Quick question for the veterans...

[snwbrdr202]

Hey guys hows it going? I've been looking to pickup a....DONT LAUGH....Smith & Wesson HRT survival knife. I know that S&W's rep is not a good one, but I have heard great things about this knife (full tang, 440C, kydex type sheath). I have found a site that has them for a decent price ($50.00), but then another site had something very interesting. This other site had the exact same knife, without the S&W logo's on it, for $20.00 plus another knife & sheath!!! Please see below to know where Im coming from here. I don't know if it is the same knife or not; it looks identical but I wanted to ask the knife vets here what they thought before I drop more $$$ on more knives! Thanks for any help/thoughts.

-Brendan

S&W HRT Survival Knife
http://www.botachtactical.com/swcomsurknif.html

HRT Survival Knife?!
http://www.westernatvs.com/militarycomboset.aspx

 

[hardheart]

hmm, Corkum first strike and the HRT. One issue with overseas manufacture is that sometimes, the business you contract to make your models turns around and makes more of them without your permission/trademark, or hell, sometimes with your logo. These could be the exact same knives, or not. I had one of the S&Ws, not the best edge holding, but pretty comfortable.

 

[tirod3]

Most vets didn't actually carry a knife in the service. There are 10 support personnel to every shooter. Some do have knives issued as part of tool kits - wiremen, carpenters, etc. Few and far between. Some units issue tools - helicopter crews get Gerber Mulitpliers like candy, it seems.

Combat grunts, MP's and the like carry folders from the PX. Very few carry a fixed blade. With a basic load of ammo, water, armor, NVG's, etc the average carry weight is over 50 pounds, often 65. A one pound fixed blade in the scabbard has limited usefulness, takes up valuable real estate on the vest, and just isn't needed by everyone. It's an item that rates one per squad, or sits in the tool bag in the vehicle. A vest mounted pistol or M-4 has a lot more demand.

If you like it, get it. The idea of buying a battle blade because it's something actually happening in a combat theatre is more a fantasy, tho, and it's been like that even before I bought Gerber MkII's and Brit Commando's.

 

[YayILikePie]

When I first saw this thread, I thought it was asking war veterans, rather than veterans of the forum, since VE Day is just around the corner. Seems like tirod3 was thinking the same.

As to the original post, I wouldn't be surprised if the two knives were one in the same. After all, I heard that Queen Cutlery was developed by Schatt and Morgan workers making blank blades after hours, then stamping them with their own logo.