Strider SMF alternative?

[KnifeSherpa]

Im pretty sure you won't be beating on a Tuff as much or more than an SMF 3V.

 

[Sonnydaze]

While it may not be the case in reality, my perception of the military is that the blade is too thin.

Well, as you said, the Millie blade is only 0.145" contrasted with the 0.190" of the SMF, but it's still pretty decent.
It is still thicker than the blade of the Zaan or the newer Sebbie model 25. I have used my Zaan blade as a prybar to remove a cast iron lid from my main home water supply-pipe, and it didn't complain. For which I am VERY happy.
Of course, "the chase" is what makes this hobby a good time...and many of us are often involved in doing just that, so we feel your pain...so to speak.
Enjoy! Let us know what you come up with; some of us may be looking for the same thing...

 

[stabman]

Im pretty sure you won't be beating on a Tuff as much or more than an SMF 3V.

Sure you can.
Put them side by side.
Check them out on ALL the specs...they'll fail at about the same point if you manage to do something dumb enough to make them fail.

 

[Czechmate]

Im pretty sure you won't be beating on a Tuff as much or more than an SMF 3V.

Sure you can.
Put them side by side.
Check them out on ALL the specs...they'll fail at about the same point if you manage to do something dumb enough to make them fail.

I've had multiple Striders and none have seen as much use as these two knives below.
The TUFF is a fantastic hard use knife IMHO; mine has seen a lot of use from chopping as well as prying with no issues has been sharpened multiple times at this point. I've used my ZT0300 even harder and with blatant disregard; it just shrugs off the abuse. These are two knives that will be in rotation until they break or I use up them up so to speak... :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Cleaned and oiled, looking like new. :thumbup:

 

[KnifeSherpa]

My only issues with the TUFF are aesthetics and not made in USA. Those are things that are probably not that big of a deal to most. The SMF in 3V however has a thicker stock than the TUFF. Aside from breakage at the pivot, I just dont see how the blade itself is not stronger than the TUFF's.

Like everything, there is give an take...weight, strength, slicing, etc. But gawd that thing is butt @ss ugly! The 300 now, tightens up my pants a bit.

 

[MatthewSB]

I'll echo the ZT0550 recommendation, and add the 0200 as well.

It's the illusion of beefiness that I'm primarily looking for. While it may not be the case in reality, my perception of the military is that the blade is too thin. Am I hacking down trees in my day-to-day life? No. Would a CS Tuff Lite do pretty much everything I need out of a knife? Without question. Is that going to satisfy the 12-year-old mall ninja that refuses to vacate my brain? No.

Your perception is pretty accurate, the Military is super thin at the tip. Your perception would become reality the first time you tried to pry with the tip, or drop it onto something hard.

 

[stabman]

My only issues with the TUFF are aesthetics and not made in USA. Those are things that are probably not that big of a deal to most. The SMF in 3V however has a thicker stock than the TUFF. Aside from breakage at the pivot, I just dont see how the blade itself is not stronger than the TUFF's.

Look where the SmF break when it does; at the hole.
If you measure the amount of material above the hole (which is where either blade would break), the Tuff ends up having 0.125" of steel there, whereas the SmF has only 0.073" where the jimping is.

So sure, the stock is 0.190 as opposed to 0.155, but the hole area will be stronger on the Tuff, especially considering that on the Tuff the stock thickness is the entire thickness below the hole as well; the Strider has the flat grind starting where the hole is, bringing the stock thickness at the bottom of the hole down to 0.145" thick, going down to 0.071" at the sharpening notch.

But both will be tough (or Tuff ) enough for anything you will want to do with a blade of that length.

 

[KnifeSherpa]

Ah good point. I never took that into consideration. Great observation. All the while i thought you were referring to the pivot area breaking first.

 

[stabman]

Ah good point. I never took that into consideration. Great observation. All the while i thought you were referring to the pivot area breaking first.

I think the pivot on the SmF is probably even stronger than the Tuff.
Both are very strong folders, that's for sure.

I go back and forth as to which one I like more.

 

[Comeuppance]

I honestly just can't stand the looks of the tuff. It's ridiculous to me. It serves as a intermittent reminder that I'm not entirely practical about my knife choices, as the aesthetics of that knife are wholly repllent to me despite all the materials and the price point being fantastic.

