CRK VS Hinderer VS Strider

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SuzukiGS750EZ

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Hey guys. When I got into knives 26ish years ago, I came onto the forums shortly after and saw a lot of CRK VS Hinderer VS Strider. I remember reading that CRK had the "highest tolerances". Hinderer was "Hard use" and strider as well. From what I can recall over the years, strider had lock bar wear issues, CRK had a "No flicking the knife open hard" policy and Hinderer, i don't remember those complaints. The internet has a lot of information... good, bad and indifferent.
I have owned Two sebenza 21's (only have one currently), 1 inkosi and 1 sebenza 31, all larges. Great knives, zero issue. Well, on one of the 21's (a spalted beech damascus) i had to take the washers down a bit to get no play in the pivot, but it's perfect now (measure the blade thickness and the two washer thicknesses together and take the bushing down to size). Anyways, i love the CRK's. I also now own two hinderers, technically three if you count the ZT i also own. I have an XM-24 4" Bowie and an XM-18 3.5" slicer, both flippers. Zero issue outside of the tri-way pivot system issue with the PB washers and spacers, but skiff washers fix that up. Seemed a tolerance issue with the tri-way parts, no big deal.
Now comes the question.... Do striders still have issues? I've ALWAYS loved the look of them but have stayed away from them due to what i've read. I know... take everything with a grain of salt. But, i like the whole profile of the knife. Honestly, I think the Sebenza 31 large drop point, the Hinderer XM-18 3.5" slicer flipper and a Strider of some sort would be an awesome rotation throughout the week. Just curious where strider is at these days. I saw a pro-tech strider but unsure if it's a true strider that pro-tech put their automatic system in or if it's licensed by strider and pro-tech produces the entire thing.
 
My issue with Strider is Strider. I've liked some of the designs but won't buy them.

(Not going to bother rehashing the matter and discombobulating your thread. A cursory search here or via Google will provide more than you want to know, if interested.)
 
As usual, Blues nailed it.

I want some and really like the look. A member here that I have a great deal of respect for, is using Strider exclusively. He's real hard on them and has found Strider warranty highly useful for no questions asked repairs to include blade replacements.

I want a MSG, Strider/Marfione collaboration so bad it haunts me.

But some choices made over there are just flat unforgivable.
 
I never had any issues with the old Striders, but they have made changes to the lockface and improoved their the overall fit and finish
But the price has also gone up. So are they worth the price
Or should you buy from Strider
Only you can decide.
 
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Striders are great if you enjoy snagging the 2 mandatory choils on material every time you cut, having 3 inches of cutting edge on a 9 inch knife ( SMF ), pocket clips that snag, and fan boy aftermarket scalper prices.. if none of that bothers you - heat treatment usually excellent.

Spartan SHF checks the boxes for me on that type of knife.
 
Delgadonine said:
I only buy American Made.

I apologize to the Italians, Germans, British and the Ebayans. Or are Ali Babans. Or Amazonians. Or whoever makes that last brand.

Probably KIA...
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Then, get a Mercedes. My current one was made in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. :)

Don't know of the equivalent in the knife world though. I have a couple of knives that were designed in Canada and made in the US, but that's as far as it goes.
 
I've got a Hinderer XM-18 3.5, a Strider SMF 8Line & a couple of Protect Strider autos.

No problems with or complaints about any of them.

I don't own a CRK because I will no longer buy a folder that only uses thumb studs as the opening device. Flipper tabs &/or blade holes are my preferred opening devices for folders. However, I've never heard any serious complaints about CRK either.
 
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for me CRK still hold his position has a premium high end knives. The inkosi is my favorite folder and I like the large Sebenza 😍

Hinderer last production is great, I like my XM18 3.5 but they are not the best cutting tools

The Koenig Arius, Spartan blades SHF and Les George VECP are IMHO better options nowadays over strider and Hinderer
 
As T Twindog mentioned, there are a LOT of great hard use/high end/premium folders out there. CRK was always a grail for me as I couldn't imagine spending THAT kind of money on a knife 20-25 years ago. Now that is about in my price range for an edc. I got my first and only CRK in 2019, a large Inkosi. I really like it, and it's very special to me. Sadly, it was right around that time that 21s were being phased to 31s, and while I have no problem with the ceramic ball lock I just really wanted that old school titanium on steel lock up of the 21. I have a ton with steel inserts, but I wanted THAT.

For me, I tend to gravitate toward Spartan. I have a bunch of ZTs that are like the CRK, but I just like the overbuilt design of the SHF and they come in around the same price point if not a bit lower sporting the same premium materials. A dated yet classic design like the 21.

I won't buy a Strider.
 
Blues said:
My issue with Strider is Strider. I've liked some of the designs but won't buy them.

(Not going to bother rehashing the matter and discombobulating your thread. A cursory search here or via Google will provide more than you want to know, if interested.)
Click to expand...
You just know it's going to happen though. Regardless of how good or bad is knives are, there's no avoiding it.
 
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