Cutter Handheld Saw 217BN / OLFA

• Model: 217BN
• Saw blade type: Thorn-pattern (ibarame), cuts on push and pull strokes
• Cutter blade type: M-thick blade
• Compatible materials: Gypsum board, wood, plywood; cutter blade also for cable sheathing
• Additional use: Saw tip can pierce for hole-making
• Handedness: Both tools are left-right ambidextrous (blade reverses for left-handed use)
• Grip: Elastomer non-slip sides
• Body (resin): Polypropylene with glass fiber
• Body (rubber): Elastomer resin
• Body (metal): Stainless steel
• Blade: Carbon tool steel (SK85)
• Blade system: Replaceable, screw-lock and auto-lock mechanism
• Packaging: Blister pack
• Award: Good Design Award winner

The 217BN exists because two tasks keep appearing together in renovation and construction work: cutting through gypsum board or wood panels, and stripping cable sheathing or trimming materials with a blade knife. Carrying two separate tools for this is the obvious solution, but OLFA engineered them into a single slim body without compromise on either end.

The saw side uses an ibarame, or thorn-pattern, tooth geometry. Unlike a standard rip or crosscut pattern, ibarame teeth are set to cut on both the push and pull stroke, which improves control and reduces the amount of dust kicked up when working through gypsum board. That last point matters in real conditions: gypsum dust is fine and spreads quickly, so a blade geometry that suppresses scatter leaves a cleaner cut and a cleaner workspace.

The cutter side uses OLFA's M-thick blade format, which is thicker than the standard A blade. The extra thickness resists flex during firm cuts, so the knife stays on line even under lateral load. The screw-lock and auto-lock mechanisms on the blade holder keep the blade fixed during use and retracted safely when the tool is put down. Both the saw and cutter can be reversed in the body, so the tool works the same way in a left or right hand.