Art Knife Pro 157B / OLFA

• Model: 157B
• Included blades: Straight blade, curved blade, flat blade (2 of each, 6 total)
• Straight blade edge angle: 23 degrees
• Art knife replacement blade edge angle: 32.8 degrees
• Compatible replacement blades: Hobby saw blade wide (XB157T), hobby saw blade fine (XB157K), plastic-cut blade (XB157H), thin flat blade (XB157N), scraping blade (XB157P), art knife blade (XB157M)
• Body material: Nylon resin (20% glass fiber)
• Blade material: Alloy tool steel
• Grip: Rubber
• Packaging: Blister pack
• Award: Good Design Award winner
• Hand compatibility: Left and right hand

The Art Knife Pro was designed around a specific frustration with standard pen-type knives: blade wobble. When you are cutting fine details in paper, film, or plastic, any flex at the blade mount translates directly into an imprecise cut. OLFA addressed this with a chuck collar mechanism that clamps the blade firmly at the base, removing play entirely.

The straight blade runs at a 23-degree edge angle with an unusually long exposed length, which lets the tip reach into tight corners without the body of the knife obstructing the cut line. The rubber grip wraps the nylon-and-glass-fiber body to keep the knife stable even during extended sessions.

What separates the Pro from other OLFA pen knives is the range of compatible blades: nine types in total, covering straight cutting, curved cuts, plastic sheet scoring, surface scraping, fine detail trimming, and even hobby saw work. The three included blade types give a starting range, and the separately sold replacements expand from there. The design earned a Good Design Award, recognizing the balance between a compact pen-type form and functional breadth.