Looking for another knife...do you like the BM Stryker?

S

SVTNate

Joined
Oct 23, 2000
Messages
31
I am looking at the Benchmade Stryker...I looked into the CRKT M16, because I really like my current CRKT, but the blade is a bit too small for my tastes. The Cold Steel knives are just too big, and the others I looked into are too expensive (over 100 bucks). I need one for light duty, I like the feel of a larger tactical knife (my current is the big CRKT Kasper). I can get the larger Stryker with the plain finish ATS34 blade for about 88 bucks shipped to my door, which sounds good to me. Do you like this knife, or have other recommendations for me?

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Knife newbie.
 
Go for it. It is a good knife. I've noticed that half of them have a problem with the rear stop pin (for in closed position) rattling though if you open the knife and shake it around sideways. Mine also had the problem. I sent it to BM and they kind of fixed it, though it returned to rattling after a couple of days.

I sold it for about $65 in excellent condition and then got myself a Microtech SOCOM for $160.

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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
Hrm...well I definitely don't want a knife that rattles! What I do want is a blade that is 3.5-4.0 inches, good stainless steel, G10 with titanium liners, something that weighs 4.0 oz or less (preferably), and isn't too much cash. The SOCOM is a bit pricey for my tastes
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Knife newbie.
 
The Stryker has about the most ergonomic and comfortable handle of any folder I know of. Excellent blade to handle length ratio. Too bad about the geometric blade shape, liner lock too.

The rattling was just a loose stop pin. It can be eliminated with a little Loctite or nail polish.
 
Precisely why I sold mine. My Stryker rattled, and my friend's also did. Most people don't notice it until they actually start using it or I tell them that it does. Once, I was visiting a fellow BFC member's store that he worked at (a knife store). And when I saw his Stryker, the first thing I did was shake it sideways a little bit, heard the rattling, and said, "Yup, yours also rattles!"

In reply, he said, "Damnit Chang, everything you touch... breaks!" in his Chinese accent. We then checked the Stryker models and their variants (BT, SBT, S, etc.) and only one of them did not rattle. The problem would lie in the fact that the rear stop pin isn't securely anchored like on their other knives. It is free to slide around and after closing it and using it, it will loosen out and shake around. This seems to be the only main problem with the Stryker. Some of them have tip edges that are thicker than the rest of the edge and need to be sharpened at a higher angle to avoid uneven corners.

Lock was always 100% solid though. And I the edge retention was pretty good. And the handle ergonomics were wonderful. You get a good knife for what you pay, though I really wish the atrocious rear stop pin would be changed.

Anyways, I'll look for something and post something it when I figure out another good knife for you. The Stryker still is a good knife though (just a little rattling after you work with it for a week or so).

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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
I would have disassembled and added a little piece of rubber on the rear stop pin, but the forward stop pin used some weird sort of screw that I couldn't remove. How do you use nail polish to remove it? I tried superglue, but that seems to be a temporary fix. The shock of the blade closing from the ball detent "sucking" it in will eventually dislodge the pin and rattling starts again.

Anyways, I don't have to deal with it. I sold it at a great loss (I paid $95, sold for like $65) to a friend who wanted to become a knife knut. He is very pleased with it. I'll go fix that damned rattling next time I see it if you tell me how to use nail polish.

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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
I would also suggest the Emerson CQC-7's, but they are hard to find in plain edges (I am a plain edge person). And, their fit and finish is generally a little less than that of Benchmade. I had a CQC-7B, in plain edge, with a black-T coating. It was a nice knife, but the finish on the G-10 scale was slightly different when compared to the other one. Otherwise a very cool knife, and the factory edge was so much sharper than on Benchmade.

Also, people here on the forums generally really love the Benchmade 800 AFCK. If you look around, you can find them for about 80 dollars + shipping. Whenever ordering a Benchmade, make sure you ask the dealer to inspect. I order from http://www.DiscountKnives.com for my Benchmades and Brian inspects the knives if I put it in the order form for him to check for QC errors such as uneven centering and uneven parts.

