Sebenza, Sng, and Xm-18 still the trio to get?

plue said:
Never owned a Strider, but you definitely see much less of them on the forums, I'm not sure why.
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You won't see much here, and when you do, it won't be positive. You will have to look elsewhere for actual knife related content, but it's out there trust me.
 
I own a Hinderer XM-18 but wasn't overly impressed when compared to ZT, I still have it though for what it's worth. I recently got my first Sebenza, small 21 Insingo, love that knife and can see why the hype is there. Insingo(sheepsfoot) is a very great blade shape. I've never owned a Stider and don't intend to buy one in the future. My top 3 are CRK, ZT and probably benchmade for #3. I have a 940-1 and a 555-1 from them that I like. My ZT's are a 0562CF, 0392, 0450SIG (Sig Legion exclusive), and a 0804CF. I recently cleared out a few ZT's to try and get a 0777, but missed out on it.


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I have to agree with what many have said on here about ZT. They are producing such great knives with premium materials that the value is hard to beat.
 
I suspect that your list is about 2-3 yrs behind the times. Not your fault, of course.
 
I've tried 6 different Hinderers. Only one of them actually flipped reliably (3.5" Wharnie). I loved that blade and almost regret selling it but it never saw pocket time.

I've tried 5 different Strider SnGs. I miss my black G10 flamed model. But it had lock stick and the pivot would come undone. I regret selling my MSC Monkey Edge SnG but its blade made contact with the scale and nothing I did made it better.

I've gone through over 20 (closer to 25) CRK knives. I currently own 10 and that number continues to change. For my own reasons, I love they way they cut, hold an edge, feel in hand, come apart and go back together, look, etc. Enough variety to make them the "only knives I'll ever need".

One shouldnt be so narrow minded however. It takes trial and error to see what works for you. I've been through all these knifes (AND MANY MORE) over the course of a year (just renewed my membership to this forum last week) and now I KNOW what I like.

Grimsmo makes a damn good product, but like Striders and Hinderers of past, you'll never buy one for MSRP in the second hand market unless your supper lucky.

Shirogorov makes an excellent product but unless your equally as lucky as above, you'll never get a "Deal" on one.

Find what works for you!!!
 
Lapedog said:
Man F U!! I googled Sekai Ichi and got a bunch of Japanese cartoons of two men kissing. You should have told me entering the word 'apple' in the search bar was 100% necessary.

Oh well atleast it was just cartoons....I only threw up in my mouth a little.
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Hahahaha well that was a hell of a plot twist


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The Sebenza is still a phenomenal option and worth every penny. The XM-18 isn't even worth the $300-ish they're going for now IMO; buy one of the ZT-Hinderer collabs if you want a well-built knife with that aesthetic. Again, possibly a controversial opinion, but that's how I feel.

As for Strider, I can separate my appreciation for the product from my opinion of the man himself. I greatly dislike Mick Strider marketing his product on the basis of military/special operations credibility that is at best exaggerated and at worst outright false. But even so, I appreciate the company's good warranty service and there are NO knives more ergonomic (for me at least) on the market than the PT and SnG. You just have to make sure you get a good example, which is why I would only buy a Strider from a fellow knife person that I trusted.

I personally have had quite a journey in my knife hobby. Now, I'm really back where I started: focusing on high-quality production knives. I've had $1,000+ customs, midtechs, etc... and the thing is, the quality is so high in the production world that I just don't see the value margin (other than exclusivity) of custom knives. Again, like the ZT-Hinderers, some production companies are making custom collabs that are better made and more useful than the customs themselves!

As a final word, my favorite knife I currently own, probably my favorite I've EVER owned, is my TAD Dauntless MK 4 (I have the Special Edition carbon fiber/hand ground blade.) My understanding (even though TAD won't tell you) is that they are made by Millit Knives which is an OEM run by former CRK employees. The Dauntless to me is really a Strider SnG made at Sebenza build quality for the same price. Only problem is getting a hold of one but there have been a few on the exchange lately.
 
DallasSTB said:
I if I were going with my current top 3 brands right now in terms of quality, consistency, and availability -
1-Chris Reeve
2- Zero Tolerance (Kershaw)
3- Olamic

Olamic is still building up thier brand, but I've been very impressed with the pieces that pass through my hands. I've had good and not-so-good examples of Hinderer and Strider in the past year.

All this is just IMHO.
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Ugh. Never heard of Olamic, but their 247 knife looks amazing. Now I want one.

OCWAY247PVD_OCWAY247SPVD_LS1R.jpg


Top one is gorgeous.
 
olanda2 said:
higher end production knife
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You gotta ask yourself this: what's the point? Is titanium really "better" than FRN, and if so, why? Flippers are fun, but do they add real value?

If you really examine this, the conclusion may be that a lot of this "high end" stuff is really a "big hat but no cattle" kind of thing. That is, we buy into the "high end" mystique - as I have and to some extent still do - when those knives are not really objectively "better" at anything other than 1) making us feel good, and 2) maybe a little edge retention. Is that worth $450? The feeling good part certainly can be, depending on what you are after. I have a ZT0452CF in my pocket. Its not up in that "high end" genre, but it is what I consider expensive pocket jewelry. It does not do EDC tasks better than a Delica, and in many respects not as well. But its fun to carry and play with. So in that sense its sorta high end, and sorta worth it.

