a bit of a strider upset... :(

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I feel that there's every right to complain here -- expensive knife, bunch of problems. However, setting aside my dislike for the design of these knives, I really feel that any maker or manufacturer can let something slip through the lines. Strider isn't a low-volume custom maker anymore, and at their volumes, it's hard to catch everything. The real test here is if Strider takes the knife back -- if so, then I really don't see a big problem. I might have my Duane and Mick voodoo dolls ready, but I wouldn't stick any pins in until I'd contacted them; a maker always deserves the opportunity to set things right before being loosed before the internet hounds.

Another note here, probably more important, is that ignoring cosmetic defects (I'm addressing the stamping and tool mark issues, not the discolored tip, which may be more than cosmetic) is part of the Strider mystique, even for high-$ knives. If you don't buy into that philosophy, then maybe Striders aren't for you. There are plenty of custom makers who can make incredibly strong folders, that IMO will perform as well or better, and with handles that have better (for me, at least) ergonomics and security ... and for whom fit and finish are a matter of pride, not something to be dismissed. One thing about Duane and Mick, they've always said up front what their philosophy is -- ergonomics doesn't matter, cosmetic flaws don't matter, even on a $350+ knife. If we as consumers think those things do matter, we have to buy the right product, not blame the maker for delivering exactly what he said he would.
 
Joe I agree with you but there's a problem, there's no where on their site or official advertising (at least that I've found) where they say "Our knives will come with cosmetic flaws, we don't worry about it, you shouldn't either", or something like that. It's not fair to expect a customer "to just know" that's they way it's going to be.

I find it interesting because for some makers they will now exploit this, for instance say "Our knives are REALLY hardcore, look at how crappy we make them".

Maybe the next round of Dark Ops advertising will reflect his prediction.
 
A lot of good point were made, folks, but let me stick this in your heads.
How many of us have EVER heard of a faulty John Greco knife?
These knives had pretty much the same philosophy, simple construction, tough as nails, and WAY cheaper, but much less problems. (at least as far as I can tell). I hope this is a fair comparison, sorry if it's not.
 
I wouldn't be happy with that knife, but, to be perfectly fair, I once received a Sebenza that had a discolored tip like that. That sure is something that doesn't happen often, given CRK's justified reputation for quality. However, as Joe noted, mistakes can and will happen to anyone.

Yes, of course, CRK made things right for me. I imagine Strider will do the same. Give 'em a call.
 
STR said:
Personally though if I spend that much on a custom I expect it to both look great and perform great.
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I think the actual custom Striders are marked.

I'm sure there are guys that would accept this knife as is without question and just use it ...
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It depends on if you see it as a tool or art piece. I went looking for a router for my brother last christmas so I asked around in the family (all carpenters) about the various brands, none of them mentioned finish issues, it is all about how it performs. Many high end carpentry tools are more expensive than Strider custom knives and in general people don't care about cosmetics, just how they work, how long they work and the level of customer service.

Joe Talmadge said:
The real test here is if Strider takes the knife back ...
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In general I have not heard of any unresolved problems, the most I have heard are with people who saw multiple problems and gave up, wasted time, but no money lost.

Another note here, probably more important, is that ignoring cosmetic defects (I'm addressing the stamping and tool mark issues, not the discolored tip, which may be more than cosmetic) is part of the Strider mystique, even for high-$ knives.
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While Strider may propogate this, there is no mystique about their blades to me and I would ignore it, not just on them of course, but blades in general. I would like to see more people put out working blades and ignore finish issues, of course this should induce a price cut, once you get to Strider's monetary level it is hard to argue that lower finish is acceptable in general because of the competition, unless you want to argue on pure performance they are much better than similar customs.

-Cliff
 
I was under the impression that custom striders are stamped differently than the regular production ones. Either M Strider, or D Dwyer instead of just Strider, which led me to believe the above knife was custom ground by Mick.
 
yea, i thought so too.

so when it says "m.strider," it's not a strider custom?


and no i haven't talked to anyone yet, i'm too lazy
 
It's a custom.
Never heard of steel addiction - possibly a reseller instead of a dealer.
Knife may have been given to someone at zero cost because of looks- they decided to sell it. Who knows.
Contact the guys - I'm sure they will want to know the story - as a lot who posted here should wait to find out before assuming anything. :rolleyes:
Scott
 
MD13 said:
...which led me to believe the above knife was custom ground by Mick.
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That changes it, are the Strider customs, true customs in the sense it is "one man - one knife", or are there other people involved in the rest of the work and Mick just grinds the blade?

