How are Strider Folders?

[OilMan]

Out of the couple I've had I'd say they are great knives if you get a mechanically perfect one right out of the gate. I've had a fair amount of duds too but I'm rather picky about how a new knife should come. ie It should lock up tight with no play and the finish shouldn't be beat to heck. No matter what the excuses are for doing so.

I use Blue Loctite on pivots and haven't had a problem with them loosening. As far as the people who are saying they don't cut that well I disagree. With a little work and a reprofile they cut just as good as anything, I think it speaks to their sharpening ability more than the knife. I also prefer the high flat ground production ones more than the sexier hollows, nightmares, and low saber grinds.

YMMV

 

[Martin Swinkels]

good to hear , which is what matters in the end. Every maker/manufacture will have ones that slip thru

Nope.

For that kind of money not a single one should be permitted to slip through.

 

[STR]

There is nothing wrong with any of the Strider folders at all and although in an ideal world you would hope quality control would catch every last flaw forgive human error. It happens. Even a Rolls Royce has some problems on rare occasions.

I agree with Oilman on the cutting performance comments. Mine usually need a reprofiled angle to please me also because they like my XM18 from Rick seemed to come a bit obtuse at the edge when new. I'm sure the idea there in a hard use tactical military folder is for added strength. I prefer added slicing and cutting ability but making your edge too thin on S30V can lead to edge fractures and chipping so be careful of the angle. Overall most of those early issues with S30V have been dealt with admirably by the industry but one of the characteristics of S30V that makes it cut so well to begin with is the way the micro edge keeps renewing so they just cut even when you think from looking at all the refelction back at you on the edge that they shouldn't.

I particularly like the built in choil the Strider SnG, PT, and other bigger folders incorporate. The grip is a bit aggressive but you have to realize these are made to work with gloved hands and they do that quite well. The oversized grip, and traction grooves are all quite nice when you have a glove on compared to other lesser knives that you no longer notice the grooving for grip on.

Licensing the Hinderer Lock Stabalizer is a big hit with me also on these knives. I'm also a fan of tip up carry and the positioning of their clip on the PT which does not incorporate the lock stabalizer. At least mine doesn't. The frame locks by Strider, particularly the SnG and PT have always been in my top five favorite folders list. They have it all. If you have one and can't get it sharp send it in to Strider with a request of how you'd like it and talk to them about it to gear it for your use or hire someone that can do it and you'll change your tune real quick.

STR

 

[Nathan S]

Nope.

For that kind of money not a single one should be permitted to slip through.

I think that's unrealistic. So far as I know, there is no manufacturer on this planet who has never shipped a less that totally perfect product. With regard specifically to to knives, even the Chris Reeve people, justifiably known for their great QC and customer service, occasionally let a lemon through. Doesn't happen much, but it happens.

 

[Martin Swinkels]

@ STR

I agree, they are great. And some tinkering on the edge makes them even better. That´s why I have 3 (all full flat grinds). Even though the PT´s lock is slipping a bit, I feel perfectly safe using it.
But I´ve seen a lot of them with the minor issues discribed here. Those issues don´t seem to appear with Benchmades, for example.
I´m a big Emerson fan too, and their pivots loosen up too. No big deal.

But I guess it is fair that for that kind of money people expect a flawless product first, instead of flawless customer service.

 

[Martin Swinkels]

I think that's unrealistic. So far as I know, there is no manufacturer on this planet who has never shipped a less that totally perfect product. With regard specifically to to knives, even the Chris Reeve people, justifiably known for their great QC and customer service, occasionally let a lemon through. Doesn't happen much, but it happens.

Sure it can happen.
Even Sebenza´s fail every once in while.

But I take it for a fact that there are more issues with production Striders then with many other production folder manufacturers. a lot of that has to do with the fact that expectations are very high.

 

[OilMan]

Here's something I posted over at the JD as I currently have a modified AR on passaround there and thought it might fit here too. The AR was dropped directly on the tip and had some damage and some dings too. Ask the guys there who had it how well it cuts, it's a monster.:thumbup:

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Doh. There was some edge damage that Mark (10x) contacted me about so I've got the AR today. I figured I'd take a whack at fixing it before I sent it to the Striderguys for just a little damage. It was dropped on it's tip which blunted it oddly and had some weird deformations a little further back on the blade.

