Key Features

Blade Built for Cable The hollow-ground blade is made to start clean slits in THWN, THHN, and NM cable. That gives electricians better control when opening jacket material without the blade binding up. Grip That Stays Put The non-slip elastomer handle helps the Tajima VARIX Folding Compact Knife stay secure in hand, even with gloves on. That matters when you are making short, controlled cuts in tight spaces. Knife Plus Socket A built-in 17 x 21 mm socket and wrench hole adds jobsite utility beyond cutting. It is a practical setup for quick temporary tightening and easy carry on a carabiner or lanyard.

Overview

Tajima VARIX Folding Compact Knife is a folding electrician’s knife built for controlled cable work and everyday carry on the job. This is a folding compact knife designed for slitting cable jackets, making controlled utility cuts, and handling quick tightening tasks in the field. Model Number: DK-FKMU. If you are an electrician, construction pro, or tradesman who wants one tool that cuts cleanly and earns its spot on your belt, this is the kind of knife that makes sense.

The standout feature here is the hollow-ground blade. Tajima designed it specifically so the blade can make a slit in THWN, THHN, and NM cable, which is a real-world benefit, not just a spec on a page. That blade profile helps the knife enter material cleanly and stay manageable during vertical splitting, so you get better control and less fighting with the cut. The sheepsfoot blade shape also makes sense for work where precision matters more than a pointed tip.

This knife is not just about the blade. The handle uses a non-slip elastomer grip, which gives you a more secure hold when your hands are gloved up or the job is moving fast. On a compact folding knife, grip quality matters because small tools can get sketchy in use if they twist in your hand. Tajima clearly built this one around control and steady handling instead of just making it small.

One of the more useful details is the integrated 17 x 21 mm socket and wrench hole. That means the tool can do more than cut. For the right temporary tightening task, you have added utility without reaching for another hand tool. The wrench hole also works as a carry point, and Tajima calls out attachment to a carabiner and lanyard. That makes the knife easier to keep accessible on a tool belt, pouch, or workwear loop instead of disappearing into a pocket.

The blade is hard chrome plated, which adds durability where it counts. On a jobsite knife, finish matters because the blade sees repeated contact with cable jackets, jobsite grime, and general wear. Tajima also positions this knife as newly engineered around safety and work efficiency, and the overall design supports that claim: folding format, controlled blade shape, practical grip, and built-in attachment options all point toward a tool meant for daily trade use.

At about 0.5 lb assembled weight, it has enough substance to feel solid without becoming dead weight on your belt. Image and product data also show the knife clipping easily to a carabiner-style holder, which lines up with the intended carry method. This is not a disposable utility knife for random cuts around the house. It is a trade-focused cutting tool for users who work with wire and cable often enough to appreciate a blade shape made for that job.

Who should buy it? Electricians are the obvious target, especially anyone working with THWN, THHN, and NM cable who wants a compact folding knife that is easier to control than a general-purpose pocket knife. It also fits construction pros and general contractors who value carry convenience and like tools that pull double duty. If your work is mostly box opening and light household tasks, this is probably more specialized than you need. If you spend your day around cable, belts, pouches, and repetitive hand work, it is built with you in mind.

Made for Electrician Cuts

This is where the knife separates itself from a generic folding blade. It is set up for cable slitting work, so the shape and grind are aimed at cleaner starts and better control in electrician applications.

• Hollow-ground blade is designed to make a slit in THWN, THHN, and NM cable
• Sheepsfoot blade shape favors controlled cutting over puncture-style work

Extra Utility Without Extra Bulk

The integrated socket is the kind of detail that saves a trip back to the pouch for small temporary tightening jobs. You still get a dedicated cutting tool, but with one more useful function built into the frame.

• Built-in socket size is 17 x 21 mm
• Wrench hole adds temporary tightening capability and another attachment point

Easy to Carry, Hard to Lose

A specialized knife only helps if you actually keep it on you. Tajima built this one with carry in mind, so it can hang from a carabiner or lanyard and stay within reach through the workday.

• Lanyard attachment hole supports belt, pouch, or carabiner carry
• Compact folding format is easier to carry than a fixed-blade electrician knife

Secure Feel in the Hand

Compact knives live or die by grip quality. The elastomer handle gives this one a more planted feel, which helps when you are making short, precise cuts instead of rough slicing.

• Non-slip elastomer grip stays secure with or without gloves
• Hard chrome plated blade adds durability for repeated trade use

What’s in the Box

• (1) Tajima VARIX Folding Compact Knife

Key Specifications

Compatibility

Cable Types Designed to make a slit in THWN, THHN, and NM cable. Socket Function Integrated socket is sized at 17 x 21 mm for quick tightening tasks. Carry Options Wrench hole and lanyard attachment point are suited for carabiner or lanyard carry.

Built For

Electrical Construction General Contracting Cable Slitting Tool Belt Carry Jobsite Utility Cutting

Pro Tip

Use the hollow-ground edge to start the slit in cable jacket material with a light touch, then let the blade track the cut instead of forcing it. That takes better advantage of what this knife was designed to do and helps you keep the cut cleaner.

Warranty & Support

No manufacturer’s warranty is listed for this product.

Tool Nut’s Take

Tool Nut’s Take

Why the Tajima VARIX Folding Compact Knife earns belt space

This is a purpose-built electrician knife with a few smart jobsite tricks that make it more useful than a generic folder.

• Who it’s for: Electricians and tradespeople who regularly slit cable jackets and want a compact knife they can clip to the belt and actually keep on them.
• Why it stands out: The hollow-ground blade is built around cable work, the grip looks jobsite-ready, and the integrated 17 x 21 mm socket is a legitimately useful extra.
• Worth knowing: This is a specialized folding compact knife, not a do-everything pocket knife. If cable work is not part of your day, you may not use its best features enough to justify it.

Common Questions

• What kind of work is this knife designed for? It is designed for electricians and construction professionals, with a hollow-ground blade made to slit THWN, THHN, and NM cable.
• Does this knife have any built-in wrench or socket function? Yes. It includes an integrated 17 x 21 mm socket and a wrench hole for temporary tightening tasks.
• Is it easy to carry on a belt or carabiner? Yes. The product includes a lanyard attachment hole, and Tajima notes it can be attached to a carabiner.
• Where is it made? Source data lists Japan as the country of origin.