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killerskill

killerskill

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Oct 6, 2006
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I have been saving money for a VERY long time specificly for a good knife. I kept it in a coffee can. It accumulated for awhile.years. I have dipped into it numerous times for cheaper knives, a few Emersons,Small strider fixed blades, BMs, spyderco's over the years. And the occaisional junky impulse buy at the flea market or mall. Then I accuried a decent sum to ad to the can that I didn't have to use for bills for once. SO........... After 6 months to a year of research it came down to a Chris Reves Sebenza, Hinderer Xm-18, And a Strider SMF tanto. I picked the Strider SMF tanto. It will be here thursday. I'm so excited I'm twitching. I liked the other knives, but They didn't look like they would look as good all beat up. Because I'm not buying a knife to sit on the shelf. I want to use it. I wanted a knife I could really put to tough use that I will still have when I'm an old man and my grand kids want to see my knife. So do you guys think I made a good choice for the money for a tough folder to last a lifetime for SD and EDC? Any comments apprecieated:)
 
That's your decision. My guess is that you won't use it hard (I mean prying and other forms of abuse) because it was so expensive. But that's just my guess - I don't know you.
 
I've only had one Strider knife and it came to me, from a reputable dealer, with obvious and inexcusable flaws that I didn't think belonged on a $300 knife. I sold it and never bought another. I like Reeve knives much better. Whether you collect for beauty or hard use, you certainly get what you pay for.
 
i think you will be happy with the strider. the smf's that i have handled, although a little large for my taste, were very well put together and sharp.

the reeve and hinderer are different types of knives, so hard to compare. my first choice would have been the sebenza.

i have owned several striders,all of them excellent knives.
 
I have had striders and some have been tight and smooth out of the box but I have had a few that were loose no matter how you much you tightened the pin. You should be ok, I have reeves and love them, currently on order for an XM-18. The knife should outlast you and they are good knives, they just sometimes come with problems a 3-400 knife should not.
 
I was shaving corian veneer off of a countertop with my large Sebenza yesterday with no problem. Still shaves hair off my forearm! And,as usual,CRK fit and finish.

MPE
 
I've got an sng that I've been carrying for a couple months. I like it alot. I currently am having a satin finish put on the blade. Think that'll hook it up a bit. Wish I would of got the ditital camo finish originally though. As for the knife itself, I have had no problems (other than some rust spots). A sebenza and xm-18 are both on my long term buy list, but I'm enjoying my strider for now and happy I bought it first.
 
WOW!!!!! you could have had a V8!!!! :D For $375, I bought a Craig Camerer, JS fighter forged from 1084......from a purveyor at that! For the money that Stider charges for their bigger knives, you can get some pretty nice custom knives. For $329, you can get one of the basic knives that Charlie Ochs, MS makes for the special ops toops out of O1. I have one of those too, and now he makes them in 2 sizes. Ox Forge is his business name. He also has the government contract for the "black knife"
 
I also have an Sng for 2 month, and really love the blade and handle shape. I had a little pivot loosening as well, easy to fix with a little tightening. The blade was definitely not as sharp, I have a hard time justifying spending 400 dollars.
 
I bought a SnG, not a SMF, and found it was much better in fit and finish than any BM, Spyderco, Buck, or Kershaw I've owned. You get your money's worth.

Add the Buck and Kershaw both fail to stay locked, which happens a lot more on cheap liner locks than some want to admit. And the Buck was replaced under warranty for one just as bad. You get your money's worth.

Some folks have a problem with hard use construction, pricing, and user grade finish, and recommend knives like the Sebenza. But it's like comparing a limited edition Snap on 3/8 drive rachet at home to a 3/4 drive black oxide in a diesel mechanics box - two different tools completely.
 
I will not say anything bad about the Striders because as I have said several times in the past,I plan to buy one.I will say this,even though the Strider Knives and the CRK Knives are diiferent,I don't think they are that different.I would like to hear from someone who gives their CRK some real work and has done the same with a Strider. I have a feeling the difference is minute if existant at all.Remember,Sebenzas are designed for hard use as well,just not as a prybar.Although I bet it could be done.When I first recieved my Bocote inlay,I shaved the edges of a pc of Oak by wacking the blade against the edge.Maybe if I inspected the edge with a lense,I could see some reduction in edge but sure can't tell by how it shaves hair.

