Well after much debate as to whether to get the RJ Martin Avenger or a Strider SnG, I went for the SnG and I must say I F*CKIN$ LOVE IT! This after only having owned it for one day. It usually takes me a week or two to figure out whether or not a new knife is a keeper or one to sell or trade. This one I knew immediately would be my new EDC.
I purchased the knife from Matt D in Alexandria VA, who BTW is only like 20 miles from me, and is HIGHLY recommended from me, he is a pleasure to do do business with and will be my new dealer of choice. It sures saves on the shipping costs.
Anyway enough of the plug for Matt
,back to the review. He let me pick from three different ones and I settled on # 69. All three were third production run and all had slight differences. I.E., different thumb lugs/back stops, stamps or pivot screws. Mine was VERY stiff brand new but it had the best centered blade of the bunch and the best lockup, so I went with it.
The lockup was EXTREMELY tight brand new and if the blade was slapped open at a fast rate it became so locked that I couldn't get it to disengage even with two hands! I had to pry it loose with a nickel and promptly called Matt. He informed me that this was common and would ease up when the knife got broken in. He also said I can help speed the process if I scratch a # 2 pencil on the tang of the blade at the point when the lock engages. This worked beautifully and the lockup now is rock solid. The lock travels over far enough to the point where the left side of the lock is even with the blade and is VERY easy now to close with one hand.
The action of the blade had been a little slower to break in then the lock up. I hear it can take a while to break in completely but when it does it is oh so sweet! I have done the normal cutting tests with it so far, paper cut, tomato slice, wood whittling and a few hard swipes at some tall weeds in the woods behind my home. It passed all tests flawlessly ( like I even had to check, one draw across the back of my hand sent little hairs flying! ) The weeds were about two inch diameter with a celery like center, they looked like they had been sliced with a razor. After a few hard foward thrusts into a tree stump I was sold. No slippage at all and an uncanny confidence that there would be none no matter how hard one thrust it.
The grip feels awesome, it is very ergonomic and feels like it becomes part of your hand. I also like the look of the black G-10 with the black blade. The Ti side is cool too though mine doesn't have very dramatic colored stripes they are more indiscrete which I like. All in all I love this knife and am very happy with my purchase. Do I think it is worth $400? HELL YEAH! This knife is indestructable and will keep cutting where others knives might fail in similar situations. You can't put a price on that if you are in a situation where this is your ONLY knife.
BTW I still want that RJ Martin Avenger too as well as the new MT Terzoula Matt let me fondle. Man that is a SWEET auto!
Dennis
I purchased the knife from Matt D in Alexandria VA, who BTW is only like 20 miles from me, and is HIGHLY recommended from me, he is a pleasure to do do business with and will be my new dealer of choice. It sures saves on the shipping costs.
Anyway enough of the plug for Matt
,back to the review. He let me pick from three different ones and I settled on # 69. All three were third production run and all had slight differences. I.E., different thumb lugs/back stops, stamps or pivot screws. Mine was VERY stiff brand new but it had the best centered blade of the bunch and the best lockup, so I went with it. The lockup was EXTREMELY tight brand new and if the blade was slapped open at a fast rate it became so locked that I couldn't get it to disengage even with two hands! I had to pry it loose with a nickel and promptly called Matt. He informed me that this was common and would ease up when the knife got broken in. He also said I can help speed the process if I scratch a # 2 pencil on the tang of the blade at the point when the lock engages. This worked beautifully and the lockup now is rock solid. The lock travels over far enough to the point where the left side of the lock is even with the blade and is VERY easy now to close with one hand.
The action of the blade had been a little slower to break in then the lock up. I hear it can take a while to break in completely but when it does it is oh so sweet! I have done the normal cutting tests with it so far, paper cut, tomato slice, wood whittling and a few hard swipes at some tall weeds in the woods behind my home. It passed all tests flawlessly ( like I even had to check, one draw across the back of my hand sent little hairs flying! ) The weeds were about two inch diameter with a celery like center, they looked like they had been sliced with a razor. After a few hard foward thrusts into a tree stump I was sold. No slippage at all and an uncanny confidence that there would be none no matter how hard one thrust it.
The grip feels awesome, it is very ergonomic and feels like it becomes part of your hand. I also like the look of the black G-10 with the black blade. The Ti side is cool too though mine doesn't have very dramatic colored stripes they are more indiscrete which I like. All in all I love this knife and am very happy with my purchase. Do I think it is worth $400? HELL YEAH! This knife is indestructable and will keep cutting where others knives might fail in similar situations. You can't put a price on that if you are in a situation where this is your ONLY knife.
BTW I still want that RJ Martin Avenger too as well as the new MT Terzoula Matt let me fondle. Man that is a SWEET auto!
Dennis
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