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FYI...my responses are based on having owned 15 different Strider folders and about 10 different fixed blades. Some semi-custom , some custom. None of my folders ever had a problem or needed to go back to the shop.
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SNG rant
- Thread starter Goldistheanswer
- Start date
FYI...my responses are based on having owned 15 different Strider folders and about 10 different fixed blades. Some semi-custom , some custom. None of my folders ever had a problem or needed to go back to the shop.
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When spending big bucks on knives you're taking a risk that the knife might have something (uneven grinds, bad detent, off centered blade, etc) that you don't like UNLESS you buy in person. It's a risk for anyone online shopping and it's common sense.
If you don't like the knife then just sell it, they sell fast and you won't lose much money by reselling. This goes with the idea that Striders aren't for everyone. I happened to get an SNG that beat my expectations (good detent, centered, no major issues), but the edge of the blade could've been sharpened more evenly and the stop pin loosened up (quick fix, just put some loctite on it where it meets the blade). The thing is, these are things that only bug me because I'm a knife enthusiast and doesn't change the function at all. I think people just tend to focus on the little things when they spend a lot on a knife. In the end it's a knife and lets face it, Strider's aren't just for the looks.
I'll say that I've received some "higher end" models from some of the main knife companies (namely Benchmade) with "excellent quality control and customer service" that came to me in poor condition (terribly uneven grinds, poor fit/finish, off centered blade, unsharp). It's not just Strider that has hickups in QC.
If you don't like the knife then just sell it, they sell fast and you won't lose much money by reselling. This goes with the idea that Striders aren't for everyone. I happened to get an SNG that beat my expectations (good detent, centered, no major issues), but the edge of the blade could've been sharpened more evenly and the stop pin loosened up (quick fix, just put some loctite on it where it meets the blade). The thing is, these are things that only bug me because I'm a knife enthusiast and doesn't change the function at all. I think people just tend to focus on the little things when they spend a lot on a knife. In the end it's a knife and lets face it, Strider's aren't just for the looks.
I'll say that I've received some "higher end" models from some of the main knife companies (namely Benchmade) with "excellent quality control and customer service" that came to me in poor condition (terribly uneven grinds, poor fit/finish, off centered blade, unsharp). It's not just Strider that has hickups in QC.
nyefmaker
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You must have hit the strider lottery......lol. I did not luck out with the I bought directly from strider..............I have read in this lengthy thread that many people buy them from a dealer ( not direct from strider ) and they have them checked out before they mail them. Perhaps this is the way to go, that you have someone other than striders poor QC check them out. I do have my SMF that was pre-owned, but is perfect in every way after I reprofiled it to a 20 degree edge on my sharpmaker. This positive experience with my SMF is what made me Want to buy more striders. I unluckly bought 2 duds. I sold the first one and traded the second.
I did sell the first one and traded the second. Its just a bummer because I do like the design. Like I stated above, from reading others, going through a dealer and Not Strider may be the way to go.
I am glad you guys got some good ones.
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Try to get one through the exchange or go through a dealer like you suggested. I got mine here from akadave, and it was in excellent condition aside from the minor things stated. Plus it's usually cheaper getting them here. :thumbup:
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don't worry , it all evens out once you factor in this POS Ford I was blessed with owning
none of mine came from dealers , and only 1 folder and 1 fixed blade was bought on the secondary.
nyefmaker
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don't worry , it all evens out once you factor in this POS Ford I was blessed with owning
LOL !!! It always seems that happens. You get ahead in one thing, but get a setback in another. Such Is Life, Right ? :yawn:
i havent owned but one of the fixed blades but have had a lotta folders, AR's, GB's, SmF's and a few SnG's and i havent had one problem with them, never, the F&F seems to have improved a bit too thru the yrs, the last SnG i had, black g10 a digi finish spear point was pretty danged good in that regard, usually a SKI will have a small blemish or 2 (if ya are really anal like me, lotsa folks would never even notice) but that last one was about perfect.
