Strider -or- Microtech

Originally posted by Aniketos
as sharkman stated above by reprofiling.. can I make a strider slice as well as a microtech?

No, sorry.

Totally different blade geometry. The thinner edge will make it cut better but not on par with a MT or any other thinly ground blade.

If you need something thats a good every day cutter why not look at a couple of different options all together?

There are knives out there in the price range of a Strider that are rock solid and every bit as durable but don't have sharpened pry bars for blades.

Again, you need to look at the thickness of the blade and the type of grind (among other things) to judge how well it will cut.
 
The choice between Microtech and Strider is personal. You have to decide what sort of stuff the knife will be cutting and under what circumstances.

I think the The present full-bevel flat grind 3/16 S30V blades found in the AR/ GB folders have the best cutting geometry while keeping tons of leverage and lateral strength. IMO and Strider's opinion, they are a better design than the original hollow ground folders. In fact, all my Strider knives are of the full-flat grind variety. The hollow ground knives look nice, but in my experience, the full flatgrinds perform better.

The Strider AR/GB folders have a lot of leverage. You can put a lot of force on to small areas of the edge. The thickness and height of the blade keeps the blade from moving around or failing.

BTW, the clip does chew up pants. This problem can be remedied if you remove the clipe and sand the G10 where it meets the clip.

As for the SnG, it is a smaller knife so you don't have the leverage benefit of the larger folders. It is very strong has a forward cant design to facilitate slicing. The SnG has a thin blade (1/8" I think). I think it will it slice as well as the Microtechs. Probably would not stab as well as many of the microtech models.
 
what knives are out there in the same price as strider, that will perform as well as one like said above. I know a bit about knives, but am not up to par with everything out there. any makers you got by all means post em :)
 
For $350-$400 a folder the list can get quite long.

The ones that come to mind are Ken Onion, Kit Carson, Bob Terzoula, Chris Reeve, Greg Lightfoot...........

Keep in mind that they are all a bit different and appeals to different tendencies. One knife cannot be all things to all people.

You have to decide what blade geometry, grind type, lock type, blade size and blade steel you want to narrow the search a bit.
 
SnG blade thickness 0.165" (just measured with digital caliper)

I agree with many of the posts so far, I have several Microtechs and a Strider SnG1 Tanto (#34)

Microtechs are graceful, very precise, great to play with, very cool, VERY high gadget factor (UT6), and probably the highest quality you can get for the price.

Striders are no bullsh!t, in your face, hardcore, do anything you need them to do knives.

If you drop a Microtech on the floor the Al handle will dent and you will be really pissed off. If you drop a strider the floor will probably dent and you'll laugh.

I love microtechs and carry them often they are great to show off like an expensive watch, but i wear a G-Shock to work and carry a SnG

Geoff

PS i have never handled one but take a look at SEVERTECH they are automatics that seem to be built like Striders could be the best of both worlds?
 
I disagree about the slicing comparison. I cannot tell the slicing difference between an LCC and an SnG.

Both were sharpened on the Edge Pro, slightly toothy, but with a few strokes of 4000 series polishing tapes. Both will smoothly slice a single sheet of newspaper virtually by their weight alone.

Yes, I still like the advantage of scalpel-like slicing for some rare jobs. For that, I carry a three inch Opinel OP-84 with a razor sharp edge. Obviously, this will not last very long; it's for special jobs.

For most cuts and simple repairs, I think the SnG has enough 'finesse' to cover you. Choose how to polish your edge.
 
Ichabod,

I agree -- I'm not talking about the full-bevel flat-ground SnG, but rather the sabre-ground or hollow-ground full-size fixed blades.

The SnG is pretty much no different, edge performance wise, compared to the LCC (I agree here completely). In fact, my WP might even be sharper than the two. (I just put the lightest finger pressure on the WP to check the edge and I managed to cut through a few layers of skin... scared me enough not to try that again!)

The point I have to make, though, is that profile geometry makes a huge difference depending on the material you're cutting.

Stiffer material can get hung up a lot on the shoulders of an extremely thick sabre or hollow grind. This could be cardboard, the plastic in blister packs, or even just a big pot roast.

You'll experience this with ANY knife that's profiled like this, with that same thickness. It's just that I wasn't aware of this issue when I bought my Strider/Buck, and it was a significant enough problem that I couldn't deal with it. (As most of the time I'm cutting cardboard or the like.)

