Just got a Strider SnG green lego - need some help

Terry M.

Terry M.

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Feb 5, 2006
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2,863
I really, really, really want to like this knife but so far I'm a little disappointed.
It's really a wonderfully built knife. Light, tough and sharp out of the box as any knife I've ever purchased. There isn't any play in the blade and lockup is as solid as a rock - and that gets me to the problem.
I've read that the Striders come pretty "stiff" to start out and this one did. But I've played with it enough that it's "loosening up" upon opening. The problem I'm having is the lock bar. It's so darn solid that I can barely close the knife with one hand. My thumb is getting raw from trying to push the lock bar out of the way. Now to give you an idea, I'm a blue collar working man. I work with my hands all day long, they're cut and calloused and I'm still having problems.
It's not that I don't appreciate the rock solid lockup but I'd sure like to be able to close the thing one handed.
Can anyone help me out? Is there anything I can do or do I just need to shut the heck up and build a new callous on my thumb? :p

Thanks for whatever you can suggest to help me enjoy this newly purchased grail.
 
Hey Terry, My SNG did/does the same thing... Strider finishes their tangs pretty rough, which means its less likely to slip and disengage, but also real hard on the thumb. I just scribble some graphite onto the tang with a normal pencil every once in a while when it starts getting sticky. Eventually the graphite will be ground in and more permanent and you will have to re apply less often... Also make sure there is no oil/lubricant of any kind on the lockbar or tang, as that will cause the lockbar to over travel and get stuck. Hope this helps!
 
Put pencil lead on the blade's base where it contacts the lock bar and open close it, repeat. After doing this a few times it might be freed up nicely. Worst case you will have to do it a few hundred times. My SMF took about 6 applications and it freed up and hasn't been sticky since.
 
And don't worry about it buddy, My SNG had some issues (more than sticky lock) when I first got it, and I was really disappointed... Especially because it was my first mid tech ever! But Strider took care of me, and it is now my most carried knife... A true tank, and a constant companion.
 
Sharpie also works like the pencil method. I had to to the same to my new PT as my other 2 stiders were bought used and already broken in.
 
Hmm wonder where you bought it? I just bought one from a major site not too long ago I was very disappointed with it for the same reason. It was so bad that if you opened it with a fair amount of force , it was so stiff that I actually had to get something in there to wedge it out! I couldnt unlock it with both hands even!

Super disappointed in this I returned the knife. I loved the ergos etc so over the phone I asked the dealer if they had any better ones. They politely said they were all sticking verrrryyy bad. Bad batch maybe? So I passed.

Still determined I called another well known online dealer. explained the situation, and he told me that striders are not perfect. I asked him if he could check his stock of SNG's to see if any were better than what I had described. He said he had a couple that he thought were far better than the rest he had. (Hmm starnge the ones he said were bad in that regard were the same ones this other dealer just got. Grind and everything ;) ) didn't care what color I got so I had him check every color. The one I ended up getting, was actually slightly older than the ones he just received. Yet it still had the new lock bar. So I'm guessing, the new knives (sng) that shipped out to dealers may all have this issue and yours may be one of them.

Honestly, I do not think of $400 knife should have this issue period. I am happy with a knife got from the second dealer. But if I buy another Strider folding knife I will call the dealer first to have them personally inspect it.

If its as bad as I think it may be I would return it. You can pm on where there still may be some "older" ones and give that dealer a call.
 
This midtech was the worse for sticking I've ever owned. It took probably 300 open/close apply pencil cycles and it's fine now. Super tight lock up too, but it doesn't stick.

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Yes, I tried it a couple of times. It's better until the graphite comes off. I assume I'll have to do several series of the graphite with opening and closing. I'll keep it up. Thanks.
 
sharpie instead of pencil works pretty well also. Strider thumb is something to be proud of my friend! The knife is exactly as it should be brand new, it will require quite a bit of break in and your thumb is gonna be hurting, but well worth it in the end. she'll end up smooth as glass and no stick at all.
 
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