i want strider opinions!!!

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dropkickkid

Joined
Dec 2, 2005
Messages
27
I am considering purchasing my first, what i consider, high-end folder. I am considering making it a strider ar (or other strider) but i want some opinions, especially frrom those who own or have owned. pros and cons . i am especially looking for the negitive points since i have already found so many things i like.
 
I love Striders and CRKs and any number of custom makers. If you want a Strider by ALL means buy one and don't look back they make fine sturdy knives with a very cool look.

I think you should start with a SMF. I feel that this is the perfect EDC folder!
Just the right Size, carries nice and does everything a knife should do.

I own at least one of every Strider Folder and if I could only keep one...

SMF hands down.
 
What sort of negative could you be looking for? Haven't heard of any reports of their locks failing nor have their blades been any less strong than any other knife made from the same steels.

Okay,

The Digicamo can be distracting and only the AR and GB have reversible pocket clips. The Hinderer Lockbar Stabilizer can look like a shell casing is stuck in your knife, but if you don't reload ammo, the temptation to remove the stabilizer in search of a .40 S&W shell is nil.
 
Strider makes awesome folders. The designs are uniquely attractive, and the execution makes for a very rugged and useful knife. The fit and finish can be hit or miss though. I'd buy from someone you trust, and have them check the knife carefully for you.
 
Strider's are very good knives for hard use. The only con might be they look out of place in a typical office work setting. They have very martial looks which appeals to the primal mind that lurks in the brains of all right thinking humans. They may scare the sheeple who think SAK when they hear "knife".

I use an SnG as my EDC as I found the SMF a tad too big. The AR and GB are beasts compared even to the SMF. For a fantastic pseudo-Strider, you might want to consider Kershaw's Zero Tolerance. Very, very nice. The ZT300 series may be as close to an automatic Strider as we'll ever see. Their fit and finish is top notch as well.
 
I like my Striders. I have had em all and I found the SnG to be the right size for carry and general use.
 
dropkickkid said:
I am considering purchasing my first, what i consider, high-end folder. I am considering making it a strider ar (or other strider) but i want some opinions, especially frrom those who own or have owned. pros and cons . i am especially looking for the negitive points since i have already found so many things i like.
Click to expand...

The best Strider for me - ZT300. And as I understand Strider and CR are not custom but semi-production. Strider has some custom knives but they twice or more expencive then regular Striders. Anyway even regular is too expensive IMHO.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Not fancy, but no other folder can claim the pivot being as large as he SMF's or the frame lock being as thick. I LOVE my strider SMF and if I didn't have a fixed blade to go to the field with, would take the SMF.

cliff
 
The Strider AR really needs a big hand to hold it comfortably. The SMF on the other hand is as easy to hold as the smaller SnG.

The only real disadvantage I can see with any Strider is the rugged image. Some environments that might accept a Sebenza, for example, would find the Strider intimidating.

I also like the ZT series, and I think the ZT200 is more cost-effective than the ZT300. Both very similar looking knives are much more elegant than the AR or SMF styles.

I wouldn't endanger a job just because of the knife I wanted to carry, but if it's not a matter of that, get what you like.
 
I think the SnG is the best Strider for all around EDC. It's big enough without being huge. I had an SMF, briefly, but found it to be just a tad too big to comfortably carry around.
 
I have a Strider SMF. It is my favorite folder.

It is very tough. The lock is very solid. No play in any direction, and it has the sort of "extra solid" feel that only a few of my folders have (even though most of them don't have any play).

The ergonomics are great. It feels great in-hand, and feels very "locked in". Most comfortable/secure folder, IMO.

The downside is that the thick blade and obtuse final bevel (which can be reprofiled) don't make for great cutting ability. The trade-off is that it is very strong. You may need a better cutter. But I have found that the SMF can cut anything my thinner knives can, just that it requires a draw rather than an effortless push cut. The trade-off, again, is robustness.

I am selling all of my non-Doziers, though, to pay for more Doziers. So I am selling my SMF. It is one of the hardest to let go of, though, if that shows you anything.
 
The only Strider I have is the AR and I have found it to be a great and very heavy-duty folder. I even edc it at times although it is fairly thick due to the heavy build. I have also read about the hit and miss fit/finish of the Striders but have to say that the one I got was at the top. It has been an excellent folder and I'm sure it will last me a lifetime.
 
As Quiet Storm pointed out, a seach will provide you with plenty of opinions, both positive and negative, about Strider knives. I've come to the conclusion that you either like them or you don't. I own both production knives and custom knives that offer both better performance (for my purposes, not necessarily yours) and better dollar value than my SnG. But the SnG offers more of something else -- call it confidence -- than any other knife I own.
 
I have a bunch and like them all. Some customs, some regulars, a couple fixed blades. The AR is a big knife, but after a while it will seem normal and everything else will seem small. It is not the knife of choice for slacks in an office environment I would imagine. There, a PT would probably be more fitting.

I'm a Firefighter and carry a TAD AR everyday in my uniform pocket. 2 other coworkers carry regular AR's. We don't have to be warry around sheeple cause they all figure we carry knives. When you've got an ax in your hand folks tend not to notice your knife either. :D

I've used the hell out of some of my Striders. Others are collectors so they get used more gingerly for later resale or trade.

A bit about Strider customer service. Here are my experiences.

Need them resharpened occasionally. I can sharpen a knife, but Mick can REALLY sharpen a knife. Just send it in with postage and they'll do it for free.

I broke off a pocket clip on an SnG. My fault totally. Replaced for free.
I offered to pay for repair and was told "no way bro, it's on us".

I purchased a used SnG that the previous owner had moddified the handle on. He did a crummy job but it was a good deal. I sent it in to get the handle replaced and said charge me whatever, I just wanted it like new. Cost, zero. They took care of me. Always have. Always.

I purchased a used AR that was black coated. The finish was real beat up and looked like S##T. I sent it in and asked for it to be beadblasted. I offered to pay whatever they wanted. Cost, zero. Also, they replaced the screws as well and gave it a razor edge. It ended up looking like new.

I'm sure there are other companies that take equally good care of their customers. CRK comes to mind. There are plenty of people on here that hate Strider knives for whatever reason. That's their right and opinion, and it's not my job to try and change it. I'm just giving you my experiences. Unbiased and true. I am fortunate enough to be able to own and carry pretty much any folding knife I want. I choose Strider and Reeve.

Take care and good luck with your decision.
John...
 
I have an smf, an sng, a custom smf nightmare and am trading for an AR, I would say the SnG would probably be best for your "first" as its a little smaller and sheeple friendly. best overall id say AR or SMF.
 
I'm not the only Strider customer that has seen QC problems with Strider folders. My SMF is an older Gen 1 version, so QC may have evolved to a higher level since then.

Blade-centering on my SMF was poor. The locking action requires properly fitted thumb-studs for accurate blade-centering at lockup, and the diameter of one stud was too small. Function was perfect after repair by Strider - but a high-priced folder shouldn't be shipped in that condition.

Blade bevels were rather obtuse, greater than 40 degrees included for the straight section, closer to 50 degrees included at the tip.

My last two folders were Spyderco Manix and BG42 Military. Both were superior in fit and finish. The total price of both of those folders, shipping included, was less than the cost of the Strider SMF.
 
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