Best Strider Fixed blade for Hunting?

geoffy

geoffy

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Hey guys,

So I was looking through some of the strider blades and was wondering which one you guys thought would be the best choice for use as a skinning knife. I've also been looking at the CRK Nyala or a Randall but can't really make my mind up and wanted to hear what you all think. Personally, I don't really know if any of the striders would be great skinners but I like their design better (just metal and paracord) and the ones I'm looking at are considerably cheaper than a Randall.

Thanks :)
 
Strider already has their own skinning hunting knife. Check it out at knifeart and monkeyedge. Similar design compared to Buck zipper. If you've the cash, go for it. Personally, I will go for Chris Reeve - NYALA. Great finish and a great steel in very sharp from the factory.
You can not compare Randall's or others (like Bob Loveless) with other knife makers. Those are what I call it forefathers of our knife world. Owning a knife from them is a privilege. Never miss out one if you can. ;)
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geoffy said:
Hey guys,

So I was looking through some of the strider blades and was wondering which one you guys thought would be the best choice for use as a skinning knife. I've also been looking at the CRK Nyala or a Randall but can't really make my mind up and wanted to hear what you all think. Personally, I don't really know if any of the striders would be great skinners but I like their design better (just metal and paracord) and the ones I'm looking at are considerably cheaper than a Randall.

Thanks :)
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I say the CRK Nyala is the best bang for your buck out of those that you have listed but as far as Striders go I think the MFS makes for a pretty good skinning knife.
 
Just a note ... using a paracord-wrapped knife for something like skinning can be a problem since that paracord will soak up the blood and what not and will not exactly be smelling like a rose the next day.
 
You might wanna send off the Strider to Tom Krein for the edge you need.
 
Skip past CRK and Strider, and go for a Dozier.

I tend to categorize "hunters" and "skinners" separately. In any case, for a skinner, check out Dozier's K-2, K-11, K-16, KS-1.

http://www.dozierknives.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85

Of the four above, all but the KS-1 are great all-around hunting knives that can serve multiple tasks. If I had to pick an all-arounder, either the K-11 or the K-16 are both super designs.

Skip the K-19... looks sexier, but the finger grooves and the little top "guard" relegate this one to "flash over substance." I think this design arose more to sell knives through a big dealer more than as an output from Dozier's sense of what works in the field, IMO.

I like the K-DP drop point, but the tapered tang price premium isn't worth it in my book.

Dozier's kydex sheaths are excellent also.

Dozier's D2 at Rc 60-61 will outperform the Nyala mostly because of hardness (although that is an over-simplification). You just have to take a bit more care w/ D2... i.e. clean it up and apply a protectant after use (oil, or other more complicated stuff like Tuf-Cloth, etc).
 
I have a strider EB-S, its sports a 4.5" drop point blade. Its a good utility blade and though I have not used it for field dressing I think it would do fine. The s30v would hold a good edge and the g10 is really grippy which can be beneficial when half way through the job your hands are getting colder and wetter by the minute....at leat thats the way it goes where I am. I have never seen that strider skinning blade but it looks interesting but I think I would prefer to get a cheap 10$ gut hook and a regular blades style that might be more versatile.
 
if we are going to start recommending other knives, I think the spyderco bill moran fixed blades are pretty good for hunting/skinning if you don't want to shell out the dough for a dozier. yes, I would go with a dozier too if I wanted the very best in hunting knives ... but they are pricey and sounds like it may take you the better part of a year to get your hands on one.

Also, I would agree that the gut hook is more trouble than it is worth, and better to pick up a cheap separate gut hook if you want to use one. I personally have not used one, but I would think that after it serves its one function, it would get in the way and defeat the purpose of having a nice thin slicing skinner blade.
 
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If you wanna strider skinner then get whats gonna make you happy.............but , before you pull the trigger , checkout the Buck Paklite series . They are made in the USA ,very nice,and you can get a caper and a skinner both for $50.
 
Thanks for all the responses guys - I thought this thread was destined for the junkheap since nobody had responded when I posted it. I'm currently looking through everything. Can't decide if I should shell out the big bucks for the Randall or go for something still really nice just not quite as expensive.
 
I'm going to have to second the Dozier recommendation given above. I didn't recall Randall having any really good skinners or hunting designs so I just went and looked at thie catalog again. Over the years I've owned a couple knifes of that design and they really just are not the best design for a hunting kinfe and an even bigger miss for skining and/or processing.

The Dozier design is almost perfect for all of the above. There is a reason Doziers are popular with hunters.
 
Forget all that overpriced stuff and get a Cabela's Alaskan Guide Vanguard in S30V.
Superior All-Around hunting knife.

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This is a BP Vanguard in CPM-154 but you get the idea
 
Hey guys,

So....I couldn't really make my mind up - so I got a Strider RS AND and Randall model 28. Very expensive and causing me to liquidate part of my collection but totally worth it imho. I'm still waiting on the Randall to get here but the RS feels great in the hand - I can't wait to take it with me bow-hunting!

Just thought I'd share - thanks again for all the comments and advice.
 
I know this isnt what you asked, but those other guys are right. If you are looking for a knife to process game get a Dozier. Between my son and I we process several deer a year, and Ive used a lot of different knives, and without a doubt, nothing cuts meat and holds an edge like a Dozier. You can get them from AG Russell with no wait for around $200, and thats the last knife you will ever buy for skinning and buthering.
 
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