Strider prices going up?

[Tdhurl1103]

I want a SnG CC just as much as the next guy, but I find myself, not wanting one at the same time. Truth is, if it is ever lost, stolen or broken, I would not be able to replace it. I live on a limited budget as it is, and a knife of that price would take me two years or more to save up for.

I have a wife who does not understand or appreciate my enthusiasm for knives, and does very little to support that enthusiasm. I get the "why do you need it" question accompanied with the eye roll that just crushes my spirit sometimes. Also, if it was ever lost, stolen or broken I would have to endure at least a year's worth of "I told you it was waste."

So, any knife over 100 bucks is a struggle to justify.

If anyone thinks I should dump the wife, I probably could but she would take me for every penny I would ever make in my lifetime, so affording anything more than oxygen to breathe would be impossible.

On the flip side, she did get me a Spyderco Double Bevel for our 20th wedding anniversary. But I think she got that for me thinking I would not want any more knives.

Getting back on topic. Yes, I believe the strider has increased in cost, but to be fair, everything has increased in cost. I see threads or talk to people all the time on a myriad of items that tell me something like, "Yeah I got it two years ago for 100 bucks." Then I go look at the thing at the place they got it, and its now $195. So, just think of it this way, next year the cost will go up another 20 bucks. Its unavoidable.

And whats funny is; the materials are so standard these days, that some people would consider them cheap. What I'm alluding to is that S30V is now 440C, and G10 is now Krayton. What you are really paying for is that, "Made in USA" wording on the package.

 

[DAVE_M]

What you are really paying for is that, "Made in USA" wording on the package.

Unfortunately, you couldn't be farther from the truth.

 

[Tdhurl1103]

Unfortunately, you couldn't be farther from the truth.

Unfortunately, without elaboration your comment is just disrespectful. So, to further the discussion, I will concede I was speaking in general terms about USA made products, and not just about Striders. Perhaps you are implying a Strider made with S30V and Ti from a Taiwan plant would still be 400-500 bucks? Or, maybe you are implying that the brand name is the most expensive thing on the knife, and not the materials its made from, or where its made?

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Anyone interested in bashing Mick Strider, go to http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...rider-prices-going-up?p=14942780#post14942780

This thread is for discussion of knife prices.

 

[mrnotsam123]

Personally I'd still pay for one. I admittedly don't need a tank knife like an SMF everyday but man do I love carrying it. My Fiance's grandfather mentioned carrying a pocket knife at the dinner table once and I perked up a little, someone else mentioned my love for knives and he suggested I show him the one I was carrying. Got a few looks when he had a multi-blade slip joint the size of a case peanut and I pulled out an SMF..... something like this

and this

Back on track though, the price jump to me isn't a huge deal, yeah it sucks and may hit secondary market but strider isn't the only one, but I still plan to own a Lego PT and CC SnG tanto and probably a CC SMF in the future. Other companies are making knives that are more expensive. Even large companies like benchmade, spyderco, are moving into things that are more like production versions of mid-techs ranging $200-$400 (using a broad version of the word because I know some are opinionated regarding the definition of mid-tech), even cold steel has the 4 max now. Overall theres becoming more diverse sections of knives to fit multiple budgets. EXAMPLE: Quality budget blades Up to 100, Middle priced knives from 100-200, High end production/Production versions of midtech 200-400. Everything beyond that is either custom, exclusive or made in small runs and marked up secondary price, or commissioned.

 

[DAVE_M]

Anyone interested in bashing Mick Strider, go to http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...rider-prices-going-up?p=14942780#post14942780

This thread is for discussion of knife prices.

I'll keep it related to pricing.

Unfortunately, without elaboration your comment is just disrespectful. So, to further the discussion, I will concede I was speaking in general terms about USA made products, and not just about Striders. Perhaps you are implying a Strider made with S30V and Ti from a Taiwan plant would still be 400-500 bucks? Or, maybe you are implying that the brand name is the most expensive thing on the knife, and not the materials its made from, or where its made?

First off, you're paying for a Strider and that's all I'll say about that. If you want to discuss more, you can PM me.

$400-500 for a knife is not as uncommon as you may think. Small batch production knives with common (to today's standards) steels and construction are expensive to make. Being made in the USA does affect material pricing, sure, but it isn't the sole reason for the price hike. I'll use Reate as an example; David at Reate does some amazing work. His knives are quality and made with quality materials... but wait for it....

They are made in China!

