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Old 11-01-2021, 07:21 PM
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Echo40 Echo40 is offline
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The SW3B just arrived in the mail today.

It looks good and feels good in my hand. The blade appears to be reasonably sharp out of the box. A pity that it didn't arrive sooner, otherwise I could have tested out the sharpness by using it to carve a Jack-O-Lantern.

Smith & Wesson SW3B M-9 Special Ops Bayonet.-sw3b_m9_sheath-jpg

Here it is, freshly unboxed with the included sheath.

Smith & Wesson SW3B M-9 Special Ops Bayonet.-sw3b_oiled-jpg

As you could see, it was bone dry out of the box, so I oiled it up with some Frog Lube CLP.

Smith & Wesson SW3B M-9 Special Ops Bayonet.-sw3b_dob-jpg

On the opposite side of the blade located on the ricosso is what I presume is a date of manufacturing. 05/21 = May 2021?

Smith & Wesson SW3B M-9 Special Ops Bayonet.-ramster-sw3b-jpg
Smith & Wesson SW3B M-9 Special Ops Bayonet.-ramster-sw3b_spines-jpg

Next I took some side by side pictures between the SW3B M-9 Bayonet and the Rothco Ramster Survival Knife, both of which share a common ancestor in the Buckmaster 184.
As you can see, they're similar in appearance, with the SW3B being just slightly longer with a thinner blade. The original Buckmaster 184 had a very thick blade, even more so than the Rothco Ramster which is a clone of the Buckmaster. Due to its all Stainless Steel construction, the Buckmaster 184 was a very heavy knife, so when Phrobis (the designer of both blades) went to work on the M9, they intentionally made the M9 substantially thinner to reduce weight. They also made it with a far lighter plastic handle and redesigned the saw teeth to make them smaller and with sharpened tips, but the SW3B features the classic saw teeth of the Buckmaster 184.

Overall, I'm pleased with it. It seems to be a high quality blade, despite what it's lower price point and Taiwanese manufacturing might suggest. The Taiwanese SW3B costs $109.99 brand new vs $149.99 for an American-Made MilSpec M9 by Ontario Knife Company. Granted, I only paid $59.99 for the SW3B since it's currently on Clearance, but based on my first impressions, $109.99 doesn't seem overpriced.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg SW3B_M9_Sheath.jpg (120.2 KB, 89 views)
File Type: jpg SW3B_Oiled.jpg (174.3 KB, 89 views)
File Type: jpg SW3B_DoB.jpg (173.5 KB, 90 views)
File Type: jpg Ramster+SW3B.jpg (161.8 KB, 1238 views)
File Type: jpg Ramster+SW3B_Spines.jpg (120.7 KB, 89 views)
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Last edited by Echo40; 11-01-2021 at 07:48 PM.
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