Strider and Hinderer fakes

[Cereal_killer]

That's a fake strider TAD Dauntless. The give away (other than where it came from/price) is that AFAIK every one of them in individually numbered.

 

[Varga Knives]

That's a TAD Dauntless or at least it's supposed to be. That initial bottom Hinderer looks good to me, too. Yikes!!

 

[jill jackson]

I knew she wouldn't pay 100's of dollars on a gift for me, so I knew it had to be a fake, even though it's got really good fit and finish, no blade play and it's very sharp. I did tell her not to buy anything from the vendor again and she admitted it only cost 60 dollars.

 

[1SHOT1KILL]

://www.ebay.com/itm/Hinderer-XM-18-Bowie-Grind-by-Kevin-John-48-hr-return-policy-see-description-/221369779364?pt=US_Knives_Tools&hash=item338aaac4a4

You can add the http to the above link and you will see the pics that are causing this controversy. The Hinderer on the bottom is genuine.

 

[smcjoecohen@yahoo]

The bottom Hinderer was offered up at the same time, not real, and from over seas.

I saw those knives on Ebay also. The Bowie is being sold as a "Kevin John XM" so they're not trying to fool anyone. You can tell because the screws are not phillips head, and the grind is rough, and the bead blasting looks, well not like something Rick Hinderer made. The lower one looks real to me. Anyway you have to be careful on ebay, but most of the fakes are being sold as fakes, and their prices reflect that. You're probably not going to see a real Hinderer Bowie for a couple hundred bucks. If it was real it would be long gone at that price. Some knives have clones on ebay, some don't, I guess Hinderer and Strider don't mind. I may catch some flack for this statement but Hinderer, Strider, Microtech, Crusader Forge, Direware, and other highly sought custom knife makers can't even keep up w/current demand. I don't think $100 clones are hurting those makers business. If you want a real mid-tech buy it here on BF or an authorized retailer. You can find all the dealers through the Strider or Hinderer websites.

 

[Varga Knives]

Okay, I'll give you a little flack . At least Rick does very much mind and who can blame him. Any cheap knockoff is not flattery but rather a potentential customer looking at a poor quality knife and thinking it is a Hinderer and they are junk. Of course there is also loss of revenue. Rolex is a good example of a company that fights tooth and nai tol stop clones. Losing battle. Knockoff anything is a huge trademark counterfeiting issue that puts a big dent in our economy.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

Jill, It is the TAD Dauntless version. It may be real - I don't know - because TAD authorizes various makes to produce TAD Dauntless versions for sale from the TAD website. PM me if you want details. Their are people who collect the TAD versions of the various makers. They are recognizable from the fuller grooves, and the three spoked gizmo that is the TAD symbol. But I'm not smart enough to tell if yours is real or fake. The TAD website people would know in a heartbeat.

A friend gave me this knife she bought at a flea market, for Xmas. She didn't know it was a fake. I don't know what model Strider it's a fake of.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

My advice to the OP is to not buy knives on ebay. Stick to this forum or other knife forums. There is a much higher probability that you will be getting a genuine model, because lots of experts will view the photo they post and call them out. It is not worth it to risk your money just to save a couple of bucks on ebay. Just my opinion.

 

[jill jackson]

It really looks well made but I doubt it would be at a flea market for sixty bucks, if it was not a clone.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

That is true. TAD versions of knives are alway limited editions and highly desirable. All the top custom makers like Rexford and Kirby Lambert have made TAD versions. And TAD produces their own TAD dauntless, they won't reveal who makes it for them but it is a quality maker (3 iterations so far) and they are very well made and come up on the forums for 350 - 400 bucks in BNIB condition.

It really looks well made but I doubt it would be at a flea market for sixty bucks, if it was not a clone.

 

[jill jackson]

With these CNC milling machines it's not that hard to clone anything. All they need is someone that can program them and the materials. Oh and an example of the real deal.

 

[whateatsrabbits]

I wouldn't risk it, sell your busse and buy from authorized dealer.

