S&W Homeland Security Knife

Actually I saw some good Ka-Bar models on their website. Unfortunately here in the Philippines there aren't that many knife dealers.

I prefer the tanto style blades because from the forums I have read, they are durable in design.

BTW The S&W Homeland Security Survival knife I looked at had an inscription on the side saying it was made my Morgan A. Taylor and that it was part of the First Production Run.
 
You can get a Buck 119, Buck Nighthawk, or KA-BAR USMC for around 40 bucks or less on the Internet. I do not hate S&W knives, but unless the Homeland security knife is only 4 or 5 bucks, I would consider the Bucks or KA-BAR a far better buy.
 
I think what might be throwing fvf and a lot of consumers is the name brand. We have come over the years to expect quality guns from makers such as S&W, Winchester, etc. and even old knife production companies such as Gerber. But what has now happened knife wise is these companies have either sold the rights to their company name, or they are having cheap knives made so they can make some fast money selling quantities of knives to retailers such as WalMart, Lowes, Home Depot. Check the knife blades or packaging carefully. If it says "made in China" or just "China", the knife is junk! It will need sharpening all the time. Or the other extreme it will be almost impossible to sharpen if you are not a professional. The locks on folders from China are not strong for serious use. Go with the Cold Steel SRK. The blade coating will protect it. As for the humidity, if you take care of your knife,[wipe it down with light oil from time to time] if will last forever.

Teej
 
Just to add my $.02- you're getting a lot of good advice here, but you don't seem too interested in it. Like you, I used to think a lot of the tanto design, but after spending some time time with one, I was really not impressed with it as an all-around design. As so many others have said, you can get many better knives for the same or less money.

With that said, if you just really like the idea of a tanto, get the one you want and learn from experience. I also had a Gerber Mark II as my first knife- loved the look, but come on- as an all-around knife, they suck!

Anyway, let us know what you end up with and how you like it.

Mike
 
In a very mild defense of S&W Knives...I have a Rocky Moser designed paratrooper knife in 440C. I bought it strictly for the opening/closing mechanism, but it's really not that bad. Most S&W knives do suck, though. You get what you pay for, I guess.
 
Did a grown adult really name it the "Homeland Security Knife?" That's like calling a cheap line of bullet the "Terr'ist Blaster" or calling un-American, constitution-destroying legislation the "Patriot Act."

Sometimes you've gotta step away from things just because they're ridiculous. I'm a huge Spyderco fan, but if they came out with the "Commie Killer" model tomorrow, it's safe to say I wouldn't buy it. (And it's safe to say that scenario won't happen, as Spyderco is not ridiculous.)
 
fvf, First of all, welcome to Bladeforums!! You've come to the home of, as Chad Ward once described us, "Seventeen thousand of the most knowledgeable and contentious knife nuts on the planet."

Second, let me ask what is IMHO the most important question about the knife selection process, "What do you intend to do with the knife??" First define very clearly and narrowly what you intend to use the knife for. The answer to that question will define what knife models are appropriate to fulfill your requirements for the knife.
 
Thank you for all your comments and suggestions.

The knife will be sued in tandem w/ my broken down Gerber Mark II. It should be an all around use knife.

Was leaning towards the recon tanto but it was more expensive and the width of the blade was thinner than the SW. Am also not sure if it had a full tang which is clearly visible w/ the SW.

On the issue of holding its edge, fortunately the SW comes with a sharpener attached to the nylon sheath.

Yes it says made in china but the 440C blade might be easier for me to maintain than the carbon steel recon tanto.

Have bought the SW and used it to cut some thick cardboard box (from my saiga shotgun) to test it. Seems pretty sharp and the heft help in pushing the blade through.
 
fvf said:
Thank you for all your comments and suggestions.

The knife will be sued in tandem w/ my broken down Gerber Mark II. It should be an all around use knife.

