Is the Strider HT worth spending $325 on?

tsiloics said:
Paracord gets gunk in it and gives you blisters when it's warm and you're using the knife a lot.

Tanto blades generally don't work as well for slicing as other profiles do.
Click to expand...

BS thru and thru no offense. i wrap all of my skeleton handle knives and uive used them for days on end in crappy conditions and ive never had a problem.

The tip of the knife being a tanto has no bearing on how wekll it will slice its the tip


If the op like the stirder i say he should go for it. Strider makes adamn fine knife and they are worth every penny same as a reeves or a busse.

the tip may not be optimal for some tings but tantos are the king of prying and i believe the OP wants the knife for more than just wilderness survival.


agoutihead if you like the knife get it, i can assure you from personal experience that the Bos heat treated S30v that the strider boys use is top quality, and as fior design thats a personal thing if you favor a tanto get a tanto your the one thats gonna be using it no one else. tantos penetrate well and they have good lateral strength for prying... worst case scenario you end up not liking it and you resell it.
 
Well the only reason I would reconsider the tanto is because of skinning an animal. (Amd hopefully doing whats needed for fish, but thats be no means a requirment, just a nice addition.)

But I am very much looking for a "combat" knife.

The giant serrations on the Strider HT are a must for any other knife I would consider.

I am getting all of my gear together for a SHTF scenario, and hunting is a major player in how I'm accessing my gear.

I went with a .308 vs. a 5.56 because I want to effectively put down a large animal at a longer & shorter distance.

Now once that animal is dead, I obviously need to tend to it. And skinning is a major player in that aspect

So if the tantos are NO good at skinning, I will get a spear tip.

What is wrong with the metal that Strider uses for the HT? I thought it was one of the most durable types out there?

What other material/maker of knife would be a better/stronger/longer lasting pick over the Strider HT?

I'll be honest, I DONT want to drop $325 on a knife.

But I am WILLING to do so in order to get the highest quality & durability.

I'm not buying it just because its a Strider, I've just heard they make some of the best.

And for that much of a god damn price, it better be.
 
Last edited:
Have you considered using a small knife for skinning and keeping your strider for for other uses? if your going with a bugout bag its rediculous to have only one knife anyways. i have two busses in mine (for general utility) along with a spyderco manix (great wilderness folder) a blindhorse tiger knap(i keep with my medical supplies) and a leatherman wave (multitools are the best knife you can throw into a bob). if you only hav eone knife and it gets dropped or lost or otherwise rendered unuseable your up shit creek anyways. just get a basic buck 110 and itll serve you well for many shtf things and its good and cheap.
 
Asking why a tanto isn't appropriate for skinning tells the experienced hunters among us that a lot of related survival skills may be lacking. So the choice of a Strider HT becomes even more a personal preference that isn't based on reality.

Hunters use drop point or spear point flat ground fixed blades for skinning and dressing animals. It's the preferred all around pattern - but that varies a lot depending in the skill level and experience of the user. A Case Stockman can do just as well - and I've seen many small knives used.

The emphasis on SHTF/survival in assessing a knife's potential falls prey to a very common misconception - that somehow extreme performance or paramilitary activities will be common daily occurrences. That is exactly the behavior you should avoid in those situations: surviving extreme circumstances is primarily an exercise in energy conservation - shelter, heat, and activity, then acquistion of food sources - water, protein, carbohydrates.

Most overland adventurers carried simple carbon steel "kitchen" knives and got the job done, and done well. For the last few hundred years we've gotten by without most of the high tech options, and having them won't replace the knowledge and skills that are more important, and apparently, not evidenced in the question.

My recommendation would be a SnG - anything bigger, you need an axe.
 
The knifes butchers use are, duh, butcher knifes. I don't know where your from, but if possible visit a slaughter house and observe what they use. Skinning-gutting an animal isn't nearly as much fun as it sounds. Kill a rabbit or possum and try turning it into usable meat and you'll get a sense of what you'll need when butchering a larger animal.
 
I don't know about larger animals, but it doesn't take anything special to skin a whitetail. In fact, if done before the animal freezes, most of the skinning process can be done without a knife. I've filed dressed and skined white tails with a 2.5 inch folder, and have seen others use nothing but the main blade on a SAK for filed dressing and skining a whitetail. As for rabbits, a small knife is actually better at the task.
 
tirod3 said:
Asking why a tanto isn't appropriate for skinning tells the experienced hunters among us that a lot of related survival skills may be lacking. So the choice of a Strider HT becomes even more a personal preference that isn't based on reality.

Hunters use drop point or spear point flat ground fixed blades for skinning and dressing animals. It's the preferred all around pattern - but that varies a lot depending in the skill level and experience of the user. A Case Stockman can do just as well - and I've seen many small knives used.

The emphasis on SHTF/survival in assessing a knife's potential falls prey to a very common misconception - that somehow extreme performance or paramilitary activities will be common daily occurrences. That is exactly the behavior you should avoid in those situations: surviving extreme circumstances is primarily an exercise in energy conservation - shelter, heat, and activity, then acquistion of food sources - water, protein, carbohydrates.

