U.S.A. — I met Keli Smart on the last day of the SHOT Show by chance, which was a good deal for me. In talking it was decided that I’d test a few knives for her. But one knife that was especially interesting to Keli was The Smith & Wesson Unwavered knife. And for no wonder, she designed it.
I knew right away when she told me that she’d designed it that it would lead into a good story and that I had to test it out. I always like testing out knives if I personally know the person that designed the knife. I guess that without saying that it adds a personal touch to the review.
So of course, I had to ask her what designs she’d implemented to make the knife special? What prompted her to design it as such? Here’s the answers to these questions in her own words. When we’re done interviewing her, we’ll get into the actual Product Review. So, without further ado, here is the story from the horse’s mouth so to speak.
Tom: So, you designed the Smith & Wesson Unwavered?
Keli: Yes! I designed the Unwavered.
Tom: Well, tell me a little more.
Keli: I wanted to go back into the soul of Smith & Wesson. How they started and where they came from. You can see that it would look extremely nice paired with one of the engraved Smith & Wesson revolvers.
I am a creative person. I love looking at an item or a set of items and coming up with something that complements the items or even seeing what’s missing and coming up with something completely new.
She then went on to say, here’s the explanation on the website that may help as well: “Unwavering, just like the carrier. This classic knife stands steadfast and prepared for anything. With a modified drop point blade for versatile use, a spring-assisted opening is made for quick and easy access, a liner lock for easy one-handed close, and an engraved handle, this knife is perfect for anyone who wants a reliable and trustworthy blade”.
I will probably misquote her somewhat on this statement, but on the front half of the handle is some old-school engraving that mimics the early design of the Smith & Wesson revolvers.
I am carrying the Smith & Wesson Unwavered as we speak (Or as I type!). I’ve never studied a knife that caused my mind to drift back in time. When I review a knife, I study it for a few minutes to determine its use, good attributes, missing attributes, etc. But looking at the Unwavered prompted a different reaction than ever before. It caused my mind to drift back in time. The engraving on the front metal bolster made me think I was sitting in an old western saloon, I guess because the engravings reminded me of a gambler’s six-shooter back in the cowboy days.
Then I moved my gaze to the back half of the handle, which is wood. The front half is checkered, and the back half is engraved in the same style as the engraving on the bolster. The contrast on the handle makes it attractive.
The Smith & Wesson Unwavered has two thumb studs to aid in opening whether you’re right or left-handed. It also has a flipper stud which is the option that I use which serves the dual purpose to prevent your pointer finger from sliding down onto the blade. It is spring assisted which aids the opening of the blade.
I feel like that I have a firm grip on the knife due to the following features. The flipper stud, the engraving on the wood, the finger grooves on bottom of the handle and the grooves on the liner lock. The only thing that I would add would be some grooves on the very first part of the handle and for people with large hands some grooves on the last ¾-inch on the hilt of the spine for someone with hands where their thumb may land out further than the normal person. The first 1 ¼-inches of the spine slightly swells up which further enhances your grip if you’re choking down on the blade.
To help preserve the handle and to keep it from staining, I think that I will apply some wood oil to it. That will slightly darken the handle which I don’t necessarily want but it will help preserve the handle and keep it from staining.
The Smith & Wesson Unwavered has a stout 3 ¼-inch blade which falls within the size limit that I prefer for all of my EDC needs. The blade has a modified drop point but due to the spine dropping down ¼-inch to the tip it has a definite point for your stabbing jobs.
The blade is concaved which I don’t favor because they are harder to sharpen. On a lot of concave shaped blades you need to run the cutting edge on the edge of your stone so you make contact for the full edge of the blade but after messing around for a moment I found that if you start sharpening about 3/8-inches from the back on out to the tip then you will make contact with the cutting edge for the full length of the blade.
The Smith & Wesson is a nostalgic, cool-looking knife that I think is going to be a popular EDC. Or, if you’re knife collector, I think that this is one that you’re going to add to your collection. The MSRP on the Smith & Wesson Unwavered is $39.99 and as is usual we close with the specs.
FEATURES
- MODIFIED DROP POINT BLADE FOR VERSATILE USE
- ASSISTED OPENING FOR QUICK AND EASY ACCESS
- LINER LOCK FOR EASY ONE-HANDED CLOSE
- FINGER FLIPPER FOR EASY ACCESS
Unwavering, just like the carrier. This classic knife stands steadfast and prepared for anything. With a modified drop point blade for versatile use, a spring assisted opening is made for quick and easy access, a liner lock for easy one-handed close, and an engraved handle, this knife is perfect for anyone who wants a reliable and trustworthy blade.
About Tom Claycomb
Tom Claycomb has been an avid hunter/fisherman throughout his life as well as an outdoor writer with outdoor columns in the magazine Hunt Alaska, Bass Pro Shops, Bowhunter.net, and numerous magazines and newspapers. “To properly skin your animal, you will need a sharp knife. I have an e-article on Amazon Kindle titled Knife Sharpening #ad for $.99 if you’re having trouble.”
