S&W Extreme endurance?

cop911

cop911

Joined
Feb 27, 1999
Messages
528
Has anyone got any info on the endurance of the S&W Extreme's (the big heavy folders that have a carry pouch, but no pocket clip?). The blades say 440 and seem okay, but has anyone ever really beat one up? They look like they can take a beating, but...
Thanks for any info that anyone has.
 
I have never experienced the Extreme line of folders. Back in the day---when I was in 4th grade---I carried several of S&W's SWAT series of folders that were marked "Performance Center" rather than "Taylor Cutlery" on the blades. These are the only S&W knives that I've ever trusted---I don't remember ever having a smoother-opening knife.

I have seen the Taylor Cutlery-sourced S&W knives implode under hard use---my crew of 10 Scouts at the Philmont Scout Ranch carried a host of knives. I carried a Spyderco Military; the only other guy from my troop brought a Spyderco Police. The others carried a variety of S&W folders. The pivot pins exploded, the locks failed, the edges chipped. Some of it was outright abuse, other times it was just poor QC. I haven't bought a S&W knife since those early ones, and after seeing this, I'm glad I didn't.
 
I've had my eye on the Karambit-styled blade in the Extreme series for a while (though I haven't handled one), and I hope they turn out to be decent. I just might pick one up to find out. Hell, they go for around 20 bucks or less. Why not?
 
On S&W, I've let price be my guide. It works sometimes and other times, not so much.

The Extreme Ops Hawkbills are great little knives and are worth picking up in plain edge and serrated. I bought one of their Magnesium models and was so impressed that I bought six more to give away as gifts. The six were made in China and appeared to have no washers. In short, they were crap.

S&W knives rarely, if ever, reach into the first rate category, but they aren't complete and utter junk for the most part, either. The best S&W I've ever bought is their Homeland Security Tanto fixed blade. Very heavy knife that you can use as hard as you want to. Keeps a very good edge and comes with a decent sheath and a diamond sharpener. I bought a bunch when they were about thirty bucks. They're now forty bucks and still a good buy. The knives to avoid are the ones that had cheap retail prices. (The Hawkbills originally sold for a high retail price; so did the Magnesiums.)

SWHawkbill_2b.jpg


SWHawkbill_4.jpg


These Hawkbills are great little knives, but originally sold for
quite a bit more than the seven bucks Smoky Mountain is selling
them for.


hrtmgs.jpg


This is the Magnesium model, which still sells for
about fifty bucks. I paid less than ten each for
mine, but the Taiwan model is the only one that's
worth a damn. (It's the one with a cross on the
retaining screw.)

SWHomelandSecurityTanto_1.jpg


The Homeland Security Tanto is a big, strong
knife with a thick prybar type blade. The quality
is actually pretty darn good.
 
I have the following S&W knives, and none of 'em are junk...Actually pretty damn good for the money:

Big Texas Hold 'Em Bowie (440C)...VERY well-made!
HRT/DR Fighter (440C, pe, satin) (2 of these)...VERY SOLID!
ExtremeOps folder CK43BS (clip-point, ce, black)...VERY big, VERY heavy!
ExtremeOps folder CK5TBS (tanto, ce, black)
Rescue folder SWHRTMG (pe, satin)...VERY smooth!
 
I've got the one pictured below and they are very decent for the price. Very solid knife. I think the fact that there are so many fake S&W knives floating around it kinda hurts their reputation

2332123043_3d440ae51a.jpg
 
johnu2 said:
I think the fact that there are so many fake S&W knives floating around it kinda hurts their reputation
Click to expand...

Fakes? Why would anyone fake a Smith & Wesson? Just wondering...

S&W's were what got me back into knives again. Same as everyone else here - quality runs across the spectrum, from bad enough that I killed 'em (that was fun), to nice enough that I've put several in my permanent collection.

thx - cpr
 
I've had an S&W HRT folder for a while now and I use it almost everyday with no problems so far (and I can be kinda mean to it)......but....

A buddy of mine snapped the tip off his while digging into some hardwood so, my excellent experience with my own S&W folder aside,...WATCH THE TIP
 
AzraelFirestorm said:
I've had my eye on the Karambit-styled blade in the Extreme series for a while (though I haven't handled one), and I hope they turn out to be decent. I just might pick one up to find out. Hell, they go for around 20 bucks or less. Why not?
Click to expand...