-Cliff
 
When I was a super newby I received a benchmade with a discolored tip, longer than the one on this strider. I called them up and they said that it shouldn't be that way and to send it in. They replaced the blade and liner.
 
Cliff Stamp said:
That changes it, are the Strider customs, true customs in the sense it is "one man - one knife", or are there other people involved in the rest of the work and Mick just grinds the blade?

-Cliff
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Cliff, I'm not completely sure, but I thought I read or heard somewhere else that he may just do the grinding. I'll have to look into it a little more.
 
i got my strider SLCC in the mail yesterday. i feel like, with the popularity of strider knives, their quality is really going downhill.
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This is absolutely false.
The fact that you got a damaged knife, in no way means our product is going down hill. Especially considering you didn't buy it from us.

You can feel free to send in your knife, and we'll take care of it.....or you can stay here, on a forum we don't belong to, and talk about how our gear sucks....

It really depends on if you want your knife corrected or if you want to talk smack about our gear.

You decide.

m
.
 
Especially considering you didn't buy it from us.
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Are you suggesting the dealer did this? Or maybe your customers should no longer buy from dealers if they want a decent kknife?

Not a member here? It says you have been here since 2000.
 
Mick Strider used to have a forum here, until they left because, well I'm not sure why, and I even read the thread about them leaving. I think their concern was the was not enough banning taking place.
 
Mick Strider said:
You can feel free to send in your knife, and we'll take care of it.....or you can stay here, on a forum we don't belong to, and talk about how our gear sucks....

It really depends on if you want your knife corrected or if you want to talk smack about our gear.
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Since when is pointing out FACTS considered talking smack?
Midget didn't say a single negative thing about you or your knives. You should probably treat your customers a little better.
If you weren't refering to midget, you should take the time to mention this in your post. Duh.
 
Mick Strider said:
This is absolutely false.
The fact that you got a damaged knife, in no way means our product is going down hill. Especially considering you didn't buy it from us.

You can feel free to send in your knife, and we'll take care of it.....or you can stay here, on a forum we don't belong to, and talk about how our gear sucks....

It really depends on if you want your knife corrected or if you want to talk smack about our gear.

You decide.

m
.
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The problem here is not that your gear sucks! It sucks when you get a product that is not 100% of what it is supposed to be. I dont know much about you or your products but when I pick up 2 knives for a basic visual inspection and they both fail it there is a issue of what you let out the door. I wouldnt even bother to comment on this matter if it were not for the fact you market towards soldiers as a first class product at a premium price and somehow you let flawed blades into the market.

I will add I checked out a couple fixed blades and they looked fine. The only problems I saw were the locks on two folders. I do think your attitude sucks though!
 
If my experience is typical , QC is not goind down hill , all Striders I have recieved were well finished . BTW I own eight of them .

Chris

If you are unhappy the guys will take care of it .
 
Amazing. Some people here are very vocal about flaws on knives. We have all seen the "My Buck knife came with a fault in it, I will never buy that junk again" and similar things. Usually as difficult as it may be, a company rep will still be polite and say wow, thats our fault, send it in and we will fix you up.

But here comes Mick and telling his customer ya, talking smack huh? I know, this is not supposed to offend the customer seeing as how Mick is supposed to be HARDCORE and his knives aint for sissys and all that...blah blah blah. Great attitude there buddy.

The guy asking about his knife was polite about it, why dont you try it with him? Or are you too BAADDD for that?

Still, I would like to know if the faults in the knife are due to the dealer as you seem to think the guy should not complain since he didnt get the knife directly from you? What, do you save the junk for the dealers or what?
 
Mick Strider said:
This is absolutely false.
The fact that you got a damaged knife, in no way means our product is going down hill. Especially considering you didn't buy it from us.

You can feel free to send in your knife, and we'll take care of it.....or you can stay here, on a forum we don't belong to, and talk about how our gear sucks....

It really depends on if you want your knife corrected or if you want to talk smack about our gear.

You decide.

m
.
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It doesn't look like "damage" it looks like manufacturing defects. It doesn't sound like you have read this entire thread (as most comments in it have been on the the posative end of things) and this makes you sound like you are placing the blame on the consumer, when in fact it is not his fault this knife made it into his hands. There are two points of failure here, one is that it made it out of your shop in this condition and the second one being the retailer he purchased it from sold it in that condition.
 
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