Smith & Wesson knife - info?

The original S&W knives of the mid 70's were and are beautiful well made knives. Used a 6060 folder to cut a full grown moose in half while backing up a Fish and Wildlife officer on an illegal kill in Alaska years ago. 50 inch three brow tine spike fork area. The moose went 44 inches. I agree on the poor quality of the type shown above.totally different knife
 
It is kinda a shame they've gone so bad. I mean, for the price, getting a Ka-bar is the next best choice.
 
I own their 500 magnum folder. My daughters ex-bo gave it to me for Christmas one year. Cheap steel and typical chinese build. Go with something from Kabar, etc.
 
anyone ever try one these Smith Wesson survival knives? from the 70's I think

smithwessonsurvivalknifzt1.jpg
 
I had a S&W miniswat folder for a few years...It felt cheezy in the hand...but it held up it was in my pocket for everyday use for about 3 years...went on many a camping trip andwhen I gave it to a friend it was his only knife when he hiked the entire AT....that being said It is not what I would choose now. being more educated... FOr that price I would go with a Ka- bar as everyone reccommends
 
All I have heard is how cheaply built the S&W knives are.

When you read Joe Talmadge's dissertation on types of steel, you see that a company using 440C will always make sure they throw in the "C" to let you know you are getting the higher grade of 440.
Any that state, simply, 440 steel, well, just guess which end of the spectrum it is from?
 
Step up to a Ka-Bar. They really have that size knife covered, in good steels, at good prices. I think the priciest ones are $75 or less. I know that's almost twice as much as the S&W but that's what I would do.

Incidentally, I bought a new Ka-Bar kydex sheath last summer; it's not very pretty but it's well-made and secure.
 
Thanks for the replies. My buddy and I were looking at it yesterday and since we didn't know who made it, I thought I would ask you informed lot.

It does feel good in the hand, though and if the steel was good, would make a good chopper.

Doc
 
This appears to be the same knife without the SW branding.
Link
 
I have a modern Smith and Wesson SWAT knife. People say they are 440C blade steel, but maybe the one I have isn't very well heat treated because it is very soft and I could not recommend one. :o
 
Try typing "Ka-Bar Bowie" in as an advanced search on eBay, after checking the box that says "search titles and descriptions", (or words to that effect). You'll find several of the Ka-Bar Model 1277 Large "Heavy" [though it's not actually all that heavy] Bowie, many of them for $39.00 or so, plus shipping. Over on the "Knife Reviews and Testing" forum, you can view a YouTube video of a guy named Noss4 pounding the heck out of a Ka-Bar Model 1277. Not bad. I know a lot of people are scared off by the word "heavy" in the 1277's name, but it actually seems lighter and more maneuverable than many Bowies, has a thin enough grind for practical slicing, and still is made of fairly tough and hard-to-chip-too-badly steel.
 
Doc,

What you are looking for as a low-cost chopper, in that configuration, would be the KaBar Cutlass.
It's made off-shore, but is 1085 carbon steel and not overly hardened.
 
Mansour said:
The original S&W knives of the mid 70's were and are beautiful well made knives. Used a 6060 folder to cut a full grown moose in half while backing up a Fish and Wildlife officer on an illegal kill in Alaska years ago. 50 inch three brow tine spike fork area. The moose went 44 inches. I agree on the poor quality of the type shown above.totally different knife
Click to expand...

Ditto. The origiinal ones, which were actually made by Smith & Wesson, are sweet! :thumbup: No comparison to the ones you see today. :thumbdn: I picked one up NIB (same type blue box they shipped pistols in at the time) at a gun show about 3 yrs. ago.
 
Thanks, everybody, for the help. The question was really for my buddy, as I already have 2 excellent choppers - Cincinatti Machax (my favorite blade) and an older Tramontina bola (which I have to rehandle one day) - an excellent machete.

Having said that, I really liked the feel of that S&W in the hand.

I'm waiting for Ontario Knives to start production of Beckers (I hope :rolleyes: ) because I want to add a Brute to my choppers and I would like to get a TacTool.

BTW, would 440C be an ok choice for a chopper? I have a bar of it from many years ago and with the Skunkmeister as an inspiration, I thought about using it for a 'DocTac'?

Doc
 
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