Tape up the AR blade nice and pretty so I don't scratch it up on the Edgepro platform. Blue markered it at this point too so I could match my angle and do the whole edge. The AR is a great knife to sharpen on an Edgepro because of the fairly short, fairly straight edge.

Edgepro all slopped up and ready from the Outcast I had just reprofiled.

Finished product. It's somewhere below 30 degrees total (Had the Edgepro on the 15 degree mark but laid the AR down on it's flat so the angle is a bit steeper than the 15.) done on the Edgepro with just the 120 grit water-stone and then micro-beveled with the ultra fine ceramic stone on the Sharpmaker at the 30 degree setting. Zips through cardboard and stuff lickety split again. You can still tell the tip was a touch funky if you look real close but I didn't want to take any more metal off than I had too. It's sharp all the way up though.

So... I'll get it back in the mail Monday. Thanks to Mark for letting me know immediately when the damage occurred.

thanks,

g

 

[Dr Heelhook]

You should check out the ZT 300 series from Kershaw, they're codesigned by Strider .

 

[vjb.knife]

They are great if you want to be a mall ninja.

Rather than making meaningless criticisms maybe you could present some reasoning for not liking them or your alternative choice that you feel is better.


I use a Large Sebenza as an EDC knife, but when I go camping, hunting or wilderness survival outings a couple of times a month I bring a Strider SMF. I have a lot of knives and I don't have anything else that is this tough. In fact I don't think there is anything out there that is any tougher in that price range. A little higher price would be a Hinderer or a Lightfoot but they aren't any heavier duty.

Mine is the drop point / spearpoint S30V blade and I have not had any issues with it at all. It holds an edge through rigorous use, has no problems with parts loosening and is not too thick to perform most tasks.

 

[TheFlash]

I have a PT folder that has served me very well. Definitely have NOT babied that knife at all. It cuts like a much larger knife and only needs a slight touch-up on the edge ever so often.
I also have a few of the Buck-Strider collaboration knives and while not on par with the 'real' Strider folders, they do perform quite well.

I just want to know when Strider will make more PT folders with the pocket clip rather than just the CC model...

Regards,
Mike

 

[John T Wylie Jr]

I think that's unrealistic. So far as I know, there is no manufacturer on this planet who has never shipped a less that totally perfect product. With regard specifically to to knives, even the Chris Reeve people, justifiably known for their great QC and customer service, occasionally let a lemon through. Doesn't happen much, but it happens.

exactly. QC issues happen , things get thru the cracks.

What is BM's return for repair % ? Spyrderco ? Buck ?

No man made item can be purfect , to expect it to be , is totally unrealistic.

Funny to see people hold a $450 knife to a higher quality standard than a $25,000 automobile or a $10,000 motorcycle ( that only comes with a 1 year warranty...but that's a whole different post.)

as far as the pivot coming loose , aint no way to please all , make it too tight people complain , make it to loose , people complain. Find the setting you like and lock tite it in place ( or super glue , clear nail polish , etc ). What is the right setting varies from person to person it seems.

Lifetime warranty on knives , aint that something ? Wish the darn car makers , motorcycle makers , pc makers and others would step up with the same warranty. Similar to the warranty Dillon offers :thumbup: (those that reload their ammo know what I am talking about ).

 

[cutter17]

I wouldn't hesitate to use one hard. I have had Sng's , SMF's , AR's and PT. Havent had an RC or RCC yet. I still have and use an AR , and a PT CC that is my favorite small framelock.
Very well made , strong as you can ever need , and back by a warranty in case you ever do break it.


some stuff doesn't even deserve a comment BUT thanks for giving the poster some information he can use.

Got an AR that I've had for around 3 years now and I love it. It isn't all that hard to carry in your pocket and since I outfitted it with a deep carry clip, none of the knife shows, only the clip on the outside of my pocket. That way when I go to the mall, none of the other ninja's can recognize me, and I can sneak up on them before they know it and "take care of business!"

