Is strider fit and finsh on par with a sebenza

I got the gist of Tirod3's comment. It was a stream-of-consciousness thing.

(I find that beer makes a good internal lubricant for the consciousness. Other things, too.)
 
I understood what Tirod3 was getting at. I know Sebs are pretty much considered better in F&F, but if I went by my experience(fairly limited, mind you) and hadn't bothered to read what everyone else stated, I would state the opposite. I've only had two Sebs, but both came with flaws. The first had a blade that was nearly touching the ti slab and also had a very slight amount of blade play that was due to the pivot bushing being a bit too thick. The second one came with a slightly bent clip. Both had imperfect hollow grinds. My Striders(PT, two SnGs and a RCC with tanto tip) all came spot on. Perfect, equal grinds, centered blades and everything being where and how it was supposed to be. No, none of the flaws were deal-breakers, but they were there and real.
 
cockroachfarm said:
...or you could ask yet another original question like "What are you carrying today?"...or..."What do you recommend for less than $150.?"...or...;) ;) ;)
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What I want to know is, if zombies are attacking and you're stuck on a deserted island, and you could only have ONE folder, what would it be?
 
DaveH got it.

My original reply to the "Sebenza Gold Standard" concerning fit and finish was a bit less accomodating - I think it's arrogant and elitist to suggest another maker has to have that as a priority just because of the price - and even more so to demonize buyers who prefer other issues in the design mix. Chris Reeve makes a nice knife, but, really, are we now requiring others to slavishly copy his, or is this just zombie herd thinking?


One man's fit and finnish may not be another's when all the puuko's are on the table.
 
Backwoods_VT said:
Ive heard a few things about strider, some say they are user knives and not show pieces. I was interested in getting an smf with tiger stripes. so i called tnk and spoke with a salesman who asured me the fit and finish are perfect. So im expecting sebenza perfect. Anyone own a strider and can comment on fit and finish. Thanks
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Hi

The salesman you spoke to was me- I also take out the garbage, make lunch and vacuum the rugs.

You may have misunderstood me- for those of you who have known me all these years, I NEVER use the word PERFECT- not to describe Strider, Chris Reeve nor any other custom knife.

What I said about Strider went something like this (I am pretty sure, anyway).

As an authorized Strider dealer, all the knives that I offer are new. I get all the knives directly from Strider, as I do from Chris Reeve and all the custom makers who I represent.

I don't swap, trade, take in knives on consignment- so everything I sell is new and you would be the first owner of this knife.

Many Strider's are acquired second hand or from forums, eBay or from non authorized Strider dealers. So, the history cannot be tracked.

In this case, the attraction is a much lower price, which is great, but the knife was probably used. This is fine, as Strider knives are made for use and get beat up quite a bit. Again fine.

You can send the knife to Strider and they will refurbish it for you- Chris Reeve will do the same. Whether or not they charge a fee for this is their business, not mine.

So, to clear up what I said- I never said perfect as that word is not in my "business" vocabulary- what I did say is that any Strider knife that you buy from me is a new one and that it was checked before it left the shop and again by me when I received it and again by me before I ship it out- so, if there would be any issues with the knife, that it would not leave here like that.

Strider Knives, like Chris Reeve Knives, are assembled one by one by human beings. Shit happens and everybody makes mistakes.

If you buy any knife from a company directly or from a dealer, then you have the right to inspect it and if you are not happy then you send it back and you get your money back- and no restocking fee- this is how I work.

If the knife is determined to have been defective, then you get your shipping costs back.

If you just don't like it, for any reason, then the shipping is on you as that is the cost to pay to inspect/fondle a knife bought by mail order.

Neil
 
tirod3 said:
I think it's arrogant and elitist to suggest another maker has to have that as a priority just because of the price - and even more so to demonize buyers who prefer other issues in the design mix. Chris Reeve makes a nice knife, but, really, are we now requiring others to slavishly copy his, or is this just zombie herd thinking?
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Arrogant? Elitist? Me? :D

Actually, this is a very perceptive and important factor to keep in mind when comparing knives. You have to compare them to your needs, not to each other.

What difference does it make that Chris Reeve has graphics engraved and Strider has tiger stripes? You buy what you like, regardless of whether someone else appreciates it. A knife would look pretty silly to have tiger stripes and a Pheasant Tail, too.

A knife is designed with use in mind. If that use is the best for you, most effective, most durable, supported by warrantee, comfortable to hold, then enjoy it, and don't worry about what someone else expects from a knife.
 
tirod3 said:
DaveH got it.