Point being, country of origin has an affect on pricing, but isn't the sole reason prices are up to $495+ now. Materials, labor, and inflation all have a part in it. If the steel/titanium manufacturer's pricing has gone up, do you expect the maker to eat the cost? If the cost of labor went up, do you expect the maker to eat the cost?

 

[Bludgeon]

Because of this thread, I was one click away from buying a brand new Strider SnG CC, but thought about some upcoming bills and decided not too

Bills will always be there, no getting away from that. Don't let them stop you from owning something you can enjoy forever.

 

[DAVE_M]

Bills will always be there, no getting away from that. Don't let them stop you from owning something you can enjoy forever.

True, I will eventually pick up a SnG or PT. Knives in the SMF size feel strange to me, with finger choils on the blade. I'm slowly saving my pennies. One day, one day!

 

[mrnotsam123]

True, I will eventually pick up a SnG or PT. Knives in the SMF size feel strange to me, with finger choils on the blade. I'm slowly saving my pennies. One day, one day!

SnG's and SMF'S aren't all that different overall size wise. The blade isn't a huge difference but the handle gives large to sasquatch hands a better purchase. That being said, after you get you first configuration that is "perfect" you'll find a reason to own and carry a second one haha

 

[uofaengr]

Funny thing is I have seen Hinderer prices drop on the internet knife sites.

Yet knives direct from Hinderer are up $40 from their old price.

Don't know the history of Strider price increases, but if you can afford a $400 knife, you can afford a $420 knife.

 

[Tdhurl1103]

I'll keep it related to pricing.



First off, you're paying for a Strider and that's all I'll say about that. If you want to discuss more, you can PM me.

$400-500 for a knife is not as uncommon as you may think. Small batch production knives with common (to today's standards) steels and construction are expensive to make. Being made in the USA does affect material pricing, sure, but it isn't the sole reason for the price hike. I'll use Reate as an example; David at Reate does some amazing work. His knives are quality and made with quality materials... but wait for it....

They are made in China!

Point being, country of origin has an affect on pricing, but isn't the sole reason prices are up to $495+ now. Materials, labor, and inflation all have a part in it. If the steel/titanium manufacturer's pricing has gone up, do you expect the maker to eat the cost? If the cost of labor went up, do you expect the maker to eat the cost?

Well, I like Striders, and I wouldn't mind having one. But at their current cost I cannot afford one, unless I go get a loan. Having repeated this, my financial woes have nothing to do with how a knife company runs their business or how they value their products. I am not special and I do not expect any knife maker to lower the price/eat the cost on my account. If they want to charge 400-500 bucks for their stuff, well, good for them. I'll just go without.

Now, I don't know all the details behind Mick's company, his personal history or the ensuing drama, and I don't really care to know. How I got lumped into that is beyond me.

My point was, that regardless of materials, USA made products are going to increase (at least here in the US), and that a price hike on USA made products were always to be expected.

I have known about Reate for a few months now. They are nice, and wait for it.....yea, I knew from the start where they were made and the cost. Do I think those knives are worth the cost? I can't answer that having never handled/used one. Do I think that cost will increase over time? Of course. But I suspect (and this is just my opinion) the reason Reate knives will increase in cost over time will be because of branding. In order to compete with brands (examples: CRK, ZT, etc etc) you have to remain relevant. The best way to remain relevant in the minds of knife guys is to offer great products at or around the same cost as the competitors. Look at the sneaker wars between Reebok and Nike. Who’s winning? I don’t know, but I can guess it isn’t the company with the cheapest shoe. It’s the shoe company who remains the most relevant. Now, imagine the cost of a pair of Nike’s if they were made in the USA.

 

[Charr]

Yes, I have seen two different sites that the SMFs have gone up twenty dollars. I can only imagine that's for inflation and the price of being USA made. Some people may scoff at a 500 dollar knife being worth every penny, but I imagine they never gave strider a chance either. I was one of them. Now I kick myself for losing all those years of not using a strider due to misguided speculations and indictments instead of trying the knife and using it in such a way that it's true nature and intent manifests.I believe that strider knives, SMF being my favorite (just noting), is the leading contender in its class and warrants the price and so I see a 20 dollar legal tender raise as small thing. That being said, I'm sure it will disillusion even further the general nay Sayers of Mick Strider. However, let's face it, strider ownership is a club and I don't think it was ever intended by its creators or members to be fully embraced or accepted by the entire population.

I would honestly have to disagree with this. Not only are there several knives that are very much in the same quality and design level as the Striders in the same price range, there are also several other companies that are able to make a better overall knife for less money.

