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The James Brand The Palmer — Slate Gray (2026) vs The James Brand The Helton
The James Brand The Palmer — Slate Gray (2026) ($59) vs The James Brand The Helton ($169) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right utility knife.
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | The James Brand The Palmer — Slate Gray (2026) | The James Brand The Helton |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $59 | $169 |
| Weight | 70g | 98.4g |
| Material | Anodized Aluminum (Slate Gray) | — |
| Blade | Standard replaceable utility | VG-10, partially serrated |
| Change | Tool-free mechanism | — |
| Weight | 70g | 98.4g / 3.5 oz with clip |
| TSA | Friendly | — |
| Year | 2026 Edition | — |
| Tools | — | 9, all locking |
| Drivers | — | Two, magnetic |
| Handle | — | 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum |
| Closed | — | 3.5" / 8.8cm |
| Extras | — | Chisel-tipped tweezers, scissors, file, bottle opener, metal pick, lanyard and bead |
Pros & Cons
The James Brand The Palmer — Slate Gray (2026)
- Tool-free blade change
- TSA checkpoint friendly
- 70g lightweight aluminum
- Bead-blasted grip texture
- Replaceable standard blades
- Utility blades only — no precision tip
- Not lockback for heavy tasks
- $59 for a utility knife
The James Brand The Helton
- Every tool locks, which is the real complaint about traditional multi-tools
- Magnetic drivers keep bits and screws where you put them
- No plastic, unusual at this size
- 3.5 inches closed carries like a pocket knife, not a multi-tool
- $169 is Swiss Army money several times over
- No pliers, which rules out a whole class of jobs
- VG-10 is good, not exceptional, at this price
- Some finishes list at $179
The James Brand The Palmer — Slate Gray (2026) is the better value at $59. Both are part of our curated utility knife index — tap through to check current pricing.