My original reply to the "Sebenza Gold Standard" concerning fit and finish was a bit less accomodating - I think it's arrogant and elitist to suggest another maker has to have that as a priority just because of the price - and even more so to demonize buyers who prefer other issues in the design mix. Chris Reeve makes a nice knife, but, really, are we now requiring others to slavishly copy his, or is this just zombie herd thinking?


One man's fit and finnish may not be another's when all the puuko's are on the table.
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Very witty last line.

The original poster's question was "Is the Strider F/F up to what one would call Sebenza perfect?"(paraphrasing for clarity)

It is a simple and straightforward question, and a reasonable one. Your comment about "arrogant and elitist" is REALLY not necessary and there is no demonizing going on when it comes to preference.

Chris Reeve designed the Sebenza, and has a team of professionals that make his knives. They are very, very good knives, not just "nice".

The question ain't about you, Mr. rod, try not to make it personal.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
"Is the Strider F/F up to what one would call Sebenza perfect?"

Paraphased or not, that has long been the drift in all the innumerable threads that start out "Strider or Sebenza?", not that this originator meant to bring it out. Some of the replies did, and I am answering them in general - the consensus has been CRK makes precision fit and finish a high standard. I believe Strider makes functional use a high standard - which is entirely different - as I have posted here and previously. It's a moot point - they are two different knives by different makers for different customers.

A lot of folks ask "which?" and I for one keep asking "what do you plan on doing with it?" to help sort that out - nothing personal at all except for the times we all wish we hadn't bought a particular knife. Spending $400 in the process should get a lot more consideration by the buyer than "which one has better fit and finish?", because that's not the best way to choose. As related in another post, there is no guarantee the fit and finish will come up to the buyers standard - whatever that is.

Personally, I'll take good steel, a useful blade type, and intelligent engineering over a perfect fit and finish, because fit and finish do nothing to help cut. Gold plated shovels are nice for ground breaking, but they don't get the job done any better shoveling cement for the sidewalk on the last day of construction. They will look the worse for wear.
 
It is important to fully understand what "fit and finish" really mean. My version is more mechanical than aesthetic. It is possible to have a regular shovel with higher fit and finish than a poorly plated and handled gold bladed shovel, to borrow the analogy last used.

My idea is that does the knife fit together as the designer intended and operate as intended. Is the finish consistant with what the maker would approve on their version of an excellent example of that model? To me that is fit and finish. I recently inspected an obviously very expensive damascus bladed knife with engraved bolsters. It could have been gorgeous, but sadly there were gaps and misfit parts that should have embarassed the maker. My friend who owns it is very happy with it however. If a William Henry looked like that and cost $1000 it would have been easily ecclipsed by a $50 Delica for fit and finish using my definition.

Whether or not you like how a Strider looks, or a Sebenza, or whatever you want to include, mine was exceptionally well made, the machine work was flawless (to me), the blade centered, and operated as well as any folding knife I have. The blade finish, the titanium, and G-10 were as flawless as well, it looked like a SMF should look. I give it an A. My Sebenza is similar, not pretty, but the fit and the intended finish were as CRK would approve. I'd give it a slightly higher grade, perhaps an A+.

So to finally answer the question, the fit and finish from my examples are good enough to say, "yes pretty much, the Seb is just slightly higher." As always, I hope that helped.
 
flipe8 said:
I understood what Tirod3 was getting at. I know Sebs are pretty much considered better in F&F, but if I went by my experience(fairly limited, mind you) and hadn't bothered to read what everyone else stated, I would state the opposite. I've only had two Sebs, but both came with flaws. The first had a blade that was nearly touching the ti slab and also had a very slight amount of blade play that was due to the pivot bushing being a bit too thick. The second one came with a slightly bent clip. Both had imperfect hollow grinds. My Striders(PT, two SnGs and a RCC with tanto tip) all came spot on. Perfect, equal grinds, centered blades and everything being where and how it was supposed to be. No, none of the flaws were deal-breakers, but they were there and real.
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perfect striders and defective sebenzas oh my lol.
 
SIFU1A said:
perfect striders and defective sebenzas oh my lol.
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Funny, but in this case, still true;) . I should have stated that the minor issues weren't of any real concern to me, just that pretty much anything has flaws if we choose to scrutinize closely enough. And in my small, limited experience, it was easier to find the flaws in the Sebs.
The Seb is what I carry, though, while the Striders have new homes.
 
the way some folks talk a perfect strider and a defective seb would be as easy to find as sasquatch lol.

imho no custom knife is perfect, my darrel ralph maxx spear point talonite blade with carbon fibre handles is as close as any i have seen, it really is 99.97% perfect, says something for darrels skills imho.

FWIW i have seen a strider or 2 which was pretty well finished, i have even heard of a defective seb or 2 lol.
 
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