Customer Reviews for Milwaukee 3 in. Hardline D2 Steel Serrated Blade Pocket Folding Knife

Great knife for EDC. I use it almost on a daily basis and not afraid of damaging it. It took a few days to break in, and now it’s perfect. Milwaukee is a brand I can always trust.

Ordered and shipped very very fast. The knife is great, nice size very very sharp. The problem being is I want to wear it but refuse because it is just ridiculous. The Velcro belt mount is just silly by loosely hanging and flipping around. It just won't work. $0.15 cents worth of Velcro, no it just needs more. I may buy a real sheath somewhere or just return. Hate to send but.

It really feels like a good quality knife. It stays sharp a long time since it has a hardened metal blade.

I received this knife on July 13, 2020, and I’ve EDC’d it ever since. In these past 3 weeks, I‘ve fallen in love with it! I have knives in S30V, VG-10, AUS-8, his is my first knife in D2, and it is a performer! I’ve wanted a Hardline knife ever since they came out, and the wait has been worthwhile! There is a break in period before the action becomes quite smooth, so keep that in mind.

I don't get all the 5 star reviews. Perhaps they are from right out of the package. This review is from everyday carry for over a year. I bought this and a longer one but this is in my pocket most often between the two, mostly due to the size and serrations. The knife comes decently sharp needing a minor touch up. It dulls fairly easy. Perhaps my specific knife did not get proper heat treating but it behaves similarly to the longer one so I don't think so. After a day of use, I have to at least take a honing steel, like one in my kitchen set, to revive the edge. The easy recovery of the edge is what makes this a 3-star knife. If it dulled like this and was hard to recover, there is no way I would recommend this. For me the flip open and one handed closing is easily done but the lock should be raised a bit to make release a bit easier to access. As it is, I push my thumb into the knife recess a bit to ensure I can unlock the blade. Of course, mine is well used and broken in at this point so I can open with a flick of the finger tab. I did black sharpie the red plastic liner because I did bot like the red beacon flashing out of my pocket. I do like the wearing of the black finish. It looks like a "battle worn" look with the high portions wearing just right. I am glad I bought it on a daily special sale, otherwise at full price, the knife would not be worth it.

Solid product. Compatible to EDC.

Outstanding quality - ordered 2 more for Christmas presents after getting mine. D2 (tool steel) holds an edge like no other. Comes very sharp.

Very well built smooth action would recommend

Excellent product, holds edge fine and feels durable in hand. Would definitely recommend this product

Milwaukee 5 in. Hardline Fixed Blade Knife review - As my Grandson says when something is just way too kewl - BAM! This 5 inch blade is full tang and has a big handle to grab. It feels so comfortable in your hand. This blade is VERY sharp (reminds me of a razor blade) and HOLDS and EDGE! Tough, tough, tough. It is also legal size carry in Texas. The sheath it comes with is very durable and easily takes and holds the knife. I just recently used it cut cut into some drywall for a floor I am installing and it sliced through it with ease! Remember, when using it, this thing is SHARP. I love this product; just like all other Milwaukee products - outstanding, durable, useful. So glad I got this. This is right at home on camping trips and out in the bush. Wow. There ya go!

This is a very nice full tang fixed blade knife. It comes with a dangler style sheath that has loops for your belt and loops for Molle. I found the sheath and knife very comfortable to wear. The knife snaps securely into the sheath and takes a couple of fingers pushing against the sheath to free the knife for use. My knife arrive fairly sharp with a few noticeable burrs. Five minutes on the wet stone had it tuned up fine. This is a carbon steel knife not a stainless steel knife, so it will require more care to prevent rusting. The handle feels really nice and the knife feels natural to use.

