Broke the tip off of my much loved Kershaw folding pocketknife. Yep, using the wrong tool is something I seem to do more frequently these days.
So, my questions to you gents are.........
1. Are S&W folding knives US made?
2. Are they made well enough so as to be reliable as a utility tool?
Like most of us, I don't just clean my toenails with a folding knife, it gets used.
3. I'd be interested to know the general consensus here.

All replies will be appreciated, thanks gents!
Regards to all,
Bob

Well, the deafening silence on this one pretty much tells me everything I was wanting to know about those knives.
Got it.

The early knives were made in the US, but most of the current offerings are made in Taiwan or China. S&W doesn't mention the county of origin on their website, but BladeHQ has the info on the product pages.

By BIL bought a S&W Auto back when he was a police officer. The mechanism broke within a few weeks. If you loved your Kershaw, get another one. If you'd like something more robust, consider something from their ZT line. I'm also a fan of Japan made Spyderco's, US made Buck's and Benchmade, but you can destroy any knife with enough abuse.

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"I also cook."

Is your Kershaw a US made version no longer available model? Not many made in USA Kershaws available.
My favorite is the Kershaw 1050 made in KAI Japan.....not a cheap solution by any means...

S&Wchad is spot on.

Randy

The Kershaw site allows you to easily find knives made in the USA. I count 58...

USA-made Kershaw Pocketknives | Kershaw Knives

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"I also cook."

I want to say the circa late 90s, early 2000 S&W knives where made by blue grass or tyler cutlery. My brother used one if the old SWAT models as his every day work knife, i wasn't impressed by it.

I have a couple 1970s S&W knives, one a folder. Both seem very well made, but I doubt the folder would hold up very well as a pry tool.

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

Given Rock185's post I went back and deleted the phrase old school out of my post. I didn't know S&W made knives in the 70s.

More info on S&W knives.

S&W Knife Brochure

S&W Knife Photos

KO

If you liked your Kershaw, then get another. Just do not misuse it. I have two Kershaw's that I do carry at various times. If I need a utility knife I revert back to the ones I was issued in the Corps. They are next to impossible to break. Only have seen a couple in over 50 years break, and all that time they were in use by Marines, who are hard on equipment. There is an old saying about "Nothing is Marine proof!".

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Generally speaking, the fact that a knife has the S&W brand is a reason not to buy it. Every one I have seen for years was Chinese-made, and not even best-quality-Chinese-made...

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Pisgah

I've bought a couple S&W knives over the years, they were not US made and were not the best quality. They are Ok but there are better knives in the same price point.
If you liked the Kershaw see if they will fix it for you. They grinded the blade on one I broke about 15 years ago, it cane back a little shorter but otherwise perfect and very sharp.
If they won't do that ask if you can pay for a new blade to be installed, they still have a few American made knives.

Most looked like cheap junk. Too many brands made overseas that used to be made here. Get another Kershaw or Buck.

In addition to all the sound advice above, I would add, get yourself a Leatherman if you are using your knife for other than cutting. It can be your screwdriver, pry bar, pliers, etc. And they excel at that. One of my models has an excellent knife in the tools that I believe s30V steel. It also has a pocket clip and can be pocket carried. It is not that much more big and bulky than a big ZT.

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No school like the old school.

I just saw this thread. I won't be silent. They are junk. Always have been. Buy a decent knife.

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Even older, even crankier....

I’ve only got this one, combination knife and straight razor. Very sharp. The letters CKRD are stamped into one of the blades and according to the internet it was made in China by BTI Tools LLC.

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Thanks to each of you for your responses. My apologies for not getting back sooner, was a week removed from any modern conveniences.
I admit to abusing this knife, THIS TIME. Unfortunately I had to sacrifice the blade to get a necessary chore done. Typically I treat all my knives like knives, but didn't have that luxury this time.
The suggestion to see if Kershaw might install a new blade is an interesting one, and I will follow up on that. Thank you.
I do have a Leatherman, one of the originals that is probably almost 30 years old by now. Mine has only about five features, but it has served me very well.
Marines are hard on equipment? Take my word for it Juggie (said with much respect, in my part of Uncle's Canoe Club, I served elbow to elbow with many Marines, mostly from Quantico, and have a son and 2 grandsons that are Marines) you guys are no harder on equipment than us Squids. A sailor worth his salt can bust a piece of railroad iron.
I do generally carry a heavier duty knife, but this time I only had a dress knife on me. I like it because while it is legal everywhere, it's still assisted opening, a feature I like to keep handy, just in case. Ya never know in today's world.
I also have a Buck 110, and a Browning 204 (made in China!)
So again, thanks to each of you for responding, much appreciated.
Regards to all,
Bob

I have a Limited Edition (1000 made) Performance Center "Homeland" made in the USA; Very well built and beautiful.

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SWCA 3749 SWHF 867

Gosh, Thanks for letting me know you guys. I didn't know my old S&W knives are Chinese/junk. Maybe I can unload them to some unsuspecting buyer for a couple bucks each

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

I've carried this Kershaw Leek since 2006. (It looks somewhat more worn now), and if it breaks I'll get it fixed or get another. One hand knife, solid, keeps a good edge, stays pretty sharp. Does everything I have ever needed it to do.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Way back Smith sold Quality Blades.
Had several, sold all but one.
Also like Kershaws, they do have long narrow nose!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

How much do I like Kershaws?
I even like the Clone Fake one in the middle.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Everyone seems to want a good pocket knife. I use whatever the NRA sends me for FREE. For the past ten years that has been a nice BUCK flip open. I always carried an Old Timer mid sized three blade but the one handed opening is just so handy I joined the crowd! I see many of you spending a few hundred dollars for a pocket knife! Not even if my lively hood depended on it!!