Most overland adventurers carried simple carbon steel "kitchen" knives and got the job done, and done well. For the last few hundred years we've gotten by without most of the high tech options, and having them won't replace the knowledge and skills that are more important, and apparently, not evidenced in the question.

My recommendation would be a SnG - anything bigger, you need an axe.
Click to expand...

Ok, fair enough. I love the tanto, but if the spear is more practical of many other purposes... it will puncture and is just as good of a dagger as a tanto is right? :)

So the spear HT is the winner so far...

Now what is wrong with the metal that Strider uses for the HT? I thought it was one of the most durable types out there?

What other material/maker of knife would be a better/stronger/longer lasting pick over the Strider HT?

I'll be honest, I DONT want to drop $325 on a knife.

But I am WILLING to do so in order to get the highest quality & durability.

So are there any other knives out there that look just like the HT, but perhaps for a cheaper price, but still as high quality if not higher?
 
Again - what a knife looks like isn't necessarily what is needed. Having the highest quality and durability won't help if the skills necessary in use are lacking. And having the highest quality and durability isn't necessary - a simple carbon steel knife will do the job.

$325 can go a long way toward a good sleeping bag, cook set, water purification set, etc. Those are far more important toward survival than an expensive knife that actually can't give the owner measurable performance for the extra $300.

Striders material choices are good - and the prices go with it. Lots of experienced users attest to the durability of the knives, but the one thing they would all agree on is that someone new to the rigors of camping, survival, and SHTF scenarios needs training far more than expensive high end gear.
 
hey bro

If you want a tanto get one

you dont have to justify it by disagreeing with guys that know more than you do

makes you look younger than you prolly are

NOW

I like paracord handles...Are they the best? not hardly but if they DO get gunked up, you can easily change them

do I have cord wrapped on my camping bkades?? not a chance...I dont like having blood soaked string near anything else I might have to cut

but thats just me

tanto points are nothing more than a marketing tool...they look badd ass

regular butcher knives/camp knives DONT look badd ass

There is a reason that grandma's kitchen knives looked the way they did with the extra belly and forward curve

BUT...Tanto wrapped blades look bad ass

again simple as that
 
tirod3 said:
Again - what a knife looks like isn't necessarily what is needed. Having the highest quality and durability won't help if the skills necessary in use are lacking. And having the highest quality and durability isn't necessary - a simple carbon steel knife will do the job.

$325 can go a long way toward a good sleeping bag, cook set, water purification set, etc. Those are far more important toward survival than an expensive knife that actually can't give the owner measurable performance for the extra $300.

Striders material choices are good - and the prices go with it. Lots of experienced users attest to the durability of the knives, but the one thing they would all agree on is that someone new to the rigors of camping, survival, and SHTF scenarios needs training far more than expensive high end gear.
Click to expand...

I have good natural skills, skills that can and will be honed even better as time goes on.

I dont want to buy junk, I have money to spend on good top quality tools.

Buy once, cry once.

No offense, but I'm not a knife fanatic like most of you guys are. I'm not going to buy 38 knives. I want one fixed blade and one folder. So if I have to spend more in the begining, so beit.

But I also do not want to spend more than I have to because of a name.

I have a good portion of my camping/survival stuff already.

And this is going to be that "one" knife. So I want to go the extra mile for it.

So is there any other knife out there with the same specs as the HT, yet for a cheaper price?

Sure looks dont mean anything as far as function, but you can not tell me you dont buy certain knives because of looks.

I like the overall look of the HT, but just want a less expensive equal.

I will say the sheath doesnt seem very impressive on the HT which is quite surprising. I've seen much better bladetech sheaths offered on other kinves.
 
Get a Kabar/Becker Companion and save yourself some $ while getting an excellent knife. I know soldiers using Beckers and love them so they definitely will hold up to anything you do with it while camping/hunting.
 
A Strider will never be a good hunting camping knife, sure they are tough as nails and overbuilt, they'll take out an animal or a person if need be.

BUT...it's a horrible utility knife, they are far too thick to skin or cut large items. Try cutting cardboard with even an SnG it's completely ridiculous how hard it is, because the blade is so thick.

They work great for normal utility work, cutting cord, slicing zipties, cutting hose.

I would say they are horrible for skinning and only decent for food prep. I would also NEVER use a para-cord wrapped handle for a skinner if I had a choice. Consider the amount of blood when skinning fresh game, all that will soak up into the paracord and never was out quite right.

As for the tanto tip, yeah it'll punch through sheet metal, it'll pry things you shouldn't even be trying to with an knife, but it's a good 5x harder to get a good edge on the entire length of the blade and keep the tip proper.

About the serrations on the back of the knife, that's what a saw is for those serrations on the HT MIGHT at best be good for grinding down a small branch of about 3/8" but are pretty much useless otherwise. A saw is cheap and light, and it'll actually do the job it's suppose to.

There is no be all end all knife. You will need multiple items even multiple knives to satisfy a SHTF/kill everyone pack or yet alone a simple camp pack.
 
