I'm ready to spend $400 to $500 on a knife that's worth it - ideas?

Reeek

Reeek

Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
5,911
I'll be up front and say I never thought I'd say it but I have a Strider itch. I'd love to get a Strider SMF CC stonewashed or a GG stonewashed if they are available. As long as I've been into knives, it's this price point where I'm not very knowledgable and certainly not experienced so I'm asking for counsel from whomever has some wisdom to offer.

I almost just hit "buy" on one of a couple of nice SMF's last night that show in stock at some good dealers but before I did I thought about the QC issues that I've heard about with Strider. I've heard that SMF's tend to have better F&F and overall QC OOTB than SNG's for some reason but I can't confirm this is true of course. I also carry larger knives well because I'm pretty big so I'm not ebven sure I want an SNG over an SMF anyway.

So my primary reluctance in just buying a brand new SMF CC right now is my fear that I would get one that has some issue I can't deal with as the buyer and then not really getting said issue resolved to my satisfaction by sending it back. This is afterall, a $550 knife.

What are your thoughts on this buying new since I can? It almost sounds safer to buy a good used one from a reputable seller sometimes when it comes to a centered blade, smooth action and solid lockup.

I've also considered a Large Sebenza but I'm not sure it's meaty and macho enough for me right now :D. I'd love to have one but not sure if it should be my first high end purchase. Thoughts?

What else is out there in the $350 to $550 price range I should look at?

I'm looking for a heavy duty, apt knife for this purchase.

Thanks for your input.

Rick
 
Last edited:
How about an Andrew Demko custom with a tri-ad lock? If you dont want to wait then shop around for a Rick Hinderer XM18. You will have to wait a few months if you order a Demko but it is my understanding that it is well worth the wait. Good Luck. Kevin
 
I like the Tim Galyean Pro Series, but to be honest, I'm not sure how the warranty works if you needed to use it. They are built very well, and super tuff, with great materials. But, where they are made in batches, not sure how would do if you needed to repair something.

I also would recommend the Chris Reeve Umnumzaan, the Lionsteel SR-1. They are both close to $400 depending where you look.
 
I think if you did go the Strider direction, I'd recommend getting the SMF over the SnG. Especially if you like bigger knives. The SnG is a medium sized knife but the short cutting edge makes it feel even smaller. You should also get one off the secondary market, that way you don't take a price depreciation hit and the seller should already know if there are some QC problems. Don't be surprised if you have to send it in for a larger stop pin. It seems to be the most common issue.

After I had the larger stop pin put in mine I loved it. I've never held a knife that has the same lockup and feel of a Strider. They are very beefy but surprisingly lightweight.

Edit: I've also owned an XM-18 in the past. The F&F and machining on them is incredible but I just didn't like it as much as my Strider. The XM-18 feels much heavier and bulky in the pocket, and the weak detent was pretty disappointing.
 
Last edited:
I thought about those. How do I reach Andrew?

kda89508 said:
How about an Andrew Demko custom with a tri-ad lock? If you dont want to wait then shop around for a Rick Hinderer XM18. You will have to wait a few months if you order a Demko but it is my understanding that it is well worth the wait. Good Luck. Kevin
Click to expand...
 
Thanks - these are the things I have been pondering.

tjsulli790 said:
I think if you did go the Strider direction, I'd recommend getting the SMF over the SnG. Especially if you like bigger knives. The SnG is a medium sized knife but the short cutting edge makes it feel even smaller. You should also get one off the secondary market, that way you don't take a price depreciation hit and the seller should already know if there are some QC problems. Don't be surprised if you have to send it in for a larger stop pin. It seems to be the most common issue.

After I had the larger stop pin put in mine I loved it. I've never held a knife that has the same lockup and feel of a Strider. They are very beefy but surprisingly lightweight.
Click to expand...
 
The SR-1 is on my list too. I'll look into the Tim Gaylean knives. I am aware of them. NEver thought about the Umnumzaan but will look at it closer.

motts said:
I like the Tim Galyean Pro Series, but to be honest, I'm not sure how the warranty works if you needed to use it. They are built very well, and super tuff, with great materials. But, where they are made in batches, not sure how would do if you needed to repair something.

I also would recommend the Chris Reeve Umnumzaan, the Lionsteel SR-1. They are both close to $400 depending where you look.
Click to expand...
 
I think that I would probably go with an umnumzaan or a damascus seb. I had the umnumzaan for a while until I lost it and it is my favorite production knife. I just picked up the sebenza in ladder damascus and am really impressed with it and now im getting a craving for a mnandi in damascus :P anyways, I used to have a smf cc and an sng dgg, and quite enjoyed them, but gave them away to close friends. But all in all, I think I really enjoy and like the crk's alot more then the striders ive held/owned
 
I have a SMF CC in stonewash. Its a cutter not a slicer,very HD and just

a little on the heavy side. IMO its about $125-150 over priced.

I think the seb(CRK) is a great knife for the $$. Id try to buy a good used 1

before I would pay full retail. Of the 4 have 2 are used and Nothing is

wrong with them except they're used.

RJ Martin is a custom knife maker and one of the Very Best IMO. Check out

the JD forum for a good used 1 in your $ range. Go to his website too.

True North Knives is a great place to see customs and production in your

price range.
 
Take a look at the Umnumzaan, a little more 'manly' than a large Sebenza and a little beefier too. If it doesn't need to be a folder check out a Busse skinny ASH, just got one of them and am LOVING it! If it must be a folder look at the ZT300 series and save a few bucks, or an XM-18, if you must spend it all.
Good luck and be sure to post what you end up with :).
 
