Smith & Wesson Large S.W.A.T. SWATLB 8.5in S.S. Assisted Opening Knife with 3.7in Drop Point Blade and Aluminum Handle for Tactical, Survival and EDC

I just bought this knife and it is truly a fine piece of craftsmanship. The knife feels very solid and well put together. It has two ways of opening the blade -- a thumbstud and a switch. The assisted opening spring is so strong that you may be a little surprised how much effort it takes to open it the first time around. You really have to push/press hard no matter which mechanism you use. Now I like this -- gives the knife a good hard quality. But I can see how it can make it difficult for some people to use. Nevertheless, if you're going to be handling a knife of this caliber you better not be complaining about how it hurts your pretty little finger to open it. As for the quality of the blade -- unparalleled in this price range. Comes sharp and you can make it even sharper to really slice through any reasonable job. It's got sandpaper on most of the grip so it won't be slipping out of your hand. And the locking mechanism is tight. It will not falter.Again I've bought a finely made Smith & Wesson product and again I am more than pleased. This is a reputable company that obviously takes great pride in their work.

Best knife ever!

I've been using this knife for about a year and a half now. The intent was to use only as a carry knife, but it didn't take long for it to turn into my daily work knife. My wife and I live on a 10-acre homestead/pony breeding farm. So it gets used multiple times daily for numerous uses.It holds and edge well and takes a freshened edge easily. The spring is as strong as when I first bought it and I've had no issues with anything loosening or breaking.True, the grip texturing has worn in one spot and some of the black paint has worn, but I didn't expect anything different with the use it gets. I will be ordering a couple more for gifts and also as a back-up for myself. A year and a half is long enough to tell whether it's reliable or not.Update 8/18 - Still carrying this same knife. I have two more on standby in a drawer, but haven't needed them. I stand by everything I said earlier. The texture has largely worn off and it is pretty scuffed up. Last year I noticed it wasn't functioning as cleanly as it should and it did pop open in my pocket once. But I went over it and snugged down all the screws (only time I've done this) and it has worked flawlessly since then. I do check the screws occasionally (when I think about it and I have allen wrenches handy). The only other time I had an issue with it, it turned out that there was a quarter jammed in it. Other than that it's been a very reliable knife.I love this knife. Still.

Seems well constructed. MAGIC assisted opening system works fast and locks solidly. Overall fit and finish is good to very good for this price range. Opens as fast as an automatic. There is also a safety to prevent accidental opening.It is described as "Black aluminum with black rubber inserts handle" and this is NOT correct. There are no rubber inserts. The textured area you see in the photo is VERY rough textured aluminum NOT rubber.On the plus side this does provide a very positive gripping surface, but, IMHO, this material is too rough for a folder designed to be carried in a pocket or under clothing. It WILL abraid fabric and could easily get snagged being retrieved.And to me it gives what otherwise might be 5 star rated knife a negative "feel". The error in the description may be due to S&W (Taylor) planning to use rubber inserts but then deciding the cost was prohibitive. I wish it had been made with the rubber inserts or a more subtle texturing.

The knife on the top I bought in high school. About 10 years later of carrying it almost every day and the tip (which had a small gouge taken out) broke off. The knife has been sharpened twice. It’s very study, the lock works great, and the spring has never lost strength. I hope they never retire this knife.

It's not too heavy but still feels sturdy in your hand. The blade is very sharp right out of the box. The "sandpaper" or "rough" texture on the clip side of the knife doesn't damage my pocket in the least. I keep it in the side pocket on the leg of my pants. The clip is tight and never comes out of my pocket. I never worry about losing it. If you're used to pen knives or small Swiss knives, this is probably going to be too big but it's perfect for me. The "switch" is fast and smooth. Takes a little effort to bring the blade back but it's not that bad. It looks badass too. I'm a happy camper. Well worth the money.

It's been just about a year since I purchased this pocket knife, and it has surpassed my expectations. I carry this everyday to work and home on the farm. I do have a tendency to abuse pocket knives and they typically don't last long at all.This Smith & Wesson pocket knife has held up to an abundance of abuse. It gets used daily at the excavating company and around the farm. I have used this as a screwdriver, pry bar, ice pick and anything else that you are not supposed to use a knife for. However this has held up past my standards of a typical knife.The blade keeps an edge for weeks and has not bent or chipped. The spring is still strong and the locking mechanism still holds just fine. With just a little bit general maintenance (sharpening the blade and tightening the tension) I think this pocket knife will last me for many more years.The only couple of things that has worn down is the textured finish on the grip and on the painted finish. I can live with that.