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A.C.M. (Arts, Craft & Modellers) Craft Knife Set

A.C.M. (Arts, Craft & Modellers) Craft Knife Set
Swann-Morton
Catalogue # 9101
Available from Scalpels and Blades for £16.82

I have a fondness for Swann-Morton tools. I’ve used them for almost 35 years, and I have to say that without them, I simply wouldn’t function properly as a modeller. I was in a lucky position that I could get endless supplies of sterile blades to for my No.3 handle back in those days, and despite those particular supplies drying up, I continue to buy the non-sterile variety of blades on a frequent basis.

Swann-Morton have decided that it’s now time to take their expertise from the operating theatre into the modelling den, and they have kindly sent through their ACM set, designed specifically for hobbyists, but, quoting their own specifications, using the same grade and quality of surgical steel as they are famous for.

The ACM set comes ‘open’, and sealed into a cardboard backed, transparent plastic shell so the contents are displayed. Opening this up, and checking out the plastic case that houses all the tools, it’s obvious that this neat carrying case is pretty robust, moulded in blue, emblazoned with the Swann-Morton logo, and secured with two green plastic clips that hold the box shut very firmly.

The set itself contains three handles with bevelled blades. These handles look very similar to X-Acto handles and the two smallest are round in section, made from aluminium, and engraved with the Swann-Morton name. These particular handles are produced in small and medium sizes, and are also knurled for grip.

The largest handle, designed for heavier-duty work, has a plastic faceted plastic handle which prevents this particular one from rolling off your desk and onto your foot!

To fit blades on all handles, you simply twist the knurled head of the knife handle and this opens the cross-cut insert into which you slide the blade. Twist the knurled head the opposite way and the blade is locked into place. This is the same as X-Acto and other proprietary makes.

Along with the blades which come pre-installed in all three handles, another 10 blades of various shapes and differing sizes to match the handles are supplied. These initially come pre-sealed and beneath the knife tray. The storage for these blades is also neat. The card cover from above the knife storage area comes away to reveal a magnetic strip onto which the unused blades are held.

There is a blade here for just about every conceivable job that a modeller could with for, and the quality of them is very high. One blade does seem a little unevenly ground, with a slight lip, but this is the only negative in what appears to be a great set of knives.

All blades designed for this set are stamped with ACM so that buying replacements should be very simple.

So what do we think?
This is a great set for both the regular scalpel user, and so also tempt users of other manufacturers over to try the quality of Swann-Morton. At under £17 too, this represents amazing value for money and will keep you going for a while before you need to consider replacement blades.

Overall: 9/10

Our sincere thanks to Swann-Morton for supplying the review sample used here. To purchase this item directly, click THIS link. To check out other Swann-Morton products, click THIS link.

JH