S&W knives. Any good?
- Thread starter Mp7
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The Highlander
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I don't even think that's good for $20. For a few dollars more you can get an Ontario Rat 1 or a Kershaw Skyline. ($25-35)
I sell several models of S&W knives - Both folders & fixed blades.
You get what you pay for: But, I have customers come by my table with a
S&W they have had for a couple of years, and swear by it, claiming they use it every day and that it keeps a great edge; on the other hand I have also heard the reverse.
The reason I carry them, is that a lot of people cannot afford more than a $12 or $20 knife and/or cannot afford to lose a more expensive knife. I feel they should be able to purchase an affordable knife. When asked, I inform them that they are not actually manufactured by S&W; and they are of Chinese origin.
I always question steel quality in a lower price Chinese blade.
I have sold many S&W HRT Magnesium knives - They sell good and I have never received any complaints on them - If it is a little tight, just back off the pivot a hair; it will then flick open easily.
You get what you pay for: But, I have customers come by my table with a
S&W they have had for a couple of years, and swear by it, claiming they use it every day and that it keeps a great edge; on the other hand I have also heard the reverse.
The reason I carry them, is that a lot of people cannot afford more than a $12 or $20 knife and/or cannot afford to lose a more expensive knife. I feel they should be able to purchase an affordable knife. When asked, I inform them that they are not actually manufactured by S&W; and they are of Chinese origin.
I always question steel quality in a lower price Chinese blade.
I have sold many S&W HRT Magnesium knives - They sell good and I have never received any complaints on them - If it is a little tight, just back off the pivot a hair; it will then flick open easily.
moojpg2
Member
not the best, but
I've gone through a couple of them here and there, they're cheap working knives that you can lose without crying over. Just be prepared to keep a sharpener of some sort handy because I have never had one that held an edge for more than a couple of days of hard use.
I've gone through a couple of them here and there, they're cheap working knives that you can lose without crying over. Just be prepared to keep a sharpener of some sort handy because I have never had one that held an edge for more than a couple of days of hard use.
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
The only offshore knives that get it right IMO is RoughRider, well within that price range.
arcticap
Member
It's interesting that after I visited the Taylor Brands website and learned that they also made Schrade Knives, I somehow ended up on Amazon.com where many S&W knives have been sold and for which there are scores of user reviews of them.
One $10 S&W knife alone has 62 reviews and they're not all bad or all written by novices. The bottom line seems to be that folks think that their S&W knives are worth the relatively small amount of money that they paid. Some commented that theirs shaved hair, held an edge and can be resharpened better than some other "better" brands of knives.
Others complained about their fit and function but still gave it a favorable rating because of the low cost of the knife.
After reading some reviews from the actual buyers and users of the knives I realized that most people like them knowing full well what they are.
I own an early production S&W hunting/skinning knife and thought that the 440 edge could have held up better. But it performed its job, had a nice innovative grip and a desirable blade design. I wouldn't rate it an "A" overall but I liked it enough to where I would buy another one at it's current low price.
And I've seen a damaged Buck and SOG blade, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't still like to have one.
S&W products at Amazon with reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/s.html/ref=bl_sr_sporting-goods?ie=UTF8&node=3375301&brand=Smith & Wesson
For some reason Taylor Brands has really grown over the last 10 years:
http://www.taylorbrandsllc.com/
1 magnesium HRT review:
http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-..._1_240_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
One $10 S&W knife alone has 62 reviews and they're not all bad or all written by novices. The bottom line seems to be that folks think that their S&W knives are worth the relatively small amount of money that they paid. Some commented that theirs shaved hair, held an edge and can be resharpened better than some other "better" brands of knives.
Others complained about their fit and function but still gave it a favorable rating because of the low cost of the knife.
After reading some reviews from the actual buyers and users of the knives I realized that most people like them knowing full well what they are.
I own an early production S&W hunting/skinning knife and thought that the 440 edge could have held up better. But it performed its job, had a nice innovative grip and a desirable blade design. I wouldn't rate it an "A" overall but I liked it enough to where I would buy another one at it's current low price.
And I've seen a damaged Buck and SOG blade, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't still like to have one.
S&W products at Amazon with reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/s.html/ref=bl_sr_sporting-goods?ie=UTF8&node=3375301&brand=Smith & Wesson
For some reason Taylor Brands has really grown over the last 10 years:
http://www.taylorbrandsllc.com/
1 magnesium HRT review:
http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-..._1_240_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
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That's because Stewart has worked very hard to license the right brand names and produce knives specifically intended for a lower price point while other manufacturers were working up the price point.
JVoutilainen
Member
I have a S&W HRT. I bought it for construction work. For removing bathroom tiles, to be more specific. It performed well enough, but mora was better and cheaper. The only problem with 2euro mora is that when you beat the handle long enough with a hammer the blade splits the handle.
However, the currency rates being the way they are...20$ is a very good deal. I mean, what can you get with 14 euros these days? Not much.
