This Outsized Smith & Wesson Folder Tries to Exchange Extra Than Only a Knife

Some folding knives are designed to vanish right into a pocket, however the Smith & Wesson Border Guard SWBG6TS goes in the other way. At 10.1 inches lengthy when open and weighing 9.2 ounces, it’s a substantial folder constructed round a 4.2-inch partially serrated blade. Smith & Wesson additionally integrates a strap cutter and glass breaker, giving the Border Guard utility past routine slicing jobs.

Worth: $29.99
The place to Purchase: Amazon

That mixture defines who ought to contemplate the SWBG6TS. Anybody in search of a light-weight knife to open packages and deal with on a regular basis EDC duties can discover significantly smaller choices. The Border Guard makes extra sense when measurement and weight are acceptable tradeoffs for a big folding blade and a number of other further instruments in a single bundle—notably for a car package, outside bag, or toolbox reasonably than light-weight pocket carry.

A 4.2-inch blade makes the SWBG6TS a critically giant folder

The SWBG6TS makes use of a 4.2-inch, partially serrated tanto blade produced from 7Cr17MoV high-carbon chrome steel. It measures 10.1 inches total and weighs 9.2 ounces. Smith & Wesson pairs the blade with a G-10 deal with, making a folder that weighs greater than half a pound.

These dimensions set up what sort of knife you’re coping with higher than any advertising and marketing description. The Border Guard shouldn’t be competing with light-weight EDC folders designed round minimal bulk. Its bigger blade offers significantly extra leading edge than a typical compact pocket knife, whereas the partially serrated part combines two edge sorts on the identical blade. The tradeoff is upkeep, since sharpening serrations typically requires a special strategy from touching up a plain edge.

The 7Cr17MoV metal additionally deserves perspective. A metal designation alone doesn’t inform us precisely how a completed knife will carry out: warmth therapy, blade geometry, edge geometry, and manufacturing all affect real-world outcomes. We’ve not carried out our personal slicing, edge-retention, corrosion, or sturdiness testing on the SWBG6TS, so it will be deceptive to show the metal specification into efficiency claims now we have not noticed.

The additional instruments are a serious a part of the attraction

The Border Guard turns into extra attention-grabbing while you look past its principal blade. Its tools features a strap cutter and glass breaker alongside twin thumb knobs, a liner lock, and a pocket clip. Collectively, these options give the SWBG6TS a broader vary of meant makes use of than a standard folding knife.

The strap cutter and glass breaker are notably related if you’re contemplating the knife for a car or outside package. Moderately than carrying a folding knife and separate handheld instruments for these features, the Border Guard combines them in a single bundle. That doesn’t make it an alternative to every bit of devoted emergency tools, but it surely does present further choices with out requiring one other separate software.

It is usually necessary to not confuse the presence of these options with independently verified efficiency. The specs set up that the SWBG6TS features a strap cutter and glass breaker, however they don’t inform us how both will carry out in each actual emergency. With out impartial testing of this precise mannequin, these options are greatest handled as added capabilities of the design reasonably than proof of emergency efficiency.

Acquainted controls preserve it easy

Regardless of its feature-heavy development, the essential folding-knife setup is typical. The SWBG6TS makes use of twin thumb knobs for opening, a liner lock to carry the blade open, and a pocket clip for carry. Thumb knobs on either side of the blade additionally make the opening management usable from both aspect.

The larger on a regular basis consideration shouldn’t be the mechanism however the weight. At 9.2 ounces, this isn’t a folder designed round minimal carry weight. Anybody accustomed to carrying a small pocket knife will possible discover the distinction, notably throughout all-day pocket carry.

The place you plan to maintain the knife due to this fact issues virtually as a lot as what you plan to do with it. Its weight could possibly be a disadvantage for somebody minimizing what’s in a pants pocket, but it surely turns into much less necessary if the Border Guard usually stays in a car package, backpack, outside bag, or toolbox. In these conditions, protecting the principle blade and extra instruments collectively might matter greater than minimizing ounces.

G-10 suits the utility-focused design

Smith & Wesson makes use of G-10 for the SWBG6TS deal with. G-10 is a fiberglass-based laminate generally used for knife handles, though the fabric alone shouldn’t be handled as proof of grip or sturdiness traits now we have not examined on this specific knife.

Extra related is how the deal with suits into the general design. The SWBG6TS has to accommodate greater than its folding blade, with the strap cutter and glass breaker built-in into the identical bundle. The result’s a feature-heavy folder that prioritizes having a number of features accessible collectively reasonably than attaining the smallest potential dimensions.

That distinction issues when deciding whether or not the additional {hardware} is helpful. When you’ve got no want for the strap cutter or glass breaker, you’re carrying options that will present little sensible profit. If these are features you particularly need accessible alongside a folding knife, nevertheless, the Border Guard’s further measurement and weight develop into simpler to know.

Who’s the Smith & Wesson Border Guard SWBG6TS for?

The SWBG6TS makes essentially the most sense for somebody who intentionally needs a big folding knife with further utility options in the identical bundle. Its 4.2-inch partially serrated 7Cr17MoV blade, G-10 deal with, liner lock, twin thumb knobs, strap cutter, glass breaker, and pocket clip create a really completely different proposition from a minimalist EDC folder.

In case your priorities are low weight, discreet pocket carry, a easy plain edge, or premium blade metal, the ten.1-inch, 9.2-ounce Border Guard might be extra {hardware} than you want. Its characteristic set is simpler to justify when these further features are one thing you’ll really use.

Worth: $29.99
The place to Purchase: Amazon

That makes the SWBG6TS particularly related for somebody constructing a car or outside package who needs a considerable folding knife whereas protecting a strap cutter and glass breaker on the identical software. The Border Guard’s attraction is easy: it combines a big folding blade with utility-focused extras in a single very substantial bundle.