Strider folder--I don't get it

Wish I had these choices when I was in the Army. Well the Sebenza was just out, but I was doing just fine with my Benchmade CQC-7, then later my EKI CQC-7B. tirod3 nailed the part about soldiers using what they found at the PX, or at Ft. Campbell, the U.S. Cavalry store outside the main gate. Only 1 other Medic I knew carried a decent fixed blade (Ka-Bar Next Generation), most carried either a Spyderco Delica/Endura, Cold Steel Voyager, or a Gerber Applegate/Fairburn, because those were the folders for sale at the PX.

Back on topic, the SnG and the Sebenza are like Apples & Oranges. In common they are framelocks & about the same size. Not in common is the grind, ergonomics, construction (G10 on the SnG), and finish.

Both will serve you well for 99% of your most common cutting needs. From there just pick the one that feels best in your hand & that appeals to you.

I went through the same dilemma a few years back. I ended up going with the SnG because I liked how it felt in my hand & it helped that the guys at Strider gave me the military discount. I will admit it was not as sharp as the Sebenza I had handled, but that was easily solved by sharpening it myself. I ended up selling it though as I carried my Emerson HD-7 or CQC-12 more. They have since been replaced by my Strider GB - whole different animal. Of course I am hoping to add a Chris Reeve knife to my collection this year. Seriously looking at the Umnumzaan, though the Mnandi with some Lignum Vitae scales tempts me too.

Just enjoy all the wonderful knife choices you have. Almost glad I did not have this many choices years back or I'd of been a poor soldier.:D
 
I have to disagree with some posts, and here is why.
1. In my opinion, G-10 on strider sng/smf folders was used to reduce the cost of production and not to make the knife sturdier. The thickness of the Ti slab on SMF is less than on Sebenza, but not less than on BM Skirmish, and I did not see anybody complain that Skirmish was flimsy.
2. It was mentioned that SMF has a Hinderer lock stabilizer as an advantage to the Sebenza, and I agree. But no one yet noted that Sebenza has it's huge advantage to a Strider's lock, in form of a little steel triangle hardened to 60+ RC , attached to a Ti locking slab at the point where it holds the blade when it's open. This prevents a Ti lock from wearing out, a common isuue with Striders.
3. The Striders super warranty now. To me it's a hype. At least it's not the best, like many learned to think. Yes, they say they don't care if you use your knife as a pry bar or a hammer. They say they will fix it. Not always so. I know a case where they did not fix the knife, sending it back to the owner, stating that they not longer produce this kind and don't have parts to fix it. Shouldn't they replace it then with a newer model?
Also, their customer service as reported by many is not the best and knife turn around time is long, close to a month in some cases.
4. As fit and finish and quality control goes, Sebenza is a winner here. And that knife is a tool and meant to be used, so fit and finish do not matter is a poor excuse on a Strider's side. Sure I can bit the crap out of the knife with use, but when it's new I'd like it to be relative to $$$ I paid for it. And if you can't do it right, just say so, I may accept it. But if you give me some BS about that it's better that way, I am not gonna buy it.
 
Halfneck said:
Just enjoy all the wonderful knife choices you have. Almost glad I did not have this many choices years back or I'd of been a poor soldier.:D
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LOL amen to that halfneck a bunch of guys bought huge plasma televisions with their enlistment bonus and i swore i wasnt gonna do that and then slowly chipped away at it with knife purchases.

Darn disposable income. :thumbup:
 
rookie4real said:
I have to disagree with some posts, and here is why.
1. In my opinion, G-10 on strider sng/smf folders was used to reduce the cost of production and not to make the knife sturdier. The thickness of the Ti slab on SMF is less than on Sebenza, but not less than on BM Skirmish, and I did not see anybody complain that Skirmish was flimsy.

I would argue that the price of that thick a price of G-10 and then milling it out to match with the Ti lockbar slab is more expensive then just using another piece of Ti. It's also more sturdy then using standoffs.

2. It was mentioned that SMF has a Hinderer lock stabilizer as an advantage to the Sebenza, and I agree. But no one yet noted that Sebenza has it's huge advantage to a Strider's lock, in form of a little steel triangle hardened to 60+ RC , attached to a Ti locking slab at the point where it holds the blade when it's open. This prevents a Ti lock from wearing out, a common isuue with Striders.