However, the currency rates being the way they are...20$ is a very good deal. I mean, what can you get with 14 euros these days? Not much.
mustang_steve
Member
I enojy my S&W Assisted Open. It's been beaten around in a carry role for a while. It's easy to sharpen, and holds a decent edge.
My only gripe is S&W should have put some better threadlocker on the handle bolts. That's also a minor safety issue since this has an effect on the opening ability and locking ability.
My only gripe is S&W should have put some better threadlocker on the handle bolts. That's also a minor safety issue since this has an effect on the opening ability and locking ability.
Deltaboy1984
Member
I have a S&W 4 inch SWAT folder that I carry to work daily and use for cutting bands on paper boxes and opening assorted packages. It holds up well and is a great buy at $25.50.
PRM
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I sell knives as a side business and I have sold a lot of the S&Ws and have never received any complaints. My step-son was in Iraq last year and broke his Gerber - I sent him one of the S&W Homeland Security folding tantos to use while he was over there. He told me in March when he got back that he intentionally put it to some extreme hard use just to test it. He was happy. Most of the finish was gone off the blade, but it still locked up and functioned like a new knife. Taylor Brands offers a limited lifetime warranty on the knives. Not a bad deal for what you pay.
They are not high end knives. Fit and finish is really good on the ones I have sold (I personally check each knife when I get it in and when I sell it) - and at the price they sell for, you can use them in ways I personally would not use a $300.00 knife.
They are not high end knives. Fit and finish is really good on the ones I have sold (I personally check each knife when I get it in and when I sell it) - and at the price they sell for, you can use them in ways I personally would not use a $300.00 knife.
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Marlin 45 carbine
Member
I won a S&W 'X' folder at a bike rally for a door prize, it's fairly good. lightweight and takes a good edge.
thebaldguy
Member
I have two of their knives. I have the S&W Special Tactical Black Handle with Camo Insert and the S&W Special Tactical Folding 1/2 Serrated Blade knife. They were under $15.00 each and they work pretty good. I know that there are better knives which are more expensive, but these are very affordable and keep a decent edge.
I bought a few of these ExtremeOps huge folders at Big 5 Sporting Goods stores in Utah and Idaho. They are on sale for aobut $16 or $17.
For that price, they are great last-ditch punching and stabbing knives. They really are huge chunks of steel. Edge and heat treatment are unkown, but for $17, I could not even buy a CRKT at the WalMart anymore. I noticed WalMart really reduced their knife offerings.
In any case, I was also curious about the quality myself, at that price point. Someone borrowed or licensed the disc-on-the-blade-spine design of my old Emerson-Benchmade collaboration tanto.
Hey, EVERYTHING is made in China now, so I am not overly concerned. A lot of American, Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, German, etc. consultants have made money by teaching the Chinese the modern Manufacturing processes in the past 15 years. Things get better each year. See how the Korean cars have made such huge leaps and bounds? Same old Toyota Production System in place (again, a Demming-American process, adopted and religiously adhered by the Japanese Post-war). Those Germans are teaching takt-time, 5S, Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma to anyone who pays them instead of the Americans, Japanese, Taiwanese, etc.
I think the whole China thing hinges more on the Intellectual Property issues these days. If S&W were to licnese their brand of quality to the workmanship, it may not be all that terrible. The original $5 Cutting Horse S&W really WERE cheesy little things, but they weremeant to be disposable, I think.
Back to the knives: I like mine. I saw them listed at $70 for the large S&W ExtremeOps folders, and there would be NO WAY Iwould fork over that cash for one. At the $17 clearance price, I took a few for the house, truck, bag, and Xmas stocking stuffers. I would not cry if the blade chipped or bent. It was only $17.
For that price, they are great last-ditch punching and stabbing knives. They really are huge chunks of steel. Edge and heat treatment are unkown, but for $17, I could not even buy a CRKT at the WalMart anymore. I noticed WalMart really reduced their knife offerings.
In any case, I was also curious about the quality myself, at that price point. Someone borrowed or licensed the disc-on-the-blade-spine design of my old Emerson-Benchmade collaboration tanto.
Hey, EVERYTHING is made in China now, so I am not overly concerned. A lot of American, Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, German, etc. consultants have made money by teaching the Chinese the modern Manufacturing processes in the past 15 years. Things get better each year. See how the Korean cars have made such huge leaps and bounds? Same old Toyota Production System in place (again, a Demming-American process, adopted and religiously adhered by the Japanese Post-war). Those Germans are teaching takt-time, 5S, Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma to anyone who pays them instead of the Americans, Japanese, Taiwanese, etc.
I think the whole China thing hinges more on the Intellectual Property issues these days. If S&W were to licnese their brand of quality to the workmanship, it may not be all that terrible. The original $5 Cutting Horse S&W really WERE cheesy little things, but they weremeant to be disposable, I think.
Back to the knives: I like mine. I saw them listed at $70 for the large S&W ExtremeOps folders, and there would be NO WAY Iwould fork over that cash for one. At the $17 clearance price, I took a few for the house, truck, bag, and Xmas stocking stuffers. I would not cry if the blade chipped or bent. It was only $17.
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