- Joined
- Jul 9, 1999
- Messages
- 3,316
Massive. Overbuilt. Sharpened Prybar. Tank Tough. Bomb Proof. Big Honkin' Folder.
All of these descriptive terms apply to this knife in spades. Just when I think they can't build a more massive folding knife, lo and behold, here it is.
There is nothing small and demure about this folder. The blade is between 5/32" and 3/16" thick(!). The handle thickness is a full 5/8"! The blade retains it's full thickness all the way out to 1/4" away from the point! That's right! 1/4" away from the very tip of this knife it is at full thickness. Geez! The locking liner is a full 1/16" thick. Dual Titanium liners and roughly textured G-10 scales make up the body/handle of the Strider.
The knife laughs at the Spine Whack test and cajoles you with..
"What?! Is that all you got"?!
Two massive spacers and one massive stop pin and the pivot pin hold this monster together and the whole knife is of open frame construction.
When the blade is closed it rides dead center of the handle and the blade does not budge one way or the other when open because of the Bronze washers. The knife has notching in what I think are all the right places. The texture is almost to the point of being too rough and goes all the way to the handle edges. They should be rounded off a bit as this bites the hand when gripping the knife hard. A little sandpaper and 2 minutes worth of work will remedy this. Some will want to knock down the texture of the handle a bit as it is quite aggressively textured.
The Blade.
Ah, the blade.
Now, we get to the part where I personally have some issues. Please bear in mind that this is all my personal opinion, which means absolutely NOTHING!
The blade has a grind that immediately reminds me of Cold Steel's SRK and Recon Tanto. VERY thick at the edge. Especially for a 3 7/8" bladed folder. The primary edge is bloody sharp for it's thickness, but that secondary edge out toward the tip, I'm-a-no-like!
I realize that this knife is pretty mission specific. (Sharpened Prybars only need apply).
However, for my own personal preferences, I want a bit less bulk out toward the tip. Granted, the tanto is all about armor piercing tip strength, but the Strider has taken this concept as far as it can possibly go, IMO. The tip is so thick that the secondary edge is not even close to being shaving sharp. Or scraping sharp for that matter. I understand that this is done intentionally in keeping with the intended mission of the knife, but, it just doesn't work for me.
I want that secondary edge sharp. Real sharp. I'm not in the Marine Corps anymore and I don't set out to see how much torture a knife can take, I just want a strong razor sharp folder that will do double duty as a utility and possible defense knife should (GOD Forbid!) the need arise. So, I just don't need the tip to be that massive.
This is why, when I finish typing this, Mr. Strider is going out to the shop to meet Mr. Belt Sander and we're gonna thin that tip out a bit. I will not compromise the tip strength much, the overall tanto armor piercing tip concept will remain, but I will grind the tip just enough to get the knife to where it will suit my personal needs. This is gonna reek havoc on the bead blast finish, but this knife is about hard work mainly and not about prettiness, so my concern for the appearance is minimal at best.
Of course, this will probably void any warranty, but, what the hey! The knife is a tank, it just needs a little tweeking IMO.
Conclusions:
The overall package looks like it will work really well if your in the market for a "beat the living hell out of it, dig holes, destroy car doors, open 55 gallon drums and clean the bad guy's plough" kind of knife. It appears to be an extremely tough utility/defense folder that will take whatever you can dish out to it.
I think maybe even Cliff Stamp would have a blast trying to destroy one of these babies.
This folder is not for the faint of heart and folks with smaller hands should go pick one up before buying one as it is one thick sucker in the handle and may not fit your hand.
BTW,
I expect to take some heat for altering the blade as I see fit. So don't be afraid to voice your opinions one way or the other.
Weee're off to see Mr. Belt Sander...
------------------
The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
All of these descriptive terms apply to this knife in spades. Just when I think they can't build a more massive folding knife, lo and behold, here it is.
There is nothing small and demure about this folder. The blade is between 5/32" and 3/16" thick(!). The handle thickness is a full 5/8"! The blade retains it's full thickness all the way out to 1/4" away from the point! That's right! 1/4" away from the very tip of this knife it is at full thickness. Geez! The locking liner is a full 1/16" thick. Dual Titanium liners and roughly textured G-10 scales make up the body/handle of the Strider.
The knife laughs at the Spine Whack test and cajoles you with..
"What?! Is that all you got"?!
Two massive spacers and one massive stop pin and the pivot pin hold this monster together and the whole knife is of open frame construction.
When the blade is closed it rides dead center of the handle and the blade does not budge one way or the other when open because of the Bronze washers. The knife has notching in what I think are all the right places. The texture is almost to the point of being too rough and goes all the way to the handle edges. They should be rounded off a bit as this bites the hand when gripping the knife hard. A little sandpaper and 2 minutes worth of work will remedy this. Some will want to knock down the texture of the handle a bit as it is quite aggressively textured.
The Blade.
Ah, the blade.
Now, we get to the part where I personally have some issues. Please bear in mind that this is all my personal opinion, which means absolutely NOTHING!
The blade has a grind that immediately reminds me of Cold Steel's SRK and Recon Tanto. VERY thick at the edge. Especially for a 3 7/8" bladed folder. The primary edge is bloody sharp for it's thickness, but that secondary edge out toward the tip, I'm-a-no-like!
I realize that this knife is pretty mission specific. (Sharpened Prybars only need apply).
However, for my own personal preferences, I want a bit less bulk out toward the tip. Granted, the tanto is all about armor piercing tip strength, but the Strider has taken this concept as far as it can possibly go, IMO. The tip is so thick that the secondary edge is not even close to being shaving sharp. Or scraping sharp for that matter. I understand that this is done intentionally in keeping with the intended mission of the knife, but, it just doesn't work for me.
I want that secondary edge sharp. Real sharp. I'm not in the Marine Corps anymore and I don't set out to see how much torture a knife can take, I just want a strong razor sharp folder that will do double duty as a utility and possible defense knife should (GOD Forbid!) the need arise. So, I just don't need the tip to be that massive.
This is why, when I finish typing this, Mr. Strider is going out to the shop to meet Mr. Belt Sander and we're gonna thin that tip out a bit. I will not compromise the tip strength much, the overall tanto armor piercing tip concept will remain, but I will grind the tip just enough to get the knife to where it will suit my personal needs. This is gonna reek havoc on the bead blast finish, but this knife is about hard work mainly and not about prettiness, so my concern for the appearance is minimal at best.
Of course, this will probably void any warranty, but, what the hey! The knife is a tank, it just needs a little tweeking IMO.
Conclusions:
The overall package looks like it will work really well if your in the market for a "beat the living hell out of it, dig holes, destroy car doors, open 55 gallon drums and clean the bad guy's plough" kind of knife. It appears to be an extremely tough utility/defense folder that will take whatever you can dish out to it.
I think maybe even Cliff Stamp would have a blast trying to destroy one of these babies.
This folder is not for the faint of heart and folks with smaller hands should go pick one up before buying one as it is one thick sucker in the handle and may not fit your hand.
BTW,
I expect to take some heat for altering the blade as I see fit. So don't be afraid to voice your opinions one way or the other.
Weee're off to see Mr. Belt Sander...
------------------
The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.
Sun Tzu
