Monday, June 12, 2017

Introducing the new Modern Specialties utility knives: The MS35 and the MS75

The new MS35 is Modern’s folding lock back utility knife.

They just arrived and, if your interested, give us a call at
1-800-648-5801  

Size Open
6 1/4" x 1" x 3/4"
Size Closed
3 7/8" x 1 1/2" x 3/4"
Gross Weight 5.3 oz

Heavy Duty Quality and Effieciency


MS35 features:


* Heavy duty red colored steel handle


* Contoured handle that fits nicely in hand

* Easy one button quick blade change

* Knife locks open and closed for safety


* Uses Modern Specialties # U101 blades 

The new MS75 is Modern’s standard type retractable utility knife.

 Size
6" x 1 1/4" x 3/4"
Gross Weight 4.7 oz

* Heavy duty silver colored cast handle
* Contoured handle fits nicely in hand
* Easy blade change, one bolt disassembly
* Uses Modern's U101 blades

Follow this link for more information

Friday, May 19, 2017

First Look: The New Modern Specialties Knives coming soon.

New utility knives are coming to our product line in June 2017, the MS35 folding lock back utility knife, and the MS75 standard type three position retractable utility knife.



Tuesday, March 11, 2014

General Knife Safety

General Knife Safety

We Encourage Safe Use of Our Products
  
     

Here are some simple tips on using our products in a safe and productive manner:

Make sure that the blade is properly seated and that the knife is properly tightened.

Cut away from your body, not toward it.

Keep your free hand away from the line of cutting.

Use your knife in well lighted areas.

Never run with a knife or point it towards anybody.

Don't use knives for prying something.  It could cause the blade to break, possibly causing an injury.

Do not use knives if your are drowsy because of medication or other reasons.

Always pull the knife.  A pulling motion is stronger than a pushing motion and your knife is less likely to slip

When using a knife to cut through thick materials, make several passes, cutting deeper with each pass.

Avoid bending blades and applying side loads to them.  You can damage the knife and or the blade.

Retract the blade when not in use and store the knife in a safe place.


KuttO Box Cutter Safety

100% Accident Reduction

Our KuttO knives have safety guards that enable the blade to be extended safely without subjecting users to thumb strain and wrist pain cause by other safety type knives that are heavy weight and contain spring loaded retracting blades.

Our Utility knives are made out of heavy duty steel and come will a lifetime guarantee. Knives made out of plastic are likely to break and zinc cast knives are heavy compared to our special design.


"We partner with our customers and our vendors to deliver great quality products as the result of decades of manufacturing experience"

Monday, December 16, 2013


The History of Modern Specialties Company

The Modern Specialties Company was founded in 1930, Chicago, Illinois, by August J Lurie.  Modern was his original name for the company.  Lurie was the inventor of Modern’s unique line of utility knife and safety knife products, including the specially designed replacement blades.  Modern’s early success was based on his innovatively designed and patented products.
          
 


A.J. Lurie invented the first safety knife and trademarked them “KuttO”as well as his utility products which he trademarked “UtillO”.  He patented some of Modern’s products which include patents US2128151, US2187590, US2241608, US2978807, US3178812, US3184843 and his currently known patents range from the years of 1938 to 1965.  Mr. Lurie became very ill at age 94.  He went to the office every day until that time.  He was hospitalized for three years until he died in Chicago, Illinois at age 97 in 1979.   



Modern Specialties was originally located at 4140 Harrison Street and was later moved to Ogden Avenue in a new building that Lurie built for the company.  Modern Specialties went up for auction in early 1981 as Lurie’s primary funds were in the care of the Northern Trust Bank with a million dollars going to Michael Reese Hospital and another million going to Mt. Sinai Hospital.  Robert Dean and Gerissa A. French bid on Modern Specialties and won.  Robert Dean French, a retired naval commander, moved Modern to its prime location at 661 West Lake Street in Chicago, Illinois.  The trademarks were renewed and the trademark “Modern Roofer” replaced the “UtillO” trademark.


