S & W: HRT, Combat/Survival - a recommendable, inexpensive knife!

[Horus]

Yesterday I visited the local knife dealers to see if they have new received knives and to my great joy one of them offered the S & W: HRT Combat Survival Knife model.
I was very taken with the design since the first pictures were published and so I excitedly examined the knife. Contrary to all bad criticisms regarding Taylor Cutlery products I handled a good knife and I bought it.

The most impressing part of the knife is the excellent handle (Zytel scales). Not only an ergonomic masterpiece but also secure and skid-resistant.
Maybe the handle screws are a question of taste but they are certainly functional.
The weight of the full tang knife is 17 ounces! But due to the good handle/blade balance it isn’t hindering.
The slightly downward curved blade (440C steel, brushed finish, 1/4” thick and 7” long) harmonize perfect with the handle shape and eases stabbing as well as chopping moves.
The recurved cutting edge of my knife is razor sharp and flawless grinded.
The finish of the knife is good, comparable with CRK&T knives.
My sole complaint relates to the sheath material, I wish they used Kydex instead of the weak “Injection Molded Nylon”.

 

[Firebat]

Hi Horus-

That's interesting to read. I didn't widely publicize that I bought it, but out of sheer curiosity, I picked up a S&W HRT Boot Knife (the all black wharncliffe one) a while back. I just liked the looks of it, and I wanted to see what it was like for the price which was quite low.

I was surprised. The knife is very sturdy and as far as I can tell, nicely made. The blade has got to be one of the sharpest I've had, and was very finely polished at the edge. Not too shappy for the price. It's become my shop knife since. I can abuse it without regrets. You're right though, the sheath is horrible! Kydex would be so much better.

Whereabouts in Germany are you from? I spent some time in Hamburg and Luneburg this past May, and it was absolutely beautiful. Hope to get back there sometime.

Firebat

 

[Horus]

Firebat,

for a little more than one year I live on the outskirts of Regensburg. A relatively small city in southern Germany. Regensburg is an ancient city, it was a Roman center for centuries and the site of an important bishopric in the Middle Ages. It’s always a pleasure fore me to walk around the well-preserved medieval center of Regensburg.
Should you ever visit Germany again, you must visit Regensburg.

 

[W.T. Beck]

Germany is definitely a beautiful place. I have visit Frankfurt, Mainz, Wurzburg, and Koblenz, from whence my ancestors came to America in the 1760's.