Questions on S&W brand knives

[THE PILGRIM]

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.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

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

 

[ko41]

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

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-re...attenfeld-technologies-acquire-taylor-brands/

KO

 

[THE PILGRIM]

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.

 

[ko41]

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

 

[ko41]

S&W knives in the 1996 Taylor catalog.

KO

 

[majorsideburns]

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

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

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.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

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.

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

 

[ko41]

S&W has NEVER made knives!! They sell rebranded knives from other vendors.....

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

 

[chief38]

I can't think of any gun company marked knife that is currently made in the USA. Originally they were all descent quality knives but have now and for quite some time fallen down the worm hole to be made in China. If you want a competent EDC, a high quality well made usable knife, get a Spyderco, Kershaw, Benchmade or Case (some are made in USA and some not - be careful) and I think you will be happy. At least they are still decently made and if and when they have an issue the company's who made them will stand behind them - at least that has been my personal experience. To the best of my knowledge, all my knives have been made in the USA with the exception of one SAK (Swiss made) and my 23 piece set of Wusthof (German made) kitchen knives. Oh - I do have a free-bee set of steak knives made in China. They are marked Capitol Grill and were given to some of their better customers at Christmas time. They are pretty much garbage and I will eventually remove the serrations and grind the into proper steak knives. That said, they will never be great knives - but they were "free" - lol!

 

[GnarlsR2]

Of the 5 knives I have purchased in the last couple years, the S&W SWA24S pocket knife was so bad the supplier would not even take it back, they refunded my money. Sadly the S&W name doesn't mean diddly.

 

[Jerry in SC]

When I lived in Rock Hill, SC Dillingham graphics was a couple of blocks from me. They were located in the basement of a local small sporting goods store. The store (can't recall the name now) had all the latest S&W flyers announcing new handguns on the counter. They also had a large glass display with all the knives etched by Dillingham. I spent a lot of time and money in that shop. He didn't display handguns but had them locked in his safe. He was an odd guy but kept me in S&W's for years.

I have a Masonic belt buckle they made for me. They were great folks to deal with.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The older Smith Knives are Top Notch.
And I like the Kershaws, have several.
Right this minute- carrying a Fixed Blade Bark River.
Bark River PSK.
Yes, I have a lot of Knives.
Heavy Biased toward US Made.

 

[Shootist1954]

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

I have a S&W multi-tool. It was a gift. The quality is "okay" but it's not nearly as well made as a Leatherman.

 

[DixieRanger]

This Kershaw has nub on spine for one hand flip opening along with blade stud for thumb opening and locks open. Pocket carry since 2007. Got my daughter one with pink metal slabs with her initials engraved. Carry every day...

 

[AJ]

This Kershaw has nub on spine for one hand flip opening along with blade stud for thumb opening and locks open. Pocket carry since 2007. Got my daughter one with pink metal slabs with her initials engraved. Carry every day...

Not sure when I got mine............

 

[MikeOrick]

I like my 2.0 knives.