Sebenza or Strider SnG?

I think we have to make a distinction between flawless in execution and flawless in design.
 
If we're speaking about design and function - then the SnG is 100 %flawless. Not to turn this into a pissing match - but actually on the sebenza..the thumbramp traction grooves do not stop your thumb from sliding at all, whereas on the SnG they actually work.
 
love4steel said:
the thumbramp traction grooves do not stop your thumb from sliding at all, whereas on the SnG they actually work.
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Have you seen the redesigned thumb ramp? The new groove pattern is much more aggressive. Once you see it I think you will agree that this design solves any problem with lack of adequate purchase (if there ever was a problem).
 
When I spend $400 for a folder, small enough to clip in my pocket, I want it as close to perfect as I can find. I own a Sebenza (large classic with leather inserts) and find it as near to perfect as any semi production knife I own.

I do not own a Stider folder. I am sure I will end up buying one, for the hell of it. However, I hear too many owners talk about toughness, strength etc, but at the same time I hear about rough finish, and blade wobble etc. At $400.00 I demand more than just toughness. I demand near flawless finish, workmanship and fit. As a worker, tough knife, I will want to put the dings and flaws in a Strider. I do not want to spend $400 and have ANY factory installed flaws.

I do own a Strider fixed blade. It is tremendously strong, but the finish, when new, was nothing to brag about. Again, it was like factory installed flaws are supposed to be OK if the knife is built tough. I don't agree with this philosophy.

But, again, I am a colletor and user, so I am sure a Strider folder will be in my future.
 
factory flaws....i dont care how tough one is..id never spend 400 bucks on a knife thats flawed
 
as a knifemaker once said , " every knife has a flaw , it's just in how you can make the flaw blend in , that seperates that knife from the rest of the pack."

I supposed if we all sat down in a room , like say Blade for example , none of us could all agree that any knife was purfect , but the quest for the purfect folder to each of us , is what keeps us searching the forums like the junkies we are :cool:

The Hinderer Firetac I had was as close to purfect as I have had so far.In a folder that is.......
 
TheBadGuy said:
LOL, While I may not agree with patenting a hole, Spyderco did it and your right DaveH, its far superior to any of the imitation methods and folks should just fork over the dough to use the most effective method.
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Just a little side-note, Spyderco has a trademark on the hole - the patent expired a couple of years ago. And, you can't license the hole for a production model, only customs and less then 50 a year IIRC

Ted
 
Alright, since I started this thread, Striders are TOUGH and Sebenza's are extremely close to flawless in fit and finish. How does a Strider compare to a Greco folder. I know Greco's are quite tough, but the finish is, lets say perfect for a using knife. How do these two compare?
 
A couple of things stopped me from buying an SnG (which shape I really liked a lot) was:

- fit & finish on Striders - I've handled two AR's, and found them way overbuild, and very rough in finish.
- price - I think $400 is too much. I get the impression I'm paying at least $100 for the unlimited warrenty.
- pivot construction - I like the Sebenza pivot with bushing construction (tight as you can, still smooth operation) soo much, I will not buy another high-end knife (>$200) that does not have this construction.



Ted
 
You know, what I always find curious is that when discussing the strength of folders you hear comments about lock strength, blade thickness, handle strength, etc. And then talk of prying. What about lateral strength of the pivot? It just seems to me that when using a knife hard, this is the Achilles heel of a folder? I have flexed some folders to where you can get the lock to fail, but never enough to damage the pivot. Has anyone broke or damaged the pivot on either knife?

The only Strider's I have handled were at BLADE. Both models were roughly finished, had very stiff action and one took both hands to unlock. In contrast, every Sebenza I handled performed as expected and designed. If you are truly looking for a very tough, well executed blade that can handle anything, my advise is to not buy either of these blades. The Sebenza blade was not designed for hard stabbing/prying tasks and the Strider is not nearly to my level of finish. In this case, I agree that a Rick Hinderer Firetac would be an awesome compromise and possesses the best qualities of both.
 
