First high end purchase; CRK Sebenza or Strider SnG????

Sebenza, Sebenza,Sebenza...I used to be a knife collector, now i EDC a sebenza and sold all the rest. I could go on all day here about the perfect fit and finish; and how the benza is 100% perfect out of the box; the perfect grinds; but please get one; so you can take over my job of raving about it; im sure everyone here is sick of hearing me...But wait theres more, see i told ya i could go on; The service you get a chris reeve is down right awesome, and very friendly....Ok ..Ok ill stop..
 
Ok just one more thing, i use my sebbie hard and it never lets me down; i do everything with it and its still as perfect as the day i got it....whewww im tired now :yawn:
 
oh yeah, i'd get the sebenza, no question. but i'd get the firetac over either if given the choice. just get a manix if you're itching for a great value like pronto.
 
Vermont,

Thats about how I feel as well regarding the Sebenza. I can't say enough good things about it as an overall package. Right now I carry the LDC version of it with the sharpened top swedge, which I like for some reason.
 
Shadow213 said:
Thanks for all the overwhelming replies, you guys....:D

Of the two models, I've only handled a large regular Sebbie. I'm assuming the Strider would be a tank of a folder, from some of the pics that I've seen, however the Sebbie also has very comfortable weight with a vault like lockup.

I've tried looking to see if the Strider can be disassembled, cleaned and lubed like the Sebbie, but have had no luck. Is that possible? Or even necessary with a folder like that?

Right now, that is one of the main perks that is attracting me more to the Sebenza.....
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Yes the Strider can be disassembled and cleaned.

http://www.badlandsforums.com/faq/HowDoIFieldStrip.shtml
 
marauder220 said:
I felt ripped off given the price. Alot of people seem to say such things are fine since the Striders are supposedly "Hardcore" knives, I think that's crap too since I have no problems beating the snot out of my Sebenzas and at least they are made with proper fit and finish, etc.
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That's true. Hardcore is fine and dandy. But, why should that mean you have to put up with shoddy, sloppy workmanship? If CRK can build you a supertough, but perfect folding knife for $300+, why can't Strider do the same? How do they get people to accept shoddy as tough? A Humvee is tough, but does it come from the factory all banged up and poorly constructed? Would you buy one like that?
 
A Dogs Best Friend said:
That's true. Hardcore is fine and dandy. But, why should that mean you have to put up with shoddy, sloppy workmanship? If CRK can build you a supertough, but perfect folding knife for $300+, why can't Strider do the same? How do they get people to accept shoddy as tough? A Humvee is tough, but does it come from the factory all banged up and poorly constructed? Would you buy one like that?
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My SNG has perfect workmanship. The lines are even, the handles are made well, and there isn't a wobble to be found. The finish on my SNG is as good or better than any of the 3 Sebenzas I have ordered. The SNG isn't that big at all. It fits in my pocket just as well as any Sebenza does, and it cuts smoothly. Strider knives aren't shoddy. Are you speaking from experience with an SNG? An AR or GB is a tank. The SNG isn't much larger than a Sebenza.
 
In my case I'm speaking from experience. I had 3 AR's and one SNG. All had problems ranging from lockup to poor finish, etc. In no way were any of them worth the $300+ price tag. All of them had scratches right from the box, and none had proper grind lines, etc, etc. I considered them to be a shoddy product and nowhere near their price-point. The Sebenza, and many many other handmade folders are also $300+ but exhibit proper fit and finish from the maker and are just as tough, if not more so than any Strider folder be it an AR/GB/SNG, etc. I'm sure there are many of their folders out there that are fine, but from what I can tell, there are also alot out there with issues, so its somewhat of a gamble if your getting a decent one or not.
 
USAFSP said:
Are you speaking from experience with an SNG?
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Ok, I admit, as I said in an earlier post, that I've only had one Strider folder, in this case a PT. I just thought that the workmanship was poor for an expensive knife. Careless, actually. Also, my impression of the knife was that it was grossly overpriced. I felt that I didn't like having over $300 invested in that product. That my money was not a good trade for that knife.

