I received a couple of folders to check out this weekend. This is the new Smith and Wesson SPECLS assisted opening folder. It is just over 4 3/4 inches long closed. It has a 3 3/4 inch modified Tanto style blade of 4034 stainless steel that comes out of the box extremely sharp, and has a very sharp tip that should be good for boring holes if needs be. The heavy blade is just over an 1/8 inch thick at the pivot point. It shaves hair and easily cuts webbing and cordage with no effort at all. It has a one inch section of serrations at the ricasso, and has groves on the spine at the base of the blade for more control when doing detailed or tedious work
It has aluminum handle scales with areas of a much textured material that make it very easy to keep a grip on it. Surprisingly these areas are not as rough on the pocket material of my jeans as I expected them to be when using the pocket clip though probably not good for wear with dress clothing. The pocket clip its self is bedded into a recess that should prevent any side to side motion causing it to work loose and held in place with three screws.
It has a lever on the back of the handle just above the pivot point of the blade and pulling back on this lever allows the blade to move enough that the assist spring takes over and opens it the rest of the way. It has a good strong spring and crisp opening movement. It has a steel frame and a strong integral liner lock to secure the blade in place once opened. The end of the blade is beveled so that there is a wedging effect as the liner moves into the locked position.
This knife also has a thump actuated locking mechanism that when pushed forward prevents the blade from opening. This should prevent the blade from accidentally opening in your pocket. I have pulled on the blade with this locked and so far cannot force it to open. When in the locked position it will also prevent the blade from closing if the liner lock is accidentally pushed out of place.
The knife feels good and solid with no looseness or movement at all even after cutting some webbing, and whittling a few points. It is a heavy pocket knife but as stated earlier it is geared toward work not dress.
It has aluminum handle scales with areas of a much textured material that make it very easy to keep a grip on it. Surprisingly these areas are not as rough on the pocket material of my jeans as I expected them to be when using the pocket clip though probably not good for wear with dress clothing. The pocket clip its self is bedded into a recess that should prevent any side to side motion causing it to work loose and held in place with three screws.
It has a lever on the back of the handle just above the pivot point of the blade and pulling back on this lever allows the blade to move enough that the assist spring takes over and opens it the rest of the way. It has a good strong spring and crisp opening movement. It has a steel frame and a strong integral liner lock to secure the blade in place once opened. The end of the blade is beveled so that there is a wedging effect as the liner moves into the locked position.
This knife also has a thump actuated locking mechanism that when pushed forward prevents the blade from opening. This should prevent the blade from accidentally opening in your pocket. I have pulled on the blade with this locked and so far cannot force it to open. When in the locked position it will also prevent the blade from closing if the liner lock is accidentally pushed out of place.
The knife feels good and solid with no looseness or movement at all even after cutting some webbing, and whittling a few points. It is a heavy pocket knife but as stated earlier it is geared toward work not dress.
