Smith and Wesson 440C knife

K

keelah

Joined
Aug 3, 2006
Messages
6
Hi, I am new to this forum, as well to the world of knives. I do know from reading in this forum that 440c is a good quality steel but the knife I am considering purchasing is a Smith and Wesson. I have heard this is not the best quality manufacturer but would it be OK with the 440C steel? Thanks.
 
For the same money you are gonna drop on that poor quality s&w you could get a number of very solid knives that will hold up for years. Or you could roll the dice on the s&w.
 
alot of the benchmade red class come in 440c

i think everybody here pretty much stays away from S&W for the most part
 
keelah said:
Hi, I am new to this forum, as well to the world of knives. I do know from reading in this forum that 440c is a good quality steel but the knife I am considering purchasing is a Smith and Wesson. I have heard this is not the best quality manufacturer but would it be OK with the 440C steel? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Oh man, you're going to get a lot of "I hate S&W knives," Band-Wagon responses.

The only legit beef that exists with them is that Taylor Cutlery makes the knives FOR S&W, and that you pay a bit of a premium for the S&W name.

Other than that, as long as the lock on the S&W knife you're examining is rock-solid, and you like it; I say go for it! :thumbup:
 
There is a reason for the "I hate S&W knives" responses. The quality just isn't there. Blade steel isn't everything. Tell us what you are looking for and you will get a lot of much better suggestions.
 
keelah, welcome to Bladeforums. :)

S&W quality is unreliable. They have some knives designed by Darrel Ralph that seem OK. Others are terrible. It's not the steel, and even if it were, there's no knowing if even a good steel has been heat treated properly.

We really don't know how good a knife it is based on "S&W" and "440C".
 
KFLEISIG said:
There is a reason for the "I hate S&W knives" responses. The quality just isn't there. Blade steel isn't everything. Tell us what you are looking for and you will get a lot of much better suggestions.
Click to expand...

Yup, there is a reason..... the one I stated above.

If a person has had problems with an S&W knife, that's one thing. But I see so many negative responses, that I start to wonder if folks are actually posting their personal experiences or just re-stating what they've heard others say. If the latter is not the case, then Taylor Cutlery should be one of the biggest knife-Makers in the world.
 
For the record, my first knife was a S&W it says 440c on the handle. The knife blade CHIPPED on me during normal usage. When opening and closing it a lot, it looses the torx screws and actually loosens the blade.

When flicking open with my thumb one time, the BLADE FLEW OFF THE HANDLE. Almost hit one of my friends. Highly recommend against S&W
 
I have about five S&W models and they all stink....Loose screws and bad edge retention....they all were bought at SMKW....stay away from S&W
 
I have an S&W stockman, bone handled, that was part of a package with some Buck's and Gerbers that I bought. The worskmanship, materials, and backsprings were all very good on it, as was the edge. I don't carry that knife, I prefer my smaller Buck stockman (373).

I have seen their linerlocks, and they suck. Look crappy, an even crappier finish, and the pivots and lock often have a lot of play. Those that start out good wear out fast. $20 to $25 will get you knife worth less than $5. As hideous as it may sound, I've seen Frost's that are nicer. That's pretty sad.

Some of their fixed blade are also POS's. I noticed, by looking at them comparitevely being sold by gun show dealers that some of the tacticool S&W fixed blades are the same as some Frost's as 200% more.

However, they put out some descent items as well. My father has a first production run S&W Bowie that he has carried and used while deer hunting. He likes that knife, and believes that it has served him well. It is a Taylor, but an older one.
 
Thanks for all the input guys. I saw it on Ebay and being that I had limited time to bid and no responses from this forum at the time, I decided to pass the knife by. I ended up purchasing a Buck 110 seen here http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...30034857437&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1. I intend to give it to my son as a Christmas gift...I'm torn though, would also like to keep it for myself, hmm what's a girl to do?? I'm looking for a nice Kabar for myself at the moment. :)
 
He can't go wrong with a Buck 110, it's a classic, and for good reason.

Good luck with finding your own next knife! :D
 
Hi Keelah!! Welcome to BF! Congrats on the 110! Good luck in finding YOUR next knife! That IS half the fun.
 
I have 2 S.W. knives.The HRT Bowie and the magnesium folder.Both are shaving sharp.The Mag folder's liner lock does move all the way to the right after a dozen or so flips(It's a flipper opening)but even then it still solid lock opening.Tighten the main screw and the liner lock moves back.I have no problems with these two knives.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top