My thoughts are if you really care about centering and such, you probably arent really going to use the knife hard. Unsightly dings and scratches will probably be something you won't be doing to your 400-500 dollar knife.

If you truly are going to use this knife hard, maybe a strider will work, but from your post, i think a sebenza would work just fine for you. Sure you cant pry with it but it is a pretty thick blade and is made from the same steel as a strider anyhow.

Striders often don't have the best fit and finish and often have some irritating problems with blade play and such. They look tactical and tough though, so if thats what you really want you may be very happy with one. I looked at them for a while, but they just arent a company I would want to do business with. YMMV
 
I highly recommend the the Strider. I am a SMF guy. The SnG is popular but a bit small for me. I put a 20 degree on my last SMF CC.... It was a slicer.
Here is the kicker...I sold my SMF CC to fund a DDC SnG only to realize the SnG was too small. Now I just ordered another SMF Digicamo GG.. Oh well. I never lose much $$$ with a Strider. They hold their value. Now I could buy anything for around $900.00 and still chose to save some $$ and order a production Strider. I personally think the GG on a SMF looks as custom as anything. I think they are worth the money.

Strideredge-1.jpg
 
Last edited:
I recently purchased a SMF GG with digi blade - and I bought it new.

Most reputable online distributors have a fair return policy, so make sure you fully understand it before clicking the "add to shopping cart" cutton.

I did a full inspection of mine upon receipt - and everything checked out ok.

I think the SMF is definately the way to go if you are into larger knives. I owned a new SnG about 1 year ago, and sold it because it was a little too small.

As others have said - out of the box the Strider SMF is not a phenomenal slicer / cutter - but many have reprofiled the edge and turned them into one. Mine is stock, and does just fine for my purposes.

If you're not 100% sold on the Strider - others that have posted here have offered great alternatives. XM-18, Galyean Pro Series, CRK Umnumzaan - really good knives. The only one I have not owned out of the entire mix is a Galyean.
 
motts said:
I like the Tim Galyean Pro Series, but to be honest, I'm not sure how the warranty works if you needed to use it. They are built very well, and super tuff, with great materials. But, where they are made in batches, not sure how would do if you needed to repair something.
Click to expand...

I bought a large Lahar back in November and it was very rough to open, couldn't even get it to flip at all and it sounded gritty. So, I sent it back to Tim and he said he'd take care of it. I Haven't got it back yet. But, I don't think there would be a problem with him being able to repair a knife he'd made.
 
Have you thought about the Chris Reeve Startac?
I just looked at a lengthy review in one of the knife magazines last night, and have since pored over it at the Wilson Tactical site, and it looks pretty amazing to me. I am sure fit/finish is what you'd expect for a CRK.

I've been staring at Strider SNGs for a little while, and the quality control and customer service issues keep nagging at me.
 
jill jackson said:
I bought a large Lahar back in November and it was very rough to open, couldn't even get it to flip at all and it sounded gritty. So, I sent it back to Tim and he said he'd take care of it. I Haven't got it back yet. But, I don't think there would be a problem with him being able to repair a knife he'd made.
Click to expand...

Well that's great to know that at least he can and will repair them if there is an issue. I'm sure it's gonna take longer too with all the holidays. Thanks for the headups.
 
I have an umnum and three striders. I love my umnum, but something about the striders are more appealing to me. My umnum id say is a better cutter/stabber, but i do baby it a little. I don't do things to my umnum that i would do to my edc sng. My sng is a workhorse. Any situation that needs a knifes attention, can be accomplished and more with my strider. It isn't the best cutter out of the box, and i haven't reprofiled him. I am honestly not a great sharpener, and i didn't want to mess up the edge on it. It comes with a decent utility edge imo. I am going to invest in the Wicked Edge sharpening system, and probably reprofile my striders.

On another note, i have all three sizes. I first got a custom smf, then a pt, then a lego sng. I dont use my smf cause its custom. I would if i needed to for some reason, i just dont edc it. I know it could take it though... its beefy.

I edc both my sng and my pt. The pt is a great little knife, if you dont want to carry a real powerhouse, while still having an excellent knife for task. I would still probably do some prying with my pt, just nothing too serious. Id probably open a door or something with it for example. My sng is really what i edc more than any other knife. I love it, but after having it for some time now, i have been wanting an SMF that i can abuse without having to worry about it.

With all three of my striders i have had no QC issues. There is a break in period of about a week on all three, but after that it was gravy. The break in period is relative to each person i think. I probably opened and closed mine 200x a day.... literally, when i first got em. So expect it to take some time. After you break one in, it will loosen the blade up a little, and at that point you can either let it be, or tighten it up a little. If you tighten it up a little it will make the opening and closing action a little more forceful or purposeful, and if you let it be its extremely easy to flick it open a number of ways. You cant just fling it open, you have to pop it out of the ball detent, but yeah, after it out of the detent, you can fling it open.

I did deal with their customer service when i sent my pt in. It was a little difficult to figure out a way to contact strider, but after i did, everything went fine. They are a small shop though so it was there for a couple weeks before i got it back.

I definitely think going with a stonewashed smf with any handle is a great choice. You wont regret it. If you have any other questions about striders feel free to ask. I could just about write a book on em.

Also, i think the smf is a better bang for your buck than the sng. The sng is phenomenal don't get me wrong, but the smf is just like bam. I can see how some people question if an sng is worth it or not, but not an smf. An smf is like so overbuilt and bulky, you will never destroy it. I have heard of people breaking the blade on an sng, but i have yet to hear of someone breaking a smf.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top