What's The Deal With Smith and Wesson Knives?

Status
Not open for further replies.
The knife enthusiasts crowd is a very minute % of the general population... the vast majority of folks, like 99% don't know the difference between 420j or cpm-s110v.

They see 7cr17mov and it means nothing to them but gibberish. They think "surgical stainless" means it must be really good, I mean, it's used in surgeries!

They also see the name Smith & Wesson, and know the brand name, but have no idea that Taylor brands owns the naming rights and not the gun manufacturer, they just automatically make the assumption they are connected. They could care less about who Blackie Collins, Gedraitis, Bob Dozier, etc. is...

Lastly they think $50 for a knife is either a really nice knife, or asking too much. I mean, it's "just a knife".

So when they see a Smith & Wesson knife for $15-30, connecting those dots, they think, great, it's a sweet deal!

That's why they fly off shelves, simple ignorance to the facts... not that S&W are horrible, one could do worse, and they're certainly functional enough for your avg. every day Joe. Shoot, I keep one in my truck. They cut stuff like a knife should for a reasonable cost, but we who appreciate, like, and want more, we are the few... the 1% who call ourselves knuts, while most folks just think we're nuts...
 
Last edited:
Don't kid yourself the quality of S&W guns has declined in recent years. It seems there quality control is to send every gun made out and let the consumer send it back for warranty work. There older model prelock revolvers are quality guns and the prices are skyrocketing on them in the used gun market. Yes they did buy Taylor brands knifes for $85 million maybe they needed some debt so they would not look so good for a possible take over. I doubt the quality of there knifes will change for the better,
 
When i was younger/ young i always thought S&w made their knives. When i was too young to buy mpy own knives my dad would go to a local seller and that guys always had a variety of s&w knives. We didn't know better.
 
bflying said:
Personally I'd add S&W guns to the second list of brands. Their quality, f&f, and tolerances are among the top of production guns.
Click to expand...

S&W makes guns on both sides of the list. They make some very nice, high quality revolvers. They also make some very inexpensive polymer framed handguns of average to above average quality.

S&W is to the gun world what KAI is to the knife world. ZTs are very nice, high quality knives. Chinese-made Kershaws are very inexpensive knives of average to above average quality.
 
Most first responders aren't knife people. Sad to say most cops aren't gun people either. It's name recognition, ignorance and they are cheap/easily replaceable. I know from experience you may use your knife on some nasty stuff, (damaging and biohazard) and it's sometimes easier to throw them away than sharpen, repair or sanitize.
 
Nephron44 said:
Why is it that despite all of the disdain for Smith and Wesson knives, I constantly see officers, EMS, and firefighters using them?...

...If these knives were so horrible, why would many of the boys in red and boys in blue choose these over other comparable or better knives in the same price range?...
Click to expand...

Judge Luco said:
Most first responders aren't knife people. Sad to say most cops aren't gun people either. It's name recognition, ignorance and they are cheap/easily replaceable. I know from experience you may use your knife on some nasty stuff, (damaging and biohazard) and it's sometimes easier to throw them away than sharpen, repair or sanitize.
Click to expand...

^^ This ^^

Just because someone is an officer, EMT, or firefighter doesn't automatically mean they know anything about knives, or even care. To most, it's just another tool that they need to cary. And most times, that tool gets used for simple, everyday, mundane tasks - opening a box, cutting some string, or cleaning their nails - just like most of us.

Same reason people buy tools from Harbor Freight, Walmart, or AutoZone. The don't know the difference in quality, and nor do they care, as the tools only get taken out once in a while to do some basic stuff around the house.

Doesn't make them incompetent at their jobs, or bad people. They're just not knife people.
 
Nephron44 said:
I hear people bash Smith and Wesson knives constantly, and claim they are junk and worthless.

Why is it that despite all of the disdain for Smith and Wesson knives, I constantly see officers, EMS, and firefighters using them? Why do they fly off the shelves at my local store? I get they are cheap, but there are many other knives right next to them on the shelf that are the same price if not cheaper, and supposedly are better knives?

If these knives were so horrible, why would many of the boys in red and boys in blue choose these over other comparable or better knives in the same price range?

I have a Smith and Wesson rescue knife, and it doesn't feel any better or worse than most of my Gerber or CRKT blades...I'd trust it :/

Any thoughts?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The reason they bash them is that Smith and Wesson Firearms are in no way associated with the knives. Years ago, when an unscrupulous company bought Smith and Wesson Firearms they sold off the rights to the knives and other such things to a company that makes cheap items in CHINA with the S&W name on them. The knives are in no way associated with the fine quality of firearms made by S&W in the USA.
 
some of my bestest knives have been smith and Wesson. theyre great and totally dependable. won one from a buddy one time and its been great for years. stays sharp real good and takes a killer edge too. lots pf pocket time with that one and its still strong as a ox. :thumbup:
 
Most of the guys in my department carry kabar tdi on their duty belts as a last resort knife.
A few months ago a LT got into a struggle with a suspect and couldn't reach his gun. Pulled out his tdi and sliced the guy until he backed off and could be put in cuffs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Don Joe said:
some of my bestest knives have been smith and Wesson. theyre great and totally dependable. won one from a buddy one time and its been great for years. stays sharp real good and takes a killer edge too. lots pf pocket time with that one and its still strong as a ox. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

You've got to be kidding, right?
 
Don Joe said:
not kidding. smith and wesson are very solid knives in my experience. takes a good edge and keeps it. my only complaint is that it seems like they take a long time to sharpen in my smith pull through. other than that, theyre a-ok!
Click to expand...

Okay, what are they comparable to?
 
Don Joe said:
id be willing to stack them up against just about anything. very solid knives indeed :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Like what? What other knives do you own or have owned? What steel is on your S&W knives? Where are they made? What other materials are used?
 
S & W.Winchester :barf: stick with guns,stop peddling your names with junk....
 
goldie said:
S & W.Winchester :barf: stick with guns,stop peddling your names with junk....
Click to expand...

Or contract out to better manufacturers, H&K has Benchmade make their knives and thus have nice knives, S&W could do the same if they cared about high quality knives with their brand on them.
 
Nephron44 said:
I hear people bash Smith and Wesson knives constantly, and claim they are junk and worthless.
S&W 'knives' are mostly POS.
Why is it that despite all of the disdain for Smith and Wesson knives, I constantly see officers, EMS, and firefighters using them? Why do they fly off the shelves at my local store? I get they are cheap, but there are many other knives right next to them on the shelf that are the same price if not cheaper, and supposedly are better knives?
Because the knives say S&W. Because most officers, EMS person and firefighters dont know much about and give a hoot about knives. Just because we tend to get a bit nerdy and particular about our cutting needs, doesnt mean others care an iota. Some are blissfully unaware, that there are better knives out there. If they were told, most likely they still wouldnt give a 'carp.'

If these knives were so horrible, why would many of the boys in red and boys in blue choose these over other comparable or better knives in the same price range?
See above

I have a Smith and Wesson rescue knife, and it doesn't feel any better or worse than most of my Gerber or CRKT blades...I'd trust it :/

Any thoughts?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

.....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top