Klein Tools just dropped its Blackout collection at Lowe’s, a run of limited edition hand tools finished in all-black with black handles. There are eight pieces this year, prices run $15 to $35, and past Blackout drops have sold out fast.
If you want one, the smart move is buying now and deciding later.
The Full Lineup
| Tool | Price |
|---|---|
| 2-in-1 Flickblade utility knife with bit driver (44304BLK) | $20 |
| 5″ diagonal flush-cutting pliers | $15 |
| 11-in-1 multi-bit screwdriver and nut driver, magnetic barrel | $25 |
| 11-in-1 multi-bit screwdriver (standard style) | $20 |
| EDC folding construction knife, button lock | $15 |
| Wire stripper, 10-18 AWG solid | $15 |
| 2pc adjustable wrench set, 6″ and 10″ | $35 |
The diagonal cutters and wire stripper carry a grayscale USA flag etch, and the stripper is rated for solid wire only.
That caught our eye. Klein’s older red-handled strippers target stranded wire, and the color-coding matters if you grab one by muscle memory.
Worth a look at the specs before you buy if you work stranded wire daily.
What’s Actually Different
Blackout editions are colorway swaps, not new tool designs.
- The Flickblade 2-in-1 is the closest thing to fresh since it uses the updated button-lock bit holder.
- The 11-in-1 with the magnetic barrel is a step up from the standard version.
- Acme sells the same magnetic 11-in-1 in regular colors for $22, so the $20 Blackout pricing isn’t a premium.
The rest are familiar Klein staples in black: the adjustable wrench set, flush cutters, pocket knife, and stripper.
You’re paying roughly what the standard tools cost, sometimes a couple dollars more for the finish.
Buying Notes
Lowe’s has these online, and stock is the usual limited-edition problem.
ToolGuyd’s reporting and reader comments both note stores are hard to find them in, and online fulfillment has been spotty.
Klein’s previous limited runs moved quickly too.
The 250th anniversary collection from May followed the same pattern: announced, scattered stock, gone.
If a Blackout piece is on your list, order it and return it if it disappoints rather than waiting a week.
Price Check Against the Standard Colors
Most Blackout pieces sit within a dollar or two of their standard-color versions. The Flickblade 2-in-1 at $20 matches what comparable folding utility knives with bit drivers cost, and the wrench set at $35 for a 6-inch and 10-inch pair is in line with Klein’s usual pricing for that combo.
The one to skip on price alone is the standard-style 11-in-1 at $20, since the regular version runs $16 at Amazon and the Blackout finish is the only upgrade.
When to Buy
Holiday-season limited editions tend to disappear between Thanksgiving and mid-December. Lowe’s stock checker and in-store pickups are worth trying before paying shipping.
If the collection follows the 250th anniversary timeline, reorders are unlikely once initial stock drains. Klein has restocked some limited runs, but not on a predictable schedule.
Price Check Against the Standard Colors
Most Blackout pieces sit within a dollar or two of their standard-color versions. The Flickblade 2-in-1 at $20 matches what comparable folding utility knives with bit drivers cost, and the wrench set at $35 for a 6-inch and 10-inch pair is in line with Klein’s usual pricing for that combo.
The one to skip on price alone is the standard-style 11-in-1 at $20, since the regular version runs $16 at Amazon and the Blackout finish is the only upgrade.
When to Buy
Holiday-season limited editions tend to disappear between Thanksgiving and mid-December. Lowe’s stock checker and in-store pickups are worth trying before paying shipping.
If the collection follows the 250th anniversary timeline, reorders are unlikely once initial stock drains. Klein has restocked some limited runs, but not on a predictable schedule.
Related reading: Klein Tools USA 250th Anniversary Limited Edition at Lowe’s | Klein ModBox 3-Drawer Rolling Tool Box Hits $250 | Milwaukee’s $21.97 USA-Made Wire Stripper