Is the fact that it's stainless necessary for you? Just a guess but I'd venture that there would be a number of very tough carbon steel fixed blades out there for much less than the strider.
 
65535 said:
A Strider will never be a good hunting camping knife, sure they are tough as nails and overbuilt, they'll take out an animal or a person if need be.
Click to expand...

Thats what really draws me to it and this is really the main focus of this knife.

BUT...it's a horrible utility knife, they are far too thick to skin or cut large items. Try cutting cardboard with even an SnG it's completely ridiculous how hard it is, because the blade is so thick.
Click to expand...

Yeah this isnt the thought of use I had for the HT.

I would say they are horrible for skinning and only decent for food prep. I would also NEVER use a para-cord wrapped handle for a skinner if I had a choice. Consider the amount of blood when skinning fresh game, all that will soak up into the paracord and never was out quite right.
Click to expand...

I'm not going to disagree its not the most ideal tool to skin an animal, but I just wanted a versitale knife. My main intention for this is not to hunt with.

Perhaps I am going to have to get a couple of other cheaper knives to skin/hunt with.

But how can the ka-bar be so much better for hunting or whatever compared to the HT? Because of the thickness?



As for the tanto tip, yeah it'll punch through sheet metal, it'll pry things you shouldn't even be trying to with an knife, but it's a good 5x harder to get a good edge on the entire length of the blade and keep the tip proper.
Click to expand...

So does that mean the edge on the HT will last a very long time?

About the serrations on the back of the knife, that's what a saw is for those serrations on the HT MIGHT at best be good for grinding down a small branch of about 3/8" but are pretty much useless otherwise. A saw is cheap and light, and it'll actually do the job it's suppose to.
Click to expand...

I'm not interested in the HT for sawing branches. I'll have a small hatchet or saw.

There is no be all end all knife. You will need multiple items even multiple knives to satisfy a SHTF/kill everyone pack or yet alone a simple camp pack.[/QUOTE]
 
davide said:
Is the fact that it's stainless necessary for you? Just a guess but I'd venture that there would be a number of very tough carbon steel fixed blades out there for much less than the strider.
Click to expand...

Honestly, I wasnt even aware that it was stainless, but I really like that.

I'm open to other knives as long as they have large serrations on the top spin, allow me to put paracord, tanto blade and be as durable as the HT and rougly abou the same size - 3 3/4 blade, 8.5" overall. I'm not stuck on the HT, but I am its got everything I'm looking for, but would just like the price tag to be a little lower.
 
I have a headache...

Either buy what you want and you have your heart set on or take a few hours and read up on what is important in a knife. Then use that knowledge to choose or listen to the people that have the knowledge and have already made recommendations.

Head over to the wilderness and survival subforum and read up. In a survival situation you aren't going to be cutting into tanks and jumping out of trees onto an enemy to covertly deanimate them. You need a knife that works not a 'sharpened prybar.'

Why are you even asking advise if you are just going to argue with what anyone has to say?
 
op-you have not done your homework reguarding steel material, blade design, handle material, real everyday use of knives, etc... .

i suggest you buy a basic membership here at bf ($10). do the search and gather the information needed to make good decisions. you've been on bf for 2 years already, and your not taking any of the sound advice given in this thread.

also, if you can't stomach the $325 pricetag of the strider, you can forget about other striders, busse, or custom high quality blades by custom makers.

i wish you luck on your search for your grail knife.

to answer your question of is it worth the $325? only you can decide the value/performance. to me, yes (then again, i'll drop $800+ like the busse custom shop in my sig.:D)
 
Last edited:
FlaMtnBkr said:
I have a headache...

Either buy what you want and you have your heart set on or take a few hours and read up on what is important in a knife. Then use that knowledge to choose or listen to the people that have the knowledge and have already made recommendations.

Head over to the wilderness and survival subforum and read up. In a survival situation you aren't going to be cutting into tanks and jumping out of trees onto an enemy to covertly deanimate them. You need a knife that works not a 'sharpened prybar.'

Why are you even asking advise if you are just going to argue with what anyone has to say?
Click to expand...

Why do you have a problem with me liking what I like?

Just because I dont plan on carrying it around every day like you do yours, doesnt make this a un-useful knife.

How is the HT "not a knife that works"? Thats kind of a stupid comment.

I dont see this knife NOT being able to do anything that a kabar or any other similar blade can do.

Is this a multitool? No. Is this good for skinning an animal? apparently not. But I can promise you I can do just about everything else I would need with this knife.

This isnt my first time for anything. I've been camping for the last 20 years. I think I know a thing or two and have the required skills in order to survive.

I just think you have a vendetta against tanto blades.

Just because I've never skinned an animal doesnt make me stupid, just ignorant. And theres quite a difference. Go look it up if youre unsure.

Is the HT a chunck of steel rated for heavy puncture? Yep, and thats what I want.

Does it have a sharp blade to cut or shave through other things? Yep. I guess I'm good. (remember, I'm not buying this knife to cut through cardboard.)

thanks for the help guys.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top