Are striders/hinderers worth the money?

[Sonnydaze]

Sebenzas are sometimes a bit plain-jane, so folks don't know just how wonderful they are.

 

[The cow]

Are they worth the money?
No
Would I ever get one if they were under $300?
Yeah

What you are willing to pay for a knife is a very subjective thing. I don't see the value in paying for a hinderer/strider when there are so many other knives that are cheaper and is almost as or just as good. Honestly, I believe that the ZT 0560 is a better knife than what Hinderer makes, especially if you want a flipper.

At the end of the day, if you really want a Strider or a Hinderer, you'll pay what sellers are asking for.
If you want something similar to a Strider or a Hinderer that is cheaper, the industry has options for that

 

[RemyKaze]

Knives were meant to be used, to....well....cut. Just because a knife is more expensive does it make it a better cutter? No, blade thickness and the grind pays in. But you get a stronger, more durable knife that has more uses that just being a knife. I've chopped with my XM-18 before, stabbed through lumber, and use it regularlry to pry staples out of ammo boxes. You try and do that with a lot of Spydercos, you'll break them, because most Spydercos are slicers, that's what they're meant to do. A lot of the "beefier" knives are meant to be more things than just a knife.

I've got fixed blades for that. I'm sorry, but a Hinderer is not going to be bombproof and stabbing and chopping either. It's a framelock, like a beefed up liner lock, and both fail easier than something like the Tri-Ad lock. All folders are simply wrong for those tasks, though there are many ZT and Spyderco knives that could do the same. All a matter of how long your lock lasts as you beat it up.

 

[M67]

I've got fixed blades for that. I'm sorry, but a Hinderer is not going to be bombproof and stabbing and chopping either. It's a framelock, like a beefed up liner lock, and both fail easier than something like the Tri-Ad lock. All folders are simply wrong for those tasks, though there are many ZT and Spyderco knives that could do the same. All a matter of how long your lock lasts as you beat it up.

Can't always have a fixed blade on you.

Will any of my titanium frame locks be completely bomb proof and not fail? No, every knife, folder or fixed, has a breaking point. But there are folders out there designed to take abuse and be used harder than others. Hinderer, Strider, Medford, Chaves, Three Sisters Forge, Grayman, and many other makers/companies make sturdy, beefy, folders designed for harder use than your normal knife.

People see value in different things. I used to think I'd never spend over $150 in a folder and most my money would go to fixed blades. That's fallen apart now. But some people won't spend $200 on a scope mount for an AR, over $300 on a scope, $1500 on a rifle, but those same people would drop $5000 on a shotgun and not think about it.

We all have our limits where we can justify things. Just because someone can't see the value in something because they won't spend it, doesn't mean they're not worth it.

 

[stabman]

Are they worth it?
Some say yes.
Some say no.

Both are correct...as long as they're talking about their own money.

 

[sonofjesse]

"A free market economy is a market-based economy where prices for goods and services are set freely by the forces of supply and demand and are allowed to reach their point of equilibrium without intervention by government policy"

So is it worth it to me today in 2014, No. Now in 15 years might I have one maybe. ITs all relative.

Backup a little bit is a 5 dollar knife worth it to you say over a 80 dollar benchmade? Some people say no some say yes. They both will open a package. Its all up to you. Your the consumer and guy what ever suit your needs.

What kind of car do you have? Do you have a 1979 pinto or a 2014 Lambo? I bet you have something in between, so thing with your knife I bet you have a better one than a 5 dollar one, but you dont' have one of these either.

What something is worth is very subjective to that person.

Good luck and be safe while opening boxes

 

[ToddM]

They are worth it to some, but what everyone feels is important in a knife is very individual. Is any knife costing $500 going to cut twice as well as a knife costing $250.....probably not even close. Most high end production knives or mid-techs or whatever you want to call them are made from the same blade steels you can get on much cheaper knives. In fact you can get some S110v, s90V production knives for under $150 that will probably significantly OUT-CUT most $500+ mid-techs in more common cheaper blade steels like S30V S35V 3V 154cm etc.

So there are a host of other things people consider when judging the worth of a knife, fit and finish, exclusivity, social/elite status, their own amount of disposable income, etc. etc. You have to judge all that for yourself and decide. As of late the knife market has proven it's willing to pay even more ridiculous prices on the secondary market for production knives in limited editions than usual.

One really good thing to keep in mind these days is that marketing is doing more selling that product performance for many of these companies and paying big money for $500 production knives that may or may not ever see the oversight or touch of the individuals name they bare seems to be the new fad.