Was leaning towards the recon tanto but it was more expensive and the width of the blade was thinner than the SW. Am also not sure if it had a full tang which is clearly visible w/ the SW.

On the issue of holding its edge, fortunately the SW comes with a sharpener attached to the nylon sheath.

Yes it says made in china but the 440C blade might be easier for me to maintain than the carbon steel recon tanto.

Have bought the SW and used it to cut some thick cardboard box (from my saiga shotgun) to test it. Seems pretty sharp and the heft help in pushing the blade through.
Click to expand...


First off when you go that route as in China whatever steel you get will be low quality with no QC. Then you add to that a sheeiitty heat treat and you have an overgrown Butter knife. So now you end up with two broken knives.

If I go with low end knives, then I prefer simple carbon steels, because it is hard to mess up the heat treat. The heat treat for alloy steels is far more complex and I doubt that it is being done right. No, I know it's not, as I have destroyed more China/Pakistan/India made knives than any other knife in my life.

That is why I would go with CS, Ontario or Becker First. Or any other well know manufacturer of decent quality knives. There are many out there, colt and S&W are not one of them.

did I mention that the heat treat is everything in a knife.
 
The knife will be sued in tandem w/ my broken down Gerber Mark II. It should be an all around use knife.
Click to expand...
For what you are describing, I would still highly recommend the Cold Steel SRK. [SW guns aren't made in China, why would you want a knife that is?]

[/QUOTE]On the issue of holding its edge, fortunately the SW comes with a sharpener attached to the nylon sheath.
[/QUOTE] If you want a good knife that comes with a sharpener, go with the US Air force survival knife. Under $40 and a knife that takes a beating and you are able to resharpen the blade easily. Check out Ontario's web site for their models.

Yes it says made in china but the 440C blade might be easier for me to maintain than the carbon steel recon tanto.
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I am guessing that you have never tried to hand sharpen a 440C blade? The carbon steel blade is a lot easier to sharpen in the field. A LOT easier. Although the tanto looks good, [I have one and like it a lot] There really isn't a lot of weight to the blade for heavy camp use. Go with the SRK you won't be disappointed. If your concern is rust, remember ALL steels will rust. Even the 440 and all blades need a little care. The CS knives you mentioned come with the baked on coating that will protect the blade. When you come in from a day in the woods, you wipe it down. If you are camping, at night a quick wipe with your shirt, pant leg or a sock will do. When you get home a quick wipe with a light coat of oil and your knife will last for years.

If you are not skilled at sharpening, I would be interested in hearing about your first attempts at sharpening this 440C knife wit the stoce it came with. Like others have mentioned, China steel is low quality compared to stuff made in the US, Japan or even Tawain. 440C does hold an edge longer but on the down side it takes a lot longer and a lot of time to resharpen.

But this is what this forum is all about, sharing and learning from each other, so keep us updated with your experience.

Teej:thumbup:
 
I have a SOG SEAL and love it. It has backpacked with me along the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland (salt spray galore) and lived in Florida for quite awhile now. It has held its edge well (I use it to chop palm fronds/kindling when my machette isnt around), no rust, and going strong. Nice sheath to. .02
 
Ack! you got one?!!

Do you like it much?
That is pretty ironic that the balde is stamped made in China, but the war on terror is an amazingly shortsighted marketing campaign to accomplish some farsical political goals and continue shifting money to campaign supporters.
We hardly seem to realize that the new threats that are most serious are economic and market related.
Entirely appropriate that we are marketed "Homeland Security" knives which shift dollars offshore.

Since you said you can get cold steel there you might want to check out the small version of the Cold Steel Trailmaster.
Recon bowie I think its called.
I kind of like my old trailmaster. The Carbon 5 is a pretty good steel at times.
 
MC Chan said:
....you might want to check out the small version of the Cold Steel Trailmaster.
Recon bowie I think its called.
Click to expand...
Recon Scout is the model you're most likely thinking of.
 
glockman99 said:
BS!...I have a pair of S&W HRTDR fixed-blade knives, and both are EXCELLENT, and are WELL-WORTH the price.
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I agree with Glockman. I dont think any of you guys even own or have ever held a S&W.

