I've had Smith & Wesson knives that were absolute trash. One I just got rid of was a fake tanto (tanto on the left side, flat on the other). Actually, I don't think they're allowed to call them tantos, but it was difficult to tell which was supposed to be the cutting edge, the top or the bottom.
Other S&W knives have surprised me by holding an edge quite well. Overall, if you use a knife a lot and you regularly cut cardboard, rope or cord, I'd recommend getting a good steel. The Spyderco Native is probably the best bargain at Wal*Mart. If you only use a knife occasionally to open a bag of potato chips or a box, any knife should do. If you want one for protection, all S&W folders are inadequate, and most of the Spydercos are last ditch because of their smallish blades.
If you take a fairly heavy nylon nautical cord and tie it into knots, then slice through those knots, it won't take long to dull medium to good grades of steel. Premium grades undoubtedly will fare much better. Light serrations on a blade will help in this regard with lower grade steels and it's one reason I like Cold Steel Voyagers so much. Their serrations are light, their blades come sharper than most others, they're polished to reduce corrosion and they're easy to sharpen and hold their edges reasonably well. They're also light to carry, have good locking systems and are nearly indescructable. My only gripe with them is that they have no finger guards to keep the hand from slipping forward during a thrust.
As other companies replace mediocre steels with junk steel, companies like S&W begin to look a bit better. Not because it's quality is improving, but because the other knives are becoming worse. Still, for neck knives and so forth, all you need is a hard metal. Why pay for quality steel in a blade that's only going to be used in a last ditch defensive action. It doesn't make sense for people to criticize S&W's neck and boot knives, neither does it make sense to spend $60+ for a better quality version. If you've ever seen
Cliffhanger, one of the good guys is hanging off a cliff and sticks the bad guy in the leg with his Spyderco and quickly turns the tables. Forget the fact that the guy probably used his knife for many other things besides sticking bad guys in the leg. At that moment, any easily opened knife would have done the job.
One of the best deals on Smoky Mountain's site (and in their catalog) is the S&W Homeland Security Tanto. For thirty bucks it does just about anything from clearing away small patches of brush to chopping kindling to heavy prying (emergency use) to self defense. Yes, the ad says 440C, but so far edge retention hasn't been a problem. Two have been given as gifts, and feedback on them (both recipients are avid outdoorsmen) has been very positive. This knife comes with a sharpening stone and a very durable sheath. (Frost Cutlery makes a cheap copy of this knife for about ten bucks, and though it's absolute garbage, it wouild be much more servicable in an emergency than most folders. I have one of these pieces of crap in the trunk of my car because in a bad situation, it could be worth much more than ten bucks!)
Just about any knife can be useful in a pinch. This used and abused Mora is still quite
servicable. Unfortunately, in our "disposable" society, many people get rid of their knives
well before the stage shown.
