Milwaukee Tool 48-22-1512 Self Retracting Utility Knife

Yes, the 48-22-1512 is a self retracting knife. The blade pulls back into the body as soon as you release the slider, so it can't be left exposed in a pouch or on a ladder. That is the main difference from a standard fixed or manual-retract utility knife, and it's the version most safety programs on commercial sites specify.

Blade changes are tool free on this knife, so no screwdriver or hex key is needed to swap a dull blade mid-job. It also stores 5 extra blades in the body, which means a crew member cutting drywall, carpet or cardboard all day carries spares in the same hand tool rather than a separate pack.

Metal body. For MRO and contractor use that matters because the housing takes drops onto concrete and pressure from a heavy cut without flexing the way a composite shell can.

There are two blade positions, so you can run a shallow setting for scoring drywall or cutting shrink wrap over finished surfaces and extend further for thicker material like carpet or multi-wall cardboard.

It has a lanyard hole, so it can be tied off to a tool belt or a tether. Facilities and construction crews working on lifts, roofs or scaffolds usually require that, and combined with the self retracting blade it's a knife that suits a tie-off policy.

Pick the self retracting type, like the Milwaukee 48-22-1512, when the knife gets set down, pocketed or carried up a ladder between cuts, since the blade returns on its own and can't stay out. A standard sliding knife holds its position, which is easier for long continuous cuts where you don't want to keep the slider pressed. For fleet buys where a safety policy drives the spec, the self retracting version is the one that satisfies it.

The manufacturer part number is 48-22-1512, sold as a single model with no size or finish options to specify. Order it by that number and you get the metal-body self retracting knife with tool free blade change and onboard storage for 5 spare blades.