What's The Deal With Smith and Wesson Knives?

[Slauterhause]

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.


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I love a feel good story. We need more of those.

 

[Etna]

I brought one of my Chinese Taylor-made S&Ws to my military service and it survived everything I could throw at it.

 

[James w]

It doesn't seem any worse then his gerber knives that might be the problem right there

Trust me you'll see a big differance if you buy any of the more premium knives

Anyway smith and Wesson just bought Taylor brands I believe so maybe it'll improve

 

[James w]

I love a feel good story. We need more of those.

:thumbup: we should start a thread with story's like that

 

[tltt]

Smith and Wesson long ago decided volume sales were the way to go, and it works for them. Most folks simply won't go beyond say $35.00 for a knife, and there is a ton of money to be made in that range and lower. The knife is simply a tool, and if it works good enough to cut stuff, that's all they want . Also, with the gun line knives, lots of buyers want the knife to match their gun brand, as silly as it may seem. Sometimes it's just vanity, other times they think the quality of the knife will be the same as the gun.

It's also a double edged sword for these companies when they try to introduce a higher end product. Colt, S/W, United, Frost, etc.... have all tried to have a higher end line, and some were actually really good knives, but once you get know for low end stuff, it's a very hard hole to dig yourself out of. Your low end customers won't go much higher than they're used to, and the higher knife buyers go - "Yuck, it's an xyz, so how good can it be?". That's why you seldom see these brands upgrade their lines.

 

[jamaljahda]

Lol, the worst knife I've ever owned was a Smith&Wesson cutting horse. One day while opening the knife it came completely apart in my hand. Scales,pins,liners,every last piece laying in my hand.
Smith&Wesson doesn't make these knives and imho most of them are junk.

I've had a Spyderco endura 4 do that on me after less than one year. Never purchased another one in fact that was over 10 years ago and I just purchased my first folder last week after that event I went straight fixed blade after that.. all I could think about is what if I needed that knife in that moment. Luckily I was just opening playing with it when it all came apart. No abuse no batoning had some minor food prep use and box cutting. Been wanting a H1 Tasman for years but have been scared to pull the trigger. Just don't trust it

 

[Billy The Hungry]

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!

Because,

They are there. They are in a brick and morter.

People are knife uneducated. I used to think my Smith and Wesson Tanto was awesome. It was not.

People who do not know knives are not going to hunt down a reliable knife retailer online and order a Spyderco Endura.

Duh

 

[Billy The Hungry]

I've had a Spyderco endura 4 do that on me after less than one year. Never purchased another one in fact that was over 10 years ago and I just purchased my first folder last week after that event I went straight fixed blade after that.. all I could think about is what if I needed that knife in that moment. Luckily I was just opening playing with it when it all came apart. No abuse no batoning had some minor food prep use and box cutting. Been wanting a H1 Tasman for years but have been scared to pull the trigger. Just don't trust it

I don't believe you. And if what you say is true, your situational awareness is horrible. A knife gives signs before "falling apart ". Screws back out and parts become loose.

 

[jamaljahda]

No offense intended but you don't have to. I opened the knife instead of opening and locking the blade kept going the whole thing collapsed in on itself. I didn't warranty it did not contact Spyderco. I just for years stopped using folders and started using small fixed blades for edc like the esee izula. I'm not mad and not bashing Spyderco. any company that mass produces anything can have a bad one get out. I just stopped trusting folders in general. I loved my endura until then liked the weight size sharp ness edge holding only thing I didn't like was the design was prone to collect lint and you had to be extra diligent or you would not always get lockup Because lint or dirt would block lockup.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Just as a FYI thing, during the 1970's to early 1980's, Smith & Wesson did actually dabble at making their own quality S&W knives in house
Their in house made knives even had blades that were actually made of forged stainless steel.


Their blades were even soldered as is done with Randall Made knives.

 

[mauser9]

Well that one is sure a beauty! Thanks for sharing.