Within the same category as an SMF, you can purchase a Chris Reeve knife of your choice, and (with the recently lowered prices) you could also afford a Hinderer XM-18. I will say that, while I like Striders and I will probably own another one in the future, they are not in the same overall quality category as either CRK or Hinderer.
Honestly, while Striders have their own charm for sure, they are a little overpriced in general for what they really are. G10, titanium, bronze washers, and either CPM-154 or S30V are all good materials, but the fact of the matter is that Strider has not improved their designs at all in quite a while. Even though they did improve their QC a short while ago significantly and resolved their perpetual issue with lock rock, they still make no effort to treat their lockbar interfaces in any way, and it is still not entirely uncommon for an SMF or SNG to develop lock issues through normal use alone.
In contrast, CRK has just redesigned their Sebenza model with the Sebenza 25, and is still improving that design. Though the XM-18 has stayed overall the same general design, we are on the 4th generation of that design now, and they have made tangible and noticeable improvements to the design while listening to their customers about what needs to be changed/improved to make the product better.

And let's not forget companies like ZT, Reate, and Spyderco.
Spyderco is coming out with their Nirvana collaboration with Perter Rassenti, and I honestly don't see myself ever getting a Strider over something like that.
Reate has been doing some AMAZING work on their newer models, and frankly I've never been one to let the nationality of a maker stop me from buying a knife, so I like their knives a lot so far. They are easily better that Strider in my experience as well.
And then ZT has been putting out some very nice limited knives that are exceptional as well, though hard to get your hands on. In addition, most of ZT's standard models, like the 0620 and the 0562, are honestly knives that can stand on par with a Strider in most cases.

Not only that, but there are several "mid-tech" knives within this same price range that are frankly better designed, better executed, and generally done with more variety and options than Strider has ever offered.
A great example of this is Ferrum Forge's "Introductory Models" that they make, which are made generally in batches of 200 or so, and have a wide variety of different attribute, designs, and materials used in them. While they often sell for more on the secondary market than they do new, you can get them on them new or pre-order one without much trouble, and they are all very good knives.
Also within this category is the Southard Performance Series, which many of us are very familiar with at this point.

The list goes on and on, but the fact remains that there are far too many other options out there to claim that Striders are the best in their category by any means, though your opinion in and of itself is simply that: your opinion, and is something that I think is perfectly fine. I just want to make it clear that there are so many other options out there that it seems like you either haven't had the opportunity to try, or you are omitting from that claim.

And for the record, I have already said that I have owned a Strider and probably will again, and I mean that. Frankly, I don't hold the product or the company responsible for what one man did quite a while ago, and I while I don't agree with the price increase, I also know that they likely wouldn't have done it unless they needed to.

 

[Tdhurl1103]

I agree with you . Very well said.

 

[Charr]

Very well said.

Thank you, sir. I try...sometimes a little too hard

There have been several members here that have said I might as well just write a few books about knives since I already typed out most of one on here

 

[Tdhurl1103]

Thank you, sir. I try...sometimes a little too hard

There have been several members here that have said I might as well just write a few books about knives since I already typed out most of one on here

I think you are on point with your post. Good knives don't have to be the most expensive knives. And there are other companies coming around and making great heavy duty users that won't break the bank. Of course, if I could afford a Strider, make no mistake, I would get one.

 

[Clinto.]

I would honestly have to disagree with this. Not only are there several knives that are very much in the same quality and design level as the Striders in the same price range, there are also several other companies that are able to make a better overall knife for less money.

Within the same category as an SMF, you can purchase a Chris Reeve knife of your choice, and (with the recently lowered prices) you could also afford a Hinderer XM-18. I will say that, while I like Striders and I will probably own another one in the future, they are not in the same overall quality category as either CRK or Hinderer.
Honestly, while Striders have their own charm for sure, they are a little overpriced in general for what they really are. G10, titanium, bronze washers, and either CPM-154 or S30V are all good materials, but the fact of the matter is that Strider has not improved their designs at all in quite a while. Even though they did improve their QC a short while ago significantly and resolved their perpetual issue with lock rock, they still make no effort to treat their lockbar interfaces in any way, and it is still not entirely uncommon for an SMF or SNG to develop lock issues through normal use alone.
In contrast, CRK has just redesigned their Sebenza model with the Sebenza 25, and is still improving that design. Though the XM-18 has stayed overall the same general design, we are on the 4th generation of that design now, and they have made tangible and noticeable improvements to the design while listening to their customers about what needs to be changed/improved to make the product better.

