heavy use folder: AlMar, Buck Strider, or ??

C

cognitivefun

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Oct 24, 2004
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I would like to get a very tough heavy use folder for under $150.

For where I am coming from, I have a Sebenza small regular I am very happy with, a BM Ritter grip and mini-grip, and a few other knives, all of which I am very happy with. I would like a folder that won't fail no matter what, and that unlike the Sebenza I won't tend to baby.

I am thinking AlMar SERE 2K, or Buck Strider spearpoint.

What would you suggest and why? Thank you.
 
Having both, I'd go for the Buck Strider. While they are both built as tough as nails, the B/S has a thicker, wider blade with a more stout grind. The SERE 2K is ground thinner, so it will cut better, but it would get damaged easier.

Not to mention I'm pretty sure ATS-34 is tougher than VG-10. The ATS-34 should bend before it breaks, the edge should roll before it chips, etc, while the VG-10 is probably more brittle.
 
You're probably better off with the Buck Strider. I have a SERE 2000 and it's a tough knife but it also has beautiful fit and finish. You're gonna hate yourself the first time you beat the hell out of it. They can both take some hard use but the Strider will probably look even better with some serious "character" marks on it.
 
the SERE 2000 is just amazing. Buy one just to experience it...sell it if you need to.

Nitin
 
I'll vouch for the SERE 2000 for heavy use. I used mine day to day on and off duty for 2 years. Worked great for everything I asked of it. Only recently sent it back to the factory to have the liners tweeked, more for my peace of mind than a lack of function.
 
Lobo103 said:
I'll vouch for the SERE 2000 for heavy use. I used mine day to day on and off duty for 2 years. Worked great for everything I asked of it. Only recently sent it back to the factory to have the liners tweeked, more for my peace of mind than a lack of function.
Click to expand...

were you getting blade play or did you just do it to make sure the knife still safely locks up? Just curious...
 
"Tough heavy use folder" - you should also take a look at the Spyderco Manix, it would be my pick over the AlMar. Haven't handled the Buck/Strider so I can't give an opinion there.
 
The Buck/Strider is a massive knife. It might be too big if you have small hands. It suits me just fine! :) Like the Camillus CUDA Maxx, it was one of those knives that made laugh to see how huge it was, compared to what I had expected. Remember it has a 3" little brother which might do better. The design is actually similar to a Sebenza in shape of blade and open back. I recommend it strongly.
 
Having the Manix's evil twin (the Chinook II), I'd second the Manix as the
choice of hard-use folder. Even on the hollow-ground Chinook II, everything is as rock-solid and heavy duty as a folder under $350 can be.

Of just the knives you mentioned, go with the Buck/Strider. Even their smaller, gentler 882 Tarani spearpoint is a behemoth.
 
If you are open to other suggestions, Greco makes tank-like folders in the price-range you specify. They are available in the secondary market and, last time I looked, he was still selling them.

Ed:

Yup. $75.00 + $15 S&H for one. www.grecoknives.com

You can use "search" feature here for reviews/comments.
 
I have both the Buck Strider spear point and an Al Mar SERE 2K, and would go with the Al Mar.

The corrosion resistance and edge holding of the ATS34 blade on the Buck Strider is average, and the lock is weak compared to the Al Mar. Also the titanium liner lock on the Buck Strider has a tendency to not lock up well.

Unless you've got huge hands the Buck Strider feels like a brick, while the Al Mar is quite comfortable to use.

David
 
I just picked up a Spyderco Manix. Wow what a knife, its plenty beefy, and has G10 handle and a CPMS30V steel blade. It is a very nice H-D folder.

Ron
 
If you have the time to wait, all reports I've read indicate Swamp Rat's Rat Trap is worth a look for an extremely tough folder.
 
Cognitivefun- I was getting very minor blade play...but a sharp spine whack tended to let the lock slip. AMK took it back for repairs free of cost, although it's been a month and a half and still no knife... :(
 
Thomas Linton said:
If you are open to other suggestions, Greco makes tank-like folders in the price-range you specify. They are available in the secondary market and, last time I looked, he was still selling them.

Ed:

Yup. $75.00 + $15 S&H for one. www.grecoknives.com

You can use "search" feature here for reviews/comments.
Click to expand...

I spoke with John and he regretably is not selling folders anymore, period. So one has to buy them on the secondary market as far as I can tell.
 
Lobo103 said:
Cognitivefun- I was getting very minor blade play...but a sharp spine whack tended to let the lock slip. AMK took it back for repairs free of cost, although it's been a month and a half and still no knife... :(
Click to expand...

that's worrisome actually...if the knife is really that tough it shouldn't have lock failure, should it? I'm just asking, I don't know the answer and I'd like to learn. What do you think?
 
It's definetly worrisome but IMO anything w/ more than one part is going to be prone to failing or developing play eventually. I honestly don't think the knife would have ever failed under SD or utility conditions BUT it's not a chance I wanted to take. I still think the S2K is a great product, I it carried every day for two years a lot of that time I was on Deployments w/ guy's who didn't bring the right stuff, so it got passed around and used to cut all manner of stuff. When I went through Sniper School I dummy corded the S2K to my pants belt and it crawled through every dust bowl, rock bed, stream and mud hole that I did. It got gritty, dirty and nasty, but it was still there when I needed to cut yards and yards of burlap strands and Natural Vegetation for my Ghillie. By the time the school was over the clip had drug the ground so much all the finish was gone and looked like I had leaned up against a belt sander.
All that being said I honestly think that about 90% of your high-end knives nowaday's are about the same functionally. The rest of this stuff is just preferance and mental masturbation. If everything I've heard about the Sebenza's is true I'd just stick w/ that. The knife is worthless to you if you don't use it for what it's designed for....or you could sell it and buy two Al Mars ;)
 
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