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.

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.

• 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.