I feel that if you are going to charge lots of money for your product you ought to take the time and care to be sure that the potential buyer gets his moneys worth for that product. Don't let even one carelessly built knife go out the doors. What does it take to look at the knife to check it for defects before it goes off to the retailer? For three hundred dollars, IMO, you are buying a higher level of fit and finish than was exhibited by my particular Strider product. Many Strider owners, from what I've read, seem to be willing to accept "a rough finish." That's their choice.
 
Do you guys just sit around and try to come up with reasons to dislike Striders? Some of the statements made are not just wrong they are outright lies. If you don't have anything nice to say then shut the hell up.
 
For me the Sebbie wins, I just can't stand the pocket clip on the Striders, they are to tight or way too loose. It's personal preferrence for me, I would rather have a slicer than a chisel for 99% of what I do. Oh and the pocket clip on the Sebbie is second only to my Hinderer. Oh one more thing the Strider warranty is VERY slow but first class when it comes to repairs.
 
Rover,

I dislike them for the reasons I stated, the ones I owned were simply not up to acceptable standards. None of what I've said are lies, I was simply stating my experiences with Strider products, none of which was good.
 
New Sebs, right handed AND left handed and in plain or decorated, are plentiful from a variety of online dealers.
 
I'll just echo what others have said, having owned several of each.

If you're a nut for precision, F&F, and remarkably consistant perfection in a knife, the Sebenza will do it for you like few other knives can, often it seems that CRK can't turn out a flawed knife, Strider is a little different, less refined, not quite as consistant, but, if you do get a well made one, it can be a very good knife, and many of them have surprisingly smooth, precise actions as well.

I'll put it another way, a Sebenza is one of the only knives, and this includes customs from even the best makers, that I'd feel pretty safe ordering/buying sight unseen, with a Strider, or any number of customs, I wouldn't feel quite as confident. In my experience, Sebenzas are the most consistantly perfect knife out there, and that's why I laugh when you invariably get people who whine that they're overpriced, no, they're not.

You may not like it however, once you use it, since ultimately, whether you really like a knife is based on more than F&F and precision, there are ergonomics, edge and blade design, looks/image, etc., and, as I said, there is most definitely something about the Striders, as another poster said, it's kind of like a Range Rover vs. a Hummer, the RR is more refined, luxurious and still a very capable off road vehicle, the Hummer isn't as refined, but if you're going to be driving through streams and on treacherous ground, its virtues are quickly realized.

But, don't for one minute think the Sebenza isn't a tough knife, it might be just as tough and reliable as a Strider, the difference is, Striders aside from actually being tough, are designed to look and feel tough, something a lot of people, myself included, like. They have the look and feel of a heavy duty tool and let's face it, as guys, we like tools, don't we. :) (Tim Allen grunting...)
 
I don't own either but it was a great thread to read. It looks like the Sebenza took the bout in a knockout in the second round.
 
I tried a Strider folder 3 years ago at blade. I opened it, and the lock didn't engage. I mentionned that to a guy who was manning the stand, who looked at me as if I was stupid, and flicked violently the blade open. Under those cricumstances, the lock did engage. He told me proudly that half of them required to be flicked open for the lock to engage.

That was 3 years ago, and things might have changed, but for me, that was a defining experience: I will never trust a Strider folder.

My mini-Seb' is perfect. In fact, my fantasy tactical folder would be made by C. Reeves, with a thumb disk. It would be perfect. (Since I'm dreaming, it would be nice if they could license Emerson's Wave).
 
Joss said:
He told me proudly that half of them required to be flicked open for the lock to engage.

That was 3 years ago, and things might have changed, but for me, that was a defining experience: I will never trust a Strider folder.
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They have changed, and gotten much better, I am familiar with the issue you speak of, that is no longer the case.
 
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