    
The company’s goal is, and always has been, to provide quality products for the best value and to provide complete customer satisfaction with the best possible customer service.  Modern has a A+ BBB business review rating.  The Modern website is www.modernspecialties.com and a free smart phone App is available in the Apple IOS marketplace as well as in the Google Play, Android marketplace.


                Modern’s products are still built to the same original specifications, today

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

MODERN SPECIALTIES BUILDING IN CHICAGO CHOSEN AS A SITE FOR UPCOMING SCI-FI FILM, JUPITER ASCENDING

MODERN SPECIALTIES                             Press Release

MODERN SPECIALTIES BUILDING IN CHICAGO CHOSEN AS A SITE FOR UPCOMING SCI-FI FILM, JUPITER ASCENDING


Chicago, Illinois - August 21, 2013

Rozar Pictures
Movie Shoot at
661 West Lake St. transforms
Modern Specialties Building for a day.
 
 
At 9 am on August 21st the film crew of Rozar Pictures arrived at the Modern Specialties building, home of KuttO safey box cutters and Modern Roofer Products. By changing the signage at the building's entrance, they transformed the loft office building into a Women's Health and Fertility Clinic with a new,
made-up address-6114 W. Lake Street.
 
Police buzzed around outside keeping onlookers in check. By mid morning, the film crew brought in trucks and other equipment for the shoot, and filming started in the early afternoon. By 5 pm they were gone, and the building had been restored to its original form. One would never guess that the polite and efficient Rozar Pictures filming crew had even been there!
 
The sci-fi film, Jupiter Ascending, starring Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum, and Sean Bean, will be in movie theatres next year.
 
There was a lot of excitement at the building on that day but now Modern Specialties, a veteran owned small business in Chicago's West Loop, is back to manufacturing USA made quality products.
 
About MODERN SPECIALTIES

Since 1930, The Modern Specialties Company, a veteran owned small business, has manufactured outstanding industrial hand tools.   Visit Our Website
 
Thanks for taking the time to read our blog post.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

MODERN SPECIALTIES
Wouldn't you want to reduce your cut injury accidents by 100% and also have a knife with a lifetime guarantee? 
                                                                                              Read on:          
 
 
 
 
 
 

Featured Article
Wouldn't you want to reduce cut injury accidents by 100%?
 
How about a knife with a lifetime guarantee?

Training and Knife Safety
Training and safety go hand in hand

 
Training is the key to preventing accidents. Most cut injury accidents can be preventing by applying these safety rules when using a utility knife.
 
Always inspect the knife before use.
 
Draw the knife away from your body when cutting.
 
Don't work with a dull blade. Dull blades require more pressure increasing the possibility for injury.
 
Don't overload the knife's work load capacity.
 
Don't store the knife with the blade extended.
 
Always wear protective equipment.
 
Our KuttO knives have safety guards that enable the blade to be extended safely without subjecting users to thumb strain and wrist pain cause by other safety type knives that are heavy weight and contain spring loaded retracting blades.
 
Our Utility knives are made out of heavy duty steel and come will a lifetime guarantee. Knives made out of plastic are likely to break and zinc cast knives are heavy compared to our special design.

Let's Get Social
Did you know that we are also on Facebook, Twitter?
 
Follow us on Twitter   www.twitter.com/modernspec and Facebook at facebook.com/modernspecialties 
1-800-648-5801
Save 100%
ON SHIPPING FOR ORDERS OF $500 OR MORE
     

If you are in the domestic United States and are purchasing $500 or more of our products per shipment, you are qualified for free shipping with Net 30 day payment.  Call 1-800-648-5801 for more information. 
 

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

About the K-917 Blade

About the K-917 replacement blade.



The K-917 blade is 3/4 x 1 1/2 which is the same size as the K-9 blade.  It also fits in the MS25, MS27 and MS20 KuttO safety box cutters.




The K-9 blade is named after it's thickness .009" thick.  The K-17 is also named after it's thickness of .017".  The K-917 is a combination of both.  It's size is the same as the K9 blade but it is thicker and more heavy duty as is the K-17 Blade.



Please check out our blades page at http://www.modernspecialties.com/blades/blades.html or give us a call at 1-800-648-5801 for more information.