Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
SUPERIOR QUALITY KNIFE!, November 15, 2007
I recieved this knife as a present last year and was immediately impressed by two things. First, the level of fit, finish, and function, and second, the ridiculously low price for such a quality knife.
The construction is solid...black anodized, micro-grooved scales with large, appealing "lightening holes". Oversized blade pivot, and well-finished, tiny screws holding it all together. On the right side is located a strong, spring-steel pocket clip, also finished in a deep, matte black, attached by three tiny screws just behind the pivot pin.
The blade is just shy of 3.25", a dropped, tanto style with serrations along half its lower edge. The blade is also "single sided" meaning the "front" (left) side has the contour shaping, serrations, and logo, while the "back" (right) side is flat. This is of no import on this type of knife to any degree more than holding the price down since only one side of the blade needs to be machined. The blade is a deep black matte finish of S&W's proprietary process and has proved to be quite durable over a year of less than gentle handling. The blade is activated by a large thumbstud located near the hilt along the spine...on BOTH sides of the blade for ambidexterous use.
Blade locking is accomplished by a spring-steel liner lock affixed to the inside of the right scale (handle), and snaps in behind the blade when opened to positively lock the blade against accidental closure. I've heard of liner-locks failing, but it's hard to see how this one could.
Overall fit is well above average. The blade operates smoothly...VERY smoothly and snaps into lock with a reassuringly audible click. Despite being light, the blade can also be snapped into lock with a quick flick of the wrist after the thumb has opened it about 20 degrees.
Once locked open the blade is solid...no wobble, no looseness. To release the thumb (ideally the right thumb) is pressed against the inside of the liner lock, and the lock disengages smoothly without roughness, completely freeing the blade to be rotated into the handle.
The knife is light...easily carried in a pocket without need for being clipped.
As delivered the blade was sharp...not razor, but quite sharp, and a few strokes with an Arkansas stone quickly brought it up to RAZOR sharp and it has held that edge for a long time now.
For the price it would be hard to beat this knife. I guess S&W is now having its knives manufactured in China, which does keep prices low, yet contrary to what some would imply, the QUALITY of S&W knives in general, and this one in particular is superb...well above what one would expect for the money paid, and quite on par with all the big-name domestically produced blades costing oodles more.
To me a "good" knife not only fulfills a useful function, and possesses well-executed, crisp details, but DOES SO at a price that makes it practical to be USED. I don't know anyone who shells out hundreds of dollars for some faux-custom and then uses it hard. THIS knife can be used to the full extent of what it's relatively light-weight construction was meant to allow...and then some, because it didn't cost a small fortune...on top of being VERY well put-together.
You can generally find this knife and several variations of it listed through various online sellers for around $12....TWELVE BUCKS for a knife this good? Amazing. I've seen truly CHEAP pieces of junk at swap-meets selling for more. Let me be very clear: This knife is a truly outstanding value any way you slice it (pun intended).
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solid value, May 17, 2008
This seems like a good knife, especially at the price. I've not been pounding on it with a hammer, or using it to chisel marble, but the constrction seems sound, the blade well mounted and of high quality, the grip easy on the hand, and the mechanism locks positively and well.
Reflecting upon another review, it is possible that a smaller hand might find the thumb-knurl on the small side and difficult to open, for lack of leverage and inadequate purchase. This is only a guess, but may be a matter of consideration for others. As already noted, I find the blade easy to open and the lock mechanism tight and solid.
One other point of approval -- the belt-clip is very solid, tight and well-mounted. Many other manufacturers seem to go cheap on the clip, which makes carrying the knife a problem after a while. The clip loosens up and the knife will easily fall off the belt if one is in an awkward position or brushing past things. This guy looks like it will stay on the belt long after the belt itself has fallen away. This, for me, is another positive.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
it's rapidly growing on me, December 6, 2008
I'd never had one of these liner lock knives before & when I saw this one for the price on here while researching the Victorinox knife I also purchased (Farmer's pocketknife, excellent!) I figured I'd try it, what could another letter opener hurt.
Well, it hurt me! First time I opened the blade it didn't lock and I didn't realize it and closed the serrated part a little on my finger like an idiot. Yes, it's very sharp! After playing with it some more, the lock seemed so stiff that I was thinking of returning it, there was no way it could be operated one-handed.
However, playing with it some more, I tried flicking the blade open. I was able to do this easily even with it fully closed (another customer mentions flicking it open from a partially opened position, but I've had good luck doing it with the knife fully closed.). The blade easily locked! I did this a few more times just to hear the nice locking sound it made. But then I noticed, I was able to easily open and lock the blade with one hand. I suppose the flicking sped up a breaking-in process that a few more two-handed openings would have done.
Umm, I guess I should add, if you're going to try flicking the blade open MAKE SURE YOU CAN HANG ONTO THE KNIFE. I'm a big guy with big hands and nobody was in the room with me; I wouldn't make a habit of opening a knife this way, because it only has to go wrong once when you get careless to really be a bad thing. And I'm going to be closing it with two hands just to be safe.
So now I'm fully pleased with the knife. Easy one-hand open and lock. It's got a really well-machined appearance and feel to it, seems to be well-made in every area. Feel's good in the hand, I don't think it'll get away from you any while you're cutting or sawing. It's very light, too, I could slip it in a pocket and forget it.
Overall, for this price and quality, I can only recommend it. If you're a nOOb like me to these kinds of knives however, this is no toy, it will cut you if you're a moron. So be careful, and enjoy this incredibly cheap, amazing little piece of hardware.
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