Bosch RS428 1-1/8-Inch Vibration Control D-Handle Reciprocating Saw review

Bosch · current-reference corded reciprocating saw · exact model RS428

What the RS428 package and specifications establish

Bosch's U.S. page identifies the RS428 as a 1-1/8-inch vibration-control D-handle reciprocating saw. Its technical table lists 120 volts, a 0–2,900-strokes-per-minute no-load range, an 18.4-inch overall length and an 8.65-pound weight. Those are useful catalog identifiers, not a prediction of cut rate in a particular piece of framing, pipe or metal. The exact written in-box list is short: one saw, one wood-with-nails blade and one carrying bag. A buyer still needs a blade suited to the real material and a safe way to support the work.

This is a corded, two-handed saw. The shared RS325/RS428 manual directs one hand on the rear handle and the other on the insulated front housing, then says to keep the footplate firmly against the workpiece. “Compact” in Bosch's description refers to the body relative to the larger category; it does not make this a one-hand tool. Plan a reachable, suitable outlet and a cord path that stays clear of the blade, edges and footing. The manual also calls for clamping the work rather than holding it in the free hand.

Check the amperage against the exact saw

There is an official-source conflict worth resolving before treating amperage as a buying filter. Bosch's current RS428 product page states 14 A. A separate Bosch service-program update effective August 7, 2024 labels the RS428 a 13-amp reciprocating saw. The linked operating manual says tool specifications should be read from the nameplate on the tool. Rather than silently choose between those primary documents, this assessment leaves the exact current draw unresolved and does not use it in matching. Read the nameplate on the saw under consideration and follow the circuit, extension-cord and supply instructions for that exact tool.

The product page lists the RS428's weight at 8.65 lb. Because this is a corded model, there is no battery to add to the saw figure, but the page does not label it as a shipped-package or carrying-bag weight. Do not count it as the bagged tool's full carry mass, and do not mix it with a cordless model's installed-battery figure.

Constant orbit is not an orbital selector

Bosch's page calls the action “constant orbital,” and the shared manual identifies a constant-orbit mechanism. That is different from a selectable orbital mode: the documentation does not present an orbit-on/orbit-off control for the RS428. The guide's feature filter is specifically for selectable orbital action, so a buyer who requires a switchable orbit should look at models whose exact sources document that control. The RS428's variable-speed trigger is another function: Bosch says pressure on the trigger changes the stroke rate. Neither statement supplies an independent comparison of cutting speed, finish or vibration in a reader's job.

The RS428 does add more handling equipment than its RS325 sibling. Bosch describes counterbalance technology, a vibration-damper handle and a vibration-control system; the product page claims its system reduces vibration to about one-third that of “standard tools.” That is a manufacturer claim, not a measurement conducted for this review. No hands-on vibration, fatigue or cut test was performed. A D-handle and counterbalance do not remove the need for two hands, shoe contact and a supported workpiece.

The three-position foot is a real RS428 difference

The exact page calls the foot adjustable and identifies three positions. The shared manual provides the distinction in its illustration and instructions: the footplate tilts to maintain contact with the work, and on the RS428 only, a release button lets the assembly lock into one of three positions. Moving it can change how much blade projects beyond the footplate, which the manual connects to blade life or reducing projection for a large-diameter pipe or wall cut. This is not a depth stop, a work clamp or proof that a particular cut is suitable.

Unplug the saw before making adjustments or changing a blade. The manual explicitly warns not to press the foot release while sawing because the foot can release and control may be lost. It also cautions that a blade must remain beyond the footplate and pass through the work throughout its stroke; an unsuitable short or angled blade can bind or break. These constraints matter more than the existence of a three-position feature label.

Tool-free clamp, but deliberate blade setup

The manual shows a collar-operated blade holder: turn the collar, seat the blade until its shoulder rests at the collar, release the spring-loaded holder and push-pull the blade to confirm the retaining pin. That is a tool-free blade change, not permission to work on a plugged-in saw or to skip the retention check. Bosch's package list includes a wood-with-nails blade, not an all-material blade kit. The manual says different materials call for blades designed for the job, recommends clamping the work and says not to force the cut. It also tells users to keep the blade clear of the footplate and work through the full stroke.

Who should compare this model—and what remains unknown

The RS428 is a plausible paper fit when a buyer wants a two-handed 120 V corded arrangement, a documented three-position foot, variable trigger and vibration-control features, and is comfortable checking the exact current draw at the nameplate. Compare it with the RS325 rather than treating Bosch's two corded models as interchangeable: the RS325 has a shorter 1-inch stroke, lower listed weight and fixed foot, while the RS428 has a longer stroke, three-position travel, vibration-control system and a different package list.

Look elsewhere if the saw must run from a battery platform, fit a compact one-handed workflow or provide documented selectable orbital action. Bosch's exact page and shared manual support the features above but do not establish a universal capacity for every blade/workpiece combination. No cut, vibration, durability or runtime test was performed; no retailer stock, price, customer rating or hands-on use is claimed here. The current-reference label means Bosch presents an exact U.S. model page and category card, not that a particular retailer has it in stock. Verify the RS428 suffix, nameplate, package list, blade, cord and work setup before buying.