Are striders/hinderers worth the money?

I have the same debacle with guns. I don't have a problem spending $3,500 (and sometimes more) on a custom AR15 with scope because at the end of the day, I can actually wring that much more accuracy out of the rifle. That being said, I can't seem to get myself to pay that for a custom 1911 when I can buy a Sig Sauer 1911 for $1,000 or less, and use it to put holes on top of holes (with good ammo). Same goes for me with knives...when I can get a Zero Tolerance version of the Hinderer XM, I just can't see spending the extra money on the XM.

And let's not kid anyone...I'm not saving myself any money going with ZT. I just end up with 3 Zero Tolerance knives instead of one XM. lol

For some guys who really appreciate the little extra attention to detail, I say go for it...you only get one life. Have a good time, and spend your money however it pleases you.
 
Are Hinderers worth it? You bet, for every misguided, scorned, thin-skinned complainer, there are 100s that will say they are worth it and that Rick Hinderer Knives customer service is top notch. You can't please everyone. Regardless, Rick Hinderer Knives are worth it.
 
RDA said:
Are Hinderers worth it? You bet . . .
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With all due respect, if we're talking about 3.5" XM-18 Slicers, worth it to who? Certainly not to people like me who can't buy one directly from the factory and don't feel compelled to own an original, especially now that the 0562CF is here. Call folks like me what you will. But like it or not, the value proposition for buying a 3.5" XM-18 Slicer on the secondary market has vanished . . . if it ever really existed at all.
 
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RDA said:
Are Hinderers worth it? You bet, for every misguided, scorned, thin-skinned complainer, there are 100s that will say they are worth it and that Rick Hinderer Knives customer service is top notch. You can't please everyone. Regardless, Rick Hinderer Knives are worth it.
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I take issue with the idea that if we don't think Hinderers are worth it, we must be "misguided". That's fanbag talk. Come on, now. Rob? Is that you? LOL
 
Patience, my friend. It's only a matter of time before the market lets us know who among us are the most misguided.
 
Hey, if people want to throw away their money and convince themselves they're getting a good deal, let em. It isn't your money. I do, however, take offense when some new dude comes on these forums asking about Hinderer this, Strider that, and CRK everything else, only to have every fan boy rushing to convince them that one or the other is perfection incarnate. Some of these people don't have that money to blow and get swayed by the enthusiasm of said fans, convinced into spending scrounged savings on knives that don't perform or even look any better than many lesser priced offerings. If you like it, cool, but it is harmful to others to suggest that they should skip straight to knives that cost hundreds of dollars as if it is pointless for them to try and find a happy medium beneath that price point.

If you're going to spend $400 plus on a knife, a cutting tool, at least make it special. Make it yours. Get a custom. This "midtech" terminology is as shifty as Apple's business practices, ie. saturating the market with multiple incarnations of devices and multiple devices that do the same things.
 
RemyKaze said:
This "midtech" terminology is as shifty as Apple's business practices, ie. saturating the market with multiple incarnations of devices and multiple devices that do the same things.
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I like midtechs :)

Even if I could afford a custom from Brad Southard I wouldn't feel comfortable really beating on it... Avo here I come!
 
Good thread.
I like knives that are unique or "special." Example: The Emerson CQC7B, because of the chisel ground blade.
I dropped $400. on a SnG because of the unique and superb design. One piece milled G10. Nut and bolt construction and a huge pivot screw. This folder is now a classic.
rolf
 
I never gave Strider Knives the time of day, until I found the SJ-75 "Baby Huey" model. I'll be buying one soon!
Let me know when another knife maker/manufacturer comes out with a design as unique as an SJ-75 with the same quality materials and craftsmanship for under $200, and I'll buy two.

Just because some people can't afford or don't want to spend the money on something, doesn't mean it's not worth it.
 
I don't know if they are worth 700$ talking about the hinderer ,but I want to find out. I really want a hinderer and I'm saving up for one. I have one 450+dollar knife. It's the knife in my aviator(an Olamic warfare) and to me it was well worth the money. Now that's just my opinion(which means nothing). I love the knife and the quality and craftsmanship that went into it.
I hope I feel the same way about the hinderer , when I get one. They go for less than 700$ here on the exchange.
For the task I need knives for a 100$ bm performs as well as anything. Or my endura4, it's a slicing machine coming in at a modest 60$.
It's all an evolution of the hobby. My 1200$ sig sauer do nothing better than my 500$ glock it's all in the name of fun and having things that interest you(for me: guns knives, and cars.)
My new dodge ram does nothing better for me than my 1994 Chevy s10. I still drive my s10 around more than my new truck. Is the dodge worth more than my s10? No it's not for what I use them for(driving back and forth to work and my kids various functions) but it's still fun to have.
If u deem a hinderer worth the asking price then it is. If you deem it unworthy of its price tag....then it's not.
 
JDunn709 said:
I like midtechs :)

Even if I could afford a custom from Brad Southard I wouldn't feel comfortable really beating on it... Avo here I come!
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Not sure why you'd think $300-$800 production knives are ok to beat on but not a custom. That's what you have cheaper folders for, while the custom gets the special carry times.

DAVE_M said:
I never gave Strider Knives the time of day, until I found the SJ-75 "Baby Huey" model. I'll be buying one soon!
Let me know when another knife maker/manufacturer comes out with a design as unique as an SJ-75 with the same quality materials and craftsmanship for under $200, and I'll buy two.