I've heard stories of people who have had theirs for years and years with solid lockup and no play at all. This same story from people with Striders, Sebenza's, Militarys.

3. The Striders super warranty now. To me it's a hype. At least it's not the best, like many learned to think. Yes, they say they don't care if you use your knife as a pry bar or a hammer. They say they will fix it. Not always so. I know a case where they did not fix the knife, sending it back to the owner, stating that they not longer produce this kind and don't have parts to fix it. Shouldn't they replace it then with a newer model? (No)
Also, their customer service as reported by many is not the best and knife turn around time is long, close to a month in some cases.

I have never had to deal with their warranty, but honestly I think I'd wait a month for a brand new $500 knife.

4. As fit and finish and quality control goes, Sebenza is a winner here. And that knife is a tool and meant to be used, so fit and finish do not matter is a poor excuse on a Strider's side. Sure I can bit the crap out of the knife with use, but when it's new I'd like it to be relative to $$$ I paid for it. And if you can't do it right, just say so, I may accept it. But if you give me some BS about that it's better that way, I am not gonna buy it.
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Strider has never said that F&F never matters. F&F matters very much, what they said was aesthetics don't matter. Just because the knife looks pretty doesn't make it cut well.
 
If you don't think there's a $ premium on a tacticool basis, you probably either have cash for brains or haven't recognized Strider's marketing genius.
 
The last 5 yrs, CONUS, I've seen green and tan berets, scrolls, Ranger/SF/Airborne/Sapper tabs, CABs, CIBs, mustard stains, etc. I have seen Gerber, Cold Steel, Winchester, CRKT, Leatherman, sometimes BM & Spyderco. The most expensive knives I've seen (outside my own pocket) were a Civilian, Gerber/Emerson auto, and a BM AFO (dept issue to a NG Soldier who is a police officer)

I do favors and sharpen a lot of 440A and AUS-8, nobody has any S30V.
 
hardheart said:
The last 5 yrs, CONUS, I've seen green and tan berets, scrolls, Ranger/SF/Airborne/Sapper tabs, CABs, CIBs, mustard stains, etc. I have seen Gerber, Cold Steel, Winchester, CRKT, Leatherman, sometimes BM & Spyderco. The most expensive knives I've seen (outside my own pocket) were a Civilian, Gerber/Emerson auto, and a BM AFO (dept issue to a NG Soldier who is a police officer)

I do favors and sharpen a lot of 440A and AUS-8, nobody has any S30V.
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I guess you just aren't "high speed" enough to hang with real "tactical operators" :D

Look. I know that the Strider/Military/Tacticool appearance is present, but everytime I use my SMF I don't say, "Oh, by the way, tactical operators use this knife. It's like $500. Totally dude." Someone comments I just say, yeah, it's a nice knife. Cuts well and I'm not scared of breaking it.

I think people over generalize about those that carry Striders, just like people who buy Buck/Gerber generalize about people who carry Spyderco's or BM. I've talked to lots of people who feel that $50 on a knife is to much.
 
Josh K said:
I think people over generalize about those that carry Striders
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I agree

tirod3 said:
Strider folders are built to be used.

They are the best knife for hard use with gloves on - which is how hard users, military and LEO's are often equipped. The grooves, shape, and placement of details like the opening oval are all well thought out for use. It's not a knife for pretty, and a little play means nothing in the real world of tools designed for combat use.

With only 1 in 100 citizens now intimately familiar with military duty, most of the above falls on deaf ears. In the day, one in ten had served in the DOD and experienced some form of military grade equipment and the harsh standards of construction forced on it by an unforgiving environment and the legions of young men still learning how to finesse the use of tools. There's no compromise in Strider design - which in today's coddled suburbanite society is now looked on in derision. "Why can't it be like (name favorite bling knife here.)"
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tirod3 said:
Buying a Strider to use in military or LEO use matches the tool to the job.

Strider owners tend to report cutting through sheetmetal, prying open doors, and digging sniper holes in adobe walls.

