I have dealt with strider customer service 3 times, and each time, they got the job done. Just so often, guys get worried and call every day or don't hear back on a "did my knife arrive", "I want a status update" email and then complain on the Internet. I just mailed them the knife, with a note saying what was wrong, or what I needed done (one time was for an engraving) and they came back just fine, no emails or phone conversations needed.
Some in the knife community need to be coddled. They want the company to go over their 2ND or 3rd hand purchase for them so he can save a few bucks. Then they want to get it refinished for free because they found a scratch on it with their magnifying glass and then get weekly progress reports on the service. All so they can sell it 2 weeks later "fresh back from the spa". It is taxing. I imagine actual repair times could be shorter if they weren't handling many knives for "flippers" every week, or guys who ground on the lock face, or lock tighted the pivot closed, etc.
If OP was not satisfied with the confirmation that the knife in question was legitimste, I wonder what information he actually required? Serial number? I dont think they started that until very recently. Date and time of manufacturer? Name and SSN of the guy who put it together? The question was "is it real?" and "yeah, we made some of those" AKA - that isnt a $5 China knock off answers that concern, doesn't it?
IMO, pony up the extra $ and buy from a dealer, buy from a reputable forum member, or roll the dice at your own risk. Don't whine on the forum because a company doesn't have time to validate every bargain purchase for you with a sweet, hand written letter with a spritz of perfume that arrives on your time line.
"ain't nobody got time for that!"
If you want to bargain shop/flip then get good at it. Do your homework. If you just want a legitimate strider knife with assurances from friendly customer service staff call bladehq.
Best of luck.
