Smith and Wesson Knives

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SteadyD

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I’ve never owned a knife made by Smith and Wesson and I have no clue as to their quality in and of itself, as well as in relation to other knives in a similar price range. Can you fine folks elaborate on this subject for me? I searched the forum but didn’t see anything specifically dedicated to this.
 
They don't make them, they contract them out to whatever knife company will make them.

I would ask them who they're using to make the knife you want to buy. Then look up that company and see what kind of background they have.

I have a group of 5 knives sold by Browning, they didn't make them. They used TOPS Knives to make the knives for them. You might've seen them advertised at one time, they were called Field Duty Extreme.

Here's a pic of all 5 knives.

20190315_180344.jpg
 
I have one from 2014, a liner lock folder and I was not impressed with that particular knife. Not very stiff and the handle felt pretty light and cheap. But that was just that one knife and I am far from a knife connoisseur.
 
The only Smith & Wesson knife I recall wanting was a Bowie model that was paired with a Texas Ranger Commemorative Model 19. I am a big fan of the Texas Rangers but couldn't afford to buy it. I never found out who made that knife for S&W but it looked pretty nice.
 
They are inexpensive knives that are not first rate quality. That said I had one in my shop when I made knives and beat it to hell using it for stuff I'd never use a good knife for. I stay away from them when buying, preferring better quality from a good maker.
 
Most if not all are made in China using low to mid quality steel in the blades. There are some good knives coming out of China that are much better quality than the S&W knives. They are charging about double their real value just because of the S&W logo.

Spyderco and Kershaw have some of their budget knives made in China. They ain't bad for the money. I'd have to pass on anything S&W.
 
The early ones made by Heritage or Blackie and Michael Collins for S&W were excellent.

Subsequent S&W branded Taylor Cutlery knives were economy knives starting out, but did improve in the final years.

When S&W Holding Corp. bought Taylor to get the knife brand back in 2016 they became a division of S&W's accessories unit, Battenfeld Technologies, Inc. The brand is an economy brand still.
 
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I’ve never owned a knife made by Smith and Wesson and I have no clue as to their quality in and of itself, as well as in relation to other knives in a similar price range. Can you fine folks elaborate on this subject for me? I searched the forum but didn’t see anything specifically dedicated to this.
Around here they are popular edc with LEOs because they are cheap and intimidating. IMHO that's about all they have going for them but maybe that is enough.
 
I have one in my garage as the cut up stuff knife I don't care about. It was cheap.
 
Hey now, I keep one in my truck (if it were stolen, I'd not cry), the S&W "Extreme Ops." Think it was purchased "on sale" at Big 5 (all their knives are always on sale) for dirt cheap.
All I can say about it is that it sharpens easily (no clue what the steel is) and it is big. And heavy. Not a pocket knife, even though it's a folder.
truck knives.jpg
 
Last I heard, S&W knives were made by Taylor. Winchester & S&W knives are junk. I've given at least 2 folders to Soldiers who had S&Ws. Hell, I didn't even like one of them, but couldn't stand her carrying that dangerous crap.

Browning knives range from decent to very good, and H&K branded knives are quality.

John
 
I bought a “cuttin horse” at big lots a couple decades ago. Not bad but not impressive either. It’s too big for most of what I do so it stays in the drawer.
 
Charlie Martinez
The only Smith & Wesson knife I recall wanting was a Bowie model that was paired with a Texas Ranger Commemorative Model 19. I am a big fan of the Texas Rangers but couldn't afford to buy it. I never found out who made that knife for S&W but it looked pretty nice.

The Bowie style knife you mentioned was designed by Blackie Collins and were made by S&W. This was back in the mid-70s. There were seven knives made in all. Besides the Bowie knife they also made a hollow handle Survival knife, a fixed blade called The Outdoorsman, a fixed blade Skinner, a Folding Hunter, a Fisherman's knife, and a Filet knife.

These knives were extremely well made and were priced very reasonably. I picked up a Survival knife shortly after they were introduced and still kick myself for not getting the Folding Hunter.
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I had a small folding S&W knife that I forgot I had at the airport and had to toss it. It was a POS, and was the last cheap knife Ive ever carried.

that same trip, my 4 year old found a well worn bench made 551 in the grass at a fair! Cleaned up nicely and sold me on decent quality blades
 
Was looking for something in a drawer and found a Remington Powder Horn folding knife. Still in the box and it says Made in USA on it.
Forgot I had it but it looks pretty nice, I sort of remember buying it about 20+ years ago..?
I'll try and post a picture sometime.
 
hard pass on every knife I have ever seen with a gun company brand stamped on it, with the notable exceptions of the HK and SIG co-branded stuff with benchmade and hogue.
Pretty sure that "Ruger's" knives are made by CRKT. I'm not a huge CRKT fan, but from what I can tell, some of their stuff is pretty decent quality.

I would say that, in general, it definitely makes sense to be skeptical of rebranded knives. "Buyer Beware" applies.
 
Hogue is currently making knives for H&K and Sig. While Remington once made knives, they sold that business to PAL in the forties. Browning and Winchester are name only in recent years. I have seen the Walther name on some forgettable knives too. One of my favorites is a Beretta made by Moki or Seki City. Beretta stuff tends to be a higher quality, with a price to match.
 
I've looked at a number of modern production S&W knives. In my opinion they are pretty much a waste of money, unless you don't mind sharpening, and you are specifically looking for a cheap beater knife.

I have plenty of old cheap beaters, and they serve a purpose, but I don't need more. I was at a gun show this last weekend and the place was full of gas station knives made of junk steel.
 
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