SnG or a Rift?

Sufler

Sufler

Joined
Oct 15, 2005
Messages
1,886
After looking at specs, reading and watching a few reviews on both these knives I can't help but think these two knives are comparably equally robust. Considerable price difference between these two knives. I like the aesthetics of both knives. I've handled both. Any thoughts on this? Bias aside, please. ;)

Benchmade 950-1 Rift

BM9501.jpg


Strider SNG

strider_sng_cc.jpg
 
Due to the way the thumb stud on the Strider rests on the handle, it probably has more strength for lateral stress. I don't know if Rick Hinderer invented that, but you'll see the same thing on the XM-18. My understanding is that transfers lateral stress longitudinally down the handle slabs, taking pressure off of the pivot.
 
I certainly don't use it as a thumb stud on mine, just a blade stop. I've tried and I'm not strong enough to open it using the studs, there kinda sharp on the edges too. The hole is definitely the better way to open them imo.
 
Thumb stud? Thumb hole? I'll go with the thumbstuds actually being blade stops here.
 
Sufler said:
I thought the "thumb stud" was just a blade stop?
Click to expand...

The thumb stud is a blade stop (though it's not meant to be used to open the blade). The hole is meant for opening the knife. But anytime you see the blade stop attached to the blade like that as opposed to the blade stop being in between the handles like on the Rift, it provides more support for lateral stress on top of what the normal blade stops do. Some knives that have this type of blade stop:

Kershaw Leek
Zero Tolerance 300 series
Strider SnG, SMF
Hinder XM-18
Yuna Knives Hard series

I prefer the SnG if my budget would permit.
 
The lugs are the blade stop, NOT thumb studs/lugs. The knife is designed to be opened with the hole.

No doubt the rift is a nice knife, but inferior to the Strider for heavy use, build, blade steel, etc., etc. Two different classes of knife.

*Edit.. beat me to it! I'll add that as far as I know the Rift has 154CM blade steel.
 
Eikowan said:
The lugs are the blade stop, NOT thumb studs/lugs. The knife is designed to be opened with the hole.

No doubt the rift is a nice knife, but inferior to the Strider for heavy use, build, blade steel, etc., etc. Two different classes of knife.

*Edit.. beat me to it! I'll add that as far as I know the Rift has 154CM blade steel.
Click to expand...

It does have 154cm unless you get one of the gold class Rifts, which IIRC has s30v.

DDR also uses the 'studs' as stop pins.
 
They are studs ;)

A well broken in Strider will open with the studs, it's about the only way I open my SNGs.
 
harkamus said:
It does have 154cm unless you get one of the gold class Rifts, which IIRC has s30v.

DDR also uses the 'studs' as stop pins.
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Or the CPM M4 LE which there was only 50 of. I quite like mine....

The Unumzaan also uses the thumbstud/stop combo. Go with the SNG, its in a different league from the Rift.
 
My non flipper XM also has the stop pin studs...


They work great also... But with a Hinderer no break in is needed. Just butter smooth action from jump street :cool:
 
Sng - definately. It is a much more robust knife.

The pins are blade stops, and on the SnG only make contact on the Ti side. Strider grinds away just enough G10 so the pin does not make contact there. It by no means affects the sturdiness of the knife. My SnG locks as tight as the day I got it.

Now that mine is broken in, I use the pins to open the blade the rest of the way after starting the process with the hole. The blade deployment speed you can develop after practicing is incredible.

When I show the knife to people and open it they think I have an auto. Once I convince them otherwise, they try to open as fast as me and can't even get close.

You'll have a lot of fun with it if it's what you decide to get.
 
So-Lo said:
My non flipper XM also has the stop pin studs...


They work great also... But with a Hinderer no break in is needed. Just butter smooth action from jump street :cool:
Click to expand...

That's because from what I've read, the SnG's stop pin was never intended as a thumb stud. It was designed to be opened with the hole. The Hinderer on the other hand was designed so that the thumb stud was the stop pin. Hence, no opening hole on the XM-18.
 
Kaizen1 said:
That's because from what I've read, the SnG's stop pin was never intended as a thumb stud. It was designed to be opened with the hole. The Hinderer on the other hand was designed so that the thumb stud was the stop pin. Hence, no opening hole on the XM-18.
Click to expand...

To say a SNG does not have thumb studs is silly, they do and they work well. In fact, I bet the opening arc from the studs is about the same on a XM vs a SNG.

I'll look when I get home :cool:
 
T.K.C. said:
You are talking bananas & oranges here.

I very much prefer the SNG.
Click to expand...

QFT! Very different classes of knives here. The BM is no weak knife but the strider is pretty robust and with the TI framelock and thicker flat ground blade its def tuffer. They both hold and feel different too not even mentioning the fact that the strider has a hole and the rift thumb studs. Also very different price ranges.
 
Axis Locks are SUPER Smooth as we all know, and love them. and are strong as can be. BUT, jam that baby in the mud and it's Jammed like a Gun. For general EDC if you're not an "operator" it's Great. Rift is Smooth, Beautiful, and defiantly tough.

SNG Is a Proven "Overbuilt" type toughness. What Stronger lock on a folder can you have but a Titanium "Support column" Running strait from the pivot all the way. AND it actually engages TIGHTER the HARDER YOU SQUEEZE and use the knife!!!!!!! Unless You Just Plain old Hate Strider or $400 like Most people. ( Myself not included, I'd rather have an SMF then 3-4 BMs. Especially with Gunner Grips:-)(Same with Sebenzas).

But like as been posted. your Question is kind of "off". If you can afford to spend the $$ for an SNG, I'd assume ( bad to assume, I know) you could probably afford Both knives.

It's like asking if you should get a Busse or Kbar. And actually had the $$ for the Busse. Ferrari?.......or Honda civic.......?

All that aside. I like Both. Both will get the job Done. I'm Partial to Strider SMFs and thier CCW Fixed blades. But the Rift is one of(IMHO) BMs better offerings in the past few years. Beautiful Handles. Tough blade. It's Just a really Nice knife for the Price. NON-Knife junkies Don't even Notice How Nice a Sebenza, Hinderer XM-18, or SMF is when I let them play, Unless it's all Ti "Flamed, Or the Gunner grips. They can't tell any difference in quality for price. They really get Excited with OTF Auto's,LOL. But the same people will not see the differences between a BM and a S&W that casts $15 right away either.
 
It's more of not having clutter and refining/building a user collection to just a few quality pieces rather than buying on impulse. And, if I can have the robustness of the Strider in a knife like the Rift at 1/4 the cost, then I think common sense prevails on the choice to be made. I don't buy into marketing hype that companies use, I just want a quality folder.

Thanks.

:thumbup:
 
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