And let's not forget companies like ZT, Reate, and Spyderco.
Spyderco is coming out with their Nirvana collaboration with Perter Rassenti, and I honestly don't see myself ever getting a Strider over something like that.
Reate has been doing some AMAZING work on their newer models, and frankly I've never been one to let the nationality of a maker stop me from buying a knife, so I like their knives a lot so far. They are easily better that Strider in my experience as well.
And then ZT has been putting out some very nice limited knives that are exceptional as well, though hard to get your hands on. In addition, most of ZT's standard models, like the 0620 and the 0562, are honestly knives that can stand on par with a Strider in most cases.

Not only that, but there are several "mid-tech" knives within this same price range that are frankly better designed, better executed, and generally done with more variety and options than Strider has ever offered.
A great example of this is Ferrum Forge's "Introductory Models" that they make, which are made generally in batches of 200 or so, and have a wide variety of different attribute, designs, and materials used in them. While they often sell for more on the secondary market than they do new, you can get them on them new or pre-order one without much trouble, and they are all very good knives.
Also within this category is the Southard Performance Series, which many of us are very familiar with at this point.

The list goes on and on, but the fact remains that there are far too many other options out there to claim that Striders are the best in their category by any means, though your opinion in and of itself is simply that: your opinion, and is something that I think is perfectly fine. I just want to make it clear that there are so many other options out there that it seems like you either haven't had the opportunity to try, or you are omitting from that claim.

And for the record, I have already said that I have owned a Strider and probably will again, and I mean that. Frankly, I don't hold the product or the company responsible for what one man did quite a while ago, and I while I don't agree with the price increase, I also know that they likely wouldn't have done it unless they needed to.

I respectfully disagree with you Charr. I mean no disrespect at all. However comparing a Chris Reeve to a Strider SMF would be like comparing a very well designed Porsche Cayman S at 325 horsepower vs. a Dodge Challenger Hellcat at 700 horsepower. The Porsche is the best of the best.. Cuts like a scalpel. No doubt about it. Cutting edge materials, top notch electronics, will win about any race in the right hands. But that Hellcat.. Yeah it is a BEAST. It simply crushes anything in its vicinity. Not with grace. Oh no.. With crushing, beastly brute force.

Take a look at my Avatar Picture. The Strider is on top. I love my CRK for what it is. The CRK is awesome, but it is down right fragile in comparison to my Strider SMF.

That SMF is the real deal. It is just like Arock PCB said, it's the best $500 knife there is. Period. You have to try one to believe it. They are made in such small batches, they really are like a semi-custom. They are an absolute bargain.

I own 11 knives ranging from $300 to $1,500. I am going up north to our cabin in the woods for the weekend and I am only bringing one knife. My Strider SMF. It's the only one with the beef, and brawn and yet excellent slicing ability to take out there and beat on in the woods. It's going to be awesome!

 

[zombieassassin]

I own Strider folders....and USE them....if I had the money I would buy one or two a month....worth every penny even if they jump the price $100....who cares about bashing Mick...for Christ's sake leave the dead horse alone....he is actually a great knife maker and tons of people know it. If you don't like his knives or the prices MOVE ON. more Striders for us guys that respect a GREAT USA MADE BLADE.

 

[Gizler00]

I respectfully disagree with you Charr. I mean no disrespect at all. However comparing a Chris Reeve to a Strider SMF would be like comparing a very well designed Porsche Cayman S at 325 horsepower vs. a Dodge Challenger Hellcat at 700 horsepower. The Porsche is the best of the best.. Cuts like a scalpel. No doubt about it. Cutting edge materials, top notch electronics, will win about any race in the right hands. But that Hellcat.. Yeah it is a BEAST. It simply crushes anything in its vicinity. Not with grace. Oh no.. With crushing, beastly brute force.

Take a look at my Avatar Picture. The Strider is on top. I love my CRK for what it is. The CRK is awesome, but it is down right fragile in comparison to my Strider SMF.

That SMF is the real deal. It is just like Arock PCB said, it's the best $500 knife there is. Period. You have to try one to believe it. They are made in such small batches, they really are like a semi-custom. They are an absolute bargain.

I own 11 knives ranging from $300 to $1,500. I am going up north to our cabin in the woods for the weekend and I am only bringing one knife. My Strider SMF. It's the only one with the beef, and brawn and yet excellent slicing ability to take out there and beat on in the woods. It's going to be awesome!

