I've carried pocket knives every day since a small kid. I also use the utility knives regularly doing maintenance at rental properties. With years of use, the only times I've cut myself good is with the utility blades. I think they are just an inefficient design for anything except opening and cutting up boxes. Using them for other cutting chores forces you to use techniques that aren't safe. A SAK isn't any larger and much better design for general cutting chores.

True for most of them, but check out the ones made by Lenox: http://www.lenoxsaw.com/utility.htm
They're 0.025 inch thick (heavy duty) bimetal blades; a thin, high speed steel edge welded to a spring steel back. Just like bimetal "shatterproof" hacksaw blades. These are also edge coated with titanium (TiN), and have four notches instead of two, so they can stick out further than regular blades. They claim that these last three times longer than regular utility blades. You can find them at Home Depot for about 40 cents/blade in 50 packs. I think the 5 pack was $2.50 or $3.00. Better to try them out that way, than sending for the free sample they're offering if you reply to their survey. They want too much info for my taste. See the free offer at the bottom of the http://www.lenoxsaw.com/index.html homepage. But it shows a good picture of them, as well as a crazy photo of one of them bent by two Vise Grips WAY further than I'd ever bend a regular utility knife blade. They've shown them used this way to flush cut with a utility knife. I hope they used safety goggles! I like them, but then I'm not a drywall contractor that abuses blades, so YMMV.

Thanks for heads-up on this free offer. I think I will give them a try <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I'm not a drywall guy either, but I have been very happy with the Lenox Gold blades.

I carry the same box cutter for urban edc. It does most of what I need to do. It is light and thin, so you hardly know it is in your pocket. I did tighten the handle to prevent the blade from coming out while in my pocket, and I wrapped the handle with a rubber band to prevent the cutter from falling out of my pocket. In an emergency, it would be excellent for making things out of cardboard, a common item in an urban environment.

Spud

We use the Lenox blades in the fire company. They are far better than any similar blade and are well worth it.
Much stronger, they don't shatter and, in the right handle, you can pry with the blade without it shattering.

I love my Husky.