Here's a review of an older knife, discontinued around 2000. It's the Schrade Switch-It, with a reversible pocket clip that never leaves the knife. The knife is US-made and has a price tag of a whopping $10, yet it is not "cheap". The model number is SW7, a plain edge. A more common half-serrated edge was made if you can find them. Here are the specifics...
Handle Details: The Switch-It is 4.5" closed and .5" wide (not counting the pocket clip). It's a lockback, and the lock is positioned near the butt of the handle. The lockbar itself goes almost the ntire length of the handle, and is easy to disengage. There are no liners; instead, you get a handle made of black Zytel with some nice grooving for your fingers. The handle area next to the thumb studs are also grooved to facilitate easier opening of the blade. The handle is riveted together (there are two rivets), so there's no taking it apart. The blade is held in place with those weird-looking screws that have two holes in them. So, unless you've got a special tool, the pivot pin is not adjustable. The handle feels very comfortable in both the pocket and the hand. There are no sharp corners to cut or pinch, and enough texturing to keep the knife in hand.
The pocket clip is made of the same black plastic as the handle, and is non-removable. It's held on with a hex screw, and has the Schrade logo on it. Retention is quite good, as it's neither a pain to withdraw or too loose. The pocket clip swivels around the handle, and can be positioned in three different places: left side tip up, right side tip up, or on the back of the handle. When on the back of the handle, the curve on the inside of the clip sits in a depression on the lockback's bar. This prevents the lock from disengaging accidentally. Really ingenious!
Blade Details: The Switch-It has a blade 3-5/8" long with a 3-1/4" cutting edge. Blade steel is unknown, but it seems to be 420HC from sharpening. Whatever it is, it holds a nice edge for a reasonable amount of time. There is a thumb stud on each side of the knife, and opening is sufficient for an EDC. The blade shape can be described as wharncliff meets drop point, as the edge is pretty straight and the back of the blade curves to meet it at the tip. But it's not a wharncliff. The blade has a ramp for your thumb, but no jimping. I've found this to be very useful; more useful than I expected from a $10 knife. The left side of the blade is stamped "SCHRADE +" above "SW7 USA" on the tang. The right side is blank.
So, how about a good $10 knife?
PHOTOS ADDED:
Clip on left side...
Clip on spine...
Side view of clip on spine...
Clip on right side...
Open, clip on left side...
Open, right side, clip still on the left side...
Overhead view, open...
Handle Details: The Switch-It is 4.5" closed and .5" wide (not counting the pocket clip). It's a lockback, and the lock is positioned near the butt of the handle. The lockbar itself goes almost the ntire length of the handle, and is easy to disengage. There are no liners; instead, you get a handle made of black Zytel with some nice grooving for your fingers. The handle area next to the thumb studs are also grooved to facilitate easier opening of the blade. The handle is riveted together (there are two rivets), so there's no taking it apart. The blade is held in place with those weird-looking screws that have two holes in them. So, unless you've got a special tool, the pivot pin is not adjustable. The handle feels very comfortable in both the pocket and the hand. There are no sharp corners to cut or pinch, and enough texturing to keep the knife in hand.
The pocket clip is made of the same black plastic as the handle, and is non-removable. It's held on with a hex screw, and has the Schrade logo on it. Retention is quite good, as it's neither a pain to withdraw or too loose. The pocket clip swivels around the handle, and can be positioned in three different places: left side tip up, right side tip up, or on the back of the handle. When on the back of the handle, the curve on the inside of the clip sits in a depression on the lockback's bar. This prevents the lock from disengaging accidentally. Really ingenious!
Blade Details: The Switch-It has a blade 3-5/8" long with a 3-1/4" cutting edge. Blade steel is unknown, but it seems to be 420HC from sharpening. Whatever it is, it holds a nice edge for a reasonable amount of time. There is a thumb stud on each side of the knife, and opening is sufficient for an EDC. The blade shape can be described as wharncliff meets drop point, as the edge is pretty straight and the back of the blade curves to meet it at the tip. But it's not a wharncliff. The blade has a ramp for your thumb, but no jimping. I've found this to be very useful; more useful than I expected from a $10 knife. The left side of the blade is stamped "SCHRADE +" above "SW7 USA" on the tang. The right side is blank.
So, how about a good $10 knife?
PHOTOS ADDED:
Clip on left side...
Clip on spine...
Side view of clip on spine...
Clip on right side...
Open, clip on left side...
Open, right side, clip still on the left side...
Overhead view, open...
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