I’m an outdoor kind of guy; camping, fishing, and a DiYer. I’m around knives a lot. Two of my standouts are an 8” survival knife, and a machete. However, when it comes to my tools, somehow I didn’t have a good non-razor utility knife until I acquired the Milwaukee 5” Hardline Fixed Blade Knife. Upon removing this knife from its packaging, it was immediately apparent that it was going to be more than just a tool box utility knife. It is certainly “utility” in every sense. I will be taking it with me when I go camping, fishing, as well as tooling. Pretty much where ever I am, my Milwaukee Hardline knife will be there with me. My knife certainly has its work cut out for it with numerous remodeling projects in and outside of the home. I’ve already been using it to demo old linoleum flooring and trim new flooring as well. This is a full-tang fixed-bladed knife, which you can ‘see’ because the handle is actually two pieces attached to either side of the metal blade. The over-molded handle, when gripped hard, has just enough “give” to contour to your hand. It gives you comfort and control when using the blade. The blade itself is SHARP. When removing the blade from the sheath for the first time, I actually cut my finger. If need be, there’s room for further sharpening but I think it comes plenty sharp enough for most applications. It’s also “heavy”. There’s no doubt it is one solid knife. You can literally “see” the thickness of the blade. If you didn’t know what AUS-8 steel was before, you will learn fast upon examining this knife. The blade even looks pretty with its black sheen. Another gem about this product is the sheath! Some of my other knives are good, but came with poor quality sheaths. Not this one. The portion of the Milwaukee’s sheath that houses the blade is made of a hard plastic composite material that locks the blade in place. Even if you held it upside down without the blade strapped in, it won’t fall out. I also love that you can strap the sheath on horizontally as well as vertically, although I don’t think the sheath is as secure when worn horizontal. If I had to come up with a con, it’s that there is not serrated teeth on the backside of the blade. I know such a thing isn’t really a prominent feature on 5” blades but it appears to have been attempted here, but not really. I say, if you’re going to do it, might as well be “all in” with it. When I think of quality knives, brands like Buck and Gerber come to mind. Now, I’ll always think of Milwaukee first. From now, when I dive into my toolbox looking for a cutting instrument, my Milwaukee Hardline is going to be the first thing I reach for.

This is an excellent work knife. Once you learn how to sharpen you'll never go back to "box cutters" or replaceable bladed knives. The length and the width of the blade are excellent for opening boxes, cutting strapping, shaving wood, and other odd tasks. The full tang construction (meaning the metal structure of the knife runs from tip to tip of its entire length) is the strongest architecture available for hand tools. This means the handle will always remain secure as you lever the blade for increased cutting leverage. The sheath is really versatile and secure. If you need additional security, the strap holding the sheath to your pack or tool belt can be snapped around the handle so it can't come out. In normal use though, the knife just slides into the sheath and stops with a solid "click" that keeps the knife from casually sliding out. It comes razor sharp. I haven't had it long enough to see how easily it can be resharpened, but so far I haven't seen anything to tell me that it'll be any easier or harder than my other hand tools.

The 5" Milwaukee Hardline Fixed Blade knife is impressive and has become my primary knife for carrying and backpacking. Out of the box it was sharp enough to shave my arm hair. To test the blade I split pine using the knife and a mallet. I was very surprised at how little vibration I felt in the handle. The blade and handle felt strong and stable and it was pretty comfortable to split and chop wood to make kindling. The blade was just as sharp afterward. I really like the full length of the blade through the handle, which I think is a must for a knife in this size and price point. The handle is made from glass re-enforced nylon which is very durable, long lasting, and fairly heat resistant. The handle is also comfortable and the grips work well. It's beefy, balanced well, and sits well in my hand. The grooves on the blade keep my thumb fixed as I'm working and I have no fear of my fingers slipping onto the blade. The blade is made from AUS-8 steel which is a hard material but still fairly easy to sharpen. The sheath is reversible so the blade can slide in either way. It's pretty comfortable when worn parallel with my belt at the small of my back. There are notches on the handle of the knife that click into the sheath so it will only come out if you want it to. Overall, I am very happy and pleased with this knife.