 

[smcjoecohen@yahoo]

It really looks well made but I doubt it would be at a flea market for sixty bucks, if it was not a clone.

It's not real it's from Aliexpress. The Strider and Tad stamps are not hammered they are printed on the surface. The pocket clip hole is in the wrong place and the clip is straight. The real ones have angled clips. It's still a nice knife I've handled one before. The one I saw had rock solid lockup, it was razor sharp and had great F&F. The clones are getting really good as far as quality, but they still have differences. As far as Ebay goes it's easy for me to know. None of the Strider clones have the same flamed TI. None of the GG's have blasted TI side like real ones. All of the SMF/SNG clones have a BOS heat treat and USA stamp but no Steel id stamp, like they don't have the s30v. The high priced clones, like the new line of RC's have Kevin John Knives on one side and a Scorpion on the other. Someone could still put a real pic on a listing and send a different knife, but Ebay buyer protection is really good. I've ordered 3 striders from ebay. 1 SMF CC, a standard flamed SMF, and a DDC custom RC Tanto w/Razorwire and I'm positive they are real. I traded the SMF to Arizona Custom Knives for my Microtech Custom Socom Bravo. They have it listed now for $475. (I always find it to be cool when I see one of my old knives for sale on a retailers site) I was able to see the tiny variences that made it mine. Anyway ther are sellers you know you can trust. Saltcity on Ebay is a power Plus seller that deals in many high end customs. When I order from a new seller I open the package in the post office in front of the Mail person. I do this so there's a witness, I can take pics of the opened package w/my phone for documentation if I need to open a case. If a case is opened the funds are frozen until it's resolved so you don't have to worry about losing your money. I've seen fakes being sold here on BF also. I called a guy on a fake SNG about 3 weeks ago, check my posts to see it. Never send Money Orders or wires, never send funds as gift. It's not worth the risk for 6 bucks or 12 or 15 right? You'd feel real dumb if you get a fake because a gift means NO RECOURSE! May as well send cash.

 

[smcjoecohen@yahoo]

Pretty hard to believe that the bottom one is fake. I can't spot a single thing on there that is off.

That's because it's not fake.

 

[spyderwire]

Is Starlingear even a real Strider? This is a KJ going for $290.

 

[programmergeek]

I have a friend that has a fake Hinderer and if he didn't tell me it was fake I would of never known, the standoffs look a little thinner in the middle but everything looked the same to my hinderer in fact his opened smoother, maybe it was more broken in or better lubed. It is scary close.

 

[Freman Bloodglaive]

That bowie Hinderer is annoying, not just because it's a copy but because Kevin John has, for some time clearly marked the knives with "Titanium" not "Hinderer". Putting Hinderer on it moves it from a replica to a counterfeit.

 

[weinerd]

Jill, It is the TAD Dauntless version. It may be real - I don't know - because TAD authorizes various makes to produce TAD Dauntless versions for sale from the TAD website. PM me if you want details. Their are people who collect the TAD versions of the various makers. They are recognizable from the fuller grooves, and the three spoked gizmo that is the TAD symbol. But I'm not smart enough to tell if yours is real or fake. The TAD website people would know in a heartbeat.

This "strider dauntless" is most definitely fake. While TAD does outsource their base dauntless to an unknown manufacturer, the strider dauntless were made by, duh, strider knives. Real strider dauntless were individually serialized, and did not have a skeletonized clip, and the clip position is different. I also don't think the thumb stud was shiny, and the TAD and strider logos weren't so bright and pronounced.

It's sad, really... the forger could have changed a few things here and there, not do the triple-groove, change the blade shape and grind a little bit, and boom- they have a decent knife. Instead, it's just a crappy rip-off now.

 

[weinerd]

Is Starlingear even a real Strider? This is a KJ going for $290.

Starlingear most definitely has been collaborating with Strider, but the one you have pictured most likely is fake- I think Starlingear didn't start their collaboration until after Strider stopped marking their blades with the Bos heat treat stamp.