So as some others have noted, what constitutes "high end" will come and go because its so danged subjective and ethereal. You gotta figure out for yourself what makes you feel good and what doesn't. That's the only real measure.
 
DallasSTB, for the record, I am entirely blaming you for this. I now have my sights on the above Olamic and am strongly considering pulling the trigger.
 
I've never taken much stock in the "big three" even when they were in fashion. I own a sebenza and a hinderer simply because I like them, not because I wanted to have a knife that was popular. I've never had any desire for a strider. In my opinion you should get what you like and enjoy using, not what other people say it good. Although if I were pushed to list a big three based on what I think is best I'd say Sebenza, XM18, and Paramilitary 2. Between those three knives I think you can do just about anything.
 
I've owned all 3 of the blades on the OPs original list. Currently, I own 3 xm18s of various styles and an Inkosi. I like them all. Hinderers have flipped fine for me too. They are good and tough knives. The Inkosi is quite stout as well and a great blade. To round it out, I also have a Reate Horizon D--I knew nothing of Reate and bought the Horizon on a whim; I'm glad I did. It's every bit as nice as the other brands I own.
These days, there are quite a few companies that produce great folders. The original "big 3" you listed still make high quality, trusted tools. They are not alone though in that claim. There really is something for everyone. Finding what you like is all part of the fun.
 
I'd say the Sebenza (and the Inkosi), the XM-18, and the SnG are still all highly regarded, but there's competition in the 3-4" blade, titanium framelock, mid-tech/high-end production business in the $400-$500 range now.

Reate (many models) and Olamic (Wayfarer 24/7) are the top two new competitors, in my opinion.

CRK, Hinderer, and Strider are not really doing much innovative these days. That's not really a bad thing, per se, but they're no longer the only ones in the game, either.
 
If just getting back into blades, you have to check out some of the WE offerings. Excellent materials, great build quality and some really sexy stuff that won't break the bank!
Joe
 
wtlj said:
That ship has sailed... I'll sum up the previous 5 years in a nutshell.
Hinderer: Once the market got flooded and the masses realized the XM was a "Flipper" that doesn't actually flip they tanked. They sell for between $275-$350 on the exchange now.

Strider: Although they've mostly worked out the lock rock and stick issues Mick Strider is still a jag off. Most choose not to support the liar.

Crk: Chris no longer owns the company. Chris and Anne divorced and the company is now run by Anne and her son Tim. They are still tried and true without caving in to the "what's hot" fads of today.


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WHAT!!?? CRK isn't owned by Chris!? As of when?
 
Hawk45 said:
I've never believed in that "you have to own this knife" buzz. If it doesn't suit your budget or needs, then no, you don't.

The ability for just about anyone that can run CAD and afford a Haas machine can start making mid-tech titanium knives now.
What makes one knife better than the other? Materials? Couldn't be, as most of these companies use Titanium and S35VN. While S35VN is a great steel, you can get very high quality knives in Titanium in M4, M390, etc for less, sometimes far less (ZT, WE, Rike, Reate, etc). Once you get to the point where you are paying $500 for a knife, you aren't buying it because it's a superior knife, but either for exclusivity, to be part of "the club" or maybe an appreciation for the engineering and/or the design. Let's be honest, a $80 Cold Steel or $200 ZT can do everything a that a $500 XM18, SnG or Sebenza does, and sometimes better.

All that being said, these designs are known and copied for a reason, whether it's the detail to precision (CRK), being a "tough guy" (XM/SnG), a major design innovation (Ti Frame Lock, Flipper, durability to weight ratio, etc).. they have all give reason for all the attention. If these guys want to stay at the top, they need to do it with customer service and quality, because the market is filled with competition.

For me, I do care for CRK's. I love the precision behind the knife and the overall classic and simplistic nature of the knife. Hinderer knives have never really done anything for me, especially since ZT has arrived. Striders, not sure.. I'd like to check one out but have never pulled the trigger.

Thanks just my take, not that it's right, just my perspective.
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I dont think anyone could have said it better but i like to add just one thing. Besides the knife i also like to support ppl/companies i like and have a good standing/warranty. Would never buy from a maker that straight out copies another one's design and calls it his own and continues to make it to this day. Dont get me wrong the copy may be just as good or better (dont know) but the sheer fact of blatant disregard of copying just doesnt fly with me.
 
Still the big 3 in my opinion. They still have the mystique that separates them from the rest even though in reality the competition is on par with them.

Only 'newcomer' I would consider adding is Shirogorov. I've been extremely impressed with my two and prices seem to be slowly coming down.
 
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From what I am seeing and seeing mentioned the new competition seems to be coming from the flippers. That portion of the market has expanded dramatically., and there are some very fine offerings. So if you like flippers, much has changed. If not things seem fairly the same.
 
matt009au said:
Still the big 3 in my opinion. They still have the mystique that separates them from the rest even though in reality the competition is on par with them.

Only 'newcomer' I would consider adding is Shirogorov. I've been extremely impressed with my two and prices seem to be slowly coming down.
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I thought about including Shirogorov, but then I decided it wasn't really the same field. You can get two Sebenzas for the cost of a Shirogorov.

I think the three the OP mentioned are still solid competitors for top production knives at around the $500 mark.
 
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