Swiss Tech UKCSB Ulti Key 6 in 1 Keyring Tool Reviews

• Always with me

  
  By AEZ2NQPA3VP2B on 2004-03-10
  The Utili-Key has to be one of the most convenient multi-tools out there. I don't go anywhere without it, and it gets a lot of use in all kinds of circumstances.

  It's the size of a large car key. When it is locked on the keyring, it isn't going anywhere unless and until I am ready to use it. The screwdriver heads are fully functional and sturdy, although there is a risk of getting cut on the knife blade if it is handled carelessly (not like I'd do that, but this isn't a kid's toy). The blade is sharp and stays that way very well.

  If you like being prepared for anything that might happen, this is a must-have tool for you. Check out the rest of Swiss-Tech's product line as well.

  One warning: Do _not_ carry a Utili-Key in anything carried on a plane. Scanners do know what they are and how to find them. Stow it instead because it will be confiscated otherwise. I hate taking it off my keychain when I travel, but it must be done.
  
  

• A great, compact, easily transportable tool

  
  By A263EDT1CCE5YZ on 2004-06-11
  I bought this as a gift for my boyfriend, and although he thought it was kinda hokey at first, he ended up loving it. It goes on your keychain like any other key, but snaps off easily by just opening it up (the blades.) The two screwdrivers heads work fine and are very hard and don't dull or warp with repeated use. The blade is RAZOR sharp and has yet to dull. It is small, but can cut through so much. A great overall buy.
  
  

• High quality unobtrusive utility gadget

  
  By A3O3SA8CPROXWY on 2006-02-27
  When I first noticed the Utili-Key at my retailer, I thought the $10 price was a little high for something so small and simple, but the stainless steel finish seemed well done, and it looked like a high-quality tool so I bought it anyway. I have since found out that the tool also comes in a gold color (titanium nitride) at some retailers.
  
  Now that I've had it for a while, it seems well worth the money. This product was made in China and unfortunately I have seen some low quality steel tools that were made there, thankfully this one is an exception. The tool opens and closes precisely and seems to have tight tolerances. The serration's on the lower knife portion seem to have been carefully cut. It looks as though one side of the Utili-Key is slightly more polished than the other, probably for marketing reasons as the more jeweled side was facing up in the retail box. This is a minor point as the other side still looks just fine.
  
  When I first bought the Utili-Key, it was not clear to me that it would open up a full 180 degrees. That would have been okay since the tool is completely functional when opened 90 degrees. There are no springs involved, and it appears to be made of out of exactly 3 pieces of steel. It clicks into either of the two open positions with a bit of pressure and stays in place fairly well, but it is not locked into position which means that it can still close up on your finger if not used carefully. The knife is very sharp and it could cause an accidental injury during the use of the philips part of the tool since the blade is opposite the philips head.
  
  The tool is so small and unobtrusive that I cannot imagine why anyone would not want to have the easy convenience of it right on the old key-ring. The length of it is just slightly shorter than the ignition key for my vehichle. Even if you carry other types of multi-tools or a pocket knife, it would be worthwhile to have this in case you forget your other stuff.
  
  I really enjoy discovering clever well made products and this one is a keeper.
  
  

• So handy, always useful

  
  By A108H0RI2LWLUO on 2006-06-08
  It's great for opening packages and bottles and tightening screws. While it's got fewer functions than a multi-tool or a Swiss Army knife, it's so much easier to carry around (on a key ring) that I use my Utili-key all the time.
  
  

• Great tool

  
  By ASGGU3P8R131J on 2006-01-15
  This is a great tool. One of the best things about it is that it hangs easily on your key ring and can be removed and put back with ease. I use it several times a week, and it beats carrying a pocket knife around with you. I think everyone should have one.
  
  
• great gadget
  By A3D9M9AWSR4W4B on 2006-03-30
  I love it, I always carry it with me, I paid less than 5 bucks for it at the Container Store.
  
  I have one confession to make: I never had a chance to use it except for trial runs, but then the same applies to almost all toys I have, including the dozen or so multi-tools which I own.
  
  My favorite multi-toy is the Leatherman Crunch. I wish I had some kind of an emergency where it could save my life. A deserted island or something like that.
  
