Strider Knives. Why So Much?

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Stephen1337

Joined
Nov 5, 2011
Messages
63
Well I was really looking into to buying a strider but they are too much money for me and I cant find any good deals on them on ebay. First I was gonna get the SNG but too much money then SMF too much money then PT but its kinda of too small for me I like big folding knifes for EDC and such like 0300 and 0350. Why are Striders so much money or are they just overpriced becuase it looks like my 0300 is the same thing at the SNG but different blade designs!!! :confused:
Is it the steel or something or construction of handle or knife or something!? Can someone please explain to me why these knives are so much haha thanks!
 
Because there sweet!
IMAG0319-1.jpg
 
You are partly paying for exclusivity. You are also partly paying for high production costs. Strider is a VERY small company that doesn't have a nice assembly line like most other companies. The same guy answering the phone and emails is the same guy helping put your knife together.

Is it worth it for you? Only you can decide that. I have 3 SMFs, because I like the design and the construction. Also carrying a knife that not many people have ever seen, let alone own, is cool too.
 
The ZT 300 is a collaboration between ZT and Strider that's why it looks like a strider. Strider is a much smaller company, therefor probably a lot more hand work, that also means they're putting out less blades per month so they need to make more money per knife, than a bigger company like KAI (ZT). They also have a "you break it we replace it type warranty" which will cost you more, and of course there's the brand name/exclusivity that you're also paying for.
 
Short and cheap answer: Because other people are willing to pay that price. As long as they are willing to pay it, the price will remain where it is. Knives in that range are like artwork. If you see one that you HAVE to have it, then buy it, if you can live without it, then it may not be worth it for you
 
you want to play, you've got to pay! the zt300 best knife for the money but i love my striders,hinderers,and sebenza too much sure but what else are you going to spend your money on
 
Hey Stephen if you like big tough folders get yourself a Pohlforce folder. The responses to your guestion above all seem to stress that you rarely see Strider knives [ I guess most people have the sense not to blow hundreds on very ordinary looking folders ] well, very few people have seen Pohlforce folders in the flesh.
My Pohlforce Alpha 3 cost me less then half the price of a Strider and is much bigger and much more impressive. It makes Striders look like they'd be more useful for buttering bread.
 
Overpriced junk. lol, just kidding. Used to own a Strider till I sold it. I get why they're so popular but for me there's just way too many other knives out there that offer a better value to justify buying another Strider. Plus, I never really liked the blade-to-handle ratio on their folders.
 
Buy used and find them on the exchange.

There are too many fakes out there to trust Ebay.

They are tough folders and a used one will have a lot of life left.

Strider can only make so many knives in a day due to their small company size, and they have a few military contracts as I understand so as long as demand stays strong the pricing will stay consistent with what you are seeing.

At least you can get your hands on a Strider - try to get your hands on a Hinderer XM-18 or XM-24 - even the dealers mark Hinderers up as much as 100%.
 
They're expensive because if you're good at marketing your knives as "tactical," people are willing to pay much more for it. In terms of reliability, materials, customer service, and quality, you aren't going to get as much for your money as you would elsewhere. Whether it's worth it or not to you depends on just how much you like the design.
 
People are willing to pay that price, so Strider will keep charging it. Get it marketed as super tacticool and people will droop over a slab of sharpened ATS-34 with G-10 grips with a basic, ok heat treat.
 
Unicorn161 said:
People are willing to pay that price, so Strider will keep charging it.
Click to expand...

Thats pretty much it. And what Tsujigiri said. There is nothing magical about the materials or workmanship. You can find S30V, G10 and titanium from many makers. But folks are willing to pay 2x (and up) as much for the Strider look and design, so thats what they charge. I don't blame them - I would charge that much too if people were willing to pay it. But if you vivisect a cardboard box with a Strider or a Delica, the box won't know the difference. And the Delica is a better slicer. If you want to dig a foxhole, a cheap fixed blade will do the trick just like an SNG. Or, a shovel. :) So I don't see Strider's being objectively "worth" the price of admission from a functional perspective. But the look and the tiger stripes and the marketing makes people want them. And Mick Strider is a controversial figure, and is loved or hated by many, and that adds to the mix.

I paid the price of admission too, just to add an SNG to the arsenal and see what the deal was. Its a fine knife. But I can't say that is twice or three times the knife of a Benchmade 710.

Oct-1.jpg

Strider SNG.

Aug.jpg

Strider AR (modded, passaround).
 
res1cue said:
Short and cheap answer: Because other people are willing to pay that price. As long as they are willing to pay it, the price will remain where it is. Knives in that range are like artwork. If you see one that you HAVE to have it, then buy it, if you can live without it, then it may not be worth it for you
Click to expand...

what he said!
 
Exclusive design outside of fakes and replicas. The only other knife I've come across with even a remotely similar handle design is the Kershaw Tilt, and those are in very limited supply. Whether it's worth it or not is up for endless debate. Though after looking at a picture of someone having shoved their SnG through a computer monitor, I'd like to think the heat treat is top notch.

But at the end of the day, you'll buy it for the same reason one buys a Hinderer XM-18. These knives don't cut stuff better than other knives and they'll never replace a prybar for the task. You buy it because you like the design and you're willing to pay for it.
 
Noctis3880 said:
But at the end of the day, you'll buy it for the same reason one buys a Hinderer XM-18. These knives don't cut stuff better than other knives and they'll never replace a prybar for the task. You buy it because you like the design and you're willing to pay for it.
Click to expand...

Exactly correct. :)

Striders aren't for everyone, same as with most things and it's good we have as many choices as we do.

It just boils down to what people really want and if they have the money to spend or not.
 
If I order a Strider SMF, how do I know if I'm getting one with the old cupped tang or the new more straight across one like the Sbenza and Hinderer make?
 
cziv said:
If I order a Strider SMF, how do I know if I'm getting one with the old cupped tang or the new more straight across one like the Sbenza and Hinderer make?
Click to expand...

Probably the only way is to call the dealer you are purchasing from.

That dealer also has to know about lock faces, and also that Strider has even implemented an improvement. Not sure most dealers would even care to know that info....
 
My opinion is that for some reason certain things catch on with the hype, and they ride the wave.
These guys were in the right place at the right time when the "tactical craze" took off.
 
What criteria did you use when judging them to be among the "BEST" in the first place?

Stephen1337 said:
Hey guys looking into to getting a tactical folder for heavy duty edc use. I think that Zero Tolerance, Emerson, Benchmade, and Striders make the BEST tact. folders in my opinion. So if it you were me which one would you buy? Im leaning throwad the Emerson Mini Commander and Zero Tolerance 350 or 200 they seem like very solid knifes for the price and not that heavy but thats just what im thinking. So what tact. folder should I get please help?
Thank you in advance,
Stephen
Click to expand...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top