S&W fixed blades -- quality?

A

alephlex

Joined
May 4, 2005
Messages
151
Friends,

I've seen lots of posts here asking for information on S&W knives and a lot of the responses suggest that the folders are really no good because of poor quality control.

Now, my question is: How about the fixed blades like the Search and Rescue? It seems that the QC doesn't quite have to be as high for the fixed blades because there are less moving parts.

And there's a video out on Utube which shows one of these S&W search and rescues taking quite a beating. Is that a fluke?

Any opinions. I'm thinking it might be an ok option for a rather cash strapped kid down the block who is interested in going bush walking.

Thanks for opinions in advance.
 
How much are you willing to spend?

There are far better options depending on your budget.....
 
Well, I think he had a rough budget of about US$30 with about UD$15 or so for shipping. He's a student from Malaysia and can't afford much more than that which kinda limits his choices I think. I've already given away most of my beaters which is a bit unfortunate.
 
I recently bought a S&W Homeland Security fixed blade tanto.

It's now my favourite in it's class! Highly recommended!

I'll do a review of it sometime soon.
 
I have a HRT boot knife, and it looks decent and well worth the price, but I've never abused it so I can't comment on its toughness. If your friend is going camping, a machete and a mora knife should do.
 
I've been through, stupidly, 11 of them.
I will not buy any more of those POS knives--I was stupid enough to think that another one would work fine, but they kept on breaking.

Then I was introduced to Kershaw, never have looked back
 
i've got the s&w kukri, i got the edge leghair shaving sharp

but havent been able to use it yet
 
I have a 15 year old 'Golden Spike and it is a great knife. I still use a Pro Hunter which is probably older than that and I picked up a Prospector 'Second' with the Ducks Unlimited stamp way to low on the blade and gave it to the old guy who managed some land I used to hunt on. He had that knife every time I saw him for 5 years and he dressed deer and hogs taken on that property every year.
 
Me and my son purchased two homeland security knives and one extreme ops folder at big 5 for like $12 each. The only one I like out of the three is the extreme ops. As far as the extreme ops goes the 440c took a good edge and held a good edge so I have no complaints about the blade. The fit and finish is what you would expect on a $12 knife but the G10 scales are nice as ar as the feel goes but again fit and finish are not the best. The biggest thing that I do not like is the linert lock on any of them but I am used to Kershaws that have an excelent one. The liner lock on the Smith and Wessons just seems super flimbsy and it did not take very long for them to shoot all the way over the the other side of the blade instead of stayig in the middle and some times it was a chore to get it unlocked. Any way that is my take on it. My son likes the homeland defense models because he likes the big handle scales but I don't like them. As far as a fixed blade goes I will pass there are better options out there and as far as folders go I would never pay more than the $12 range for a pocket knife or folder. If I paid more it would be a Kershaw, Spyderco, Benchmade or Victrinox.
 
A few years ago I looked at a S&W fixed blade. Don't know what model specifically, but it was a First Production Run. There was no price low enough to justify buying that POS. The handles felt like cheap plastic and were completely loose.

Any opinions. I'm thinking it might be an ok option for a rather cash strapped kid down the block who is interested in going bush walking.
....
Well, I think he had a rough budget of about US$30 with about UD$15 or so for shipping.
Click to expand...
A Mora sounds like just the thing. The next time you place an order from Ragweed Forge, add one more to the list and give to the kid as a gift.

AG Russell has some inexpensive Xikar hunting knives right at your $30 price range. Natural handles, leather sheath, drop point blades advertised as 440C. I bought one out of curiosity, and was pleasantly surprised.
http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_maker/s_through_z/xikar/xikar_hunting_knife_walnut.html
(makes me concerned about the future of American knife making industry, if the Chinese can put out such great knives for only $30!) Seriously, these things are ~really~ nice.

Are you familiar with the Woodswalker from AG Russell? Only $20 w/ leather sheath. A great knife, perfect for hiking and camping. A little more interesting, A.G.'s $30 Bird and Trout with locking hard sheath.
 
I also think the Homeland Security fixed blade is a fine deal. It's not a light weight, but it's as indestructable as a knife can practically be. Like most tanto fixed blades, the HS is virtually a sharpened pry bar. Still, it comes with rugged G10 grips, a fairly nice sheath, a sharpening stone and it does manage to keep a very good edge. It also can do some light chopping and some hefty batoning. It also was surprisingly impressive for the price right out of the box. My brother's given several away as gifts and he says they're a hit! I like mine, though it won't replace my Ka-Bar. And I kinda like sharpened pry bars.

SWCKSURC.jpg
 
Thanks very much for all your suggestions and opinions.

I've gotten the kid a fairly good machete for longer camping trips but he is looking for something smaller for day hikes through less taxing terrain. He asked about the S&W search and rescue (CKSUR2) and about the homeland security fixed blade.

I strongly suggested the Mora but the kid has his heart set on a thicker military/kabar type blade which will work for prying. He reasons that the machete is flexible enough to do light work too if held at the ricasso -- that is a common technique here. But it can't stand up to prying too well.

Se we will try the S&W S&R since some of you were quite impressed with the homeland security and I'll pick up one of the xikar blades. I was not familiar with them but having seen them now, they certainly look very promising. The woodswalker won't work because it's like a mora -- a little too light and short for his needs/desires.

Thank you all.
 
I like their 20$ - 30$ line of fixed blade knives.. SD knives mostly.

Once is all they need to be sharp, you won't own it after that. .

considering the job they do, they're a good value. No point in spending big on a throwaway. :)
 
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