  
• GREAT ITEM!
  By A27K6Q0HY50RU4 on 2006-09-12
  Much like Kathleen's boyfriend I laughed at this little tool at first, but now I can't find it and I'm going crazy. BE CAREFUL WHEN FLYING! Because you will forget this thing is even on your key ring, and security waved it right on through. It wasn't till I was getting back in my car after my trip that I realized I had just flwon twice wi th this thing. I imagine if you were caught with it, it would not be fun!
  
  I love this and am ordering some for friends as gifts, and hopefully not to replace my misplaced one.
  
  
• Too fragile
  By A1D1SLHPX6N4ES on 2006-11-05
  It is very inexpensive, however it lasted only 1 month before the small piece that closed over the key ring broke off. I do not recomend this product.
  
  
• No problems at airports, not as useful as a standard multi-tool
  By A2K84I5EXSFMQ4 on 2006-12-22
  I've had one for a year or so now. I got sick of handing over $20-$50 worth of swiss army knife or leatherman every time I forgot to make my keys "flight-ready" (I think I lost 4 tools this way). So I decided to experiment with something inexpensive that wouldn't be terrible to have to leave at an airport.
  
  I'd call the experiment a qualified success. The key has been with me all over the place on flights and no one's said a word to me about it. I fly fairly frequently, so I'd estimate 12-18 flights with this thing. It's great in a pinch, but I wouldn't call it a replacement for a more robust multi-tool.
  
  The key doesn't take up a lot of space or weigh as much as a small leatherman (though the key is long, as keys go). The bottle opener requires a little bit of care and finesse because whenever the key is open, you've got a blade exposed. That said, it's pretty well designed. I have managed to torque one of the screwdriver heads, but it was against a pretty rusty bolt, so I can't blame the tool.
  
  This key is well made and serves its purpose. It won't replace your leatherman or even a keychain-sized leatherman, but it's some consolation for the inability to carry a real multi-tool when you travel.
  
  
• Cool Little Gadget - Just watch your fingers
  By A2K903EV5ONV6 on 2007-01-06
  Got this as a stocking stuffer for Christmas and was pretty impressed with it.
  
  It takes a little practice to open the tool, and if you're not careful, you could easily cut your fingers. The blade is very sharp, and it would probably be a good idea for the company to include a little protector sleeve. It works well for opening letters, packages, etc. The two screwdrivers look like they would work well in a pinch, but are quite small. The bottle opener looks like it work well, also.
  
  All in all, the quality seems pretty good, and it's ultra portable and is bound to come in handy. A cool little gadget for the gadget-lover who has everything.
  
  
• Utili-Key, possible way to remove ones gender
  By A2GH5Q8KLN1NYS on 2007-05-12
  The good: The spring lock is pretty sturdy so you MAY not have it unfold in your pocket. The metal is quality. THe knife is reasonably sharp without being TOO sharp.
  The bad: Too long. Difficult to unfold at times. Unfolding puts your fingers at risk of getting cut. Also, the additional utilities like the bottle opener and screwdriver are questionable in their usefulness.
  
  
  [...]
  
  
• Good product if you don't plan to use it a lot.
  By AIBRTGBN07D6A on 2007-11-21
  I did not like how big my previous keychain was (Blue Metro Knife and Key Ring Bottle/Soda Opener) so I decided to get this based on the great reviews.
  
  PROS:
  
  - Very lightweight, and the key profile means that you won't notice it much. It is also easy to go through metal detectors with this because it looks so much like a key. I hate having to take my knife off in the car at airports.
  
  - Easy to remove. The top of the two pieces form a clamp that locks when it is closed. So you just open it up, clamp it around your keyring, and it is locked. Very easy to remove, but won't fall off. This comes in handy if you are at a metal detector and need to remove it quickly. No hassle of having to thread it through a keyring.
  
  - Blade is fairly sharp.
  
  - Useful. This is a great item for people who don't want to deal with a mini-knife on their keyring and want something small.
  
  CONS:
  
  - Blade is short. Blade is about 3/4 ", and the rest of the blade is serrated. This makes it more difficult to cut things. Secondly, you have to open up the keyring to cut things since the blade is on the inside (see picture). Not only is this awkward as well, but this means that whenever you have to cut something, by opening up the blade you will unlock the top clamp, and it will come off your keyring. It's easy to lock back on, but this is not a tool you are ever going to be able to use with one hand to quickly open up a box or cut something.
  
