Smith & Wesson SWMP4LS 8.6in S.S. Assisted Folding Knife with 3.6in Serrated Clip Point Blade and Aluminum Handle for Outdoor Tactical Survival and EDC , Black

I bought this knife because I was looking for a slightly larger and beefier EDC knife with a glass breaker and I didn't wan't to spend a ton of money. I have carried a Gerber 22 FAST DRAW knife with a 3" partially serrated blade for about 2 years now and it is still a fantastic knife. With only minimal upkeep and sharpening it has remained a truly wonderful knife to own and use and I would highly recommend it to anyone. However, this review is about my new S&W SWMP4LS so here goes. This is a larger knife, it has a 3.6" partially serrated blade, and it is heavier than my Gerber 22. It feels about 50% heavier but it's not so heavy that it feels uncomfortable in either the hand or on my belt. In fact, I rather like the extra heft; it gives the knife a very substantial feel. It comes quite sharp out of the box and remained so for a long time. Even though it comes only roughly ground the blade still gets the job done. A trip to a professional sharpener (or do it yourself if you have the skill and time) and you can really put a fine polished edge on this knife. This is the first assisted opening knife I've ever owned with a spine flipper; all my other AO knives all use thumb studs only. It took about three openings with the flipper for me to become a convert. I used the thumb knob to deploy the blade several times and found that the spine flipper actually works better and is easier to use. The knife rests very comfortably in my palm when I deploy the blade using the spine flipper. The "M.A.G.I.C. assist" opening system deploys the blade quickly and locks open with a satisfying "click!" Once open the liner lock keeps the blade firmly in place and you can even use the side safety lock as an added measure of protection. When closing the blade there is a nice little bit of tension as the blade locks shut in the frame. It's just enough resistance to let you know the blade is closed and once again you get a satisfying "click!" that tells you the blade is properly closed. A frame lock would be a bit more secure but would also raise the price. I've found that a liner lock in a good knife from a reputable company is a good locking mechanism for AO knives. The glass breaker works like a charm. I never used a glass breaker before but was easily able to punch through several car windows and a windshield with minimal effort. I would recommend gloves and glasses for safety. The side safety is designed like a safety toggle on a gun. I always prefer some type of safety on my AO knives and this one is quite nice. It toggles up (off) and down (on) like a safety on a handgun. When it is off you see a standard red dot; Warning! Safety is off! The overall construction seems to be quite good. The frame is rugged, there is no play in the blade when it's deployed and the pocket clip is sturdy but easy to use. Unlike many other folders this knife only comes with one pocket clip option; right handed, tip down. I gave it to a left handed friend and he was able to carry it comfortably enough in his pocket but said he would prefer a sheath. The knife has an aggressive and unique look and I find it to be aesthetically pleasing. Some jimping along the top of the knife where your thumb comes to rest would be a good addition and would make for a better grip. The 4034 stainless steel blade keeps an edge well and is wearing well. S30V steel would be better but would also drive up the cost. All things considered, the Smith & Wesson SWMP4LS is an excellent EDC knife. For an AO knife in the $30-$50 range this one is hard to beat. I give this knife 5 stars. It's an exceptional value and a wonderful knife.

Update 2: Ball bearing fell out of lock mechanism, and I contacted S&W support through the Amazon product support page, and let me tell ya, their support is fantastic! They offered to warranty the knife out for the same model number or, if I wanted, I could visit their support page and choose another product in its place. Absolutely fantastic customer support. Most likely, the lock mechanism was defective from the get-go, causing the issues with opening. It almost certainly was the reason that the blade got stuck in closed and open positions. If you buy a S&W product, rest assured that their customer support will handle the issue!!! UPDATE: Jammed 2nd day, jammed open on 3rd day, completely jammed on 4th day. Had more expensive and cheaper blades that lasted a LONG time. I'll update if situation is rectified by Smith & Wesson. Man, I am lovin' this blade!!! It is beefy - both the handle and the 3.5" blade - and it's sharp right out of the box. You could probably sharpen it a tiny bit more, but I actually slightly cut myself trying to use the thumb flip rather than the spring-assist. So, it's plenty sharp enough directly out of the box. It's directly as described, and yes, the video is accurate on the sharpness of the knife. The spring assist is quick, and the safety is quality. It's got good weight to it, and while I know there have been complaints about it being too heavy, I completely do not understand those complaints. This thing is sturdy, and it fits in the hand very, very nicely for either slicing a box/EDC purposes or, if needed, self-defense. I can't speak to the durability or how well the blade holds an edge as of yet because I just got the blade today. However, I will probably update later because I think some of the complaints about this blade at this price are asinine. This is a fantastic blade, maybe one of my favorites because of how well it fits in my hand and the feel/weight of it when using. I also have not used the window breaker, but there's no doubt in my mind that it would work just fine, especially with the 7.1 oz weight. I was looking forward to this blade arriving, and it did not disappoint at this price point. This is a fantastic deal.

This is a quality knife beautifully put together knife. Very "Solidly built" strong, sturdy, robust and a good weight. Movement is smooth and precise and it looks is great love the one hand action! You will love this Knife and enjoy having it in your collection and pocket. I would recommend this to all knife collectors.