If you have a need for a good survival knife, then you have come to the right place. The fact of the matter is that a good survival knife can perform many different jobs. A survival knife can be used for self-defense against humans and animals, for lighting fires, making kindling, treating wounds, making shelter, and so much more.
That said, the trick is of course to find a good survival knife that will serve you well. You want something that isn’t overly expensive, yet is durable, sharp, and will last you many years to come.
Today, we want to take a look at one very nice folding knife, one that comes to us from a popular brand name. We’re here to look at the Smith & Wesson Border Guard SWBG10S Folding Knife
The Smith & Wesson Border Guard SWBG10S Folding Knife
Today, we want to take a closer look at the Smith & Wesson Border Guard Folding Knife. It’s a really nice type of survival knife to get if you want something that is very small and portable. It’s also a good option to consider if you want something that isn’t going to cost you too much money.
That said, although it’s not a very expensive folding knife, it does come to us from a highly trusted and reputable brand name. What we’re trying to say is that high quality items don’t always have to cost a lot, as is the case here. Let’s figure out what the Smith & Wesson Border Guard Folding Knife is all about.
Who is This Knife for?
The Smith & Wesson Border Guard Folding Knife is designed for basic tactical needs, survival purposes, everyday carry, and basic outdoor use, such as for hunting, camping, fishing, and more. It’s a multi-purpose knife that can serve you well in a variety of situations.
Here we are talking about survival. A folding knife like this, especially such a high-quality one, can perform many jobs. If you could picture yourself using a knife for pretty much anything, then the Smith & Wesson Border Guard Folding Knife could be right for you.
What’s Included?
With your purchase, you get an 8.25-inch-long knife made with high quality high carbon stainless steel, complete with a heavily textured handle, a glass breaker, and a seat belt cutter.
Overview of Features
The Smith & Wesson Border Guard Folding Knife is an excellent option to consider for a few different reasons. First and foremost, it is made with 7Cr17MoV High Carbon Stainless Steel. When it comes to steel that can be used for any kind of survival knife, this is one of the best types.
High carbon steel is fantastic because it is extremely hard. It retains its edge for a very long time and stays sharp in spite of massive amounts of punishment. This also makes the blade very hard in general, therefore making it durable.
It’s not easy to chip, crack, or break this blade in any way. At the same time, because it is made with stainless steel as well, it is also resistant to rusting and corrosion. Therefore, you get the best of both worlds with this awesome type of blade steel.
This folding knife comes in at 8.25 inches in total, with a 3.49-inch-long blade. Of course, when folded together, it’s just about half that total size. We think that the size is good for general purposes. The knife definitely isn’t so large that it’s too heavy to hold or maneuver, or too cumbersome to be portable. At the same time, the blade is just long enough to take care of most basic tasks.
As for the design of the blade, it features a tanto shape. It’s a good blade design for survival related purposes. It is fairly easy to maintain yet can also be used for many different purposes.
Keep in mind that the blade is partially serrated. This provides you with the best of both worlds as you have both the straight and the serrated edge, therefore effectively doubling its usefulness.
We do like that the knife itself isn’t overly heavy, as it comes in at around 6 ounces. It’s heavy enough to know that there is some decent material behind it. However, it’s not so heavy that it makes it hard to maneuver or use without fatiguing. Of course, this is a folding knife, which is ideal in terms of portability and storage. You don’t need a sheath for it and you can easily keep it in your pocket.
It comes complete with an index finger flipper so you can easily open it up without much trouble. At the same time, it also comes with ambidextrous thumb knobs for this same purpose. It’s just very easy to open up. It then comes complete with a secure locking mechanism so you don’t have to worry about it shutting on your fingers mid-use.
Furthermore, it features a small release lever on the inside of the main handle, which releases the blade and allows you to easily close it. This release lever is designed in such a way that it is easy to access. However, it’s also made so that you don’t hit it accidentally while using the knife.
Something else that really stands out about the Smith & Wesson Border Guard Folding Knife is its really nice handle. The handle is made out of stone washed stainless steel with a black textured and grooved design. The handle is definitely quite durable. Moreover, thanks to its design, it also provides you with a very secure grip no matter the case. It’s easy to hold on to even when wet.
To help keep you safe when things get tough, this knife also comes complete with a seat belt cutting blade and a glass breaker. It could potentially save your life if you end up getting in a car crash. Based on this review, we think that this is an excellent folding knife to consider, especially for the decent price that it comes in at.
Tutorial
One of the things that you might have trouble with here is sharpening the blade. The Smith & Wesson Border Guard Folding Knife features a serrated blade and sharpening these can be difficult. Follow this tutorial on how to sharpen a serrated knife for the best results.
Pros
- Overall durable design
- Ideal blade shape and size for survival
- Lightweight and portable
- High quality blade steel
- Good edge retention
- Corrosion resistant
- Seatbelt cutter and glass breaker built-in
- Secure locking mechanism
Cons
- The hinge on any folding knife is an inherent weak point.
Alternatives
Unfortunately, the hinge on a folding knife is an inherent weak spot. For this reason, you might want to go for a fixed blade knife instead. If this is the case, you might want to check out the Morakniv Garberg Survival Knife. It’s a rugged and durable fixed blade knife that comes to us from an amazing brand name, although it is a bit pricier than the Smith & Wesson.
Conclusion
The Smith & Wesson Border Guard SWBG10S Folding Knife is a fantastic folding knife to consider. This is especially the case considering that it comes in at such a rock bottom price.