  - Design. It took me awhile to notice there are actually three screwdrivers (2 flat and one Phillips). The two flat heads are at the top of the key. One is so small it is pretty much useless for anything other than eyeglasses. The Phillips head is better, but you have to open up the key to use it. I can see it being very easy to cut yourself while using this to unscrew something. The bottle opener is the same way. Be careful trying to open that 6th or 7th beer because you are likely to slice your thumb off if you are not completely focused on what you are doing. It also takes a little more effort to open a bottle than with something like a Swiss Army knife bottle opener, because you don't have much to grip onto to get leverage. Not to mention it takes two hands to open up the knife to open a bottle, and then again, the knife will come unlocked from your keychain, meaning you almost need to put your keys in your pocket, hold the bottle with one hand, Util key in the other, open bottle, then take out your keys and re-lock it.
  
  Overall, I think this is a pretty good device for the minimalist who likes the idea of having something in an emergency, but I would not recommend this for anyone who plans to use it on a regular basis. You will be much better off with something bigger that is easier to use. Anyone considering this product should take a look at it's actual design and then picture in your head how you would use it, and you will probably realize where its limitations lie.
  
  
• good to have but hard to use
  By A1MPHD9K9X7J6U on 2008-07-07
  I've had this attached to my key ring for a number of years. I don't need it often but when I have it's been useful as long as I am very careful while handling it. The knife is extremely sharp and because the key is pretty thin it can rotate easily in your fingers. It's not incredibly easy to close around a key ring with one hand, and does with a bit of a snap, so you need to make sure your fingers are well out of the way when you do. The Phillips screwdriver on the end of one of the tines is helpful for things like tightening eyeglasses, but it is slightly offset from the opposing blade and I've nicked or jabbed myself with it more than once while it's in my pocket. You're supposed to lock it at either 90 or 180 degrees when using it, but when you close it from 90 the keyring end easily grabs at your fingers. This isn't a product for kids, and only should be used with extreme care.
  
  
• Good Product very handy
  By ASCUSVP94HUKH on 2006-07-10
  This is a good product and comes in handy when you are looking for a tool. It is has good design and is worth the price.
  
  
• Very Nice
  By A2O862DZ12NTE9 on 2007-01-09
  Between this thing and my flash drive, my keychain is a full service pc repair station. Very Nice
  
  
• Buenisimo e Ingenioso
  By AVFPY3TZ6IKVR on 2007-01-10
  Buen detalle para regalos a aquellos que son curiosos ya que es un producto muy util
  
  
• Great, Super-Compact, and Always There!
  By A3Q90JARBPQ51Y on 2007-02-19
  This is the best multi-tool I've ever owned, including some really nice and expensive swiss army knives. Why? It is the size of a key, and it is always there on my key ring when I need it. I've had one for a few years, and used it countless times. I just recently bought two more. One for my dad, and a spare for myself.
  
  
• Get Amazon's instead
  By A1E7XKKA8ACMHJ on 2007-05-19
  If you purchase from microfiber, the total cost is about $15. If you purchase at least $25 from Amazon, the cost is $13 (free shipping)
  
  
• very small, easy, handy
  By A3539E8HOKKA9L on 2007-08-16
  i bet that every review with anything bad in it was made within a day of recieving this knife. because ive had one for a few months now (actually i lost it and bought a new one) and it is awesome! it starts out stiff and kinda hard to open, but it soon becomes easier. however, it still stays on a keyring without falling off. the knife is very sharp, so when you first recieve it you might get cut opening it, but it gets easier. ive used every single tool on this before, and i ca say they all work perfectly. and i even got it through airport security
  (i left it in my carry-on bag and put it through the x-ray machine, nothing happened. worked on the way back too :) )
  
  
• A delicate little thing, eh?
  By A1HRYC60VTMYC0 on 2007-10-24
  Impossible to open this with one hand. It would be a very helpful tool if one-handed operation was designed into it.
  
  Then the upper part of this (fairly new, hardly ever used cuz it's so hard to open) key -- the semi-circular part that hooks onto a key ring/keychain, broke -- so I can no longer hang it on my key-ring. Now it rattles around in my pocket with my spare change.
  
