I'd been telling myself that I was going to buy a pocket knife for years, but somehow never really got around to it. I would start to look, but the sheer number and styles available out there frankly intimidated me. I always ended up getting "analysis paralysis" when trying to choose and gave up. One day, I happened to see this knife on sale for around $10 and, as I have long trusted Smith & Wesson as a reliable brand, I figured it was worth a shot. If it didn’t fit my needs, then I would only be out a few bucks; no big loss.
I will mention that I was also undecided on whether to choose a manual/thumb-assisted or a spring-assisted opening knife. When this caught my eye, it came to be that a manual/thumb-assisted opener was going to be my first. (Note: I actually ended up getting both– read below.)
I received the knife and I was pleased with the weight and construction. It fits nicely in the hand and locks solidly. I felt that it would suit my everyday cutting tasks just fine.
Know that when you first get this, it will need to be broken in like many folding knives. Not being used to opening a knife with a thumb stud, it was a little difficult for me at first because the hinge was tight. Again, this could be expected of a brand new knife.
After some practice, I finally broke it in– but it did take some 100-200 open/closes to get it nice and smooth (or to be able to "flick" it open with a snap of the wrist). While breaking it in, you will have to use the finger/thumb flipper (the part on the backside that you press downwards on with your thumb to push the blade out of the handle) then use your other hand to fully open it– or use the thumb stud, if you're able to. For those that may still be new to knives or for those wondering: there is no spring-assisted mechanism on this knife at all– the blade will not fully open using only the flipper. It is fully manual and you will have to push/slide it open with your finger(s).
Once you get it nice and broken in, you will be able to use the thumb stud to swing it open (this still does not feel natural or smooth to me, and I personally never use the studs). I think many would opt for the easiest and quickest way to deploy this knife, which is with a quick snap of the wrist. To me, this is far more convenient than using your thumb to slide it out. Of course, this isn't the safe or recommended way to open a knife, and there are obviously situations where you would obviously not want to do this.
I have been using the knife for a few months now, and I have found a few weaknesses:
A couple of weeks into using it, I was in the garage working on something and I lost my grip. It fell on the ground. The drop was not far or hard– just a normal drop from about waist high– but it damaged the knife. It landed on smooth concrete (garage floor) but it was enough to scuff/chip the paint off in several places, it broke the thumb stud and it even bent the tip of the knife a bit. It fell parallel to the floor, so it didn’t land on the blade.
What I mean by “it broke the thumb stud” is that it came loose– and what I mean by that is that the thumb stud(s) are not soldered to the blade, which was unexpected. It is more so like a barbell threaded through a hole in the blade, rather being part of the blade itself.
It now spins when you touch it, and it rattles because it is slightly loose which is really annoying. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still usable... but since it spins, the stud isn’t as solid. I hope what I said there makes sense. (Update: I got really tired of this and was able to fix it. If this happens to you, use pliers to squeeze the sides of the thumb studs together, as in a vice or press. Be sure to use a rag or padding or the paint will scrape off the studs.)
I was also disappointed the blade bent like it did from such a short-distance side impact. What that says about the strength of the blade may not be favorable.
Know that the paint on the handle is quite easily chipped and scuffed, so don’t think it will be pretty forever. We’re not worried about fashion here, though. It’s a tool, and when you use tools they get wear and tear– so that’s not a picking point really... but I do wish the finish on the handle was better. (Tip: Use a black permanent marker to pretty it up and cover scratches and dings in the finish.) To my surprise, the oxide finish on the blade still looks good, it has not scuffed or scratched thus far (in my use) and it is easily sharpened.
I realize that this damage was a result of my own actions, but I also think it's also important to appreciate that most everyone drops their pocket knife from time to time. This is not particularly "unusual" wear and tear for daily use.
I also want to note that after this I also bought a very similar S&W tactical pocket knife that is spring assisted. I found the grip on that knife to be very uncomfortable, like rough sandpaper– and I really didn’t like that. It also deploys the blade with such violent force that it feels dangerous. Due to that, I ended up actually preferring and using this manual opening version over that one for my EDC. I say all that for anyone who is going back and forth on which of the two to get like I was.
Regardless– even with the loose thumb screw, bent blade tip and the chipped/scuffed finish, it still works great for simple common tasks like opening packages, cutting string, etc... whatever we all use our EDC’s for.
Overall, it’s a very decent knife for the price. If I wanted something that would last years and years I might find a bit higher quality knife, but for everyday tasks this one will surely suffice.
If you’re looking for a light, simple EDC, I can recommend this one. Just don’t expect it to be there with you sipping piña coladas on the beach after retirement. It will last you long enough though, and for the price, it is as good as or better than I had expected and I’m happy with my purchase.
(Final note: I ended up buying several different pocket knives over the next several months and with many disappointments, I found "the one" for me: Kershaw Brawler Folding Pocket Knife (1990). This is my sweetheart. The handle is made of much better material, it feels more solid and the spring-assisted opening is as smooth as butter. I recommend that you spend an extra $10-15 and go for that one. In my opinion, you will be much happier with the Kershaw. It is very similar in specs to this one and it is my new EDC, replacing this one. Still, for those that don't want to spend that much, this knife is still reliable and quite a bargain.)
| Recommended Uses For Product | everyday carry |
|---|---|
| Brand | Smith & Wesson |
| Model Name | SWA24S |
| Special Feature | Lightweight |
| Age Range (Description) | 21 |
| Included Components | Knife |
| Handle Material | Aluminum |
| Color | Multi |
| Blade Material | Carbon Steel |
| Style | Extreme Ops - Box |
| Blade Length | 3.1 Inches |
| Item Weight | 0.24 Pounds |
| Blade Shape | Clip Point |
| Blade Edge | Combination |
| Package Type | Standard Packaging |
| Item Length | 7.1 Inches |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 4.29 x 1.42 x 0.87 inches |
| Package Weight | 0.23 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 0.94 x 4.41 x 1.38 inches |
| Brand Name | Smith & Wesson |
| Warranty Description | Limited Lifetime, https://store.smith-wesson.com/warranty-info.html |
| Material | Stainless Steel, Aluminum |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Taylor Brands LLC |
| Part Number | SWA24S |
| Model Year | 2014 |
| Size | One Size |