This is a good compliment to my Hardline folders (pocket knives). This is a nice drop point smooth (not serrated) blade which is my preference for knives. It's a good overall size for a fixed blade. It is a full tang knife, but I feel the scales should be a bit heavier. The balance of the knife is toward the tip. The scales are comfortable though and not overly large or excessively overmolded. Glass reinforced nylon Is a nice touch. I do like the shape of the blade. I wish they used D2 like in the hardline folding knives. I have several knives with AUS-8 steel and it is very capable, but my fixed blades tend to see more abuse than a folding pocket knife so the durability of D2 would have been appreciated. Sharpness out of the package left a little to be desired, but I'm sort of a perfectionist here. The final grind was a tad rough in spots, leaving a burr still. I touched it up on some high grit stones. It took and kept a very keen edge so the steel is heat treated well. The sheath isn't a throw away. It's actually nice. The knife locks in pretty well and it has a strap that goes around the handle. It can be positioned on a belt either vertically or horizontally. Overall I am happy with this and it will definitely get a ton of use.

This knife is pretty heavy duty. It is a dense steel full tang blade that you can clearly see going down through the bottom of the handle. It is very sharp but not like sword sharp so you don't have to be intimidated by carrying it around. The sheath is super durable and locks the blade into place using a simple notch on the blade handle. It would make for an excellent accessory when camping, or just to keep in your general tool kit for moments when you need to cut through something dense like rope or even ducting.

This knife quickly became my daily carry. It's a great, compact size. The blade comes very sharp out of the box. Initially the knife feels little too tight but after a couple days of use (opening, closing the blade) it gets better. You can also make adjustments if you'd like it looser. The knife has a very nice feel and is ergonomically shaped for my hand. I definitely recommend!

Milwaukee is known for making great tools and this one is no exception! Whether you’re getting it as an EDC or just as a spare quality knife, you’ll love it – I do! It feels great in my hand opened or closed. It effortlessly opens with a flick of the index finger and easily closes while pushing down the safety bar with my thumb. The belt clip is great. It has a groove that can be grabbed with the finger while trying to take the knife out of the pocket. The belt clip sits deep almost at the very tip, but it’s only semi-reversible from side-to-side but not top-to-bottom. The handle is made of two materials: plastic and steel. There is a classic Milwaukee red filler in the middle. The handle looks and feels really nice. I’m not a blade or steel expert, but I read a few articles raving about D2 steel holding an edge and being extremely durable. I love the serrated Tanto blade design and the stone washed black oxide finish which gives it a nice “worn-in” look that should last. I have used it many times now on carpet, rope, wood, leather, cardboard and plastic and was not disappointed in how it handled all the materials. Even the packaging is really nice and well designed. It sits opened in a blister pack, but is well protected with a tip cover. Awesome knife overall for a contractor, but would also make a great gift or addition to an EDC knife collector.

This is a really great little knife! It folds out and closed really easily (sometimes it feels too easily but it has never come open accidentally). Comes with great D2 steel and sharpens up really nicely. Perfect do it all knife that locks into position very firmly and will serve you well as it has a great basic design that is time proven. Highly recommend!

The Milwaukee Hardline 3.5 inch smooth blade pocket knife is a great everyday carry knife. The blade is made of D2 steel and is blacked out. There is a clip on one side so you can clip it on to your pocket for easy access. The blade locks in place when opened for safety. This knife has good weight to it so if you are looking for a lightweight knife this is not it. This knife looks like it can take a beating and survive just fine. It has an easy opening tab that lets you open it with just one finger. I really like this knife and I carry it daily!

