Strider .75 AR Controversy

[evilgreg]

I thought it was noteworthy that an already questionable company has no problem publicly stating that they support a dirty scumbag. I also thought others might be interested that I find such a thing noteworthy. I am quite popular

In a world where lol is so often a lie, I almost choked myself taking a drink as I read this. That finish is solid, nicely done.

 

[Eli Chaps]

As specified, no animus to anyone. What would the post "noted" signify then? If I note something, that is one thing. It is something different to announce it.

No need to redact my name. Having seen that post I will never buy anything from CKF.

Also, just say no to stolen valor and bad knife designs.

 

[Danke42]

Mick Strider fans - Let he who has never stolen Valour cast the first stone.

Me - I think I'm gonna do two or three.

I completely understand the process of separating an artist from their art. There are plenty of examples of dirtbags who created amazing things and I don't need to justify my feelings about a physical thing that is static and unchanging and the person who created that thing.

But this company though built their story on a foundation of lies. Saying that everyone else in the world has lied too so this guy's not so bad isn't going to fly. That argument will be strongly rebutted every time it's raised.

 

[ThrawnX]

Well, I mean T ThrawnX acts like he goes to each knife factory and shakes hands (or bumps elbows?) with each employee and does a background check.

Of course I don't, just wandered about your absolute statement.
I mean it should be normal that no one wants to support bad people in general - but for me not every liar is a bad person … depends on the lie

Mick Strider fans - Let he who has never stolen Valour cast the first stone.
But this company though built their story on a foundation of lies.

If I'm correct the main problem of the people who don't like Mick Burger/Strider is not that he is just a liar but that he lied about his military background, correct?
For example, if he said he would hand polish every blade on a full moon, it wouldn't be a problem (at least not that big problem)

-> For me both statements (lies) are/would be only marketing chatter anyway

 

[Officer's Match]

I like it, myself. Every single time, I enjoy it just as much because in addition to being entertaining it's functional. Haven't you noticed how many times in those devolved into a "Strider is a stolen valor POS" that someone posts "I did not know that, thanks"? I found the truth about him here, as have so many other before and since. It's totally functional.

FWIW even if Mickey Mouseburger wasn't a POS, the knives have had plenty of issues too. From personal experience literally 3 out of 4 SNGs that I handled had lock rock, one with vertical play that made the lock bar click and shift when you put pressure on it. Add the combination of finger choil + giant sharpening choil and the sycophantic cult following at the other place to that list as well.

The Internet is big enough for there to be at least one knife forum where you're allowed to give opinions other than ego-stroking compliments to makers who launched their knife making careers on a pack of lies.

And I'll agree with the first paragraph - I too learned both of Strider knives & Mickey Ray Burger on this forum - simultaneously. So absolutely NONE of the lie was a (positive) factor in my impression of the product itself. In fact, quite the opposite.

Paragraph two: this is where I very decisively disagree, and the reason I stepped into this thread. I too have known (other's, never owned nor would have owned) older Strider knives to be of crappy build and lock geometry. The current crop of M.STRIDER stamped knives (SnG and SMF anyway) are of absolutely superb build quality and frankly display more manufacture skill than most of the coveted brands out there - statement of physical properties, not praising MRB. And they do offer some traits not available elsewhere as far as I can see.

Paragraph three leads to my quandary. I didn't compliment MRB. It appears to me that I'm being told that me liking these to inanimate (and well made) objects makes me available to scorn or disrespect - I fundamentally disagree with that type of rationale. I didn't commission MRB to build them. I had nothing whatsoever with the SnG or SMF I own being made in the first place, and no money I paid for them in any form or fashion benefitted MRB or went to his dirty hands (both secondary market purchases).

Greg, I thank you sincerely for your service to our country (and anyone else reading this that has honorably served - NOT you MRB). I hope you take me seriously in that. And I'm sure the ideals of the freedoms this country enables (WuFlu mania notwithstanding) are as important (if not more so) to you as they are to me.

 

[Quiet]

Of course I don't, just wandered about your absolute statement.
I mean it should be normal that no one wants to support bad people in general - but for me not every liar is a bad person … depends on the lie


If I'm correct the main problem of the people who don't like Mick Burger/Strider is not that he is just a liar but that he lied about his military background, correct?
For example, if he said he would hand polish every blade on a full moon, it wouldn't be a problem (at least not that big problem)

-> For me both statements (lies) are/would be only marketing chatter anyway

Please help me out. You seem to be implying that a lie concerning military service is on the same level as a making a trivial and obviously outlandish claim. I can assure you that that isn't the case.

 

[Quiet]

And I'll agree with the first paragraph - I too learned both of Strider knives & Mickey Ray Burger on this forum - simultaneously. So absolutely NONE of the lie was a (positive) factor in my impression of the product itself. In fact, quite the opposite.

