S&W Extreme Ops folder

Bill Siegle

Bill Siegle

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 3, 2000
Messages
6,812
Just couldn't resist......Big 5 sporting goods store has em for $15.99 :) This is the folder S&W puts in the Survival kits with the big revolvers and other goodies for around $1200. Figured for the price I'd give one a go. Haven't used it yet other than to fend off Mall Ninjas and air zombies but I figured I would give an initial appearance review. Overall it looks pretty nice. Steel is 440C and is 3/16in thick. Not too shabby for a folder! The blade is centered as well as any other decent quality folder I have and displays no sideplay or wiggle. Whacking the spine does NOT disengage the lock. Edge geometery is nice too. Not too thick and not too thin. I do wish a non serrated model was available but hey at this price I won't complain too much. The handle slabs an this are actual G10. Suprised me a bit as I expected molded plastic on a knife with a full retail price under $70. Lock up is solid and sits nicely at just a tad left of center as you hold it inverted. Overall length is 10inches with a 4 5/16in blade(tip to handle). No pocket clip on this big guy and I dought anyone would want the beefy sucker in a pants pocket at 3/4in thick. No sheath was included but at the asking price I can live with that. Got something in my junk box or I can find a pouch at the next gun show cheap enough. Overall I would say I am pretty happy with my find :)
 
Seems like a good price for what it is, however the blade is a bit long for what I prefer. Good picture though.
 
This is closely related to a model that has an aluminum frame, which sells for $8.99 at Smokey Mountain. The knife is a good buy and makes a decent survival/defense folder. I bought a few of them and was surprised at how much better they were than what I expected. They were all tight, all sharp, all lubricated and all well centered. The only problem I encountered was that the printing on one blade was a bit sloppy.

The Extreme Ops Hawkbill (SWCKHB) is an even better deal as it was intended to sell at a much higher price. With a 440C blade and a steel liner, it has scales of aluminum and G10. It is an exceptional bargain for $9.99 from Smokey Mountain.
 
I gotta admit, I succumbed to a "mall ninja" moment at a knife show last year, and bought one of these Smith & Wesson CK2C Homeland Security folders in plain edge for $12.00.

SWCK2CM.jpg


I wouldn't trade a Benchmade or a Spyderco for it, but it isn't the junk that some S&W knives I've seen are.
 
The S&W Chinese 440C has tended to break easily for me, easier than any 440C that I have had in the past. I like 440C and think it is just fine, but it seems that the heat treat is spotty on the China made stuff. The only really durable S&W 440C I have are their bullseye throwing knives, especially the larger ones. They will chip and deform, which is to be expected from throwing knives, but they have never bent or broke even under extreme abuse (refrigerators, washing machines, sheet metal). I think these are discontinued and pricey now. I was lucky to get a good stock very cheap from SMKW a few years ago.
 
The best ones to buy are the models that have a high initial retail price and are then lowered to a -$10 price.

I have one that has magnesium grips and was made in Tiawan, I think. It was the first production run and it had teflon bearings. Subsequent ones are made in China and have no bearings. They're also difficult to flip open until the whole knife loosens up. They clearly aren't up to the standards of the first run. But what's the big selling point about having magnesium handles? I've seen these knives selling for +$80 but picked up mine for $8.99 and $9.99 respectively. (I suppose if I had a magnesium deficiency, I could carry it in my mouth, but that's the only real advantage.)

The only two Smiths I like enough to carry are the hawbill knives I mentioned previously and the aluminum Extreme Ops with a polished blade. The latter flips open without a flipper and it retains an edge fairly well. It's also the knife I take with me anytime there's even the slightest possibility it might be confiscated. There are times I've come face to face with an unexpected metal detector and I've had to ditch my knife in a bush under some leaves or put it in my coat and check the coat. Then I retrieve it later and not ruin my day worrying about it.

Finally, knives are fun to play with, and I can afford more cheaper ones than expensive ones. S&W is a reasonable source for cheapies, but they're mostly crap. For some reason, really decent knives are expensive!
 
Confederate, I was always afraid the handle would burst into flames if it came near sparks!:eek:;) Then I thought, well I could always shave some of the handle to start a fire!:eek:;) I also wondered, WHY magnesium. Maybe S&W thought it might be something different and increase sales, as I have a hunch that S&W thought these knives would go over bigger than they did.
 
Confederate said:
The best ones to buy are the models that have a high initial retail price and are then lowered to a -$10 price.

I have one that has magnesium grips and was made in Tiawan, I think. It was the first production run and it had teflon bearings. Subsequent ones are made in China and have no bearings. They're also difficult to flip open until the whole knife loosens up. They clearly aren't up to the standards of the first run. But what's the big selling point about having magnesium handles? I've seen these knives selling for +$80 but picked up mine for $8.99 and $9.99 respectively. (I suppose if I had a magnesium deficiency, I could carry it in my mouth, but that's the only real advantage.)

The only two Smiths I like enough to carry are the hawbill knives I mentioned previously and the aluminum Extreme Ops with a polished blade. The latter flips open without a flipper and it retains an edge fairly well. It's also the knife I take with me anytime there's even the slightest possibility it might be confiscated. There are times I've come face to face with an unexpected metal detector and I've had to ditch my knife in a bush under some leaves or put it in my coat and check the coat. Then I retrieve it later and not ruin my day worrying about it.

Finally, knives are fun to play with, and I can afford more cheaper ones than expensive ones. S&W is a reasonable source for cheapies, but they're mostly crap. For some reason, really decent knives are expensive!
Click to expand...

Magnesium and its alloys are low density materials. Lower even than aluminum and its alloys. The objective would be to get a lower weight handle to decrease the weight of the knife / improve the balance of the knife.
 
The magnesium Smith I referenced from China does have bearings on closer inspection; they're just much smaller. I've never been able to get the blade to loosen up, however. As far as the weight is concerned, I'm sure that's a large part of it. It feels good, better than Zytel or G10, and substantive.

If it weren't a linerlock, I would like this knife. I'd also prefer no serrations. This knife, incidentally, sells for $54 at the One Stop Knife Shop. Same price at the Pocket Knife Shop. And the dern thing retails for $81.

swhrtmgs2.jpg
 
They had this knife on sale many months ago at SMKW for 8.99. I got 3 just for kicks. 2 of them would not lock up as the liner lock would not allow the blade to fully open, had to grind them so it would open. Took one to work and snapped the blade after 4 days of normal use. It was the worst 440C I have ever used, would not hold an edge at all. All 3 loosen up quickly and have a lot of play. They were not even worth the 8.99 I paid for them. I taken them apart and will see if the magnesium handles can be used as fire starters. Pure S&W Chinese crap.
 
Have a SW SWVIP flip knife called Viper.. Knife was made in Taiwan I believe and its blade definately holds the edge pretty decent under normal use over a month now. recently saw its little brother a smaller version one.. with nice plain blade...

Be a smart shopper.. if you are getting a SW knife.. pick its Taiwan made models over China's...it is just a no brainer...
 
I know alot of guys that carried S&W folders 2003-2004 in Iraq and loved them
 
The first production run of the magnesium knives were much better, but no S&W folder is worth more than $12 in my opinion.

Using the later versions as fire staters is an intriging idea. Perhaps Cutter17 is onto something. In a very real way, I suppose S&W could advertise these knives as being "matchless" after all.

BTW, Smokey Mountain is offering the Extreme Ops Hawkbill (SWCKHB) for the paltry sum of $4.99. I've found this knife to a reasonable knockaround. Its blade configuration can come in handy for certain chores, plus it'n not likely to spontaneously combust!
 
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