Smith & Wesson is a well-known American arms manufacturer that’s been in the business since the late 1850s.
While the company is best known for its handguns, the company also manufactures high-quality knives.
The Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B is a double-edged knife and happens to be one of the company’s most popular fixed knives.
But with Cold Steel and Schrade offering excellent fixed knives in the same price range, I felt the need to review the knife and find out if it’s worth the money.
So, in this post, I will review the SWHRT9B to find out just that.
- Dimensions: 9 inch (22.9 centimeter) overall length with a blade length of 4.7 inches (12.1...
- Durable: Blade is made of reliable 7Cr17MoV high carbon stainless steel with a black rubber wrapped...
Last update on 2023-05-31 at 10:33 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
SKIP AHEAD
Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B Review
Construction Style and Build
The SWHRT9B is a tactical and self-defense knife, and it certainly looks the part. The black handle and the black powder-coated blade give the knife a sleek and tactical look. The color also makes it easy to conceal.
The blade is crafted out of 7Cr17MoV high carbon stainless steel – which gives it a long life and prevents rusting, making it great for a day out in the woods. It is double-edged and comes with a spear point.
The blood groove is a nice touch. Since it is a full tang knife, the grooves help make it lighter without compromising on blade strength. The grooves also increase the damage the blade does, which makes the knife ideal for self-defense.
The blade is sharp, and unlike some other knives, you will not need to sharpen it when it arrives. While I found that it is not hair-shaving sharp, it will cut through a piece of paper like a pat of butter.
Overall, I find the knife to boast a very practical, no-nonsense design, which is impressive considering its low price.
Size and Weight
The blade is large at 9 inches, and the length of the blade is 4.7 inches. Its length makes carrying it in public illegal in some states, which is why the blade is not sold in California, New York, and Massachusetts.
Make sure you know your state’s laws because carrying a knife this long in public – concealed or non-concealed – is a criminal offense in some states.
The knife weighs 7.7 ounces, which is a nice weight. It feels substantial, but never unbalanced or uncomfortable.
I really like the quality of the knife, especially considering its price.
Grip
The ribbed rubber-wrapped handle gives the knife an excellent grip and ensures that it doesn’t slip from your hand even if it is wet.
The handle widens towards the center and tapers off towards the end of the knife. This not only enhances the grip but also makes the knife comfortable in the hand.
It makes it clear that the knife is professionally designed with the end-user in mind. I’d expected nothing less from Smith & Wesson knife.
Furthermore, the handle’s rubber molding lines are almost invisible, which is an indicator of good quality.
The handle comes with a large guard, which gives me a lot of confidence when I use it. I don’t have to be overly careful with it and can go about using the knife without worrying too much.
The brass tube lanyard hole on the bottom of the knife’s handle enables you to slip a paracord through it. Since the knife is large, I found having a lanyard available handy.
Sheath
The knife comes with a high-quality leather sheath. The sheath is thick, and the stitching feels solid – this is not a cheap sheath that will rip open the second day.
It has a long clip, which makes it feel secure on my belt. But one thing I dislike is that the clip is a little too loose for my liking. I never tried strapping it to my boots for this reason.
On the plus side, though, the clip will enable you to strap the knife to some MOLLE if needed.
Another advantage that the sheath offers is the large button. Not only does it keep your knife safe, but it also makes for a quicker draw. You won’t have trouble getting it out when the situation demands it.
Overall, it leaves an excellent impression. I’m satisfied with its quality.
Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B Pros and Cons
Pros
- Full tang, double-edged design
- Comes with lanyard
- High-quality sheath
- Sharp, sturdy blade
- Grippy handle
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- No sharpening stone included
- Sheath clip a little too loose for my liking
- Dimensions: 9 inch (22.9 centimeter) overall length with a blade length of 4.7 inches (12.1...
- Durable: Blade is made of reliable 7Cr17MoV high carbon stainless steel with a black rubber wrapped...
Last update on 2023-05-31 at 10:33 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Open Questions…
Q: Is the knife left-handed?
A: The knife has a symmetrical design, making it ideal for both right- and left-handed use.
Q: Can I throw the knife?
A: No – it is not balanced enough for throwing.
Q: What is the sheath made out of?
A: The sheath is made out of hard leather. The knife can be difficult to pull out at first, but the sheath loosens up with use.
What People Are Saying About the Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B
The consensus is positive, and most customers are happy with the knife.
The sheath is high quality, and customers report it holding up well even after it getting wet. Customers also say that the knife holds an edge well, and you won’t need to sharpen it often.
But, there are some things that I’ve noticed customers gripe about.
The blade is large, and while some people like it that way, others complain that it makes the knife difficult to use as their everyday carry. I prefer having a larger knife because they are more efficient in self-defense situations.
Like me, some customers also complain about the loose sheath clip.
Overall, though, there are no severe problems with the knife.
Verdict
I’m surprised by the value Smith & Wesson supplies at a low price range.
I really like the knife – it’s sharp, sturdy, and large, making it perfect for self-defense. The sheath is just as impressive. The high quality allows me to recommend the SWHRT9Bwithout reservations.
- Dimensions: 9 inch (22.9 centimeter) overall length with a blade length of 4.7 inches (12.1...
- Durable: Blade is made of reliable 7Cr17MoV high carbon stainless steel with a black rubber wrapped...
Last update on 2023-05-31 at 10:33 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API