Paragraph two: this is where I very decisively disagree, and the reason I stepped into this thread. I too have known (other's, never owned nor would have owned) older Strider knives to be of crappy build and lock geometry. The current crop of M.STRIDER stamped knives (SnG and SMF anyway) are of absolutely superb build quality and frankly display more manufacture skill than most of the coveted brands out there - statement of physical properties, not praising MRB. And they do offer some traits not available elsewhere as far as I can see.

Paragraph three leads to my quandary. I didn't compliment MRB. It appears to me that I'm being told that me liking these to inanimate (and well made) objects makes me available to scorn or disrespect - I fundamentally disagree with that type of rationale. I didn't commission MRB to build them. I had nothing whatsoever with the SnG or SMF I own being made in the first place, and no money I paid for them in any form or fashion benefitted MRB or went to his dirty hands (both secondary market purchases).

Greg, I thank you sincerely for your service to our country (and anyone else reading this that has honorably served - NOT you MRB). I hope you take me seriously in that. And I'm sure the ideals of the freedoms this country enables (WuFlu mania notwithstanding) are as important (if not more so) to you as they are to me.

So, at this point, it begs the question: who's actually making these knives to this level of (as you describe) degree? It certainly doesn't track that Strider Knives had several fundamental issues (most concerning lock geometry, which is a design flaw) and suddenly a rebrand later, this liar is turning out (as you claim) knives that are displaying more manufacture skill than most of the coveted brands out there.

My immediate thought is that these are now outsourced, which given how loose McBurgerbag's interpretation of what "truth" means, could be entirely possible.

 

[Quiet]

Edited to add: this is mere speculation and having a bit of a laugh, I have no facts, links, or even a 30 second Google search to back anything up.

 

[evilgreg]

Paragraph three leads to my quandary. I didn't compliment MRB. It appears to me that I'm being told that me liking these to inanimate (and well made) objects makes me available to scorn or disrespect - I fundamentally disagree with that type of rationale. I didn't commission MRB to build them. I had nothing whatsoever with the SnG or SMF I own being made in the first place, and no money I paid for them in any form or fashion benefitted MRB or went to his dirty hands (both secondary market purchases).

Please don't feel attacked on my account. If you like the knives and they make you happy then enjoy them. The fact that I don't and wouldn't shouldn't cause you any harm.

I'll give you and everyone else on the forum the opportunity to judge me and find my tastes lacking: I'm currently carrying a $12 generic unbranded pink OTF that I bought from China (there are groups of people who will judge me for every part of that sentence, $12, generic unbranded, pink and China).

Edit: added a link so that you all could judge me more easily!

 

[Danke42]

Of course I don't, just wandered about your absolute statement.
I mean it should be normal that no one wants to support bad people in general - but for me not every liar is a bad person … depends on the lie


If I'm correct the main problem of the people who don't like Mick Burger/Strider is not that he is just a liar but that he lied about his military background, correct?
For example, if he said he would hand polish every blade on a full moon, it wouldn't be a problem (at least not that big problem)

-> For me both statements (lies) are/would be only marketing chatter anyway

No.

Again. The company was built on lies. It was built on his claims that he was a veteran to "vouch" for the quality and knowledge of tactical knives and the tug at the emotions of other veterans.

This was a "bad" lie and he is a "bad" person. He used his fake persona to hide his criminal past and enrich himself.

There are lots of folks who will attest to the high quality of his knives. I have one and as an object it is impressive. But it is the fruit of a poisoned tree.

 

[JupiterPaladin]

Saying "separate the item from the maker and discuss the merits of the item only" is the same crap clone supporters say. Supporting liars and thieves is wrong no matter how you try to spin it. Charging a premium based on stolen valor to me is way worse than Ganzo making cheap knockoffs. Ganzo doesn't hide their crappy practices nor do they try to lie about their reputation to get your money. And just because you can find some nice samples of Strider Knives doesn't make them superior. 3 nice ones don't make up for hundreds with glaring issues.

 

[kylemiller]

Edited to add: this is mere speculation and having a bit of a laugh, I have no facts, links, or even a 30 second Google search to back anything up.

Chinese? That's a new one to me. I've heard he's a raging anti semite who eats babies for fun. Did you guys hear about the puppy murdering rumors?

 

[Danke42]

Saying "separate the item from the maker and discuss the merits of the item only" is the same crap clone supporters say. Supporting liars and thieves is wrong no matter how you try to spin it. Charging a premium based on stolen valor to me is way worse than Ganzo making cheap knockoffs. Ganzo doesn't hide their crappy practices nor do they try to lie about their reputation to get your money. And just because you can find some nice samples of Strider Knives doesn't make them superior. 3 nice ones don't make up for hundreds with glaring issues.

The whole separate the artist from the art thing is becoming a real everyday thing thanks to our new Cancel Culture.