 

[jac_solar]

Hinderers are of great quality, but overly expensive on the secondary market. I just can't stand how Rick says he does not make knives for collectors, yet collectors are indirectly keeping his business flourishing.

I have noticed that there constantly seems to be, at least, a couple of Hinderers for sale on the first 2 pages of the Production Folder for sale by individuals here. Not to mention how many Hinderers that seem to always be popping up at Arizona Custom Knives (610 product results on the Hinderer page at Arizona Custom Knives.), and Fort Henry Custom Knives (191 Product Results on the Hinderer page at Fort Henry Custom Knives.). Granted, some of these results are for pens, screws and scales and such.

For a knife that is only made for a small portion of the market by Hinderer, the amount that are for sale all around the place just seems odd.

 

[Rasco]

If you hang out with a lot of "knife guys" or dudes who are into tactical gear, the impression it makes on your friends might be worth it to you. And as a collectible.
but purely as a cutting tool, I don't think you can really justify a Hinderer over a comparable model ZT.

 

[kye4some]

No, but I do like it

 

[The cow]

They are worth it to some, but what everyone feels is important in a knife is very individual. Is any knife costing $500 going to cut twice as well as a knife costing $250.....probably not even close. Most high end production knives or mid-techs or whatever you want to call them are made from the same blade steels you can get on much cheaper knives. In fact you can get some S110v, s90V production knives for under $150 that will probably significantly OUT-CUT most $500+ mid-techs in more common cheaper blade steels like S30V S35V 3V 154cm etc.

So there are a host of other things people consider when judging the worth of a knife, fit and finish, exclusivity, social/elite status, their own amount of disposable income, etc. etc. You have to judge all that for yourself and decide. As of late the knife market has proven it's willing to pay even more ridiculous prices on the secondary market for production knives in limited editions than usual.

One really good thing to keep in mind these days is that marketing is doing more selling that product performance for many of these companies and paying big money for $500 production knives that may or may not ever see the oversight or touch of the individuals name they bare seems to be the new fad.

This. Probably the worst thing that is going on is the overt enthusiasm that people are willing to spend on the secondary market. Any company worth their salt would see this and get in on the action too.

Many of these companies like Strider/Hinderer are brand names much like Apple and Under Armor. They can command almost any price they want and they have a consumer base that is willing to pay.
Chances are, the profit margins on every strider and hinderer is pretty big, especially when companies can make a similar knife for for well under half their price

 

[Shift]

If your asking about it you might as well buy one and decide for yourself. I would go with the Hinderer. The days of double makers price has been over for a long time now and you can regularly buy them now for 550 or so. I have owned several customs and still love my Hinderers. They are great knives.

 

[GIRLYmann]

?...So pretty much my question is why is a hinderer/strider worth so much more then something like a southard? What makes it worth $400 more then a southard?

Ah, pricing! The question could be answered by each makers's cost and their own perceived self worth or perhaps just plain luck in marketing at such a pricing provided of course that the quality and design hits the mark with the buying crowd. Just my 2 cents.

 

[JeremiahWeaver09]

they are worth it if you enjoy them, but to me personally i think they are overpriced when you can get such nice products for much less from companies like spyderco and emerson.

 

[RemyKaze]

Can't always have a fixed blade on you.

Will any of my titanium frame locks be completely bomb proof and not fail? No, every knife, folder or fixed, has a breaking point. But there are folders out there designed to take abuse and be used harder than others. Hinderer, Strider, Medford, Chaves, Three Sisters Forge, Grayman, and many other makers/companies make sturdy, beefy, folders designed for harder use than your normal knife.

People see value in different things. I used to think I'd never spend over $150 in a folder and most my money would go to fixed blades. That's fallen apart now. But some people won't spend $200 on a scope mount for an AR, over $300 on a scope, $1500 on a rifle, but those same people would drop $5000 on a shotgun and not think about it.

We all have our limits where we can justify things. Just because someone can't see the value in something because they won't spend it, doesn't mean they're not worth it.

Why can't you have a fixed blade the same size as a folder in pocket? Is there some kind of rule that allows folders but not fixed blade EDC's?

As for the rest of it, I loosely agree. People put their own value on things, and groups of people define levels of quality in a product. They charge what folks are willing to pay.

 

[Cynic2701]

If the aesthetic is what you are into, then sure, it may be worth it to you.

Objectively, though, it would be difficult to argue that an Opinel and a small pry bar wouldn't be a more effective and cheaper option. Somehow, though, the argument that individuals may not be able to carry a fixed blade and/or a pry bar is used to make the claim that they fulfill a needed niche market for an object that hybridizes a knife and a pry bar that can fold.