To this moment I am looking to buy a FOLDER.
I am to choose between Strider and a Sebenza...
The Strider I can get for 45o, the Sebenza .. for 55o USD..... that all of course in Budapest, Hungary .......
My favorite ...... for some years was the Sebenza... but I can't get one in Hungary. But since then I changed myself, my working types with a knife ... and I am looking for a foolder for all thing what the folder can make .... in a city, in a short trip in survival-mode .....
of course for survival a have any fixed.....
The AR is not bad, but my hand-size allowe me onle a little form of handle.... with Sbenza is the problem, that i can't get a modell I need... little classic .....

The best were I could buy both ... but there is not a classic little to buy ... and for a Strider I have to wait some months .....

So I can read Your posts .. and wait, who can help me to buy one of them ... or both.

Oyabun, alias Tanto
 
I'm still trying to figure out what you want these expensive folders for. If its for display then the obvious choice would be the Sebenza. If you're going for pure function, have you considered you could get 3-4 high end production knives for this sort of money? The performance hit you'll take from these "inferior" blades is negligable if you're going to abuse them and your downtime is much less because you don't have to send the blade back and forth. And if you were going to abuse the blade regularly, shouldn't you be looking at fixed blades? If its a status thing you're after, wouldn't a true custom folder be better at this sort of price?
 
Oyabun, since the Sebenza and Strider are both so expensive, you might like to look at the Greco Falcon or Whisper folders (the same knife, slightly different handles).

I've got all three and I think the Greco is as tough as the Striders, just lighter weight, more compact, simpler in construction. And much stiffer to handle! It's not a gentleman's knife. It's the closest folder I know to the mythical "folding fixed blade".
 
madhaha, I think you would understand the factors involved better if you had a chance to try out any of these knives. First of all, forget the status business. That just sounds like class envy. It has nothing to do with the capabilities of the knives.

The reason for buying a Sebenza or a Strider (or a Greco) is not that they are slightly superior in fit & finish, or toughness. It is that they are capable of levels of performance the competition simply cannot match. Four go-carts capable of going 50 mph are not the equal of one real car capable of 200 mph.

Another point about the Sebenza is that there are two different kinds: the plain and the decorated. The decorated Sebenzas can be large or small, regular or classic, engraved or inlaid. They are more elegant and many of us buy them as "working jewelry".

But the plain are working knives, as nondescript as anything on the market. They are named for "work" and that's what they are meant for. Our personal knowledge of the price is immaterial.

Buy quality and only cry once.
 
.......... you might like to look at the //www.grecoknives.com/GRECO275.htm]Greco Falcon or Whisper folders[/url] (the same knife, slightly different handles).

Thank's a lot, I will study your offer ....... the differences and so on ......
 
Oyabun, I have two Greco folders, both with the Falcon handle, not the Whisper. My hand is a bit wide, and wouldn't fit as comfortably between the rises on the Whisper. The Falcon handle is a good grip, though.

This is a bare-bones, total function knife, though.
 
I didn't want to bring this thread back up to the top but I don't feel I've made myself clear.

A Strider SnG is $400. There are regular complaints about blade play and poor finish. As I see it there are only two reasons you'd want one: collecting/status symbol (which I wouldn't personally consider) and extremely heavy and frequent use. A Spyderco Paramilitary is $100. It is in no way a "go cart" in comparison. If you put both knives through extreme use and abuse, I very much doubt you'd see a performance difference. Only when the S30V dulls or shatters, you'd have 3 other Spydercos to swap in, instead of sending off for another Strider.

If you weren't putting the knife through extreme use, then the quality of the Sebbie would put it ahead, not to mention the customisation options (Lisa's work is amazing!). Get one flat ground and I really can't think of a reason you'd regret not getting the Strider.

Ergonomics are down to the individual. I assume both knives have been handled and it isn't a deciding factor.
 
I recently traded for an SnG. I have 8 CRK knives-- 5 folders, 3 one-piece.

I have read about one manufacturer's knife after another criticized for poor fit & finish, blade play, slipping locks. Many times we only find out months later that these few complaints were taken out of context or deliberately exaggerated.

The SnG is not a lemon. It is a serious working knife, with a great design, excellent materials, constantly upgraded details. The Strider organization does not worry about complaints from the fringes, though. They serve their customers, and if you don't want to buy their products, they don't care. This alters the emphasis of the discussion.
 
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