Couldn't have said it better. The SMF is one hell of a knife. So is the SNG. Now I really need to pick up another SMF! Damn this thread!!

 

[Charr]

I think you are on point with your post. Good knives don't have to be the most expensive knives. And there are other companies coming around and making great heavy duty users that won't break the bank. Of course, if I could afford a Strider, make no mistake, I would get one.

Definitely! I like many of the more affordable knives on the market, even if they aren't what I might want the most at the moment. I have right now 4 different Case knives that I love to carry when I'm going for a lighter EDC in shorts or something, and I always have an SAK on me because of how useful and great they are.

Of course, my main carry right now is my grail of all time - a Todd Begg Bodega, which was by no means cheap...at all, but it's so pretty



But in all seriousness, if I want a knife to just grab my Cold Steel Code 4 and call it good. It's not a knife I would EDC, but it's tougher than any knife needs to be (especially with their new addition of CTS-XHP steel), and it will get the job done guilt-free.

For EDC, I generally like more expensive knives, but more because of the level of quality than anything else. I carry one of 2 Shirogorov knives as well on a regular basis, and I love them, but I don't NEED to carry that expensive of a knife, and I know that. I can always respect a good knife, from my Bodega, all the way down to a good old Opinel

 

[Charr]

I respectfully disagree with you Charr. I mean no disrespect at all. However comparing a Chris Reeve to a Strider SMF would be like comparing a very well designed Porsche Cayman S at 325 horsepower vs. a Dodge Challenger Hellcat at 700 horsepower. The Porsche is the best of the best.. Cuts like a scalpel. No doubt about it. Cutting edge materials, top notch electronics, will win about any race in the right hands. But that Hellcat.. Yeah it is a BEAST. It simply crushes anything in its vicinity. Not with grace. Oh no.. With crushing, beastly brute force.

Take a look at my Avatar Picture. The Strider is on top. I love my CRK for what it is. The CRK is awesome, but it is down right fragile in comparison to my Strider SMF.

That SMF is the real deal. It is just like Arock PCB said, it's the best $500 knife there is. Period. You have to try one to believe it. They are made in such small batches, they really are like a semi-custom. They are an absolute bargain.

I own 11 knives ranging from $300 to $1,500. I am going up north to our cabin in the woods for the weekend and I am only bringing one knife. My Strider SMF. It's the only one with the beef, and brawn and yet excellent slicing ability to take out there and beat on in the woods. It's going to be awesome!

Okay, my point was not that it was inferior (subjectively speaking) to any of the other knives in the category specifically, but that it was by no means the BEST in the category either. Of course, people will always prefer what they prefer, and that is perfectly fine, but at the same time, that by no means is the same thing as what they prefer being the BEST option.

And again, I like Striders, and I'm not bashing them. I'm just saying that there are knives in the same price category that are objectively better at some tasks and for some purposes than a Strider. Yes, Striders are tough, but honestly most knives are tougher than people really give them credit for, trust me.

Also, you need to read carefully through what I said, because I did say that there are other knives out there made in small batches, much the same way as the Striders, that are of equal quality in many cases, and there are many people who much prefer them to a Strider for their own reasons and needs.
I have handled many knives, and Striders are great knives, but I wouldn't call them the BEST knives for around $500. That's all I'm trying to say. They might be one of the best (in fact, they probably are), but they are not definitively THE BEST, which was all I was trying to say.

And you're not really wrong about your analogy of the cars either. I wouldn't really disagree, but the big thing is that the Porsche would win in the race, while the Hellcat would arguably be more fun to actually drive. It all just depends on what is more important to an individual, because both vehicles are great in their own rights, and it's not like everyone will agree with one being better than the other.

The argument that "it's the best $500 knife there is. Period." is where I run into the issue here. Frankly, you're not supporting your argument with tangible evidence or numbers, but with feelings and subjective experiences that you have had. While those are great for saying that you love the knife and there is certainly nothing wrong with that at all, they are not good evidence for saying that the SMF is the best knife flat-out in it's price category.

And while you make a good point about which knife you are going to take with you and why, that is for one specific purpose. That doesn't mean the Strider is better than all of those other knives you own for every purpose you could ever have need for a knife. I have even more knives, ranging just as far as you do, but I also know that some of my knives are better than others for specific tasks that I might need to do.

Like I said, I'm just saying that blanket statements like "it's the best knife ever" are generally a bad idea and poorly-argued.