Smith & Wesson knives

[YetAnotherKnifeEnthusiast]

For firearms and handcuffs, it's hard to beat S&W. For knives? That's a hard pass. Spyderco's economy line beats the snot out of the absolute BEST S&W has to offer. If I had to give S&W knives a hard label, I'd call them a Temu CRKT.

 

[willmtn1]

Mentioned this before but every once in awhile Smith and Wesson contracts for a good knife to be made.
The Allegiance came out in ~2021 and IMO is quite decent.
USA made, 14c28n steel, true full tang, etc
Not my photo:

I had one of these and I regret selling it. Such a nice knife!

 

[jbib]

id argue that s&w doesnt even make top notch guns anymore...least compared to what they used to make....

On the firearms, especially the j-frames, I disagree. In my opinion their triggers are excellent as is the fit and finish.

 

[jbib]

For firearms and handcuffs, it's hard to beat S&W. For knives? That's a hard pass. Spyderco's economy line beats the snot out of the absolute BEST S&W has to offer. If I had to give S&W knives a hard label, I'd call them a Temu CRKT.

Ooowe, that hurts, not that I disagree.

 

[jbmonkey]

On the firearms, especially the j-frames, I disagree. In my opinion their triggers are excellent as is the fit and finish.

ya gonna disagree on all the firearms they make currently?

 

[Valkyr]

Personally, I feel that, unless it is a special run outsourced to the right company, that I would pass.

Even at the price point at most of them are at. It seems, at least to me, that there is a but of cashing in on brand recognition.

Same thing goes for the Uzi and similar knives in the same price bracket.

They work as cutting tools in a pinch, but spend more on a tool that is going to get used regularly for a purpose. Just like some tool brands that are found at deep discounts. Need it for a job but not regularly, go ahead. Going to use it, spend some and not have to replace it every few months.

 

[ShaiHulud]

I'd go Chinese kershaw over S&W anyday. No real reason to invest in a SW knife when there are so many comparable better options

 

[jbmonkey]

I'd go Chinese kershaw over S&W anyday. No real reason to invest in a SW knife when there are so many comparable better options

yep. there are many Chinese brands that build a better knife. civivi for one.

for op if ya want the whole list of Chinese brands.... ya need chrony......
Chronovore

 

[SharpBits]

Mentioned this before but every once in awhile Smith and Wesson contracts for a good knife to be made.
The Allegiance came out in ~2021 and IMO is quite decent.
USA made, 14c28n steel, true full tang, etc
Not my photo:

I've never seen this one before. I really like that! Thanks for posting.

 

[jbib]

ya gonna disagree on all the firearms they make currently?

I don't own all the firearms they make. If you have one of their junky Model 29's you'd like to get rid of, cheap, I'm ready to take it off your hands!

 

[jbmonkey]

I don't own all the firearms they make. If you have one of their junky Model 29's you'd like to get rid of, cheap, I'm ready to take it off your hands!

I own more than a handful of old and modern s&w and lots of other brands. I'm a gun collector and shooter.

i feel one would be hard pressed to say the modern s&w are as good as the older ones. or........they haven't owned or shot many older s&ws or owned or shoot other modern brands.

they can make a good gun and still make some, but I dont feel overall the new are as well made as the older ones. this belief comes from first hand experience. too each their own though.....

 

[jmh33]

And to think the guy who ground them into the ground is running Buck.
Next???
John

 

[Chronovore]

ya gonna disagree on all the firearms they make currently?

Let's not forget the Hillary Hole. I'm glad to see them taking small steps away from it but the fact that it's still a thing after all these years just rubs me the wrong way.

yep. there are many Chinese brands that build a better knife. civivi for one.

for op if ya want the whole list of Chinese brands.... ya need chrony......
Chronovore

I'm not up on the current S&W offerings for the same reasons other people have expressed here. Last I checked, they felt like they were a tier down from companies that were already way behind the times on their outsource stuff. Some of you will remember my rants on brands like Kershaw and CRKT still running 8Cr13Mov in a market space where Chinese companies were using D2 or better stainless in their own releases. Well, those rants are actually a few years old now. Some of those companies have finally stepped up to Chinese D2 (for some of their models) but now the Chinese brands have stepped up to N690, 154CM, 14C28N, Nitro-V, etc..

Then I see recent models from Buck running 7Cr17Mov and I have a full Picard facepalm. Sure, I get wanting to come in cheap but so much better can be had for the money. Heck, Walmart's Ozark Trail brand has gotten Chinese D2 down to like the $10 level. It might not be good but it's a hell of a lot better than some 7Cr or 8Cr at like 55 HRC in a more expensive knife.

Meanwhile, this thread just convinced me to click over and look. What did I see? The first thing I clicked on was assisted opening (another hallmark of crap) with 4034 stainless for $76?!?!

 

[norcalAF]

IIRC S&W has Schrade making their knives, which is a once-great American brand that now makes junk.

Gun companies don't really make knives, they just strike deals with existing knife companies to make some money off their branding. If they do it with a good company, it can turn out well. Sig Sauer has some nice stuff made for them by Hogue, and HK had a line with Benchmade (now they've switched to Hogue as well). Wilson Combat has had some really nice stuff made with Chris Reeve. The only gun company actually making knives I can think of right now is Glock.

WC also had some excellent knives made for them by LG!

 

[ShaiHulud]

Let's not forget the Hillary Hole. I'm glad to see them taking small steps away from it but the fact that it's still a thing after all these years just rubs me the wrong way.



I'm not up on the current S&W offerings for the same reasons other people have expressed here. Last I checked, they felt like they were a tier down from companies that were already way behind the times on their outsource stuff. Some of you will remember my rants on brands like Kershaw and CRKT still running 8Cr13Mov in a market space where Chinese companies were using D2 or better stainless in their own releases. Well, those rants are actually a few years old now. Some of those companies have finally stepped up to Chinese D2 (for some of their models) but now the Chinese brands have stepped up to N690, 154CM, 14C28N, Nitro-V, etc..

Then I see recent models from Buck running 7Cr17Mov and I have a full Picard facepalm. Sure, I get wanting to come in cheap but so much better can be had for the money. Heck, Walmart's Ozark Trail brand has gotten Chinese D2 down to like the $10 level. It might not be good but it's a hell of a lot better than some 7Cr or 8Cr at like 55 HRC in a more expensive knife.

Meanwhile, this thread just convinced me to click over and look. What did I see? The first thing I clicked on was assisted opening (another hallmark of crap) with 4034 stainless for $76?!?!

Looks like it's good enough for Segal..