I know these aren't fancy knives, but I picked one up for $5 at a pawn shop recently. In part, I picked it up because it is marked,"First Production Run,
Designed by Stewart H. Taylor" and has a S&W symbol to the left of the message.
I don't supposed there is any special value to this, but it seems like a well made knife and I do like most S&W knives I've found, so it's in my pocket now.
Is this the same Taylor of the Taylor Cutlery that I see marked on other Chinese knives?

It is the same Taylor. I have many "First Production Run" knives from Taylor, funny thing though is there will be a first production run 1996then there will be a first production run 1997 of the same knife.

KO

The "problem" with Taylor's S&W knives is that most are not factory authorized issue knives. Taylor is a factory licensed knife supplier and he sends S&W many versions of knives. Some are selected as S&W authorized knives and appear in the S&W catalogs. Those not selected wind up on the knife market. like Ebay and wholesale dealers like Big 5, etc. However, for $5 they are a bargain. Ed.