Smith and Wesson knives

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thatsaknife

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Mar 27, 2015
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My local hardware has started carrying these blades. I would have bought one but there was no option without serrations. Are these Chinese licensed knives? If so its disappointing as smith and Wesson make fine revolvers and a newcomer to pistols may disregard smiths because of the experience of the knife
 
So why risk your over hundred year reputation and brand recognition? I haven't a problem with cheap chinese knives i own a few but dont call them smith and wesson. I understand glock makes knives. I wonder where they r made and to what standard?
 
It's either a situation where Smith approached a high-volume knife maker to produce knives with the S&W brand name, or Smith was approached to sell its name to a knife maker. In either case, the knives are likely made in China and I agree, they're not the best of quality. However, they make money selling them or they wouldn't bother.

A few Smith handguns are produced overseas as well, not just the .22 M&P series but a few snubbies among others.
 
S&W sold out to another company, who sold the rights to make the S&W knives. Finally an American company brought S&W guns back to the uS but couldn't do anything about the knife branding.
 
Ok a bit of a rant here. Years ago my dad brought home an old stainless Harrington and Richardson 32 revolver and a box of s&w long shells we fired six shots reloaded the weapon and put in away. This was to be his self defence pistol. Now we all knew h&r to be 'cheap' revolvers. Smash cut to decades later and i decide to clean and check the old mans weapon. The same box of ammo with 6empty cases are with the weapon. I fired it and it went bang 6 times. Reassuring. I cleaned and checked it and realized how well it was made. It was stainless and weighed a tonne but it functioned perfectly. Now the reaaon for the ramble is because that is what was considered 'cheap second rate' fifty years ago
 
thatsaknife said:
So why risk your over hundred year reputation and brand recognition? I haven't a problem with cheap chinese knives i own a few but dont call them smith and wesson. I understand glock makes knives. I wonder where they r made and to what standard?
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Them and Glock knives...they are usable. Its not like they are gonna explode or crumble into dust. S&W gun fans who aren't into knives will buy them just because they have the S&W name on it (just like "Bear Grills", etc.). They will probably think they are great. And, seems like there is a good chubk of knife fans who buy them as cheapo beaters. And it seems that knife fans who know guns dont hold their knives against them.

So they are doing ok on the deal.
 
thatsaknife said:
So why risk your over hundred year reputation and brand recognition? I haven't a problem with cheap chinese knives i own a few but dont call them smith and wesson. I understand glock makes knives. I wonder where they r made and to what standard?
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S&W knives are like premium gas station knives. You won't find a finer gas station knife than a S&W blade, about one step above TacForcre knives.

The Glock Knives are made by Glock in Austria. You won't find a better utility knife than a Glock field knife. Like everything else Glock makes they are tough, decent steel and have a heat treat on par with bigger names like Becker. I've used mine on deployments as an 11B, for camping with the family and it is the knife I've used most for bush work since 2004.
 
Not to just continue the bash fest but I gave up on S&W knives completely. I was using one quite a few years ago and the stop pin sheared off and allowed the blade to wrap around the back of my hand. luckily it wasn't the blade but it still cut my hand pretty good just with the false edge. Gun companies should stick to guns, not knives, flashlights, or cars. I may have got a lemon but when I get a failure like that I call it quits.
 
I had one years ago, paid about $10 for it. It locked up fairly tight and took an edge, but did not hold it very well. I carried it when I was afraid of losing one of my better knives, like when on river trips. Plan worked I guess, I eventually lost it. After that I decided to invest in a knife with a decent lanyard or sheath to prevent loss.

It was total garbage, but I will admit that I liked that knife more than I would like to admit.

Even if you just want a beater there are better options for the money.
 
If I recall correctly, Smith & Wesson knives are marketed by Taylor Brands, which I believe are mostly if not
all low quality Chinese imports.
Oddly, or perhaps sadly, if one goes back a few decades there were Smith & Wesson knives made in Seki, as well as Taylor-Seto knives,
both being of high quality.
 
I have a big assisted SW folder I keep in my car for emergencies. Has a glass breaker and solid grip, would do ok in a pinch. I have never put it to great use but I can tell the steel is junk and would not hold an edge at all.
 
Seneca18 said:
I have a big assisted SW folder I keep in my car for emergencies. Has a glass breaker and solid grip, would do ok in a pinch. I have never put it to great use but I can tell the steel is junk and would not hold an edge at all.
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Just an FYI, that glass breaker probably wouldn't work.
 
Like it was previously mentioned, S&W was bought out (in the 80's I think) by a foreign company and started having some real quality control issues that almost put them out of business. These people sold the right to make S&W knives to someone else. Later, S&W was bought by Americans, again, and quality went up...way up. The knives did not come home, though. They are still owned by someone else, like Winchester knives. These knives are made in China, and yes, I think it is Taylor Brands that sells them, along with a few other ruined American names like Schrade.
Glock knives are not Chinese. They are made in Austria, I believe. They are good knives.
 
marcinek said:
Gasp! Smith and Wesson is trying to make a profit?!? In America?!? That's crazy!
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The owner of S&W who sold the rights to the brand for knives was British. It could have been done differently.

Wilson has CRK make its knives, to the benefit of both companies.
 
Taylor also makes Shrade, Uncle Henry, Old Timer, Imperial, and maybe others by contract. Some models better than others. But if a knife is $10 retail, don't expect it to be amazing. Some of the lower priced knives are great for beat and toss. Others seem to have a bit more quality, but you will also notice that the price starts approaching some US and European brands. In the end, they are what they are. If buying because of the S&W imprint, you'll most likely be disappointed. But if handling the model and comparing quality to price, you just may like it.

Should also point out that the Colt knives are made by Rough Rider. Bad thing if you're expecting something made in Connecticut, but if you're looking for a decent little knife under $20, well, I've got a bunch of them too. ;)
 
Esav Benyamin said:
The owner of S&W who sold the rights to the brand for knives was British. It could have been done differently.

Wilson has CRK make its knives, to the benefit of both companies.
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Ok. :D In Britain! Blimey! That's barmy!

The number of gun makers who make a quality knife is very small. But, I don't see S&W going belly up due to their low-grade knives, so they must being doing good enough with whatever deal they made.
 
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Good firearms, terrible blades. Not even the same company, really.

Sort of like Colt knives...
 
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