Help authenticate a Strider knife

R

rookie4real

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Aug 15, 2007
Messages
546
Hi, I hope this is a right forum to post.

I recently bought a new Strider SMF off eBay, flamed TI, tiger striped blade, green g-10.

https://plus.google.com/photos/117094276563697488856/albums/6083875354002910881

I used to have other SMFs before, everything looks legit in this one, except unusual G-10 color variation on the back of the handle and a silver instead of black lock stabilizer screw. I personally have never seen this before.
Keep in mind, the handle still appears to be a solid piece of g-10, however the pronounced color variation make it look like it has an added piece.
I went as far as measuring the weight and dimensions, none of them look off.

Should I be worried or does anyone else have this on their strider ?
 
Looks authentic. As for the screws, did you ask the seller if they replaced the screws? That should be the reason why.
Congrats on your purchase.
 
No I did not ask about the screw being replaced. The knife was listed and looks new, so I doubt he has done anything to it. The only thing that seller told me that it is 2011 or 2012 production.

Thank you for assuring me, time to leave a positive feed back and start carrying the knife :)

As for the screw, I am thinking about darkening by taking it out and heating with a torch, then submerging into machine oil. I have used this method before to darken stainless steel pocket clips. It worked well.
 
Appears legit to me. I do agree that re off colour G10 is odd, but it looks to authentic to be a fake.

Also, congrats on your purchase, I love my SMF. What steel is yours, CPM-S30V or CPM-154?
 
rookie4real said:
No I did not ask about the screw being replaced. The knife was listed and looks new, so I doubt he has done anything to it. The only thing that seller told me that it is 2011 or 2012 production.

Thank you for assuring me, time to leave a positive feed back and start carrying the knife :)

As for the screw, I am thinking about darkening by taking it out and heating with a torch, then submerging into machine oil. I have used this method before to darken stainless steel pocket clips. It worked well.
Click to expand...

Honestly I would think about changing the screw instead. Screws on these knives are heat treated. I worry that heating it may ruin the heat treat and while you are heating and quenching if you bring the hardness up too high you may sheer the head off when attempting to screw it back in. If you do go ahead and do this I would recommend only screwing it down lightly but with blue thread lock as to not over torque.
 
Thanks oXObsidianXo, it's s30v.

PurpleDC, what you say does make sense, especially considering the small size of this screw. Do you know where I could get a new black screw? More likely contacting Strider about this would be a waste of time...
 
rookie4real said:
Thanks oXObsidianXo, it's s30v.

PurpleDC, what you say does make sense, especially considering the small size of this screw. Do you know where I could get a new black screw? More likely contacting Strider about this would be a waste of time...
Click to expand...

If it is a torx screw any good knife supplier should have a replacement the key is sizing it. Alpha knife supply or even knifekits might have what you need. Also companies like mcmaster carr and fastenall have screws in all varieties. Strider may or may not be of some help. I can tell you I see more genuine striders with the silver screw than I do the black.
 
Yeah, I actually had a strider with a silver stabilizer screw before, but it had stonewashed frame and blade. I just think it would look aesthetically better with a black screw on this one. Since I don't know the exact size, I may just order several sizes, they can't be too expensive.
 
Fake, G10 is not in one piece, logo looks off, detent hole to high...
4 screws to hold the handle ?!?!
 
snooka said:
Fake, G10 is not in one piece, logo looks off, detent hole to high...
4 screws to hold the handle ?!?!
Click to expand...

Was just thinking the same thing...G10 was the first red flag. Lock bar stabilizer isn't cone shaped either. It's either an old version I've not seen, or one of the better knock-offs I've seen.
 
Hey snooka, g10 is one piece, the color is weird though. Tell more....how does a logo looks off? What screws are you missing?

Knifehorder, the cone shaped stabilizers come on concealed carry versions or gunner grips only. I also know that many full regular fake versions come with the cone shaped one.
 
I will be contacting Strider about the coloring in this G-10, I am still within the time frame to return this knife to the seller.
 
Real or fake? (more pics to come)

300fmkj.jpg

23r22y8.jpg
 
I hope you are right Dean, because other than that, it looks authentic to me, I really like the fit and finish on this one.
I just want to mention that none of the fakes that I studied on photos, had a good flaming pattern of the Ti, one could immediately tell that it was not as refined as a real Strider. May be that is why most of replicas out there have a stonewashed finish.
 
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