-j
 
whoa... 4 months to wait on a knife? I think I made up my mind. You all made me lean towards a Strider... It just looks like its built like a Abhrams tank. Now does anyone know a internet site that can get these knives, at a good price(new of course) The dealer I have always dealt with just cant get them through his distributer.
 
To this point I have been talking about the AR/GB folders as they are the ones mostly in a class by themselves as far as how overbuilt they are.

When you start talking about the SNG it is purely Strider but it does not offer any different proportions than other large folders.

When you break the SNG down to brass tax it's a large sized titanium frame lock with a standard thickness blade. That's the trade off I have been talking about. To make a knife that has good cutting performance Strider has to sacrifice some of the overbuilt qualities that have gotten them so popular.

I personally am not crazy about one entire scale being G-10, something that IMO sacrifices even more of the overall strength.

My opinion may not be a popular one among the Strider fans but facts are facts - it may be a Strider but it's still one slab of titanium, one slab of G-10 and a ~3/16" blade.
 
The SnG is thinner than 3/16. As I understand it, the thickness measures around .165.

I hear what you are saying about the SnG. For that size of knife, there are a lot of other knives that can do what it does.

But, you have to admit, it's got the unique Strider design. So if you got the Strider bug, this knife is the bomb. If not, then you don't, no big deal.

I've got an AR. It's the bomb.
 
as far as the strength of the G10 side i would not be concerned in the least

The strider guys beat the crap out of one with a sledge hammer as well as shooting at it (yes shooting) i am not sure buit i believe there were not any problems until the .308

hopefully someone will post pics

Geoff
 
I love Microtechs but dont try this with one


"ten smashing blows per side.
I even made sure to nail the pivot on both sides.

Even i was kinda happy with the outcome...."

m

Hammered SnG
 
I can't believe that no one really mentioned the price comparison. A Strider Folder is going to cost you DOUBLE what most if not all Microtech Manual Action folders will. Is it worth it? That’s a case by case decision. Peter Atwood has a sweet custom folder that compares with a Strider that would be worth looking into.

The Beast
 
Not trying to sound repetitive..... BUUUUT I am eger to spend 400 bucks today! Does someone know of a website that has a strider spear point folder(strider AR) in stock!?
 
There is no website or dealer that currently has an AR for sale, even in the secondary market, an AR is pretty rare, and when they do rarely get listed, they sell in about 2 seconds. :)

If you really want an AR, there are 2 ways to go about it.

First, keep a VERY close eye on the for sale forums, here on BF and elsewhere, if you see one, email the guy immediately.

Next, you can pre-order one from a Strider dealer, from what i understand, Strider is poised to release some AR's relatively soon. I know there is a tactical AR coming soon, which must be preordered, but im pretty sure i also heard Mick say that there were regular AR's soon to be in production, though i may be wrong about that. Either way, i believe that to get any AR, you need to preorder one and wait.

Those are really your only options, and unfortunately, i dont think you'll be spending your $400 today. :)

I still say the SnG is the better designed knife, much as i love the AR, but to each his own. Know one thing though, the AR is a GIGANTIC knife, its not the most practical knife for EDC, the SnG makes for a much better EDC.
 
I like both the Socom Elite and the AR. I think after time I started carrying the SE more, no particular reason the AR's size wasn't a problem...just my experience.
 
Their is the third way to get an AR. Post in the wanted section of the exchange.
 
Couple of thoughts here.

I prefer the full-bevel ground profile for Striders because the way I use knives, I have found them to work better for me. I have acquired knives with shorter flat grinds and hollow grinds and over the years, and they just grace the drawer. The flat ground knives get to see action.

Consider that the Tadgear tactical AR has a hollow grind and will suffer the same binding issues that was mentioned above. It has a false edge, so it looks more like a stabbing knife than a slicing knife. In my opinion, it will end up being another safequeen self defense knife. If you are a collector, then any reason to add another Strider Folder is a good reason.

So if you are interested in the flat ground AR, you will have to watch the forsale forums and ebay as I have seen a few pop up here and there.

As for the SnG, I can't say from personal experience what the advantages or disadvantages are. However, it does compete with a plethora of other knives in that category of smallish EDC utility blade. Carrying a $400 pricetag, it definitely puts itself among the custom offerings and will be considered as a utility tool for those who can and are willing to spend the money for one.

Looking at the other items made by the Strider guys, I would expect it to be built like a tank.
 
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