This Hardline series of knives is Milwaukee's debut in the EDC knife market, and I think they've hit it out of the park in quality, ergonomics, and price point. I started out with the 2.5" blade version, and liked it so much I picked up this 3" drop point version as well. The 3" version fits a little better in my hand, but I prefer the "pointier" drop point of the 2.5" for piercing over the more curved 3" blade. First, let's talk about the blade. All the Hardline knives use D2 steel, which is a high chromium, high carbon tool steel. It's corrosion resistant, very hard, and has a great ability to hold an edge. Downsides is that it's a little more brittle than other knife steels, and it can be harder to sharpen, although it doesn't need sharpening as often as other softer steels. I did some comparisons with other brands, and was very hard pressed to find any knives with D2 steel under $100. In fact, the only ones I did find under $100 were all liner locks, and not a frame lock like the Hardline series uses. I found that this 3" version wasn't quite as sharp as the 2.5" version I already had. The 3" one wasn't sharp enough to shave with right out of the packaging. After about 20 minutes of careful sharpening with a ceramic, I had it as sharp or sharper than the 2.5" blade originally was though. So it's not terribly difficult to sharpen, it just takes some time. I've been carrying and using the knife for the past three weeks, and after my initial sharpening of the blade, it's still sharp enough to shave with. I've used it to cut paper, cardboard, twine, blister packaging, etc., and it's holding and edge very well. The flipper design opens the knife with a crisp snap, and the ball detent keeps the knife closed in your pocket, with nearly no chance of it coming open accidentally. The belt clip is reversible for right or left handed users, but it's only configurable for tip-up carry. This is most convenient for deploying and using the knife quickly, but some may have concerns about the knife coming open in a pocket and getting poked or sliced when reaching into the pocket. I don't see this as a big issue, since the ball detent is very effective at keeping the knife closed. The frame lock has good coverage on the blade, but can be a bit tricky to get disengaged without some practice. The edge you push on with your thumb to disengage the lock is a bit rounded over, and could use some texture to help grip. After a bit of practice, I don't have any problems disengaging the lock one-handed with my right hand, but it's very difficult for me to disengage the lock one-handed with my left hand - I always have to resort to pushing the back edge against a hard surface to assist in closing the blade. It could be I'm not as coordinated as a lefty would be, but it's also a different motion and less natural using the left hand. The 3" bladed version of the Hardline knives is just a little too big for putting in a watch pocket on my jeans, but then again I have a smaller frame, and someone who is 5'8"+ may have more real estate in their pockets. The belt clip still holds it securely to a pocket edge, and I usually just end up carrying it in the corner of my back pocket. So in summary, this is a great EDC knife - it's a little more on the high end of the "economical" range, but I don't think you'll find anything better unless you look in the over $100 range.

I'm a bit of a knife collector and I have all 4 of the Hardline knives. I like them all but this one is my favorite. The 3" size is perfect for me. I do really like the tanto serrated 3" hardline also, but for most of my needs a smooth blade is best. - D2 Steel for under 100.00. Very hard to find in a 3" pocket knife of this build quality - Really heavy duty. This knife is beefy. Stainless steel (stonwashed finish) back, glass reinforced nylon grip, and a serious frame lock. This is made for some serious use. It's also fairly heavy for it's size, but not unreasonably so. - Tip up carry that is really deep. The knife is barely visible in pocket. The clip is reversible for lefties like me - Comes razor sharp out of the package - Opens very quickly with the flipper on the back. No flick of the wrist needed. It's one of the smoothest and fastest (non-spring assisted) knives I own. The only downside for me is closing. I mentioned this in my reviews for the other 3 knives as well. I cannot close this knife with just my left hand. I either need to use my right hand, or use 2 hands to close it. The frame lock is very secure. Overall this is my favorite of all the hardline knives, and one of my top three 3" folding knives I currently own. As you can see in the pictures of the blade, I've already put this knife through some heavy use. I will be carrying this one with me everywhere for the foreseeable future.

The knife is extremely strong, with a very thick blade made of D2 steel This makes the knife quite heavy, considering that one complete side of handle is made of plastic. It's lot heavier than it looks, and one of the heaviest folding knives I've used. The blade has a very nice finish to it as well. It fits nicely into a medium sized hand, with a surprisingly comfy grip. Holds well either facing up, or facing down in your hand. Easy to open and close with one hand. Magnet lightly holds the blade closed so it won't pop open on you. And it's also got the standard Milwaukee Lifetime warranty, so you know it'll last. Overall, a solid blade for any number of tasks.

If you are looking for a knife with a D2 blade, this is a great value, seriously. I have another knife with this steel that cost almost twice as much. These knives have a great feel in your hand. The knife comes out of the package super sharp, which is nice since the last thing you want to do right away is sharpen D2 steel. I have both the 2.5 and the 3.5 models. Both knives were able to cut cleanly through paper, but were not sharp enough to shave with, although I did remove a fair amount of dead skin trying. The 2.5 is perfect for carrying in your pocket and the 3.5 will do well in a situation where carrying a bigger knife makes more sense. It really stands out hanging from your pocket. The flip action took a little getting used to for me. It really helps if you have the knife oriented so the blade is pointing down, and let gravity help. Otherwise you might have to give it a little flick to get it to open all the way. My only real beef with the knife is the blade lock. There isn't much room for your finger/thumb to engage it and it is slippery. So far I have only been able to safely close the knife with two hands, which is a real bummer. Also, the 3.5 is a little big, and I had it come off my pocket while sitting on a couple of occasions.