  
• Very slick tool...
  By A24JKOVC71IQ73 on 2008-02-14
  I bought this with a swiss-tech multi tool (see separate review), in addition to a leatherman squirt p4 to replace my old basic swiss army knife. This is a perfect tool if a) you don't need pliers or b) you value small size. The knife is sharp and suited well for most tasks. The screwdrivers will work for light-duty tasks. Yes, it's difficult to open with one hand, as are all keychain tools. Yes, it comes off your keyring when you open it; this is a positive for me though. I think it's tough to use these things while on a keyring. As for the bottle-opener: no, you don't want to be tending bar with this. But to open the occasional beer? Seriously, grow a pair. Not that difficult. Best of all, this thing is TINY. It takes up practically zero room/weight on your keychain, and as mentioned, you can breeze through airport security with it. I primarily use the leatherman just because of the pliers and overall heavier-duty of it, but the utili-key is probably suited for about 95% of the tasks that I use the leatherman for.
  
  
• Awesome
  By A33CXIYC0ISPB3 on 2007-03-19
  Its small, its effective, it works! Excellent value for money. So few things these days are as elegantly simple as this tool.
  
  
• Very good for what it is
  By A1OOB7V0HWGR9I on 2007-06-08
  No it is not a leatherman. It's a small knife and screwdriver - which is very useful for everyday situations.
  
  While traveling, I need something lightweight that I can carry with me and use. I use to carry a small swiss army pen knife, but kept losing it in airport security.
  
  The only way they could improve it is to somehow make it include scissors.
  
  
• One of the neatest inventions ever
  By A11SRRYMENX9XI on 2007-08-04
  I have purchased dozens of these over the years, back to when they were $19.99 and more. Before the terrorist threats (and after, sometimes, accidentally of course) it was always on my key ring while flying, and great for clipping/cutting articles from in flight magazines, opening packages, fixing glasses, and of course, opening bottles (Caution- the blade is towards your fingers when doing this).
  I have used this as an inexpensive gift for the last few years to give to employees, everyone seems to love them, nice multi use tool to have handy.
  
  
• bottle opener?
  By A1J5LJ06R2DB37 on 2007-09-08
  Anybody figure out how to use the bottle opener? I got this tool to take a bulkier bottle opener off my keyring, and add the other useful features. Maybe I'm missing something, but the phillips screwdriver doesn't make much of a lever.
  
  
• Can't live without it
  By A31K5IS5MY4KCO on 2007-11-09
  I cannot rate this gadget highly enough. It is truly something that you can take anywhere. Otherwise, there is always a blade and a screwdriver available with nothing bulky in one's pocket. The blade stays sharp: I have never had one of these long enough to require sharpening. The only weak area is the bottle opener (takes some practice to use correctly). I use mine constantly to open packages, cut string, and, in a pinch, open a beer bottle. Even though it attaches securely to a keying, it is easy to loose due to its small size. I always buy several at once.
  
  
• Proud owner for over 5 years!
  By A3SPHJLKSN8VYA on 2007-11-12
  This little tool of mine has more vertical miles than most skiers! I've taken it all over the world and have used it on a DAILY basis.
  When I first bought this tool it originally cost 10 dollars. I thought it was a little steep, but picked one up anyway. Becuse of the ingenious attachment method, I've never lost my Utilkey or had it too far from my reach.
  Once you have it on your keychain you'll be amazed at how durable and practical it is. As cliche as it sounds I don't know how I ever got along without it. I've never even had to replace it due to wear and tear either.
  I don't baby the Utilkey, or sharpen it, and it doesn't even have a nick! I'm personally gonna give them out as office presents this year, simply because they're cheap, effective and timeless.
  Do yourself a favor and drop the coin, because its the best ten bucks you'll ever spend.
  
  
• A neat and handy little tool...
  By A1UXB02VECZ08U on 2007-11-29
  We have all needed a pocket knife, screwdriver, or bottle opener and have been unable to find one, right? Well this thing is so small and useful that there is no reason to not have it on you. The knife is sharp, and the other tools are perfectly funtional. I gave one of these to each of my groomsmen, and they all loved it. I also got one for myself, and unfortunately it broke inside of a month. The clasp part that holds it onto your keychain snapped off, so now it is just a pocket tool. The only other complaint I have is that it is VERY difficult to open; I actually chipped a fingernail a couple of times while trying to open it. All of that aside, it is still a neat, handy little tool, and is a good value for the price.
  
  
• Poor design
  By A3BVYWRLHCKYUS on 2007-12-11
  It's a great idea, but I've cut myself using this thing one too many times.
  
  
• Neat gadget!
  By A29VLEOIK5H2T3 on 2007-12-29
  I found you cheaper than the stores in the mall by about 40%! What a neat gadget for my husband who carries them around. This you can put on your key chain and not be too bulky in your pocket. Thanks Amazon!
  
  

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