I have the Homeland Security folder. Is it supper-de-duper? Not realy...But its not 1/2 as bad as you guys make it out to be: 440C blade steel(YES, it actualy is, it retains an edge just as well as a Buck Mayo with 440C), checkered Anodized aluminum scales, easy disasembly for cleaning, and a very effective flipper make for quick blade deployment, and the adjustable blade tortion screw ensures that there is no blade play.

Im not saying its a hi-end knife because its not. Im not saying its my favorite knife either: I like my Spyderco Dodo much better. What I AM saying is that its a very good knife considering its $25 price tag. I think the Buck Mayo Cutback or Hilo are better for about the same price, but the S&W makes a good EDC for REAL PEOPLE...i dont know about you "operators" though.:rolleyes:

As for the Fixed blades...YES they do tend to rip off KaBar and ER, and NO theya re not as good as either. BUT, they do what they are made to do. The steel is a little soft, but so is the steel on a KaBar. ;) Its made to be Tough first and formost, and retain just enough edge to be usefull second.

In general, S&W's are decent knives for just a couple of bones. They do everything The average person needs them to do. They are NOT intended for the knife knut crowd.

I will attempt to clarify myself with another one of my bogus automotive anallogies:

You and me are like the hi-end sports car crowd; we like to buy Porsche Boxters, Lotus Elise, and Corvettes so that we can show off for our car club buddies, and to make ourselves think we are bad asses and somehow better than the guy in the next lane with a Geo Metro. We may snicker at the guy in the Geo because he doesnt know anything about "performance", but in the other lane the guy in the Geo is snickering at us becuase he gets from point A to B for a tiny fraction of the cost, and spends the money he saves on more important things like his friends and family.;) What we have to ask ourselves is WHO is the real looser? If your an ass, you say its the guy int he Geo; if you have any sort of common morality or common decency, then you answer the guy in the sports car. ;)

Not to say that fancy things are not good, or that we shouldn't enjoy them. What I am saying is that it is not our place to judge people whos needs are met by something "cheap" like a S&W knife. ;)
 
To answer the question why some people prefer high carbon steel instead of "stainless steel" because stainless steel is more prone to breaking once you go into the heavy duty use. Things that are large, and you use it to chop, dig, pry etc are still preferable made in High carbon steel.
Swords, hatchets, khukri's, large knives etc should be made from HC steel to avoid breakage
This is the classic proof that 440 "stainless steel " is not good for large cutting tools.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8029751308259445624&q=katana+slip

So if you need a knife for heavy use go HC or miracle steel like INFI
 
Thought I'd chime in. I have a S&W tacticle "S.W.A.T." folder. It has a partially serrated tanto blade and liner lock. I'll bet there is not a law enforcement professional that carries one. The liner lock is thin, it's only made for right hand operation, as there is only one thum stud and the clip is permanently mounted. This is NOT good gentlemen. The blade steel is marked as ROC (Republic of China) 440. This tells me, now that I am more educated on the subject, as this was my first tacticle folder from a catalouge, that 1. poor conctruction, as I had to tighten the screws on the scales myself out of the box, 2. 440 although fairly corrosion resistent, dosn't hold an edge as well as 440C which would have been a better choice and still keep the knife fairly inexpensive (the one I speak of cost me $24.00 with shipping). The knife came pretty sharp out of the box. However, after a few cuts on things like boxes it has given up some of that edge. Emagine if it had to cut a harnace or seatbelt or Heavy leather. I would reccomend staying away from this brand, especially if what you're looking for is a tactical performer. Go with Strider. They will hold up to just about anything. However, they are not cheap.
 
what the hell man...

If they could afford a Strider, they wouldnt be looking at S&W. I think you missed the point of this thread completely.
 
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