Klein Put a Screwdriver in an Electrician’s Pocket Knife

I have a soft spot for tools that earn their place in your pocket. Not tools that try to do 47 different things poorly, just practical tools that combine a few useful functions without becoming bulky.

The Klein Tools Electrician’s Pocket Knife with Driver looks like it gets that balance right.

At its core, this is a folding pocket knife with a locking sheepsfoot blade. A thumb hole helps with opening, while the crossbar lock makes it easier to close when you’re finished. Klein also added a wire-bending hole and a stripping notch that handles 12 and 14 AWG solid wire along with 14 and 16 AWG stranded wire.

That already makes it more useful for electrical work than an ordinary pocket knife. Then you get to the driver.

The built-in driver locks at either 90 or 180 degrees. The straight position works like a traditional screwdriver, while the 90-degree position can provide a little more leverage or help in tighter spaces.

Its removable bit includes two of the sizes electricians commonly reach for:

1. #2 Phillips
2. 1/4-inch slotted

A push-button release makes the bit easier to remove when you need to switch sides. No digging around with your fingernails or shaking the tool until the bit falls out.

Klein kept the overall design slim and added a deep-carry steel pocket clip. It should fit easily into a pants pocket or tool pouch without taking over the entire space.

This isn’t meant to replace a complete screwdriver set, wire stripper or pair of pliers. It also isn’t a substitute for properly rated insulated tools when working around energized equipment.

What it can do is handle the quick tasks that come up throughout the day: opening boxes, cutting material, stripping common wire sizes, bending wire and tightening a loose screw without walking back to the tool bag.

There is even a bottle opener for when the work is done. Is it necessary? No. Am I complaining? Also no.

The Klein Electrician’s Pocket Knife with Driver looks like a genuinely useful everyday-carry tool, especially for electricians, maintenance workers and anyone who regularly reaches for both a knife and screwdriver.