Wow I'm favorably impressed. I hadn't had any cheap "made in China" knives for years, and then recently I got a couple of S&W knives whose main purpose was to be beaters and use for sharpening practice. They came in today, and I was shocked at how sharp they are out of the box (both would push-slice paper as cleanly as my best home-sharpened edges). Plus, though they are clearly in the class of $12, made-in-China knives, both are cleanly finished, the folder has a good strong frame lock, the fixed is a full "stick" tang, and both use a good basic 440c stainless.
The picture here doesn't really do the S&W fixed blade justice. It's the S&W fixed blade trailing point hunter (SW640). For a $12 blade, it's a strong stick tang, nearly 4" long (about 8" OAL), and has a smooth, uniform polished finish on the blade. It's a high saber grind, I mic'd it, and that blade is roughly 0.156" thick at the spine, running nearly to the tip. The edge on this thing is razor, razor sharp: an absolutely EXCELLENT factory edge for such a dirt-cheap blade. The handle is a nice sculpted hard rubber with a good lanyard hole. Overall, a very sharp, well made knife and I can hardly imagine a better quality "cheap stainless" blade. Due to the sharpness, thickness, and 440c stainless, it would POTENTIALLY be a good light utility blade, field or hunting blade, if tests show that it holds up to hard use. For me, it will remain primarily a beater though.
As for the folder, it's also a S&W: the SWAT Frame lock plain edge, for $12. It's a 3.25" flat ground satin blade, nicely finished, an even 0.1" thick at the spine. It has dual ambi thumb studs but one unfortunate thing--forgivable on such a cheap folder--is that the clip is not reversible, it's only for a RH person and only works for tip-down carry. . It's a nice strong frame lock, and the blade pops open smoothly. Though the blade is not perfectly centered between the handles, you have torx adjusting pivots and fasteners in the aluminum handle, so adjusting it shouldn't be a problem. The handle itself is a smoothly finished aluminum, also with a lanyard hole.
I have to say again: though these knives were meant to be beaters, I am seriously impressed with the value of these, for $12 each. If you want a "user" blade, either folder or fixed, these are worth considering. And no, I have no connections with S&W, or the company who makes their knives.
The picture here doesn't really do the S&W fixed blade justice. It's the S&W fixed blade trailing point hunter (SW640). For a $12 blade, it's a strong stick tang, nearly 4" long (about 8" OAL), and has a smooth, uniform polished finish on the blade. It's a high saber grind, I mic'd it, and that blade is roughly 0.156" thick at the spine, running nearly to the tip. The edge on this thing is razor, razor sharp: an absolutely EXCELLENT factory edge for such a dirt-cheap blade. The handle is a nice sculpted hard rubber with a good lanyard hole. Overall, a very sharp, well made knife and I can hardly imagine a better quality "cheap stainless" blade. Due to the sharpness, thickness, and 440c stainless, it would POTENTIALLY be a good light utility blade, field or hunting blade, if tests show that it holds up to hard use. For me, it will remain primarily a beater though.
As for the folder, it's also a S&W: the SWAT Frame lock plain edge, for $12. It's a 3.25" flat ground satin blade, nicely finished, an even 0.1" thick at the spine. It has dual ambi thumb studs but one unfortunate thing--forgivable on such a cheap folder--is that the clip is not reversible, it's only for a RH person and only works for tip-down carry. . It's a nice strong frame lock, and the blade pops open smoothly. Though the blade is not perfectly centered between the handles, you have torx adjusting pivots and fasteners in the aluminum handle, so adjusting it shouldn't be a problem. The handle itself is a smoothly finished aluminum, also with a lanyard hole.
I have to say again: though these knives were meant to be beaters, I am seriously impressed with the value of these, for $12 each. If you want a "user" blade, either folder or fixed, these are worth considering. And no, I have no connections with S&W, or the company who makes their knives.
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