Just because some people can't afford or don't want to spend the money on something, doesn't mean it's not worth it.
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By the same token, just because someone can afford it or does want to blow money on it, doesn't mean it is worth it. It's a chunk of metal that arguably isn't even that great at the purpose it was designed for, which is cutting. Many midtechs are just pocket bricks that people have convinced themselves will cut well to justify their purpose.
 
RemyKaze said:
By the same token, just because someone can afford it or does want to blow money on it, doesn't mean it is worth it. It's a chunk of metal that arguably isn't even that great at the purpose it was designed for, which is cutting. Many midtechs are just pocket bricks that people have convinced themselves will cut well to justify their purpose.
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If I can afford it and I want to blow money on it, then obviously I think it's worth it...

I've already come to the realization that my Benchmade 551 Griptilian is the best EDC knife, that I own, and it cuts very well. However, it is butt ugly and isn't fancy in the least bit. My $100 Seiko Diver tells time just as well as the $600 Bulova, that my Dad gave me, but the Seiko is not as nice as the Bulova.
 
Collecting is a little like moving up thru the ranks. For every guy saying he won't spend $400+ on a knife (because his Spyderco, Benchmade, ZT etc etc) is just fine. There are similar guys saying they wouldn't spend $100+ because their Enlan, Ganzo, value Benchmade, value Spydie is just fine.
I find that once you spend $50 on a knife, you are curious and want to see what a $100 knife is like. Then what a $200 knife is and so on and so on... Once the bar is lifted it feels more natural spending bigger and bigger dough on a blade... The only limitations are your credit and or savings.

I don't think people start off in the knife world dropping $350 to $550 for their first knife. I think it's a gradual progression, if anyone is curious about buying a Strider or CRK or Hinderer, there are plenty of basic models for less than retail here on our exchange. Buy one! Test drive it for a while and if you are not happy with it, sell it for what you paid for it or near what you paid for it. (just don't mod it).

As to whether they are worth it? I that's a bit like saying are Rolex's worth the money when a Casio will do the same thing (not knocking Casio, I have several) or is a Ferrari worth it when my Toyota will get me from point A to B. if it's worth it to YOU then i believe it's worth it for sure.
 
And, with Strider, one gets one of the best heat treatments on a knife today. These knives really hold an edge for a long time.
rolf
 
In the last year+, I've bought and sold a lot of knives. The only one I regret selling is the SnG. When I have the money, I'm sure I'll buy another one. It may have a face only a mother could love, but the ergos were great. I generally am not a huge fan of overbuilt heavy duty folders but the SnG managed to be that but at the same time not feel that way when using it.

I find Hinderers to be considerably overpriced for what they are. I've never held one, but it seems to me your money is better spent with the ZT Hinderers.
 
dcmartin said:
Collecting is a little like moving up thru the ranks. For every guy saying he won't spend $400+ on a knife (because his Spyderco, Benchmade, ZT etc etc) is just fine. There are similar guys saying they wouldn't spend $100+ because their Enlan, Ganzo, value Benchmade, value Spydie is just fine.
I find that once you spend $50 on a knife, you are curious and want to see what a $100 knife is like. Then what a $200 knife is and so on and so on... Once the bar is lifted it feels more natural spending bigger and bigger dough on a blade... The only limitations are your credit and or savings.

I don't think people start off in the knife world dropping $350 to $550 for their first knife. I think it's a gradual progression, if anyone is curious about buying a Strider or CRK or Hinderer, there are plenty of basic models for less than retail here on our exchange. Buy one! Test drive it for a while and if you are not happy with it, sell it for what you paid for it or near what you paid for it. (just don't mod it).

As to whether they are worth it? I that's a bit like saying are Rolex's worth the money when a Casio will do the same thing (not knocking Casio, I have several) or is a Ferrari worth it when my Toyota will get me from point A to B. if it's worth it to YOU then i believe it's worth it for sure.
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People keep comparing knives to cars. Ferraris are overpriced and over hyped, but they do have finely tuned engines that perform well above less expensive cars for those who do not work on their own rides. The same cannot be said for more expensive knives, when in most cases they actually perform less well and most folks are just wilfully blind about it.
 
RemyKaze said:
The same cannot be said for more expensive knives, when in most cases they actually perform less well and most folks are just wilfully blind about it.
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Geeze, did an expensive knife bully you in school? :D
A whole lot of emotion on the subject it seems. ;)
 
RemyKaze said:
People keep comparing knives to cars. Ferraris are overpriced and over hyped, but they do have finely tuned engines that perform well above less expensive cars for those who do not work on their own rides. The same cannot be said for more expensive knives, when in most cases they actually perform less well and most folks are just wilfully blind about it.
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I disagree, to a point. For example, a VG10 Spyderco Delica will outperform a Tenacious in 8cr in a general sense. Such as how long it stays sharp and keeps a working edge.

However, there comes a point in which the margin between one model to another shrinks to next to nothing. Basically, it goes from paying more to get better performance to paying more to have that status of owning a CRK, Strider, Hinderer, etc.

If perfection and/or status is what you value, then yes these knives are worth it. If the latest über steel is what you are after, the big three are gonna provide a broader range of that.

My philosophy on knives:

I won't own more than one of the same knife, unless its a sprint or LE.
I like unique knives. Stuff that isn't commonplace, and that you don't see often in the EDC III thread. Hence why I chose to order a TSF Beast over a Sebenza.

At the end of the day, buy what you will use. I see too many people with high end knives letting them sit in a drawer or the safe. Remember, you aren't buying a Monet. You're buying a tool, and a tool is made to be used.


There is the point that with these higher end knives more time is spent on treating the steel, fit and finish, and ergonomics.
 
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