Smith and Wesson 440C

longbeachguy

longbeachguy

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Oct 11, 2005
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Does anyone know anything about the quality of the blade steel in the Smith and Wesson knives which is supposedly 440C? I know most of the knives they put their brand on come from China, and assuming they really are made from 440C I don't know anything about the quality of the heat treatment.

Has anyone put any of these knives through their paces, and have any feedback?

Thanks!

Jim
 
This thread will illicit many derogatory comments. Some people have a problem with Smith & Wesson - some people have a problem with Taylor Cutlery and some have a problem with knives made in China.

The Chinese just completed their second manned space mission and they have been producing a version of what, for some, is probably the most reliable assault rifle ever made for the last 60 years.
Many of the major brand names we are familiar with are now sourcing at least some of their production in China.
If the principals at these firms trust their Chinese partners to deliver a properly heat treated blade - and these guys probably know a little more about this than I do - than I suspect that's what's happening. A lot of reputations and revenues would be adversely affected if this were not to be the case.

I do not have any direct experience with S&W knives or modern Chinese manufacture except that I purchased an Mtech (Master Cutlery) on impulse off of ebay a week ago. Interestingly, the same model also carries S&W badging and some of the Boker Magnum knives are also manufactured by whatever factory made these - likely many others as well.
It's a neat well made folder - aluminum handles and a fat and properly engaging liner lock. I'm particularly attracted to the large - flat ground - drop point fixed blade S&W is offering, SUR8 I believe, and may pick up one of those. The Kershaw Outcast has received many positive reviews.
 
I've only seen/handled a couple of S+W knives.. I dont recall being too impressed by the quality. Maybe there are better ones I haven't seen yet.
 
Assuming it actually is 440C, it's not heat treated very well. Certainly not like Benchmade's.

I had a S&W Somethingorother (not to be confused with the Whatchamacallit model, although similar), and I couldn't get the damn thing sharp worth a monkey's nut, despite the fact that I can get shaving sharp edges on all my other knives. It was either an extremely toothy sharp (from a coarse diamond rod), or it was uselessly dull. Not to mention the lock sucked, there was excessive blade play, it required 2 TORX (who the $!@# normally has 2 sets of TORX drivers?) heads instead of one to adjust the pivot (one on each side), and the blade coating started coming off when I tried getting rust spots (since when does 440C rust anyway? My BM's in 440C never rust.) out with Simichrome polish.

Unless you're only spending $10-15 on one of these (mine was $15 at Big 5 on closeout), it's a waste of money. As bad as they are, they're still better than MTechs or Maxims. But I'd reccomend spending just a few bucks more and getting a Kabar/Dozier folder or a Kershaw Vapor or Storm.
 
Ok i'm goin out on a limb and saying i liked my one smith and wesson folder. It was one of the S.W.A.T. knives. The blade actually held an edge for a long t ime and was a breeze to sharpen. My only problem with it was the lock. The liner on this knife could be bent easily. Which i did one time by accident and then i stopped using it. For 35.00 bucks i was impressed.

Just my .02
 
:thumbdn: smith&wesson make good guns.
crappy blades.American Handgunner magazine wrote many an article saying basically"It wasn't the average worker who slept with Klinton,it was one(1) guy and he's long gone,S&W is American true blue,buy their stuff...please" i like AH,i still purchase them. but......S&W screwed those of us who love knives&guns and our Godgiven right to own and carry them,i sold my 2 smith revolvers and bought Ruger/Taurus to replace them.i freely admit to being a closed minded "Redneck"(if Redneck is deragatory where you live,here it's not) i'm not the most knowledgeable gun/knife person on this forum nor will i claim such.Down here in Dixie we have a saying "if you play with fire,you get burned." S&w will never be on this mans wish list,i flip past articles about them,i dunno know their web addy and don't want to know it.they make good guns,but i'll NEVER own or shoot another one.they burned me,but never again.if anyone on here owns a smith,that's YOUR choice,i seek not to offend just stating how i feel,cause s&w had sexual relations with that man good,their made for one another. :(
 
Politics aside, I had a Smith neck knife, bought it for around $20 give or take. The tip broke almost immediately, and I don't recall doing anything strenous with it. I returned it to the shop I bought it from. I echo the above: for $20 pick up one of the many excellent Kabar folders. They give Spyderco a run for their money, let alone S&W.
 
I'll chime in for the $20 Kabar/Doziers. I don't own one but they get solidly good reports for quality. This is a very good starting point for your soon to be "long and costly knife addiction" Good luck! ;)
 
If given the choice, I'd choose Buck's 420HC over S&W or benchmades 440C. I've used all three in several situations and the buck steel is superior by a wide margin. It hold an edge longer, is easier to sharpen in the field, and is more stain and rust resistant. I think S&W's 440C is at best average...Jim
 
Spyderco has their Byrd line of knives made in China, they were told they were getting 440C steel and so they marked the knives as 440C. When they analyzed what they were getting they saw it wasn't 440C so they had to change the markings on their Byrd knives to 8Cr13MoV. Meaning .8% carbon and 13% Cr. (440C should be 0.95-1.20 C and 17% Cr.)
 
tidefan said:
If given the choice, I'd choose Buck's 420HC over S&W or benchmades 440C. I've used all three in several situations and the buck steel is superior by a wide margin. It hold an edge longer, is easier to sharpen in the field, and is more stain and rust resistant. I think S&W's 440C is at best average...Jim
Click to expand...

From what i've heard BM's 440C is excellent. :thumbup: Some people consider it to be the best 440C in the knife industry. I am sure it would be vastly superiur to Buck's 420HC. A poor steel can only get so good you know. :rolleyes: Now S&W's steel is junk becuase they don't heat treat it right.

TBG
 
"Now S&W's steel is junk becuase they don't heat treat it right."

How is it that you know that?
 
The only Smith and Wesson knife I ever owned completely fell apart in my hands on the third day I owned it and i didn't even put it through any serious abuse. I have never purchased a S&W knife afterwards so I cant say I've handled that many however a friend of mine bought one that seemed a bit more sturdy however it was ridiculously heavy so, all in all there's is absolutely nothing good I can say about S&W knives but again I do not claim to have handled all their knives.
 
averageguy said:
"Now S&W's steel is junk becuase they don't heat treat it right."

How is it that you know that?
Click to expand...

Because I own one. A SWAT folder, the thing won't hold an edge at all. And the best I can get on it is an extremley toothy edge. The blade also chips very easily. :thumbdn:

TBG
 
Some Smith and Wesson knives are 440C. Some are "440", presumably 440A. It's doubtful that the heat treatment is very good, given where they're made and Taylor's reputation for "quality".
 
I dissuade people from buying S&W folders just about every day. It seems that some of their knives, usually from their SWAT line, can hold a good edge. I see a lot of them that don't, however. Even if you luck out and the blade is one of the good ones, there's no telling if the lock is. Screws come out ALL the time.

I would recomend a Benchmade Pika or Monochrome over any S&W folder. They are not as pretty as the SWAT knives, but they are much better at what they do.
 
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