S&W Knives

308Gunner · April 19, 2011, 06:45 PM

Hope this is the right place to post about this

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Smith & Wesson knives. I'm specifically looking at the First Response or Border Guard, but any thoughts on their quality would be welcome

Pahoo · April 19, 2011, 06:52 PM

From time to time, I have owned a few and the ones I'm familiar with, were made in China. All have been liner-locks. I'm not familiar with your so could you provide a link. The quality seems to be okay and perform well enough. I mostly give them away as gifts. Finish is good !!

Be Safe !!!

Kreyzhorse · April 20, 2011, 07:18 AM

Quote:

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Smith & Wesson knives. I'm specifically looking at the First Response or Border Guard, but any thoughts on their quality would be welcome

I've looked at some of their offerings and while nice looking, I just wasn't convinced that they were as well made as some of the other knives out there. I guess it's really up to what you want, and expect from your knives.

308Gunner · April 20, 2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

I've looked at some of their offerings and while nice looking, I just wasn't convinced that they were as well made as some of the other knives out there. I guess it's really up to what you want, and expect from your knives.

I just recently purchased a Buck Sandman, and love the knife, but bent the pocket clip, so looking for a stand-in/addition while getting it fixed. Unfortunately, more or less working on a budget at the moment, so as much as I would love to go grab a Benchmade or Gerber, it's just not in the cards right now

precision_shooter · April 20, 2011, 12:08 PM

Never been too impressed with the S&W knives that I have looked at/played with...Like others, I'm not familiar with the ones you are specifically asking about.

I tend to stick with what I know is quality and has worked for me in the past. I usually buy Kershaw and Gerber with my preference leaning towards Kershaw...

nathaniel · April 20, 2011, 02:27 PM

I got a S&W Cuttin' horse as a door prize from my works end of the season party. Its extremely light and extremely sharp! I have never had a factory knife so sharp. I have cut heavy duty bailing twine with it and it hasnt dulled yet. I have no idea how much it costs but if someone donated it for a door prize id assume it is fairly low priced.

BarryLee · April 20, 2011, 03:02 PM

Personally I have never really been impressed with the S&W line, but that is a personal preference. Have you considered something like a Spyderco Endura or Delica? They are similar in price and IMHO much better knives.

JerryM · April 20, 2011, 04:27 PM

If one wants top quality you will not get it in S&W. However, I think if you needed a knife to cut rope or such, or even SD in an emergency the S&W would do the job.
I am far from an expert in knives, and especially SD type knives, but from what I have seen and friends' opinions, I believe Kershaw offers the best combination of quality and price.

I recently bought a Whirlwind for my son-in-law and a OSO Sweet for me. I like the Whirlwind better and it is made in USA.

With what I have seen in Kershaw knives, I cannot imagine what one could do to a knife to make it worth a couple hundred dollars. It certainly does not add up for me or my use. I suppose many just want to say that they have a such and such knife. That's OK if you just want to spend the money.

Regards,
Jerry

NWdude83 · April 21, 2011, 05:33 PM

I had a big homeland security tanto bowie, but never really used it.

ClydeFrog · April 29, 2011, 01:20 AM

I bought a brand new S&W tanto style knife from www.QMuniforms.com .
The S&W model had a seat belt cutter, a small glass punch & a black coated blade. It may have been the First Responder brand.
I honestly did not care for it. The retail price was $24.95 but the blade wasn't very sharp. It looked poorly designed/constructed. The S&W knife's fit & finish looked very unimpressive too. I'm not a big knife expert but I was not thrilled with the quality and sold the duty knife to a ex-coworker for $20.00.
I also saw a S&W Border Guard knife here; www.Policehq.com and it's looks better but I'd be leery of the Smith & Wesson knife line overall.
Other combat/duty knives from MoD/Blackhawk, CRKT, SOG, Cold Steel, Benchmade, Ernest Emerson, etc may cost more but last longer.