Strider ships in a ziplock bag and fills military contracts to special units. Once issued, "mint condition" is a useless condition.
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tirod3 said:
you see a grubbier dude Stridering open a can of peaches on the back of his jeep, count your frickin blessings. After all, he hired you, right? :D
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hardheart said:
The last 5 yrs, CONUS, I've seen green and tan berets, scrolls, Ranger/SF/Airborne/Sapper tabs, CABs, CIBs, mustard stains, etc. I have seen Gerber, Cold Steel, Winchester, CRKT, Leatherman, sometimes BM & Spyderco. The most expensive knives I've seen (outside my own pocket) were a Civilian, Gerber/Emerson auto, and a BM AFO (dept issue to a NG Soldier who is a police officer)

I do favors and sharpen a lot of 440A and AUS-8, nobody has any S30V.
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sometimes it drives me nuts, they used to sell this brand called savage at the px that would fall apart if you sneezed on them. id say that i see alot more crkt than anything else those m-16 designs have gotten prettypopular with the troops. i think that half of them half aus-6 the rest hav ehte aus-8.

at my unit i only know of 2 people that carry striders . most stick to the px as previously stated.
 
I picked up a cheapie red class BM and a SOG Powerlock at Clothing & Sales. They have some Spydies and the Presidio Ultras, might pick those up.

Too bad all of them are in clamshell packs, it would be so much more high speed if they were in ziplock baggies.
 
hmm ive heard good things about the powerlocks and other sog mutlitools havent tseen them on any bases b4 though, most guys just stick witht the issued gerber multitools because were always breaking them.

was the bm the pika? ive had bad experiences witht he griptillian because every time the axis gets dirty it starts sicking. i once had to start beating it on stuff to get it to close. im known as the knife guy at my unit so people are always asking what to get at the px and i always tell them to go for the spyderco endura or delica. really nothing more needed for most soldiers.
 
razorsdescent said:
sometimes it drives me nuts, they used to sell this brand called savage at the px that would fall apart if you sneezed on them. id say that i see alot more crkt than anything else those m-16 designs have gotten prettypopular with the troops. i think that half of them half aus-6 the rest hav ehte aus-8.

at my unit i only know of 2 people that carry striders . most stick to the px as previously stated.
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A lot of people knock CRKT's designs, but the M16/21's are pretty decent for your moneys worth. :thumbup:
 
hardheart said:
Too bad all of them are in clamshell packs, it would be so much more high speed if they were in ziplock baggies.
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Very true! :thumbup:

I got mine used, and it didn't come with the original ziplock, it was a glad bag. :mad:
 
we were moving some cubicles over for the admin guys, and one of them snapped the jaws off his Gerber, while my Lman Wave kept on rolling. The SOG gearing does give a strong grip, the scissors could be better.

Yeah, tanto pika, just wanted it for no reason, haven't used it. I'm carrying a 14205, got a little gritty from this OK sand and dirt, but I just rinsed it out. I ordered a CS American Lawman before I came out here, then found out it was also at C&S, for a few bucks less than what I paid online. I like that Tri-ad lock.

on topic - I also do not get the Strider folder thing

off topic - Also got a custom slipjoint from Mike Alsdorf while out here. I haven't dropped the interframe peanut with spalted maple insets into my ACUs yet, just not tactical enough to open my MREs :p
 
hardheart said:
on topic - I also do not get the Strider folder thing

off topic - Also got a custom slipjoint from Mike Alsdorf while out here. I haven't dropped the interframe peanut with spalted maple insets into my ACUs yet, just not tactical enough to open my MREs :p
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I get it. I got one and I really do like it. I'm anything but high speed but I do really like the knife.

Off topic: I've got a Keith Johnson Sodbuster in the mail. It's going to be paired with the SMF for my EDC. :D
 
hardheart i dont see what makes this so hard to get.for the civilian buyer its anice knife same as a sebbie or a nice BM or any other high end knife.


i buy black hawk riggers belts i buy danner and converse boots i get my berrets from ranger joes. Why? because theyre a little nicer and they last a little longer than the standard gear. same thing witha strider its just a damn nice blade. the more striders i handle the more i like striders products they feel great to me and i would trust them to open an mre or open an artery. its simple really theyre just nicer than the gerbers and bms you see in the hands of everyone else. im passionate about knives and idont mind paying for a nice one. hell i dont really have other hobbies so why not?

haha a slipjoint not as tactical as a rock huh?
 
3Guardsmen said:
I think it has everything to do with pride of ownership.;)
kool-aid.jpg



Regards,
3G
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I would certainly NOT be proud to own a Strider knife. :thumbdn:
 
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