S&W 440C folders

J

Jon

Joined
Nov 8, 1998
Messages
276
Anyone used one of the S&W 440C slipjoints advertised in the latest Smokey Mountain catalog? I'm mainly interested in the trapper model, & was wondering if their 440C steel is any good, as I'm assuming from the prices of these and the other 440C folders they're coming from offshore.
I've always thought 440C was a decent steel, & at these prices a bargain if the knives are of decent construction.
Thanks.
 
If they have any relationship to the "Cuttin Horse" (made in China) series I would be careful. I found quality control in that series to be very slipshod. Now and then you might get a good one but on the whole they were probably at the right price esp. the liner locks. If they are similar to the Rough Rider series of folders out of China they will be good value on the whole.
 
Thanks JD, I guess it's "wait & see" on the S&W's. I noticed Buck also had some 440C blades in the same SMKW's catalog, inexpensive for Bucks, probably from the same place.
 
Given Spyderco's experience with 440C which turned out to be 8Cr13MoV I would be careful of anything out of China labelled 440c. 8etc is similar to AUS8 and is not a bad steel if it is all as good as the stuff I tested in the Byrd Meadowlark.
 
I don't have one of the slipjoints, but I do have one of their liner locks in what is claimed to be 440C. It is POOP. Either it isn't really 440C or the Chinese still haven't learned how to HT anything more complex than simple carbon steels.

YMMV,
stevo
 
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