I bought one of these to see if I would like the Karambit style and can't really say anything too bad about it.

It's a little on the heavy side and some of the screws holding the clip were stripped when I got it. But it looks like it could probably take a beating. It's also a framelock and it has a pretty thick frame.
 
orca8589 said:
Fakes? Why would anyone fake a Smith & Wesson? Just wondering...
Click to expand...

There's a lot of fakes online; ebay, DX etc they all come from China. If you think about, they kinda make sense. The Smith & Wesson name is well known to the mainstream public (a very lucrative market). They aren't really targeting the knife nuts like us.
 
johnu2 said:
There's a lot of fakes online; ebay, DX etc they all come from China. If you think about, they kinda make sense. The Smith & Wesson name is well known to the mainstream public (a very lucrative market). They aren't really targeting the knife nuts like us.
Click to expand...

I guess that makes sense. There are a lot of junkers out there with Al Mar, Cold Steel, etc. on them.

I have the one you pictured, but with a black blade. If I had to keep a S&W to use, it would be that one. I've beat the livin' crap out of it, and it still locks up tight with no wobble or play at all.

thx - cpr
 
I got one of these. paid $15 at big 5
SW-CK44CS.jpg

1/4 in. thick 440 grade steel with 2 1/8 in. thick steel liners and and 2 1/4 in. thick slabs of G10 and a very thick pivot pin.
I have to say it is a great sharpened pry bar, and a reasonable multi use folder.
I used it as a camping knife, and beat the poop out of it and it came out no worse for wear, just needed a little sharpening.
 
orca8589 said:
I have the one you pictured, but with a black blade. If I had to keep a S&W to use, it would be that one. I've beat the livin' crap out of it, and it still locks up tight with no wobble or play at all.
Click to expand...

That's good to hear. I really like the design too
 
Johnu2 - I'm actually in the process of reworking mine. I was going to buy a couple of kit knives, then got to looking at these, and figured I could just work on a couple of these for now, just to see where my skill level is at. My biggest complaint is the weight, so I'm going to make wood scales to go on it, I've got some nice rosewood & zebrawood from my days in the lumber industry. From there, I may go with better standoffs, maybe a better pivot, maybe strip the blade, nicer clip...I figure the only parts that will be the same when I'm done are the blade & liners.

So, as I do this, I'll stay in contact, and if you want some part & slabs, I'll send them on. Let me know.

I also have the same knife as para-frame, but in all-black. The only mod I did to that one was to dress the edges down so it's more comfortable. For the weight, that one may as well be a fixed blade. I hated it at first, but for $10. at Big 5, it kind of grew on me.

thx - cpr
 
With Gerber and CRKT putting out junk knives with "400 series" blades, or blades made from AUS4 steel, naturally S&W knives are going to start rising in comparative quality.

CRKT is now making blades from 8Cr14, and they're junk. Just garbage. When companies start hiding their blade steel under terms like "surgical stainless," it's time they get the low end reputation they richly deserve.
 
Confederate said:
When companies start hiding their blade steel under terms like "surgical stainless," it's time they get the low end reputation they richly deserve.
Click to expand...

Yup. :thumbup:

In my dead knife bucket somewhere in my garage, I've got an old tactical (MTech?) from box of tools I bought a flea market, and I decided to kill it. It had "Surgical Stainless" stamped on it as well. I figured the pivot would die first, but the blade actually bent into a bow shape before finally breaking.

I used to joke that my motto was: cheap knives - annoying, but fun to kill.

The ones marked "Surgical Stainless" ain't no fun though - they give up the quickest. Next in line is anything marked "400 Series". I haven't bought any AUS-4 or -6 knives that I know of, so can't comment on those. I've started to pay attention to how steels are rated, so I stay away from some knives altogether.

thx - cpr
 
orca8589 said:
So, as I do this, I'll stay in contact, and if you want some part & slabs, I'll send them on. Let me know.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your kind offer but I actually like the tactical look of knives :D It does sound very nice with what you are doing though. Definitely let me know how it goes. I'm keen to see the final result. It should make it a dressier knife

orca8589 said:
For the weight, that one may as well be a fixed blade. I hated it at first, but for $10. at Big 5, it kind of grew on me.
Click to expand...

Good thing it has a skeletonized handle or the weight would be even heavier!
 
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