I have had 3 Striders and no big complaints with any. These threads crack me up though. They all play out the same usually with bashers and supporters. I am trying to be neither here but say BUYER BEWARE. In my person opinion I have heard too many horror stories about Strider and try to resist buying another because I don't want to experience the lows others have with their Strider purchases. The line Striders aren't for everyone can be used for all things in life, but I think in the case of Strider it is often used for an excuse which is not right. I think it is ridiculous for any knife at any price to leave the factory not up to snuff. These are supposed to be representatives of your company entering the public and each one that is a poor representative speaks poorly of the company. Strider could do much better for themselves by paying more attention to CS and QC
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After skimming through this thread, it does not seem like I'll ever get an answer directly from Strider... I sent them an email about 2 weeks ago asking about the huge wasted area on the blade. I'm sure it has been discussed before, but maybe someone here could give me some insight... why a knife as big as an SMF has such a short actual cutting surface? What is the deal with the 1/4 inch of wasted space directly in front of the finger choil? I had an SMF for a while and it did not have any major QC problems and was smooth but I could just not get over the handle to cutting edge ratio. I know this is a design preference and I though by trying one out I would be able to get over it so to speak, but simply could not. I may try out a ZT at some point, although I am not a huge fan of recurves... but at least there isn't wasted space on the blade. So... does anyone know what the deal is? Thanks!
Ankerson
Knife and Computer Geek
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That space fits over the blade stop in the handle, as in the 1st screw. If you look inside you may see where it contacts inside the handle.
nyefmaker
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I have tried not to bash the striders because I do have One good one ( smf ), but I had Two very poor experiences after that with knives bought directly from them, so anyone reading my posts cant really blame me for being upset with their quality and QC. I did post several pics a few pages back o back-up my problems. Very goot post by the way, very well said.
I agree with the smaller cutting surface, but I think its just a matter of design. Since it was designed for military applications and multiple hand grip positions, its the design of the knife. I cant really complain about the smf design because it is what it is. You can see that in any pic before you buy. The sng is more in proportion.
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I have seen this type of comment a lot with respect to "one bad one getting through". The entire point of a QC system is to prevent any out-of-tolerance product from reaching the customer. If a company has a QC control system set up, they create a process that will check the parts coming off the line periodically based upon how much variance is expected from the production equipment. Sometimes the check must occur every part (I am working on a project right now with a 100% part check), and sometimes every 1000th part is checked or one part is checked every hour. The point is that when you spot a part that is out of tolerance, you shut down the line and recheck 100% of the parts since the last check. If a company has a QC system, bad parts aren't supposed to get through (if they do, that is a negative reflection on the company, not a slip up).
Most likely what is happening is knife companies have much larger tolerances than many of their customers expect from them. When you have a few hours invested in a blade, it's hard to throw it in the scrap bin and start over. Please don't give excuse a company for making products that are over priced for their quality. Our system is a free market system, if you think that a $500 Strider should be perfect (as I do) then don't purchase from them when you see so many sub-perfect knives being sold. Your dollar is hard earned and it is the best way to show a company how you feel.
pvicenzi
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I think the problem is more in how we buy these days. We tend to order knives that we have never seen based on popular opinion. The problem is we are all unique. Therefore, a popular knife may not be right for us. In the old days, we looked at and handeled every knife in the display case before making our choice. Even in identical models, there were differences in each knife.
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Ah, OK. Thank you, I see that now.
I'm no knife designer, but I am confident in saying that with a few very minor design tweaks the edge could extend all the way to the finger choil, giving it more cutting surface and allow the knife to not get caught and snagged on everything it touches. That was the other issue I had with it- it got caught up on everything from cardboard to material to rope. Ah well, I guess every knife has its flaws
really all the strider folders have a lotta wasted blade its not just the SmF, the AR and GB are just the same imho, thats just the way they are designed.
i wouldnt hold my breath for mick to respond with an answer, he might just say "well thats just the way things are".