Should you watch a Woody Allen movie, Should Kevin Spacey be digitally replaced in all his films by a CGI Tom Hanks? Should Morrissey the long time darling of the left leaning vegan crowd now be burned at the stake? And given that should you roll back through history and wipe out any art that now isn't woke?

The clone makers products fall squarely into the same category as Strider knives. Fruit of a poisoned tree. They don't get a pass on their own merits either.

Does Greg Medford rub a lot of people the wrong way? He sure seems too; I kinda like him but I wold struggle to convince myself I need one of his pocket bricks. Does Ernie have an ego that's been massaged to the size of a brain bug in Starship Troopers from the fanboy love? Absolutely but that doesn't mean anyone needs to take his knives to the range and shoot them.

Since most of the folks on here are adults you have to presume that most of them will be able to consider the actual object and then the entire picture. Given the amount of flak that Stider or the Clone makers get every time they pop up I am confident that the majority of the membership here will do the right thing in this situation.

 

[Lee D]

Supporting liars and thieves is wrong no matter how you try to spin it. Charging a premium based on stolen valor to me is way worse than Ganzo making cheap knockoffs.

I find out you’re a liar, I’m never gonna trust a word you say again.
If I find out you’re a thief, I’m always gonna question if “your stuff” is truly yours.
Considering the lack of trust in both cases, it’s hard for me to say which is worse.

 

[ThrawnX]

Please help me out. You seem to be implying that a lie concerning military service is on the same level as a making a trivial and obviously outlandish claim.

Yes, for my understanding both are just commercial bla bla

The company was built on lies. It was built on his claims that he was a veteran to "vouch" for the quality and knowledge of tactical knives and the tug at the emotions of other veterans.

This was a "bad" lie and he is a "bad" person. He used his fake persona to hide his criminal past and enrich himself.

I read this often "his company was build on lies"
If that is true he doesn't deserve success.
But I can't imagine that a lot of knives have been sold because of his story - I guess that is the reason for our different opinions

 

[Silent H]

Edited to add: this is mere speculation and having a bit of a laugh, I have no facts, links, or even a 30 second Google search to back anything up.

Please help me out. You seem to be implying that a lie concerning military service is on the same level as a making a trivial and obviously outlandish claim. I can assure you that that isn't the case.

See? this is why I started this thread, I want to know why all those Burger fanboys are ok with Stolen Valor, but are now upset that he's not forthcoming about where his knives are made. What did they expect from a liar like that? I really would like to know who makes his knives now too, mainly to avoid them.

If I'm correct the main problem of the people who don't like Mick Burger/Strider is not that he is just a liar but that he lied about his military background, correct?
For example, if he said he would hand polish every blade on a full moon, it wouldn't be a problem (at least not that big problem)

-> For me both statements (lies) are/would be only marketing chatter anyway

There's a reason it's called "Stolen Valor" not just "lying about a job he had."

 

[Quiet]

Yes, for my understanding both are just commercial bla bla
I read this often "his company was build on lies"
If that is true he doesn't deserve success.
But I can't imagine that a lot of knives have been sold because of his story - I guess that is the reason for our different opinions

The issue you're running into is that a lot of his early customers (hell, customers to this day) truly do not want to accept that someone they probably respected quite a lot for things he claimed to have been and done is a huge fraud. Human beings generally react in this way because people have an intense dislike and disbelief of the idea that they can be fooled so easily. It's why so many of Strider fans on various boards like USN, ARFcom, and others tend to shrug off the outing of his situation when it's presented. "You're just haters!"

Oooooohhhkay, then.

 

[Silent H]

But I can't imagine that a lot of knives have been sold because of his story - I guess that is the reason for our different opinions

I posted this in another recent Mickey Burger thread, the question still stands: Do you think people would have bought overly thick, expensive pocket bricks with lockrock, QC issues, and poor cutting geometry from a guy advertising himself as an AWOL soldier and former felon?

 

[Danke42]

Yes, for my understanding both are just commercial bla bla
I read this often "his company was build on lies"
If that is true he doesn't deserve success.
But I can't imagine that a lot of knives have been sold because of his story - I guess that is the reason for our different opinions

Your imagination is wrong. Every knife he sold from 2000 till 2007 is tainted by this. Every knife sold after 2007 is just as tainted even though the truth was found out the foundation of the brand's success was built on that falsehood. And all the collaborations with Buck and Zero Tolerance and the others are similarly tainted.

Is it a crime to steal valour once? Yes it is.

 

[ThrawnX]

I posted this in another recent Mickey Burger thread, the question still stands: Do you think people would have bought overly thick, expensive pocket bricks with lockrock, QC issues, and poor cutting geometry from a guy advertising himself as an AWOL soldier and former felon?

No, I don't think so.
They bought, because for them the knives are not: overly thick, too expensive, pocket bricks, ... and didn't look at the guy behind