs off the kinds of knocks that chip plastic rails—tossed in with a chalk line, rattling in a drawer, sliding across a benchtop. I knocked it off a sawhorse twice and it collected only cosmetic scuffs. For a lightweight utility piece, that durability matters because snap knives tend to live loose in kits.

Blade and cutting performance

This uses standard 9 mm snap-off blades, and it ships with one installed. The format gives you multiple cutting points on a single blade—I counted 13 segments, which tracked with my normal replacement cadence for a week of mixed tasks. As you work the tip dulls first, you snap off a segment, and you’re back to a fresh edge without touching a blade dispenser. It’s a great system for repetitive light cutting: cardboard, painter’s tape, vinyl, shim stock, caulk nozzles, thin plastics, and drywall paper scores.

With light pressure, the knife tracks straight and doesn’t wander. I used it to score laminate for scribing, trim edge banding, and notch thin gasket material. It excels at these detail cuts. It’s not for prying or heavy scoring—this isn’t the 18 mm class. If you lean into a cut to power through dense foam or double-wall cardboard in one pass, you’ll feel the blade flex. The benefit of the 9 mm platform is precision; the tradeoff is muscle.

Slider and lock

The slide lock has firm detents and, on my sample, a notably stiff action. That has upsides and downsides. Upside: the blade doesn’t creep under load, even in partial extensions, which made me comfortable working with only a few millimeters of edge exposed for tight scoring. Downside: one-handed adjustment with gloves takes effort; I found myself using my off-hand thumb to nudge the slider more often than with some Olfa or Stanley 9 mm models. If you prefer a slider that glides, this one might feel stubborn. If you prefer a slider that stays put no matter what, this one inspires confidence.

I didn’t detect any meaningful side-to-side blade wobble when extended to the first several detents. Out near full extension (which I rarely use), there’s the expected tiny play you get on most 9 mm rails, but still less than on plastic-bodied knives I’ve owned. The rail tolerances and the metal guide seem to help.

Integrated blade snapper

At the tail is an integrated snapper for breaking off dull segments. It’s secure and intuitive: retract the blade, line up the scored notch at the snapper, angle away, and a quick bend pops the segment cleanly. The piece grips the blade well enough that the snapped segment doesn’t ping across the room, which I appreciated on site. I could snap safely with one hand bracing the knife on the bench. If you’re new to snap-blade knives, this is much safer than trying to break segments with pliers.

Like all 9 mm formats, there’s no onboard blade storage, which isn’t a real concern because you’re refreshing by snapping, not swapping. Just keep a 9 mm refill pack in your kit for when you finally burn through the last segment.

Control and precision

This is where the knife earns its keep. The narrow body and short handle put your index finger close to the tip, so you can steer delicate cuts. I did several long, light passes on veneer without chipping, and I could ride a straightedge with consistent pressure. Cutting radius curves in thin foam was easy, and trimming painter’s tape off a window mullion gave clean edges without overcutting into the wood. The ribbed handle helps anchor a pinch grip, and the nose geometry stays out of the way, so you see what you’re doing.

Durability and maintenance

Metal handles inevitably get dinged, but they don’t crack, which is exactly the tradeoff I want on a small utility knife that’s going to get tossed around. After a week, the ribs had a couple of shiny spots and one shallow scrape, but the slider still felt tight, and the rail didn’t pick up grit that would grind. A quick blow-out and a drop of dry lube in the channel kept things smooth.

As for blades, 9 mm refills are inexpensive and easy to find. If you’re doing demolition or cutting abrasive insulation, you’ll run through segments quickly; in shop use and general carpentry, I was snapping every day or two. The 13-segment count extends the time between full blade replacements, which is the whole point of the format.

What I’d change

• Add a small rubberized patch or overmold on the belly or spine. The ribbing works, but in sweaty or wet conditions a touch of soft grip would be welcome.
• Ease the slider just a hair. I’d keep the positive detents, but a slightly lighter actuation would improve one-handed use without sacrificing security.
• Consider a pocket clip or lanyard hole. The slim body carries great as-is, but a clip would make it even more accessible for everyday use.

None of these are dealbreakers; they’re refinement opportunities on an otherwise solid design.

Where it fits in a kit

• Trim carpentry and cabinetry: scoring veneer, trimming edge banding, cutting shims, fine scribing.
• Paint and finish work: clean tape cuts, caulk nozzle trimming, scoring film.
• Shop tasks: opening boxes and blister packs, layout work on paper and thin plastics, hobby materials.
• Electrical/low-voltage: light sheathing cuts and tape work, where control is more important than force.

If your work leans heavy—roofing, carpet, demolition—you’ll want an 18 mm snap knife or a standard utility knife alongside this one. I see this 9 mm as a precision complement, not a replacement.

Value and warranty

You’re getting a sturdy metal chassis, an integrated snapper, a secure slide lock, and a standard 9 mm blade to start. It’s not loaded with gadgetry, and it doesn’t need to be. Pricing generally sits modestly above plastic-bodied 9 mm knives, which makes sense given the durability jump. DeWalt lists a limited lifetime warranty on hand tools, though some retailers cite a shorter term—verify coverage where you buy. In practice, this kind of knife lives or dies by its slider and rail; both felt well executed on my sample.

The bottom line

This 9 mm snap knife succeeds on the fundamentals: it’s compact, durable, and precise, with a blade that stays where you set it. The integrated snapper makes maintenance quick and safe, and the metal body holds up to jobsite abuse better than typical plastic alternatives. The slider is on the stiff side, and a bit of soft grip would improve wet handling, but those are minor quibbles in daily use.

Recommendation: I recommend it as a reliable, pocketable precision cutter for anyone who values control and durability in a 9 mm format. It’s an easy upgrade over disposable plastic snap knives, and a worthy companion to a heavier utility knife in a pro or DIY kit.