Wow, I just bought an inexpensive knife....can't believe it

D

drjones

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Sep 6, 2000
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My 15 year-old cousin was in town & bought one of these at Big 5: http://big5sportinggoods.shoplocal....503823&rapid=0&listingid=-2088545938&offerid=


Normally I run as fast as possible from knives like this; I own a Busse, couple Striders, a Microtech, an MOD....I like QUALITY stuff. Really high quality.

Well, this little $15.00 Smith & Wesson just absolutely blew me away.

First, I'm completely aware that the steel isn't going to be the greatest - it's probably 440 - but if I need a heavy-duty blade, I've got a Busse, Striders, etc. Oh, and a couple real crowbars, too. ;)

Anyway, the fit and finish are really, really good, and the thing is extremely heavy and just feels exceptionally well-built, just like a freakin' little tank. As soon as you pick it up, it just FEELS like a really nice, expensive knife.

There is ZERO blade play and the thing locks up tighter than a vault. On both mine & my cousin's, the liner lock fully engages the blade. Heck, my custom Strider GB has more blade play than this thing does!

The grip tape-type insert in the handle is extremely grippy and feels like it will stay that way for a long while - it's a little rougher & more grippy than the similar patch on my MOD CQD.

It is a very nice blade overall - especially considering the price point. Heck, for what you pay, it is a freakin' work of art.

If there's a Big 5 near you, I STRONGLY suggest you get over there and check out their Smith & Wesson knives. They have some really nice ones with real G-10 handles - a bit pricier, but very nice too.

I dunno what happened to S&W's knife division, but I LIKE IT! :D :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
Some cheap knives surprise me too. I bought a Winchester Par-Five from Wal-Mart about 6 months ago and used it for EDC ever since. It's a very solid frame lock knife, tight lock up and no blade play. Great knife for $15. But it's soon to be replaced by a Spyderco :D.
 
Sure, I got one similar that someone gave me, says JEEP on it. Belt cutter, glass breaker. I think they have them @ big5 for $40!:eek:

Cheap, Chinese, but you can keep it in the car for an emergency and not worry about leaving an expensive knife in the car..

That S&W looks good for a keep in the car knife!:thumbup:
 
Most Smith and Wesson knives are 440C, which, imo, is a pretty good steel. Over the past couple of years I've bought probably 10 of their slipjoints, none of which I've paid more than $10.00 for. I give most of them away to friends kids at Christmas time, but I keep a couple around, and for an inexpensive knive they've worked pretty well. I keep one in my truck, and use the other around the house for jobs I don't want to use a "better" knife for.
 
i think the cheapest i've gone is Gerber, got a Remix fine which i like but you do need to be picky since their quality assurance isnt too high i think. if it wasnt for the combo edge i might bite the bullet and get some of those smith and wesson ones (seen em cheap at walmart) but combo edge and me have bad blood...i have given away every combo edge knife i have ever owned.
 
If you like that one you should also check out their M.A.G.I.C Assisted Open line, especially the Military and Police line.

They are VERY well build, Solid knives, that open very fast and lock tight. Their newest one the SWMP4L is a TANK! Huge razor sharp blade, everything is tight, no blade play. I use it as a work knife (electrician) so it gets abused every day stripping bigger wires and reaming pvc conduits and the occasional emt conduit if I don't have my reamer handy.

They also carry a lifetime warranty.

Most of their knives are a 4030 which is equivalent to a 420HC i believe. So it isn't the best steel out there, but makes for a good beater knife, being relatively cheap with a lifetime warranty.

They can really take a beating.

swmp4L_1.jpg


swmp4L_2.jpg
 
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Congrats on the find. I've been surprised a few times by inexpensive knives too. I've not owned a S&W Knife but that may change.
 
A few years back, I picked up a Kershaw Vapor for 18 bucks.
There is nothing wrong with it, I actually really like the knife. It hasn't been in the rotation for quite awhile, but its not because of anything negative with the knife....
 
It was S&W's that got me back into knives. I bought several at Big 5 here in the Bay Area, and occasionally, they come up with new models that are great deals for the money. I bought a Homeland Security model, disassembled it, drilled out the liners, worked all the edges down with emory cloth, convexed the edge, and it's one he!! of a good heavy duty camp folder. It weighed 8.9 oz. when I started, and I got it down to 6.8 oz. Still a little heavy, but very useful in the woods. And I'm not afraid to lose it.

thx - cpr
 
Sometimes we get caught up in the popular brands and newest models that we forget that <$30 can get us a very capable EDC. Personally in that price range I would go outside of S&W, but I do believe S&Ws can get the average job done in a safe manner.
 
Someone's figured out that the Chinese can build to whatever standards they are given - quality or crap, and for a lot cheaper than the same knives built anywhere else. It's still a mine field, but there is usable stuff coming out of the Red zone.
 
DallasSTB said:
Someone's figured out that the Chinese can build to whatever standards they are given - quality or crap, and for a lot cheaper than the same knives built anywhere else. It's still a mine field, but there is usable stuff coming out of the Red zone.
Click to expand...

the usuable chinese stuff you often pay more then your average china product though (like CRKT etc etc)...hell even buck now is hit and miss, my US made bucks would outlast a nuclear war, the new ones i wouldnt expect to last a year of hard EDC use.
 
Yea, I've been pleased with the Smith & Wesson SWAT and SWAT II knives that I picked up off of eBay some years ago, but the cheapo knife that has impressed me the most is the Remington Sportsman F.A.S.T. folder. It's far from perfect as is, but I believe if one were made with premium materials and reasonable QC standards, it would probably be as close to "the one" as I'd ever get on a folder.
 
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