MZ-AL Type Large Cutter Knife 168B / OLFA

• Model: 168B
• Blade type: Large snap-off blade
• Blade thickness: 0.5mm
• Max blade capacity: 6 blades
• Included: 3 large replacement blades pre-loaded
• Blade loading: Rear-entry
• Lock mechanism: Auto-lock + rear screw lock (double lock)
• Body material: Nylon resin (33% glass fiber)
• Blade material: Alloy tool steel
• Packaging: Blister pack
• Award: Good Design Award winner

Most large cutter knives require you to stop, find a replacement blade, and reload mid-task. The MZ-AL was designed to eliminate that interruption entirely. By building a magazine-style chamber directly into the body, OLFA made it possible to carry up to six blades in the handle itself, each advancing automatically when the previous one is removed.

The blade-loading system works from the rear: open the back cover, stack in up to six blades, and close it up. From there, the magazine mechanism takes over. When a blade is spent, pulling the slider forward ejects it cleanly; pushing the slider back advances the next blade into position. No loose blades to manage on the workbench.

Security was designed in layers. The auto-lock holds the blade firmly with one-touch engagement, while a secondary screw on the rear lets users dial in extra clamping force for heavy cutting tasks like cardboard or plywood. The body is molded from glass-fiber-reinforced nylon, keeping the frame rigid under load. OLFA's Good Design Award recognition for this model reflects how much thought went into a mechanism that, in use, feels almost obvious.