This Smith & Wesson Special Ops is our pick for GADGETEER’s Readers’ Favorite EDC series. Each week, we’ll buy a product that’s caught our readers’ attention and follow up with a hands-on review. This time, I wanted to see what the compact automatic felt like in my own hand.
I put the Smith & Wesson Special Ops through a simple paper-cutting check, repositioning a printed sheet and making several passes with the short blade. The paper ended up with slits, notches and hanging strips. That small, single-purpose cutting tool is exactly the kind of everyday carry that interests me, and I love the detail in its handle and pocket clip.
The control feel is just as distinctive as the appearance. The sliding safety is easy for me to move deliberately, while the blade-release button takes a firmer press. After handling it, opening and closing it, and cutting the paper, those are the details I’d want to know before choosing this compact automatic.
Price: $63.98 (checked October 19, 2026)
Where to buy: Amazon
What is it?
The Special Ops is a push-button automatic folding knife with an AUS-8 steel drop-point blade, aluminum handle scales and a reversible deep-carry pocket clip. It uses a button-lock mechanism with a separate sliding safety. Pressing the release button opens the blade automatically; closing it is a manual action.
Mine came folded inside a small Smith & Wesson carton, with clear wrapping visible as I took it out. I turned the closed knife over to examine the control side, spine and clip before opening it. The compact size was immediately apparent in my hand.
Mini or Full Size?
Smith & Wesson offers the Special Ops Auto in two sizes. The manufacturer's Mini specification is a 1.9-inch blade and 4.75-inch overall length. The Full Size increases those figures to a 3.4-inch blade and 7.8-inch overall length. Both versions use AUS-8 steel, aluminum scales and the same general push-button automatic control arrangement.
The Mini is the compact option; the Full Size gives you more blade and handle. Check the selected version when shopping, since the shared Special Ops name covers both.
Design and handling
The ribbed handle is the detail I keep coming back to. Closely spaced grooves cover much of its surface, with wider channels toward the end. The round release button and elongated safety slider sit near the pivot, where their different shapes make them easy to distinguish visually.
The blade's curved cutting edge rises toward the tip, and notches run along the spine near the handle. The exposed silver edge contrasts with the black finish. On the reverse, the blade carries the SPECIAL OPS and AUS8 STEEL markings. It's a distinctive design even before the blade opens.
The pocket clip
I also like the clip. It follows the handle's shape and carries the Smith & Wesson name, so it looks integrated with the rest of the knife. The deep-carry clip is reversible, giving buyers another mounting position.
How the controls feel
Sliding safety
The sliding safety is easy for me to switch on and off intentionally. It doesn't move easily by accident in my handling, although brushing it against something can change its position. The slider has a textured surface, and the red indicator beside it is visible in the close-up views.
Blade-release button
The round release button takes effort to deploy the blade. It's a deliberate press, so someone expecting a feather-light button may be surprised. That's a handling preference to consider with this knife, especially if light controls are important to you.
Closing the blade takes a manual fold. I opened and closed it repeatedly while examining the controls.
Cutting paper
I started with a printed sheet of paper, repositioning it between cuts. The blade cut slits and sections from the sheet, leaving strips along the edge. After another pass, I held the sheet up with a larger notch and a hanging section visible.
Price and fit
For $63.98 at Amazon, the Special Ops combines a compact automatic format with an AUS-8 blade, aluminum handle and reversible clip. The Mini's direct-store price was $108.99, so comparing the exact version and retailer is useful.
The smaller design makes sense for someone seeking a dedicated compact knife rather than a multitool. If you prefer a longer blade and handle, the Full Size is the other option in this family. If very light button pressure is a priority, the release-button feel is the more relevant consideration than the materials list.
Final thoughts
Price: $63.98 (checked October 19, 2026)
Where to buy: Amazon
The Special Ops has the compact size and attention to detail I enjoy in an everyday carry. Its appeal is a dedicated blade rather than a collection of extra tools. The firm release-button pressure and a safety slider that can move when brushed are the two handling tradeoffs I'd weigh before buying.