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To the best of my knowledge, Taylor Cutlery in Dirty Socks , IL provides S&W knives. Also Schrade and Imperial made in China. I carry a Kershaw USA made and a Piranha auto USA made.

Kershaw, Buck, and many other US brands have several models made in China. I use no Chinese knives, and admonish S&W for attaching their names to Chinese made junk.

Want a nice knife, shop Ebay for a USA made Case, Schrade, Old Timer and others. It is fun looking for one.

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Buy once, cry once.

Benchmade has never let me down.

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Only a cold warrior

Most "S&W" branded knives made in the last 20 years aren't worth the packaging they are packed in. Get your Kershaw fixed, and if you need a new knife, I recommend CRKT. Great knives for the price and an abundance of models to choose from.

I've sharpened a few S&W knives for friends and they are decent knives for the somewhat reasonable price they sell for. Surely not the best knives available, but would serve just fine as a utility knife. I have never come across a USA made S&W knife although they might have been in when they first started selling them many years ago.

Kershaw knives have both USA made and Chinese imported knives. From my experience, Kershaw knives made here are usually fairly descent. I have not owned any imported ones so I don't know about those. BTW, Kershaw has a pretty good policy on repairing broken knives. They would probably replace a broken blade.

As others have said, S&W doesn’t make knives. They just have them made by various knife makers with their logo on them.

I have a Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops Auto I bought just to have a cheap auto knife to lay on the desk. Its was only about $30. It’s from Taiwan, I have no idea who made it. I had it for several years and its done it job of mainly opening packages.

My everyday carry is a Pro-Tech Magic Whiskers.

Here I am sitting in a Dunking drinking coffee.
Looking at a caballero wearing a Serape.
Just checked to see which blade I’m toting.
Hog Nose Acid Washed American Made Kershaw.
The older quality Smith Knives were American Made and designed by Blackie Collins.
The actual maker is a little confusing.
Some sources say in House, others say outside Makers.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

OP nice that you asked the question. To the best of my knowledge SW knives a supplied through Taylor Cutlery and are Chinese. Personally I buy only USA knives, sneakers and shoes. eBay is great for finding USA made Schaefer, old timer , case and other pocket knives. That is where I get mine

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Just stopped at Sportsman’s Warehouse.
Yes their Smith Knives are China made.
Bucks - some US Made, some China made.
All their Kershaws, China.
CRKT - all China. I have 3-4 that I’ve had for a while, mine are Taiwan made.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

After the Blackie Collins Knives, here comes the American Series.
Made by Vermont Knives.
The question that remains is -
Did Taylor ever -make- any Smith and Wesson Knives?
If they did, what models were they?

1981 Smith and Wesson USA model 6080

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I don't believe Taylor Cutlery, now Taylor Brands LLC, ever -made- any knives. The knives are primarily manufactured in China for Taylor Brands LLC.
99% of the S&W brand knives from circa 1993 to present are Taylor Brands LLC knives.

Schrade Knives | Knife Informer

https://ir.smith-wesson.com/news-rel...taylor-brands/

KO

The Blackie Collins Knives were obviously superior Designs and Quality Made.
Then the next generation were very obviously a lower quality product but still American Made..
Somewhere along there I recall hearing of Taylor, and at that time I probably thought or heard they made those American Series Knives.
It was only that recently I even heard of Vermont Knives.
But as we circle the Wagons, it’s beginning to look like Taylor was strictly an Importer.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Taylor entered the picture about 10 years after the American Series was discontinued.
In 1980 S&W introduced the Maverick folding knife. According to the C.E.Rinke book The Knives of Smith & Wesson, the Maverick was a S&W design and was built by their knife division. The American Series fixed blade knives were introduced in 1981 and all the knives were dropped from the S&W catalog by 1984.


KO

S&W knives in the 1996 Taylor catalog.














KO

I have a couple more recent S&W folding knives and they are both made in China.

If you just need a knife, the world is awash with plenty of good options. This is like...the golden age of knife collecting. Mind boggling array of choices.

If ya' just gots ta have that S&W logo, Taylor Cutlery big bad! Blackie Collins good! Ebay will be your friend. Speaking in perhaps overly broad terms. the older knives that were decent tend to have mirror finishes. They do not have serrations, thumb studs, or any kinda one hand opening. Karambits, tanto blades, etc. are not the ones to look at. I was shopping for myself just yesterday, and there are lots of good options, if that's the path you choose. My wife had one of the larger lockbacks that was made in the late 70's back in 1993 when we first started dating. We had the best Summer we've ever known while hanging between childhood and adulthood. That knife helped make alot of kindling, tent stakes, hot dog sticks, cleaned alot of fish, etc. that summer. There's knives made now that are better made by every concievable metric, but just because there's brand new metallurgy, design, etc. doesn't mean the old stuff has gone out of date and quit working.

S&W has NEVER made knives!! They sell rebranded knives from other vendors.....Too flimsy/cheap for me to use.

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S&W Accumulator

You are mistaken in your belief that S&W has NEVER made knives!!

The 1970s fixed blade knives were made by S&W in Springfield, Mass., the folder was made by ALCAS in New York.


The Sportsman and American series knives were made by S&W in their Houlton, Maine facility in the early 1980s

Smith and Wesson later sold their knife operations to Vermont Knife Company.

Letters from Blackie Collins and Stephen Otway in the C.E. Rinke book The Knives Of Smith & Wesson.















KO