Clyde
www.Blackhawk.com www.Benchmade.com

207Copper · May 4, 2011, 01:37 PM

I have the gen 2 first responder. It is good in idea but I don't carry it since there is a lot of blade slop sided to side when locked and no apparent way to tighten it.
You get what you pay for...some times
Jason

April 19, 2011, 06:45 PM	#1
308Gunner Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Location: NY Posts: 199	S&W Knives Hope this is the right place to post about this I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Smith & Wesson knives. I'm specifically looking at the First Response or Border Guard, but any thoughts on their quality would be welcome __________________ ‘‘To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.’’ — George Mason

April 20, 2011, 12:08 PM	#5
precision_shooter Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 2,475	Never been too impressed with the S&W knives that I have looked at/played with...Like others, I'm not familiar with the ones you are specifically asking about. I tend to stick with what I know is quality and has worked for me in the past. I usually buy Kershaw and Gerber with my preference leaning towards Kershaw... __________________ "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776

April 20, 2011, 03:02 PM	#7
BarryLee Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2010 Location: The ATL (OTP) Posts: 3,946	Personally I have never really been impressed with the S&W line, but that is a personal preference. Have you considered something like a Spyderco Endura or Delica? They are similar in price and IMHO much better knives. __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. - Milton Friedman

April 20, 2011, 04:27 PM	#8
JerryM Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,889	If one wants top quality you will not get it in S&W. However, I think if you needed a knife to cut rope or such, or even SD in an emergency the S&W would do the job. I am far from an expert in knives, and especially SD type knives, but from what I have seen and friends' opinions, I believe Kershaw offers the best combination of quality and price. I recently bought a Whirlwind for my son-in-law and a OSO Sweet for me. I like the Whirlwind better and it is made in USA. With what I have seen in Kershaw knives, I cannot imagine what one could do to a knife to make it worth a couple hundred dollars. It certainly does not add up for me or my use. I suppose many just want to say that they have a such and such knife. That's OK if you just want to spend the money. Regards, Jerry __________________ Ecclesiastes 12:13 ¶Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

April 29, 2011, 01:20 AM	#10
ClydeFrog Junior member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 5,797	Smith and Wesson Tanto style First Responder; Border Guard... I bought a brand new S&W tanto style knife from www.QMuniforms.com . The S&W model had a seat belt cutter, a small glass punch & a black coated blade. It may have been the First Responder brand. I honestly did not care for it. The retail price was $24.95 but the blade wasn't very sharp. It looked poorly designed/constructed. The S&W knife's fit & finish looked very unimpressive too. I'm not a big knife expert but I was not thrilled with the quality and sold the duty knife to a ex-coworker for $20.00. I also saw a S&W Border Guard knife here; www.Policehq.com and it's looks better but I'd be leery of the Smith & Wesson knife line overall. Other combat/duty knives from MoD/Blackhawk, CRKT, SOG, Cold Steel, Benchmade, Ernest Emerson, etc may cost more but last longer. Clyde www.Blackhawk.com www.Benchmade.com

April 19, 2011, 06:52 PM	#2
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	From time to time, I have owned a few and the ones I'm familiar with, were made in China. All have been liner-locks. I'm not familiar with your so could you provide a link. The quality seems to be okay and perform well enough. I mostly give them away as gifts. Finish is good !! Be Safe !!!

April 20, 2011, 02:27 PM	#6
nathaniel Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 600	I got a S&W Cuttin' horse as a door prize from my works end of the season party. Its extremely light and extremely sharp! I have never had a factory knife so sharp. I have cut heavy duty bailing twine with it and it hasnt dulled yet. I have no idea how much it costs but if someone donated it for a door prize id assume it is fairly low priced.

April 21, 2011, 05:33 PM	#9
NWdude83 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2008 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 351	I had a big homeland security tanto bowie, but never really used it.

May 4, 2011, 01:37 PM	#11
207Copper Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: Independence,Kansas Posts: 27	S&W Knife I have the gen 2 first responder. It is good in idea but I don't carry it since there is a lot of blade slop sided to side when locked and no apparent way to tighten it. You get what you pay for...some times Jason __________________ Gun safety is hitting your target