If you want one, get one.

 

[The Mastiff]

I started out not liking Striders due to the cost and the regular steels used. Once I found out they were making knives in steels like 3V, Z wear, Cruwear/PD#1, S110V , CPM 154, etc. ( it began with Rex 20/M62 ) I looked at them harder. I Bought one in 3V and found it was very nicely built. Not at all like all the threads complaining about lock rock, etc.

I've had a few now and every one was tight, sharp, and finished very well. One problem I did notice was when selling them some people found it difficult to believe that there wasn't sloppy locks, up and down play, etc. Some people seem to think all Striders are bad due to things they have read here.

The Ergonomics are much better than they look. They looked like bricks to me until I held one. I also like that huge heat treated pivot. It's confidence inspiring. Last thing is the steel selection keeps getting better and better as it has in production knives like Spyderco. Chris Reeve? Sorry, same thing every time. Built well. Kind of the Honda accord of knives. So trouble free it's boring. Striders have been equally trouble free but in 3V or PD#1 they aren't boring.

 

[orixa]

This. Probably the worst thing that is going on is the overt enthusiasm that people are willing to spend on the secondary market. Any company worth their salt would see this and get in on the action too.

Many of these companies like Strider/Hinderer are brand names much like Apple and Under Armor. They can command almost any price they want and they have a consumer base that is willing to pay.
Chances are, the profit margins on every strider and hinderer is pretty big, especially when companies can make a similar knife for for well under half their price

Contrary to what most people think, there is no "secondary market" for Hinderers. In essence, by design or not, Hinderer knives have a system where there are Authorized Dealers; ie. the companies who are listed on their website. In addition there are what I term "micro-dealers". These are the people you think represents the secondary market. The $385 for an XM-18 you see is actually the dealer's price. Anything after that is actual retail price. This is evident when the Authorized Dealers are selling knives at about 10-15% above Micro-dealers; the 10-15% represents their actual overhead.

This is why Hinderer knives cannot "get in on the action" by pricing $6-700 because then the authorize dealers and micro dealers will either mark up accordingly or sell at cost. Both these scenarios is makes Hinderers a non-desirable product.

So back to the OP's question, are Striders and Reeves worth it at between $3-500 depending on material? Thats subjective. Hinderers at $500-700? I say no.

 

[M67]

Many of these companies like Strider/Hinderer are brand names much like Apple and Under Armor. They can command almost any price they want and they have a consumer base that is willing to pay.
Chances are, the profit margins on every strider and hinderer is pretty big, especially when companies can make a similar knife for for well under half their price

So ZT doesn't make limited production pieces that command doubple the original price? And why aren't the $500 MAP ZTs in question here for "Are they worth it?"

Why can't you have a fixed blade the same size as a folder in pocket? Is there some kind of rule that allows folders but not fixed blade EDC's?

Some states do have laws regarding fixed blades, in my state, they don't care, but I usually have os much crap in my pockets that a folder in one pocket and another in a cargo pocket is all I can fit.

 

[Nellem]

I asked the same question when I was coming up through the knife collecting ranks as the owner of mostly Spydercos and Benchmades. To me the PM2 was the bees-knees (I still have a very high regard for it). The answer given to me was that only I could answer the question and I would only be able to do so when I actually own and use one. I took the plunge and bought my first Sebenza. Do I believe it is worth the $450 I paid? Hell yeah! Soon after the first Sebenza I bought a Hinderer XM24 and my answer again is: "Hell yeah!". I then bought a $650 Sebenza with Damascus blade and the answer again is "Hell yeah!". Now when I look at the $200 knives I once considered grails I can see the lack of finish and attention to detail ... it is glaringly obvious.

The Sebenza is the knife I now consider my benchmark for quality, fit and finish. There are better quality knifes for sure but the Sebenza is the mark any knife I buy must meet for me now. As good or better than my Sebenza gets a yes. Except if fit and finish do not matter for a user knife to be used with less care. There are a few exceptions and the PM2 is one that stands out for me. The PM2 for me is the best knife purchase ever. It is the VW Beetle of knives.

Get a Sebenza. Let it speak to you. If you then decide it is not worth paying $450 for a knife then you have your answer and you can sell it and get your money back. If you decide its worth it then go for a Hinderer. To me Strider is a dicey one. You can get a good knife and you'll be very happy or you might get a bit of a lemon that will put you off expensive purchases. Best is to start with a Sebenza that will be easy to sell if you decide $400 plus knives are not worth it. If you decide to keep it you will have an excellent companion for life.