If you are looking for a knife with a D2 blade, this is a great value, seriously. I have another knife with this steel that cost almost twice as much. These knives have a great feel in your hand. The knife comes out of the package super sharp, which is nice since the last thing you want to do right away is sharpen D2 steel. Both knives were able to cut cleanly through paper, but were not sharp enough to shave with, although I did remove a fair amount of dead skin trying. The flip action took a little getting used to for me. It really helps if you have the knife oriented so the blade is pointing down, and let gravity help. Otherwise you might have to give it a little flick to get it to open all the way. My only real beef with the knife is the blade lock. There isn't much room for your finger/thumb to engage it and it is slippery. So far I have only been able to safely close the knife with two hands, which is a real bummer.

I got this and the 2.5 inch version of it to give a try and see which of them (if either) I would prefer as something to carry routinely. I fully expected to prefer the smaller one but after going back and forth truing them both I keep going back to this one as my preference. It's noticeably easier to open and close than the smaller version without being that much heavier. It's not as light as the old bucklite I had been carrying lately but it is plenty light enough to be comfortable. I don't usually use belt clips but this one has just the right amount of grip being easy to slide on and off without being too loose or too tight. So I'm a belt clip convert on this one. The only thing I would change is the addition of a nail mark for opening but that's just me. The flipper is fine once you get used to it. It's still plenty easy to open and close. The build quality is good and solid and the ball bearing makes it smooth. Yeah, it's more expensive than some knives but it is a good quality. I think it stacks up reasonably well against some more expensive knives. I think I'll be carrying this one for a good while.

I am slightly impressed with the quality of the Hardline smooth blade pocket knife by Milwaukee. The stone washed black oxide finish looks nice and helps prevent corrosion. Even after cutting thick plastic straps, removing splits in furring strips and prying out staples, etc. the blade shows no wear marks The knife . The D2 steel blade is thick and rugged looking but should come from factory sharper. The flipper and bearing system aides in opening knife but flipper could be a little more angled or a tad bigger but once you get use to it the knife is pretty easy to open. The blade locks open via a strong steel frame lock that is a little hard to release especially the first few times you use the knife. The front side of the knife has a glass filled nylon handle that gives you a nice slip resistant grip while the back side of handle is smooth stanless steel with the same stone washed finish. In my opinion there are two design flaws in this knife. Both sides of the knife handle should have been made out of the glass filled nylon and frame lock should be better designed. The D2 steel blade is why I gave this product four stars instead of three.

