First of all, the "Bos" logo, seen on knives, is only indicative of
who performed the heat treatment.
According to what I've read, Strider's knives now go to the shop that was set up and formerly run by Paul Bos. When Mr. Bos made the move out of California, along with Buck Knives, he left the shop he had set up, with the specs he had set up, to his former employees, who still heat treat the Strider knives to his original specs.
In my opinion, for you to make a statement like that, without any sort of qualification whatsoever, and due to your own misunderstanding, is a slap in the face, not only to Paul Bos, who has and currently oversees the heat treatment that ALL Buck knives undergo, but to Buck as well.
The search feature would have saved you some embarrasment:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=433207
3G
O-kay, apparently I missed quite a bit during my absence yesterday. I have to say, I applaud many of you for your passion towards your hobby, though it is a bit disappointing to view it through the colored lense of some of these posts. If it is a policy of this forum that one must be educated to a certain level of experience or knowledge prior to being granted the privilege of posting here, might I suggest that it be made a part of the registration process, perhaps via a test that must be passed to satisfaction prior to successful completion of that process. I seem to have slipped through whatever neophyte/newbie/retard detection phalanx is currently deployed at the front gate. :jerkit: Silly me, I thought you could just register and walk right in.
That being said -- my impressions of Strider knives is quite positive, thank you. I just purchased my first one a few weeks ago and love it, and those of you who have seen some of my recent posts and/or watch the Trades forum might remember that I am actively trying to acquire an SMF as we speak. By way of introduction you'll find, if you haven't already slammed shut your mind, that I am more an enthusiast/hobbyist/practitioner/advocate in the 1911 world, as a casual and competitive shooter, hunter, occasional trainer, and minor-but-advancing gunsmith in the realm. I also have an appreciation for knives, especially folders and mid-sized combat models, and my tastes in such have steadily advanced towards the more richly-featured and better-made examples. I have several up for trade right now in hopes that I might be able to trade up to or finance the purchase of some of the nicer, more expensive models, like the Strider line.
One of the things that led me to the SnG (which I currently own) and the SMF (which I hope to buy shortly) is the research I've done on this and other forums, and on the Strider website. And one of the areas I have pored over is the Frequent Questions section of Strider's website, which is a compilation of questions and answers as compiled from the Badlands and UsualSuspectNet forums, and is quite informative as to the history, materials, and designs of Strider knives. In fact, the catalyst for this particular thread is found in that same spot, right here:
http://www.badlandsforums.com/faq/WhoHeatTreats.shtml
After a first line that states that all Strider knives were heat treated by Paul Bos, an update appears that amends the answer. One line from that particular update caught my eye in particular (items in [] brackets, and those in italics, were added by me for clarity): "
We don't use Paul [Bos] on ALL of our gear any longer.
When they (BUCK) made the move up to the new place, there was half a year with no heat treat. Paul founded the place we use here, and we still use his procedure. We just can't ship every knife to our ol uncle hot fingers any longer....
So rather than bother with the stamping of the knives he actually does....we just stopped stamping the logo."
Now, that looks to me to say that there was about six months during which maybe every knife *did not* get heat treated. The question that I posed in starting this thread, which is still unanswered, by the way, is this:
How about the non-Buck knives, say, the SMF's -- is it accurate to say that they ALL are heat-treated? Am I asking too much here??
And finally, to answer your inference that I might be somehow embarrassed as a result of asking this question: there are no stupid questions, especially earnest ones borne of diligent but as-yet unanswered inquiry. There are, however, stupid answers, and yours, Mr. 3Guardsmen, is a shining example. So do me a favor, don't try to "help" me anymore. You can be whatever you want to be in your own mind without bothering me in the process.
As an aside, to those who might be a bit, umm, reflexive over the recent revelations regarding Mick Strider's past: I could care less about the man, his adventures and accomplishments inside and outside his own personal reality, or anyone's opinions on the subject. In fact, I don't care if they caught him in bed with, as Huey Long once opined, "a dead girl or a live boy". All I care is that he and his company make very high-quality, well-designed, tough knives. That he's gotten his short arm caught in his own marketing is his own problem. Anybody here have a problem with that? LOL!
Specialized
P.S. To those that have honestly tried to help me answer this question, thank you very much. I have enjoyed and benefitted from the treasure trove of information here and the hospitality of most of those I have had communications with, as well as the earnest efforts of the moderators, and will continue to roam these forums and contribute where I can.
