Smith & Wesson SWVIP Viper Serrated Knife

by Smith & Wesson

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

3.5" Blade, 4.5" Closed, 3.2oz.

Product Description

S&W PARTIALLY SERRATED FLIP OUT BLADE WITH POCKET CLIP Simply push the button and flick your wrist and the Viper swings into action. The side-opening Viper features a satin finish stainless steel blade and aluminum handle.Blade Length: 3.5 (8.9 cm) Closed Lenght: 4.5 (11.4 cm) Blade Material: Stainless Steel Blade Detail: Combo Edge Handle Material: Aluminum Safety Lock & Release Button Weight: 3.2 oz

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00172YDLW
• Item model number: SWVIP
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,577 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Novel, Useful, But Beware, August 15, 2009

By 

B. Glassman (Chapel Hill, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Smith & Wesson SWVIP Viper Serrated Knife (Tools & Home Improvement)

Once you've used a knife that opens one-handed, there's no turning back. And this knife is remarkable in that respect. Slide the catch, flick your wrist ever so slightly, and it's locked open and ready to use. (Mine took a few times to break in. Before that, it might not fully lock open without pressing the side of the blade against something.) So efficiency and ease of use gets it the 3 stars.

Why not 5?

First, because only one side of the blade is honed, if that's the right word. Thus, all the sharpeners I have that consist of a V-shaped arrangement of, say, ceramic rods or steel edges, are useless. I'd like to have known that. Gotta go buy a sharpener I don't already own.

Second, because the serrations *seem* to cut much better when pushing rather than when pulling. Opening a package entails pushing the knife into the box under pressure. (Not good if there is something inside you'd rather not puncture.) I'd appreciate hearing if others have different experience with this.

Third, because unlike just about every other knife that closes one-handed, this one has no spring to force the blade closed. I admit that I had become accustomed to closing my other knives without actually looking at them. The sound of the blade snapping into place was evidence that it could safely be slipped into a pocket. Not so this one. It can bounce back out of the handle before you release the catch. The blade can then be pressed closed, but it may be partially open until then. If you buy it, I urge you to *see* that it is securely closed before you put it away, at least until the locking mechanism is thoroughly broken in. Otherwise you may be sliding a 2/3 closed knife into your pocket. It has a very sharp point. I'm not saying we shouldn't always verify visually that every knife is closed. I'm just saying that it's a habit you may need to relearn.

It seems to me that much of the functionality depends on the weight of the blade. This knife's little brother might (and I emphasize "might") not have the weight to open and close as securely as the large one. So I'd be even more cautious with it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compact Folding Knife, March 15, 2010

By 

Dr. PC "Dr. PC" (South Carollina) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Smith & Wesson SWVIP Viper Serrated Knife (Tools & Home Improvement)

This is a fairly compact folding knife with a unique mechanism great for light cutting tasks like opening boxes and letters. Folded this knife is very flat. The blade was reasonable sharp, the serrations are OK, but I prefer a plain edge. The back of the blade (top) is ground to a flat edge.

The knife is easily opened with one hand, it can be closed with one hand, but you have to be careful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great purse knife!, May 21, 2011

By 

Tami - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Smith & Wesson SWVIP Viper Serrated Knife (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have always taught my daughters and my son (who is now out of the Marines) how to protct themselves and a knife is always a very handy tool. I have given these knives to all my children and my brother, all of whom have been delighted with the action and the smooth operation. I oiled each and made sure the action was quick and efficient prior to finish sharpening and honing each blade. This knife is small enough to fit nicely in a pocket or a purse, the action is quick enough to enable you to deploy it with little un-needed attention, and the handle is wide enough to hold onto in most situations. Most females feel more comfortable with the smaller blade while my brother and son handle the larger knives best.
Since I teach hand-to-hand combat techniques I have always suggested that all my students have additional tools that may be needed. Besides, they can open a box in no time...