That huge choil is exactly why I like my SMF. That 'wasted' space is supposed to make it easier to sharpen, as well as it doubles as a break so that the 'tip' of the choil is higher than the cutting edge so that when closed the edge does not contact the inside of the handle.
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The story is always the same with Strider..........
I have seven Strider folders, 5 are as you would expect and two have some issues (Binding locks on the RC and SNG)
I like them all and intend to keep them. That's the good part.
I have sent emails directly to Strider from their website asking for assistance and never got a reply (still waiting)
Their knives are generally good, even the ones with issues can be fixed. But the customer service absolutely sucks. You simply will not get any help from them at all unless you are a fan boy on another forum.
I have seven Strider folders, 5 are as you would expect and two have some issues (Binding locks on the RC and SNG)
I like them all and intend to keep them. That's the good part.
I have sent emails directly to Strider from their website asking for assistance and never got a reply (still waiting)
Their knives are generally good, even the ones with issues can be fixed. But the customer service absolutely sucks. You simply will not get any help from them at all unless you are a fan boy on another forum.
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God I spent like an hour or two reading this entire thread. I must really have nothing to do with my life.
Seems like one guy had a problem with a folder, and made a LOT of noise about it. Finally took some other guy's advice, made a small adjustment and he fell in love with the knife. Afterwards that guy takes off and goes on about his life, and then it's an argument between a few haters and one great supporter, occasionally litered with wise words from people on the sidelines.
I really don't even know what to post after reading this thread, the OP is happy, haters will always be haters, and every knife isn't for everyone. I bet a sebenza is a wonderful knife, I just don't like the style as much. I'd buy a ZT but I spend all my money on Striders. I had some spydercos and Sogs and Cold Steels and ended up selling and trading most of those, and really only made one or two negative posts about one company in particular (Sog) but it was about issuses far greater than my individual knife.
As far as Striders go, please don't buy them. They are too tight to open, the pivots suck, the company owner is mean, they don't answer phones, or check their knives before sending them out.
On all eight of their folders I own the blades have fallen off, and one fixed blade was too small, and the other one was dull. I also hate Brown, Black and Ranger green. Why don't they make knives in some pretty colors?
I think that a $4.00 smith and wesson knife is just as tough as a strider knife and they make guns too, so they are cooler. I hear Strider also charges you for return shipping when the blade breaks or falls off, that is so lame.
Don't buy Strider knives.
Seems like one guy had a problem with a folder, and made a LOT of noise about it. Finally took some other guy's advice, made a small adjustment and he fell in love with the knife. Afterwards that guy takes off and goes on about his life, and then it's an argument between a few haters and one great supporter, occasionally litered with wise words from people on the sidelines.
I really don't even know what to post after reading this thread, the OP is happy, haters will always be haters, and every knife isn't for everyone. I bet a sebenza is a wonderful knife, I just don't like the style as much. I'd buy a ZT but I spend all my money on Striders. I had some spydercos and Sogs and Cold Steels and ended up selling and trading most of those, and really only made one or two negative posts about one company in particular (Sog) but it was about issuses far greater than my individual knife.
As far as Striders go, please don't buy them. They are too tight to open, the pivots suck, the company owner is mean, they don't answer phones, or check their knives before sending them out.
On all eight of their folders I own the blades have fallen off, and one fixed blade was too small, and the other one was dull. I also hate Brown, Black and Ranger green. Why don't they make knives in some pretty colors?
I think that a $4.00 smith and wesson knife is just as tough as a strider knife and they make guns too, so they are cooler. I hear Strider also charges you for return shipping when the blade breaks or falls off, that is so lame.
Don't buy Strider knives.
leftyTwoguns I'm glad we got to hear from a fan boy such as yourself. Keep believing anyone that reports a problem is a hater. As they say ignorance is bliss. Make sure and have fun at the mall with those Striders. Judging by your picture and the general feel or your profile you want to look tough. I'm sure the Striders will help that image for you.
stabman
Gold Member
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