I got this knife and the 3 inch version of it (smooth blade also) so I could see which I preferred for everyday carry. I fully expected this 2.5 inch version to be my preference because I like a light knife that don't weigh too heavy with all the other junk in my pockets. The quality is good on the build on both. They are very solidly built with good quality steel. I like the smooth blade versus serrated just so I can sharpen it easier. Neither knife is super heavy and I have found both comfortable to carry. However this 2.5 inch one is notably stiffer on both opening and closing than the 3 inch one which is the main reason I prefer it more. It's a small difference but it is just enough to tilt my preference. The 2.5 inch is just not as comfortable due to this. I actually like the blade shape on the smaller knife just slightly more but the difference in ease of opening and closing it is the trump card. I've got a good number of knives I've gathered over the past 40-something years and I go through periodic changes in what I carry daily. At times I've carried Case, Frost or Old Timer in years very long past. And most recently I'd been carrying an old Bucklite which I've had maybe 30 years because it is so lightweight and has a good edge. Although this is obviously a little heavier than the bucklite it is still just as comfortable to carry to me and the blade is probably a tad tougher if harder to sharpen. New, it has a better edge than what I had on the old buck. So, I'm giving the old buck a rest and the 3 inch version of this is now what I'm going with daily. I had a knife almost this same design but it got tossed in the drawer after a short time carrying just because it was so much heavier than these. On the clips - I don't usually use belt clips because they often just seem like more trouble. But the ones on these is smooth enough that I have been using the clip lately although the one on this 2.5 inch version is too narrow for the belt I wear (I'm a jeans and heavy leather belt guy - no dress pants and no narrow belts). I was pleasantly surprised at the weight since some similar knives I had are far heavier. I guess I"m old fashioned in that I've never been crazy about flippers and usually just prefer a nail mark to grab the blade with but I will say the flippers on these work pretty good. That is good because there is so little blade exposed that they can be difficult to open without using the flipper given the absence of a nail mark. You can open either of them with one hand using the flipper although the 3 inch is a lot easier. For me closing it safely is a 2 handed operation I can do it with one hand but I don't see me doing that much. I gave myself a good little nick the first day I carried the 3 inch one on the first time I used it. I did that while I was closing it somehow. That's the first time I've cut myself with a pocket knife in so long I can't recall the last time. But I've since got more used to the knife and I don't see that happening again. The action of the blade on opening and closing is very smooth and you can feel the difference the bearing makes. All in all it's a solid built knife that should hold up well to daily use.

Super heavy duty little knife that is sharp the full length. The D2 steel for the blade is a super tough tool steel used to make high production stamping dies and holds an edge forever, well it seems like it does. The first thing I do with a new knife is rub my hand & thumb all over the outside hard looking for sharp edges or snag areas. Absolutely none. The only thing that catches are the flipper to open blade with and that is not sharp just non-slip and the belt clip. The flipper is positioned when blade is open to prevent the hand from sliding onto blade. Great nonslip nylon handle on one side with a plastic spacer in Milwaukee’s distinctive red. The other side of handle is stainless steel without any checkering but the belt clip is on that side and the locking lever that adds some texture so I don’t think slipping will be a problem. Using the flipper the blade opens with either hand using the index finger. An easy snap and it is locked and loaded. Nice sharp blade straight from factory locks open solidly. Handle has a diamond shaped opening for a thin strap or wrist loop not some puny hole. The belt clip is effective and easily removed if you don’t want it. Screw heads are made for a mini-Torx driver or, if you are like me and do not have the mini-Torx a #0 Allen wrench will work. Measures 4 3/4” closed by 1 1/2” wide by 3/8” thick without the belt clip and 5/8” thick over belt clip. Only the spacer and one handle are glass filled nylon, the rest is steel so it is heavy for it’s size but that weight also gives the knife a good feel.

Super heavy duty little knife that is sharp the full length. The D2 steel for the blade is a super tough tool steel used to make high production stamping dies and holds an edge forever, well it seems like it does. The first thing I do with a new knife is rub my hand & thumb all over the outside hard looking for sharp edges or snag areas. Absolutely none. The only thing that catches is the flipper to open blade with and that is not sharp just non-slip and the flipper is positioned when blade is open to prevent the hand from sliding onto blade. Great nonslip nylon handle on one side with a plastic spacer in Milwaukee’s distinctive red. The other side of handle is stainless steel without any checkering but the belt clip is on that side and the locking lever that adds some texture so I don’t think slipping will be a problem. Using the flipper the blade opens with either hand using the index finger. An easy snap and it is locked and loaded. Nice sharp blade straight from factory locks open solidly. and the serrations are a full 1 inch long and very effective. The D2 steel Tanto blade is handy for piercing just about any material, well, not armor plate but sheet metal is a breeze. Handle has a diamond shaped opening for a thin strap or wrist loop not some puny hole. The belt clip is effective and easily removed if you don’t want it. Screw heads are made for a mini-Torx driver or, if you are like me and do not have the mini-Torx a #0 Allen wrench will work. Measures 4 1/8 closed by 1 1/2” wide by 3/8” thick without the belt clip and 5/8” thick over belt clip. Only the spacer and one handle are glass filled nylon, the rest is steel so it is heavy for it’s size but that weight also gives the knife a good feel.