I hope they discontinued it for the sake of a spiritual successor of some variety.

 

[bigmark408]

You've obviously never held a Tuff.
Pretty sure you can beat on the Tuff just as much--if not more--than any SmF.

I have both.

Actually I have when they first came out and the locks failed on both, I thru one in the garbage.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

I'd have to agree I can't think of anything like a strider except a Strider. But that being said ... if I wanted something tough as nails that is a work horse and feels like it in hand it would be the ZT 550 ... maybe a ZT 300. You might find a 550 near $100.00 if you keep an eye open. Good luck hope you find what you're looking for.

 

[Czechmate]

My only issues with the TUFF are aesthetics and not made in USA. Those are things that are probably not that big of a deal to most. The SMF in 3V however has a thicker stock than the TUFF. Aside from breakage at the pivot, I just dont see how the blade itself is not stronger than the TUFF's.

Like everything, there is give an take...weight, strength, slicing, etc. But gawd that thing is butt @ss ugly! The 300 now, tightens up my pants a bit.

The TUFF is ugly, but works quite well. If only the choil wasn't so darned big and more edge length took it's place it'd be a perfect heavy duty EDC folder. It carries well and handles better than an SMF IMHO.

The Taichung build quality on the TUFF is superb as all my Taichung Spydies have been.

One more ZT pic just for fun... :thumbup:

 

[JPD1998]

I'm not sure if this would fit your criteria.
But I got a Dendra Defender ( made by Lionsteel) a few months ago and it's an excellent knife. Unfortunately the prices on these have been going up.

I've got an SMF too and the Dendra looks to be every bit as strong as the Strider.

These aren't my pics, but it's a good comparison between the two.

 

[stabman]

Actually I have when they first came out and the locks failed on both, I thru one in the garbage.

You threw a knife worth hundreds of dollars in the garbage rather than selling or gifting it to someone.
Your story does not add up...

And what did the lock fail from?

 

[stabman]

I honestly just can't stand the looks of the tuff.

If you don't like the look of it, that's a valid reason to not buy one.

You probably already have at least one knife anyway.

 

[RetiredGuns]

Some good suggestions. A few are quite a bit more expensive than the OP's Benjamin limit. There is no $100 equivalent to a Strider, but a ton of capable knives for sure. OP, do you have access to a B&M shop? Asking this question on BF is like asking who's the prettiest girl in the world. Is it possible to sell some knives and other stuff and wait for another good SMF? Seems like you won't really scratch that itch otherwise.

A reminder...

 

[Comeuppance]

Some good suggestions. A few are quite a bit more expensive than the OP's Benjamin limit. There is no $100 equivalent to a Strider, but a ton of capable knives for sure. OP, do you have access to a B&M shop? Asking this question on BF is like asking who's the prettiest girl in the world. Is it possible to sell some knives and other stuff and wait for another good SMF? Seems like you won't really scratch that itch otherwise.

A reminder...

It's a money issue, more than anything else. I can scrape together $300-500 if I want to, but I don't like the idea of carrying around something of that kind of concentrated value. It's why I ended up selling my CF-inlaid Insingo Sebenza - I have no doubts it will withstand usage, and I have all of the confidence one would need given the warranties involved, but if I were to lose it or have it stolen...!

$200 is the most I think I can spend on a knife and feel sane carrying and using it at this stage in my life. I can't get a legit SMF for $200, and the clones are a real gamble on top of being morally questionable.

I think I'm going to do some research on the Spyderco Farid K2, and I might have to find a store that has an Adamas so I can check it out in person again.

 

[R.G]

Try rhe boker vox f3 , it's made of s30v 0.2" stock and it is a good hard user knife.

 

[BellaBlades]

The manix XL.
Not as tough, but tough enough. It also resembles the profile and is about the same size and with a choil.
Otherwise nothing will match the SMF or really be an alternative IMO.
It is a unique knife that stands tall and far apart from others.
I would just get a beater SMF for a good 325$. I know you dont want to, but it makes sense. Its worth the ching to be happy with it.
Matt