MPE
 
I think Sebenzas are great, from what I hear and see. It was on my list to buy. But when you investigate the details of construction, many differences will show, some which bias the use of the blade by the owner to different purposes.

My SnG works as well, if not better, wearing gloves, due to the oversized opener and slots in the grips. The metal handled Sebenza, by comparison, may act just like other metal handled knives I own - hard to open, slide around in the grip, takes two hands to close. This indicates to me one is designed for field use, the other for semi/urban. Plenty of folks use them either way, but I see the difference now because I have used the SnG.

The Sebenza comes with a nice leather pocket holder and clip, the SnG with a subdued clip and ziplock plastic bag. You baby one, and use the other, is the inference I see, as CRK supplies the pretty sheath for its customers, and Strider the performance under harsh conditions.

Two different makers, two different customer bases, two different knives.
 
If you want to baby your Sebenza, go right ahead. Chris Reeve does make decorated models -- inlays, graphics, damascus. A regular Sebenza is made for what the name means: work.

When I got a large tanto Sebenza it was for one purpose only, to use it when I'd be afraid to tear up another knife or break the tip or snap the blade. I have a tanto SnG also. It looks more field-grade than the Sebenza. They are both tough, sharp, reliable knives.

I'm sure the Hinderer knives are in the same class, but I've never used one. Great ergonomics, though, and almost infinitely customizable if you wait for Rick to make yours.

Once you get to the level of these knives, it's more a matter of esthetics, of individual taste.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
If you want to baby your Sebenza, go right ahead. Chris Reeve does make decorated models -- inlays, graphics, damascus. A regular Sebenza is made for what the name means: work.

When I got a large tanto Sebenza it was for one purpose only, to use it when I'd be afraid to tear up another knife or break the tip or snap the blade. I have a tanto SnG also. It looks more field-grade than the Sebenza. They are both tough, sharp, reliable knives.

I'm sure the Hinderer knives are in the same class, but I've never used one. Great ergonomics, though, and almost infinitely customizable if you wait for Rick to make yours.

Once you get to the level of these knives, it's more a matter of esthetics, of individual taste.
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Do you have a preference between the Seb or the SnG?

I'm sort of in the same quandary as a few guys here, I've been sitting on the fence between buying an SnG or a large Sebenza for about a year. I still can't decide.

I like things to be close to perfect, so that part of me picks the Seb, yet I carry a Buck 889 Strider and love the ergos, so for awhile I was convinced the SnG should be the right choice. Well I 'm short on cash right now anyway, so I have to wait.
 
JPD1998 said:
Do you have a preference between the Seb or the SnG? I'm sort of in the same quandary as a few guys here, I've been sitting on the fence between buying an SnG or a large Sebenza for about a year. I still can't decide.
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Not an easy choice. I love Sebenzas, at the moment have seven or eight of them. That said, the SnG is one of my favorite knives. I got mine used, but it is really first rate: great action and lockup, sharpens like a dream.

I wouldn't want to have to choose between a Sebenza and an SnG. If I had to pick which one to get first, my vote would go to the Sebenza. Then I'd save up for an SnG. :)
 
I have one Strider.

I have a regular large Seb, a regular large tanto Seb, a small Classic Seb, an Umfaan, a Mnandi, a Sable III, and a Sable with a 12" blade. I am not an unbiased admirer of CRK knives. :)

If you have any concerns about ergonomics, you might like the Classic handle better. The deeper index finger choil is very comfortable. I personally like both about the same for handling.

Waiting is good. Waiting gives you the chance to find some of these knives and at least feel how comfortable they are in your hand, which is a very individual thing.
 
Well If I don't like it I'm sure I could trade it or sell it very easily. It's one of a hundred. Not no.1 but one in only 100. I handled one before and I don't see how I could be disapointed, unless the f&f is f***** up.
 
killerskill said:
Well If I don't like it I'm sure I could trade it or sell it very easily. It's one of a hundred. Not no.1 but one in only 100. I handled one before and I don't see how I could be disapointed, unless the f&f is f***** up.
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I'm definitely interested in hearing about your impressions after you get it.

Good luck , I hope it's a winner
 
JDP im gona jump in and say with a year of looking and that kind of money you could have your choice of custom filders from the best. Still, many guys like there sebenza's as much as a cutom. Not me though.
 
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