REASONS TO BUY
Combination straight/serrated edge
Solid build
REASONS TO AVOID
Useless flipper
Painful to unlock
Slick handle
Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops Review
Even if the styling appeals to you, this inexpensive knife has too many shortcomings to be practical
The Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops may be affordable and durable, but it's not very practical.
Credit: Kyle Hameister
By Kyle Hameister ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ August 20, 2026
RELATED: The Best Pocket Knives of 2026
Our Verdict
There are simply too many other reasonably priced knives that perform better than the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops. What it does have going for it is a decent blade with excellent corrosion resistance, plus partial serrations that make it easier to cut cord and rope. However, there are some serious deal breakers. The handle's too slick to grip securely, the pivot has too much friction to use the finger flipper or thumb stud, and the blade lock is so heavy-handed it's almost painful to disengage. Even for the price, it's hard to recommend the Extreme Ops.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Knife Under $100 | Best Knife Under $50 | Affordable Enough to Lose | ||
| Price | $27 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $97 List Check Price at Amazon | $50 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $30 List Check Price at REI | $35 List Check Amazon (on sale!) |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Even if the styling appeals to you, this inexpensive knife has too many shortcomings to be practical | This is the perfect knife for the hard-working, blue-collar professional | If you want a full-sized pocket knife, few offer the value of this affordable option | A playful pocket knife that outperforms its affordable price point | A fun, practical pocket knife priced low enough to provide some serious value |
| Rating Categories | Smith & Wesson Extre... | Spyderco Tenacious | Civivi Praxis Flipper | Gerber Zilch | Civivi Mini Praxis |
| Blade Quality (30%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
| Carrying Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Grip (20%) | |||||
| Sharpening & Cleaning (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Smith & Wesson Extre... | Spyderco Tenacious | Civivi Praxis Flipper | Gerber Zilch | Civivi Mini Praxis |
| Blade Length (Measured) | 3.1 in | 3.4 in | 3.7 in | 3.1 in | 3.0 in |
| Length Closed (Measured) | 4.1 in | 4.4 in | 4.7 in | 4.2 in | 3.8 in |
| Length Open (Measured) | 7.1 in | 7.7 in | 8.4 in | 7.3 in | 6.8 in |
| Closed Blade Lock? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Assisted Opening? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Blade Style | Clip point, partially serrated edge | Full flat grind, plain edge | Drop point, plain edge | Drop point, plain edge | Drop point, plain edge |
| Blade Material | 7Cr17MoV stainless steel | 8Cr13MoV stainless steel | 9Cr18MoV stainless steel | 7Cr17MoV stainless steel | D2 stainless steel |
| Blade Thickness (Measured) | 2.8 mm | 3.0 mm | 3.0 mm | 2.54 mm | 2.5 mm |
| Opening Style | Flipper (manual), ambidextrous thumb stud | Ambidextrous thumb hole | Flipper (manual) | Ambidextrous thumb stud, nail nick | Flipper (manual) |
| Lock Type | Liner lock | Liner lock | Liner lock | Liner lock | Liner lock |
| Handle Material | Aluminum | Fiberglass composite (G10) | Fiberglass composite (G10) | Fiberglass composite (G10) | Fiberglass composite (G10) |
| Carry Style | Pocket Clip | Pocket clip, lanyard hole | Pocket clip, lanyard hole | Pocket clip, lanyard hole | Pocket clip |
| Weight (Measured) | 3.6 oz | 4.0 oz | 4.4 oz | 2.2 oz | 2.8 oz |
| Closed Thickness w/o Pocket Clip (Measured) | 0.5 in | 0.5 in | 0.5 in | 0.5 in | 0.5 in |
| Other Features Or Functions | Deep carry pocket clip | Lanyard hole, 4 position pocket clip | Lanyard hole, deep carry, 2 position pocket clip | Lanyard hole | Deep carry pocket clip |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Cutting cardboard is a mess of micro rips and tears as much as a true slice. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Likes
The Extreme Ops features a rock-solid, all-metal construction. The handle is aluminum, so it looks and feels heavier than it actually is. This gives us the confidence to push this knife into hard cuts without it being so heavy-duty that it sags in our pocket.
The well-shaped handle is large without being so large that you can't comfortably carry this knife in your pocket. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The liner-style lock is very secure when engaged. The blade itself is well centered in the handle and is flawlessly honed out of the box. Plus, the black oxide coating combined with the decent stainless steel alloy gives this knife excellent corrosion resistance.
The most prominent feature is a partially serrated edge. This combines the utility of a common 'plain' edge for slicing with the added cutting power of a serrated edge, which is particularly good at cutting cord or rope.
Even under a barrage of salt water mist, the blade showed absolutely no sign of corrosion, and cleaned up nicely.
Dislikes
Despite it being clearly well-oiled from the factory, the pivot that opens the blade has far too much friction for the flipper to work – we could only ever open it using the thumb stud.
While we could open this knife using the thumb stud, you'll notice how much more force it takes to close it. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The liner lock, while secure, is incredibly difficult to disengage. Even though the pocket clip isn't sharp enough to fray the edge of your pocket, the thumb studs will absolutely rip the fabric up over time.
The liner lock is seriously strong, and nested a little too far back into the handle. It's a pain to disengage. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Cutting rope was fine, but noticeably more difficult than it should have been with a serrated knife. The steel alloy of the blade is not known for its edge retention, and sharpening a serrated knife is nearly impossible to do effectively without an expensive, professional sharpening setup.
The handle finish is too slick for proper grip, and is even worse when wet. Even with the significant ridges cut into the thumb rest, our thumbs regularly slid off when we applied any heavy pressure – which, unfortunately, undermines our confidence a bit when making hard cuts with this knife.
Even though the combination of straight and serrated cutting edges is versatile, the serrated edge is difficult to sharpen. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Should You Buy the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops?
This is a brutalist, tactical-looking knife which is better on display than in use. Weaknesses – and in most cases outright deal-breakers – reveal themselves around every corner. As an inexpensive option for cutting rope, it's passable. But as a realistic everyday tool, we recommend you spend your money elsewhere.
What Other Pocket Knife Should You Consider
Similarly sized and priced, the CIVIVI Mini Praxis – or big brother Praxis Flipper – are much easier to use and much more practical. Even though they lack a serrated edge, both are a much better purchase. If you're drawn to the tactical aesthetic, you'll be much happier investing in a high-quality knife like the Spyderco Tenacious.
—Kyle Hameister
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