Also, the Benchmade 880 Darkstars are very interesting with a titanium liner anodized with a gold color. A lot of options, check out the whole Benchmade line and some of the Emerson knives.

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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
Chang,

Thanks for the help, the plain edge Benchmade 800 looks good to me...if I order from them, I want to tell this guy Brian that you said to inspect my blade for me, what should I say your name is? If I say "chang", will he know you?
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Now all I need is to find a good price!

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Knife newbie.
 
Discount Knives has it for 91.09, I hope to find a cheaper price so I can get the 10 percent discount.

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Knife newbie.
 
A Great knife!!! I have had mine close to three years now and never a problem... It has been my daily carry for just as long. It has a great feel to it and just as smooth as many of more expensive knives. Try www.skylandscutlery.com they advertise they will beat any price on the net. Greg owns the company and he is a great guy to deal with at the shows.
 
The Cold Steel knives are TOO BIG? I don't mean to sound personal, but are you NUTS?.
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Have you LOOKED at one of the Cold Steel Voyagers? The large Voyager is ALOT smaller, and ALOT lighter-weight than the Large CRKT Kasper, eventho' the Voyager has a longer blade.
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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
Glockman99, some of us prefer handle material other than plastic.
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SVTMan, if you order it, just put down inside a blank line that you want it "Inspected for uneven centering, uneven grinds, loose parts, or any other QC error." Just kind of put your comments wherever they fit/can go. It says on the order form that you just fill in the comments on the blank lines you don't use. He'll read them. I've never had any problems before. Or order it, and then e-mail Brian@discountknives.com and tell him inside your e-mail what you want inspected for. He's a good man, he'll take care of you. Recently, he sent me some free Tuff Cloth with my order.

BTW, you can e-mail your order to him. Include the credit card number and your shipping address, etc.... then you can write whatever comments you want anywhere you want. Only risk is that e-mail sometimes isn't as secure.

And go ahead and say that Chang sent you I guess.
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Not sure if that will do anything, I've ordered from him a lot, and he always inspects if I put it in the comments (I usually mail order though). Never had any problems.

[This message has been edited by Comrade Chang (edited 10-24-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Comrade Chang (edited 10-24-2000).]
 
Chang,

My Glock Pistols are PLASTIC, and if PLASTIC is good enough for a 10mm or .45 pistol, it IS good enough for a knife handle.
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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
I've had my large Stryker since.....Oh about the time they were released. Traded an extra 9mm hi-cap glock mag. for it(I only use .40S&W now). Never has rattled, or failed in any way(knock on wood) other than the clip became loose. A little turn here and some loc-tite there and good as new.
Carry it maybe 3-4 times a week and it has seen some use, but is in great condition with only one scratch.
I LOVE THIS FOLDER!!



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Ken
 
I'm not a tanto person (though I am going to get a custom fully serrated 722 one of these days), so I would suggest looking at BM's Axis models. I have a 940 & 710 that I love; the 730 is a great knife as well. With some looking you can find one for around $100. If you're hooked on liner locks, get an AFCK (800)- that's a great knife too. But look at the Axis locks first!

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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"I have often laughed at the weaklings who call themselves kind because they have no claws"

- Zarathustra
 
Ken/Bravesfan, the reason why yours doesn't rattle is because it probably doesn't have the rear closed position stop pin. The early Stryker had only one stop pin. The second one added a notch at the base of the blade and a rear stop pin. The rear stop pin isn't securely anchored. I wish I had the early Stryker. The grind was higher on it too I believe, so it cut a little more aggressively.

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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
In the newer ones, there should be a front stop pin that the blade hits against when in open position. That one should be secured down with what I think are hex screws from both sides. I believe a half inch back, there is a pin that is in between the liners. Smaller diameter than the normal stop pin. When the blade closes, the notch in the base of the blade will hit this rear stop pin.

The older Stryker has no notch in the base of the blade, and no rear stop pin to the best of my knowledge.

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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
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