???confused???

C

Chris-T

Joined
Oct 9, 2001
Messages
48
So to my understanding Smith & Wesson went through a period where they were "GOOD", then "BAD", then "GOOD" and as some one else stated they will soon be "BAD" again.

So what actual knives have they produced while through their period of "GOOD". What i'm trying to say is what knives from S&W do the people at BFC consider good quality?

Well today I visited my local dealer today. :D Had a look at the BM710 and i fell in love:D The only slight problem was it cost $370:eek: So moving on i had a look at one of the S&W3500 with the tanto blade and skeletonised handle and took a liking to it. I handled it for a while and tried to find anything i disliked about it and found nothing. The lockup was good and it opened nice and smoothely. Considering of buying one for christmas unless you people at BFC know of anything wrong with it? Also the Emerson Commander caught my eye and then nearly gave me a heart attack when i saw the price tag. Is everyone ready........... $560:eek: The only knives i can afford to buy are ones from CRKT, SPYDERCO and S&W. Seeing i dont like any of the Spyderco models so i'm restricted to CRKT and S&W. Well hope there arent any quarrels over the S&W3500.

Chris
 
Not sure where you're from Chris, but I'm assuming it ain't the USA. At those prices it might be worth it for you to order from the States. Also, check out stuff on the For Sale forums here. That might give you a wider range of options.
 
Got to agree. Those are absurb prices. Bought a new in the box BM 710 for $98.00 plus $5.00 shipping for a total of $103.00 in the states. I do not know if my supplier ships overseas or not, but I will give you his contact information if you need it. Big D1
 
I'm from Australia. The prices were so high for the 710 and the Emerson Commander because my local dealer gets his knives from his supplyer which probably gets them imported from an local importer. There for the supplyer and the importer must gain a profit so that is why the knives are so expensive. Also the shop must gain a profit so the price goes up again. Basically you can get the rough price of a knife here if you multiply the price of a knife over there in the USA by 2.5:eek: I'm pretty sure i can get them a little bit cheaper from another dealer but its further away in the city. Its cheaper there because the get it straight from the importer. But i am pretty much stuck with CRKT and S&W seeing i dont like spyderco (no offence to all those spydie loverz) and the only models that i like now and can afford are the M16 and the S&W3500. I know CRKT is more reputable but i like the design of the 3500 alot more. So to everyone out there, are there any problems with the S&W3500 (tanto blade, fine bead blast finish, blade steel 440C, chisel grind)???

Going to buy the m16 a little bit later on. Both dealers refuse to order anymore as they both already have the original ones with the flipper only coming with the large tanto model in stock.

My local dealer's knives are so stupidly over priced. They sell the S&W3500 for $170:eek: But i can get it ordered in from catologue from the dealer in the city for only $95. $170 is nearly double the price of $95. Only go there to LOOK at knives... not BUY knives:D So if theres anything wrong with the 3500 all replies are appreciated.
 
Chris, there are a few problems getting an opinion on S&W.

First of all, they're not a knife company. They don't manufacture or even design them, they only contract a cheap factory to put the S&W logo on a line of knives. So there is no integrity to the process that we can assess. Is it a good knife? Maybe. will the same model be as good next month? maybe not.

Next, many of us in the US are against S&W for having cut a deal with the Clinton administration on voluntary gun control. This has tainted all their products for us, even the ones only connected with them by brand.

Consequently, you won't find many people here who bother to buy their knives, and those who do will probably be using them as beaters. Not a great pool of experience to get a good recommendation from.

We do have a few Australians on the forums. You might check with them about better prices, where they get their knives, although it sounds like you've done your homework already. Good luck.
 
Thanx for the info Esav Benyamin. I have a box full of no name beaters and have always wanted to buy a proper brand name knife. Nothing TOO drastic like a sebenza or anything. But i have visited my local dealer and handled the 3500 they had in stock and there wasnt anything wrong with that one at all. Except for the over pricing:D I have never heard about there reputation until stumbling onto this forum. Basically all i knew was that S&W was a gun manufacturer and remembering a while ago that the police here used them(not sure if they do anymore though) Well i have placed a order for one and the dealer should be calling me some time next week when it comes in. Then some time in January i'm going to go get myself an m16. Does this come with good recommendations? Well until then its the 3500 for now... wish me good luck:D
 
Chris, is the price that you can get it for over there $170.00 Australian. If it is, you may find that paying $95.00 and then adding all the other costs of getting it there with your customs costs and you might just find that it will cost you more.
 
Nah i asked the dealer how much it would cost and he said it would only cost me $95. To be safe i asked him agin and he gave me the same response... $95. It is strange though. The prices i have seen on the internet are all around $40 USD. It seems like if you were to convert that into Australian dollars it would be $100 yet i am only paying $95. What happened to the cost of the postage and handling or the profit the dealer has to make:confused: But he said $95. If he suddenly tries to put the price up then i'll simply walk out... but then i might not be able to go back ever again. :D Order a knife in and then refuse to pay for it once it arrives:D
 
The US dollar is two and a half times more than the AU dollar. So if a BM710 cost about $93 over there it would cost about $232 over here but thats excluding postage and handling and profit. (93 x 2.5 = 232):( Wish i lived in America.... but then all my money in my bank would be halved to it would be the same anyway:(
 
Why not see if you can purchase a knife made in Australia that would be to your liking. Have a look at Peter Marker's knives
www.markerknives.com. That would avoid the problem of paying duty and a local dealers markup.
 
Greetings fellow Aussie :)

Now... You're best off by far ordering from the US and having it mailed to you. It will halve any price you see in a shop here, in some cases the savings will be even greater.

It ends up a bit like this....

Say you want a bm 710 for $93 from wherever. With the dollar the way it is, you have to double that - maybe a little more, but not multiply by 2.5. A postal money order costs $8, and shipping for a single folder should be less than $20... which means you end up getting a 710 for a little over $200AUS, much better than any shop you're going to find here... Also, have the shipper mark the customs labels as either "gift" or "Tool sample". This avoids the 30% import duty on knives.

Also, you can't get any double edged knives, gravity knives, automatic knives, knives with knuckle dusters incorperated, balisongs (butterfly knives) or ballistic knives.

Btw, which city are you from? If you're in Melbourne we could meet up sometime...

Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions, or if you just want to chat.

James
 
James or anybody else who has ordered knives from overseas. How long does it take for a knife to arrive when ordered? My dealer says it would be in a month or if i'm unlucky even longer.

Is this right:confused:
 
Just had to say that I have handled the S&W 3500. I accidentally ordered one thinking it was a different knife. I would have kept it, though, if I didn't already have a similar knife. It seemed like a very solid knife, and I liked the way it felt in my hands. If you are able to get it for the equivalent of $40 USD, then I think it is a good deal.

Good luck,
DD
 
It doesn't take a month - pure crap. I've ordered and received about 10-15 knives from the US, and delivery time from them receiving money order to me receiving knife hovers around a week and a half. I once received a knife 3 days after it left the states... but that was fed-ex delivered to my door, and cost about $75US (just for shipping)

James
 
Chris-T:

You also might check with Ferret, here on the Blade Forums. His stuff is great. Check The Gallery for some of his handywork. He's located in Australia, as well. Great knife - "local" craftmanship. Who knows, it could be worth getting in touch with him.

I'm just waiting for an opportunity to get some more money together myself, as I would really enjoy acquiring one of his pieces.

The Commander is a great option - too bad it's so costly down there. Definitely check out the availability of stuff through E-Bay. You could get lucky.

Good luck,

Zzzen_Dog
 
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