DeWalt 3.25 in. Stainless Steel Partially Serrated Tanto Folding Knife

Why I reached for the DeWalt tanto folder

I keep a small rotation of utility folders for jobsite and around-the-house tasks, and I gravitate toward tools that open reliably, shrug off abuse, and are straightforward to maintain. The DeWalt tanto folder checks those boxes at a budget-friendly level. It’s a compact, partially serrated 3.25-inch folding knife with a ball-bearing pivot, an aluminum/nylon handle, and a lanyard slot—simple on paper, surprisingly capable in hand.

After several weeks cutting cardboard, strapping, plastic sheeting, light cable, and nylon rope, I have a good sense of its strengths and where it compromises.

Build and ergonomics

The handle combines aluminum with a nylon overlay. That mix keeps weight reasonable while giving you a stiffer frame than all-polymer bodies. The contouring is modest but smart: a mild palm swell and a shallow finger groove that encourages a full three-finger grip. Texture is medium; with dry hands it’s secure, but when wet or oily I’d call it only “okay.” I appreciate the integrated lanyard slot at the rear—handy for a fob if you’re gloved or working at height.

Fit and finish are better than expected at this price. Edges are softened, the scales align, and the hardware sits flush. My sample arrived tight with no rough spots in the action. There was virtually no lateral blade play out of the box, and only the faintest vertical tick if I really torqued the blade against the stop—nothing that affected cutting.

Blade, steel, and grind

The 3.25-inch 440A stainless blade is a tanto with a partially serrated section. 440A is a known quantity: high corrosion resistance, easy to sharpen, and moderate edge retention. It won’t run with premium steels, but if you’re cutting abrasive materials or working in wet conditions, not having to baby the blade is a plus. A quick touch-up brings it back.

As for geometry, the tanto tip is stout. The reinforced point pierces clamshell packaging and composite straps without feeling fragile, and that secondary point (where the primary edge meets the tip grind) is excellent for controlled scoring of drywall paper, carpet backing, and plastic. The tradeoff is food prep and fine slicing—tanto blades don’t glide through produce like a drop point. The serrations bite immediately into rope and nylon zip ties; they’re aggressive without being overly toothy.

Factory sharpness on mine was very good. The plain edge push-cut copy paper, and the serrations chewed through 3/8-inch sisal cleanly. After a week of cardboard duty, the plain edge lost some bite, as expected with 440A, but five passes on a ceramic rod restored it. For the serrations, a tapered rod made quick work of touch-ups. If you’re new to sharpening mixed edges, plan for two tools: a flat stone or rod for the plain edge and a conical rod for the serrations.

Deployment and lock-up

This knife uses a ball-bearing pivot and two ways to open: a flipper tab and thumb studs. The bearings are the star of the show. There’s no gritty break-in; a light press on the flipper sends the blade out with authority. The detent is tuned on the firmer side, which keeps pocket deployments at bay and gives you a snappy, decisive open. Thumb studs work fine, but I used the flipper 90% of the time.

Once open, the blade is secured by an internal liner tab you press to release when closing. The tab is easy to locate by feel, and it has enough traction that I never fumbled the close. With gloves, I still had positive control. I prefer that the closing path is smooth once the tab clears—no surprise spring kick.

If you’re new to bearing pivots, a drop of light oil on the pivot and a quarter-turn tweak on the pivot screw can dial the action from “good” to “great.” Mine benefited from a small adjustment after the first day.

In-pocket carry

The steel pocket clip is strong and low fuss. Tension out of the box is very firm—great for security on thick work pants, a bit overzealous on thin chinos. You can bend it slightly to taste. Mounting holes let you swap the clip end-to-end on the same side, so you can choose tip-up or tip-down carry, but it’s not truly ambidextrous. Left-handed users can make it work, though the ergonomics clearly favor right-hand use.

The knife rides relatively low without being a deep-carry design. The flipper tab is not snaggy, and the overall footprint sits well for everyday carry.

Cutting performance in real tasks

• Cardboard and tape: The plain edge glides through single-wall and scores double-wall accurately. The tanto’s secondary point is great for initiating cuts without slipping.
• Rope and webbing: The serrations are the workhorse here. Nylon rope, paracord, and packaging straps part quickly with a pull cut.
• Plastic and rubber: Piercing holes in plastic liners and trimming rubber hose was easy with the robust tip.
• Light electrical tasks: Stripping sheathing or trimming cable ties is controlled, but I wouldn’t use the serrations near conductors; the plain edge and that secondary point offer better precision.

Where it’s less at home: long, continuous slicing through textiles (the tanto tip can snag) and any task that benefits from a thin, full-flat grind. This is a utility profile first and foremost.

Maintenance and durability

440A’s corrosion resistance makes daily care simple—wipe it down and you’re done. For edge maintenance, 20–22 degrees per side on the plain edge keeps it both sharp and resilient. Serrations respond quickly to a ceramic or diamond tapered rod; match the factory angle and work each gullet lightly.

The pivot bearings appreciate an occasional flush. A drop of mineral oil or a dedicated knife oil on the pivot, plus a bit on the detent track, keeps the action smooth. Screws stayed put for me, but as with any folder, a dab of thread locker on the clip and body screws isn’t a bad idea once you’ve got your adjustments set.

Structural durability is solid for a budget work knife. The aluminum/nylon handle doesn’t rattle or flex noticeably, and the stop pin and liners show no peening after repeated spine pressure tests on dense corrugate.

Quirks and tradeoffs

• Edge retention: Expect to touch up the plain edge more often than on higher-end steels. The flip side is how easy 440A is to bring back to sharp.
• Clip tension: Very firm from the factory. Easy to tweak, but thin-pocket fabrics may snag until you adjust it.
• Serration upkeep: If you’re not comfortable maintaining serrations, the partially serrated edge can be a learning curve.
• Grip texture: Adequate for most tasks, but with wet hands I wished for more traction.

None of these are deal-breakers, especially at this price point, but they’re worth noting so you can set expectations.

Warranty and support

DeWalt backs the knife with a limited lifetime warranty and you typically get a 90-day return window at retail. That’s reassuring on a tool that’s going to see daily use and frequent sharpening.

Who it suits best

• Tradespeople and DIYers who want a reliable, inexpensive folder for packaging, rope, plastic, and general jobsite tasks.
• Anyone who values fast, one-handed deployment and a robust tip over delicate slicing performance.
• Users who prioritize corrosion resistance and easy maintenance over long-wearing exotic steels.

Less ideal for: left-handed carriers who want full clip flexibility, ultralight EDC minimalists, and those who prefer a full plain edge for clean slicing and simple sharpening.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt tanto folder as a tough, no-nonsense utility knife that opens fast, cuts what most of us actually cut day-to-day, and is painless to maintain. The bearing-driven action is genuinely excellent at this price, the tanto geometry and serrations make short work of rope and packaging, and the aluminum/nylon handle balances durability with comfort. You trade away some slicing finesse and long-term edge holding, and the clip may need a quick tweak, but the fundamentals are sound. If you need a dependable work companion more than a showcase blade, this knife earns a spot in the pocket.