Regarding Taylor Brand (S&W) knives...

[Southern_Partisan]

I am new to the forum and don't yet know alot about knives, but I'm learning and could use your advice. I am thinking about buying the Smith & Wesson Search and Rescue Bowie. I bought a S&W Buffalo Horn Trapper (I believe S&W knives are manufactured by a company called Taylor Brands, LLC.) off of eBay right before Christmas and was very impressed with the overall quality. Do any of y'all have any experience with the Search and Rescue Bowie?? If so, what is your overall impression of the knife?? If this knife is as well-made as the Trapper I purchased, I would think it would be a steal from Smoky Mountain Knifeworks for only $29. And how do you think it compares to the Ontario Raider Bowie??

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Welcome to Bladeforums!

Take a look at this current thread on S&W knives: Smith & Wesson Knives.

 

[DGG]

I bought three of their folders as Christmas presents for $25 total and think they are great for the money spent. They lock up tight and look good.

 

[JD Mandrell]

They lock up tight and look good.

I would hope so, since their a fixed blade!

I've almost bought one of these "Bowies" myself, the few I've handled at shows have seemed OK, not the highest end knives out there, but usable. I had a friend that was a Deputy, that kept a S&W HRT fixed blade in his squad and he thought it held up pretty good.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I would hope so, since their a fixed blade!

I've almost bought one of these "Bowies" myself, the few I've handled at shows have seemed OK, not the highest end knives out there, but usable. I had a friend that was a Deputy, that kept a S&W HRT fixed blade in his squad and he thought it held up pretty good.

The HRT is one of the D.Ralph designs that they used to raise their quality.

 

[DGG]

I would hope so, since their a fixed blade!

I've almost bought one of these "Bowies" myself, the few I've handled at shows have seemed OK, not the highest end knives out there, but usable. I had a friend that was a Deputy, that kept a S&W HRT fixed blade in his squad and he thought it held up pretty good.

I think you are confused, the ones I bought were S & W folders, not the fixed blades. Sorry for the confusion. 440-C, 3.5 inch blades. Decent fit and finish.

http://www.knivesplus.com/SW-HRTF.HTML

 

[JD Mandrell]

I think you are confused, the ones I bought were S & W folders, not the fixed blades. Sorry for the confusion. 440-C, 3.5 inch blades. Decent fit and finish.

http://www.knivesplus.com/SW-HRTF.HTML

OK, the knife that southern_partisan asked about was the rescue bowie, I thought you were refering to it also. :thumbup:

 

[JD Mandrell]

The HRT is one of the D.Ralph designs that they used to raise their quality.

This one?

Was this a D. Ralph desing?

 

[Esav Benyamin]

TLC, here's a website (Knives Plus) referring to the HRT series as designed in part by Ralph. Here's another website (Heinnie Haynes) referring to the HRT Survival specifically as a Ralph design.

 

[JD Mandrell]

Thanks, That's the one.

 

[blade_guy]

I had bought several S&W tactical folders for about $15 each, and ended up giving them all away.

There is nothing inherently wrong with the knives themselves, per se. The real issue is value.

For a few bucks more, you can buy a much better knife. For example, the Kershaw Storm II is only $30, but damn it is about 10 times better knife than the S&W folders. The Spyderco Native is only $40, but it is 100 times a better knife than the S&W folders.

I asked the same questions as you, and got the same replies, and have seen the light myself.

Why spend money on inferior knives, when for a little bit more, you can get a far better knife?