Strider knives are like any other knife that has a large fan base. There are those who love them, and there are those who don't. I don't know why people want to stir the sh*t all the time and keep something going. If you do not like a knife then stay out of the thread where it is being discussed. Though I do not know, I would hazard to guess that most of the people who are slamming different knives, e.g. Striders, Sebenza's, etc., have NEVER EVEN HELD ONE, much less carried one to see what it's attributes are:jerkit:. Large, heavy built folders just happen to be what I like and the Strider AR I have fits the bill for it. So what if it cost me $400, it is no ones concern except for me as the money is coming out of my pocket, and not their's!

Get a Strider, and if you don't like it, you should have no problem selling it as Strider seems to be selling everything they send out with people begging for more.:thumbup:

 

[MORIMOTOM]

on knives like striders, i prefer the obtuse factory edge.

if one wants to reprofile, it is relatively simple. you can easily remove metal to thin the edge, but i havent found a way to add metal to make it thicker.

 

[Broos]

Comments and experiences please!

SnG & SMF have some of the best folder ergonomics out there - very comfy, and they can be a big folder or a little folder depending on how you grip it. I'd like to try the PT.

 

[jim preston]

I would think a bit of threadlocker

Besides locktite, racism, personal attacks, off-topic comments, incredibly violent and offending posts, insulting a moderator, and porn are very good at locking threads.
Speaking of such, what is the proper way for locktiting screws into a knife? Spread it on the screws, dump it in, put the screws in halfway and pour it in?
I seem to recall there being a Buck copy of a Strider that I liked but didn't have money for at the time. It did have good ergos.

 

[Justabuyer]

if one wants to reprofile, it is relatively simple. you can easily remove metal to thin the edge, but i havent found a way to add metal to make it thicker.

Actually this is not true. It is easier to make a thin edge thicker (just sharpen at a more obtuse angle) less metal to remove. Can be done fast because you are only working the very edge. No need to add metal just re-sharpen for a thicker edge.

On the other hand if the blade comes with a overly thick edge you need to do a re-profile job. IMHO that takes more work and skill.


Here is the thing though. Strider edges are not all that thick compared to many other knives. Seriously! They look thick. Just Like Sebenzas LOOK thin. Don't trust your eyes measure right behind the edge and do some comparing. You will be surprised.

 

[gajinoz]

Here is the thing though. Strider edges are not all that thick compared to many other knives. Seriously! They look thick. Just Like Sebenzas LOOK think. Don't trust your eyes measure right behind the edge and do some comparing. You will be surprised.

Possibly you're right, I'll go and measure them later out of curiosity, I think the SNG looks thicker than the Sebbie because the spine of the blade on the SNG is square whereas it's rounded on the Sebbie. Creates a bit of an optical illusion.

Having said that though, it's not just the thickness of the blade that you need to take into account though for some tasks, like peeling fruit for example. You also need to consider the width, spine to edge, of the blade. The Sebbie has a narrower blade which, for me, makes it a somewhat more generally useful blade.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

hmmm....

reprofiling an obtuse edge requires removal of metal, sure, but at the shoulders of the edge. you can leave the blade the same width. it takes some elbow grease, but on an edge pro, it is quite simple, though time consuming. very little skill required.

reprofiling an acute edge to a more obtuse angle would require narrowing of the overall width of the blade, no?

 

[Justabuyer]

hmmm....

reprofiling an obtuse edge requires removal of metal, sure, but at the shoulders of the edge. you can leave the blade the same width. it takes some elbow grease, but on an edge pro, it is quite simple, though time consuming. very little skill required.

reprofiling an acute edge to a more obtuse angle would require narrowing of the overall width of the blade, no?

Sure a trivial amount. You are removing much less metal. Just from the edge. Where with a edge reprofile you are removing metal from the whole edge bevel and cutting into the primary bevel.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

Sure a trivial amount. You are removing much less metal. Just from the edge. Where with a edge reprofile you are removing metal from the ENTER edge bevel and cutting into the primary bevel.

unless you create a third bevel, you're going to cut in to the primary bevel with any sharpening.