Strider SMF for hard use tasks

[brendog10]

I just recently purchased a Strider SMF CC. I love the design and feel of this knife.

When I was doing my research about the company and model I came across a lot of people saying that it was comparable to a fixed blade in some respects. That of course most often was in reference to the standard model, but the CC seems pretty strong to me. I also know that the Strider MARSOC SMF have been issued to the first SOCOM unit of the United States Marine Corps. I assume this illustrates that they are in fact very tough knives.

So I'm curious. Of those who have a SMF either regular "lego", DGG, or CC, what kind of "hard" use have you put yours though?

 

[Toyz]

I have a DGG SMF, but honestly the toughest thing I use it for is cutting tasks.

I love big knives, I love the double choil, and I love the looks of the knife.

It's nice to know I could probably cut my way out of a car trunk with it or circumcise a charging moose - but in all reality I will probably never use the knife to more than 20% of it's capabilities.

I think all of the various models - lego, DGG, CC are strong - I've rarely seen someone post on this or other forums where one has been broken.

I have seen various videos of people using them to pry out nails from lumber, prying open ammo cans, batoning thru trees, stabbing car hoods, cutting sidewalls of tires, digging, stabbing car windows, stabbing computer monitors, etc.

I think owning one of these, like a lot of knives, is like owning a high end sports car that will go over 200 mph - you do it for the satisfaction of ownership and KNOWING that you could do 200 mph if you wanted to.

If you do anything crazy with yours let us know.

 

[mystro]

I think owning one of these, like a lot of knives, is like owning a high end sports car that will go over 200 mph - you do it for the satisfaction of ownership and KNOWING that you could do 200 mph if you wanted to.

This is so true. The SMF is so light that it will be with me when or if I do need to use its extra strength. You never know when you are in a car wreck and may need it. Its a knife you can trust your life on if you had to. Its a great survival, cutting, defensive knife all wrapped up in a light weight package for under $600.00. Seems like a bargain to me.

 

[Razorsharp1986]

This is so true. The SMF is so light that it will be with me when or if I do need to use its extra strength. You never know when you are in a car wreck and may need it. Its a knife you can trust your life on if you had to. Its a great survival, cutting, defensive knife all wrapped up in a light weight package for under $600.00. Seems like a bargain to me.

I find it funny how you say "and all THAT for ONLY $600"
$600 can get you quite a few tools. Tool that will exceed the strider in doing their job. They wont be as "tacticool", but do the job way better, and save you money. There are also other knives out there, that can cut, defend and even increase the chances of your survival by far more than the Strider. :yawn:
Ohh, they also cost LESS.

Honestly, if you really think you need that extra strength, get a fixed blade. There are many different, high quality blades out there. FOR WAY LESS MONEY! You can even go with a custom, for less money yet.
If you just want a tacticool folder, you can easily go with a ZT. Still way cheaper that a Strider.
Actually, you could get a ZT, a small fixed blade, and a gentleman's folder and still have money left. THAT, would get you covered.

BTW, I've never seen a Strider do anything that I can't do with something like a Spyderco Gayle Bradley. Plus the GB will outcut the Strider so badly, you'll think the Strider is a freking Gerber knife

 

[mystro]

Wow....you've totally missed my point.
All those tools wont be in my pocket every day like my Strider and the ZT knives that are even close to Strider strength are too heavy for EDC.. I have not found a knife that is as light weight as Strider SMF that is even close to Striders strength. This is where Strider rules. I am paying for quality and convenience. In the grand scheme of life, $600.00 is nothing.

 

[Razorsharp1986]

All those tools wont be in my pocket and the ZT knives that are even close to Strider strength are too heavy for EDC.. I am paying for quality and convenience. In the grand scheme of life, $600.00 is nothing.

The talk was about getting out of a car trunk or something ridiculous like that. Most tools you don't need on your person 24/7.
Funny but my weakest folder is tougher than your strongest Strider
IMHO you pay for hype with Strider, not for quality. Many quality issues have been reported with Striders. I've had issues with Striders myself (bad F&F, bladeplay and dull edges out of the box). Don't have ANY Striders anymore. Would not buy one even for half the price. Sorry don't mean to be bashing just trying to express what I learned from my experiences with Strider knives.
Furthermore, I want to see you stab your strider into a monitor or a window, without seriously damaging the knife.

 

[philwar]

I own an SMF CC, and I love it, I think it's an awesome folder. I don't however think it's all that tough. The thinness of the G-10 side around the pivot would stop me from even the lightest prying. Had it been metal (or lined with metal, like the XM-18) I would have had a lot more confidence. It's mostly moot however, since it really never comes up.

 

[stabman]

Funny but my weakest folder is tougher than your strongest Strider

I seriously doubt that, but I'm willing to be proven wrong.
What folder are you speaking of?

 

[EricV]

First post I had came off a bit snarky. So lets try this again:

Strider are very sturdy knives. I don't own one currently, mostly do to cost.

So far I've seen an SNG stabbed through a interior door, to cut out around the lockset that was jammed on a temporary building that was being demolished.

I heard stories from a friend about opening ammo cans, soup cans, clearing jammed rifles and mags. Pretty impressive for an SNG. No pics though, maybe other will stop by with some, picture threads are the best kind. :thumbup:

 

[mystro]

Sorry don't mean to be bashing just trying to express what I learned from my experiences with Strider knives.

Hmm, Funny, both your threads were nothing but "Strider bashing".
Every Strider that passed through my hands have been nothing but custom quality fit and finish. I have yet to see a documented Strider quality issue.

You can be a Spyderco guy, as for me, I choose Strider.

 

[Toyz]

It's a real pity that this thread is starting to go down the wrong path...

 

[stabman]

It's a real pity that this thread is starting to go down the wrong path...

Sadly, they always do.
Fixed blade replacement? Nope, as there's no such thing (there really ain't).
Damn tough for a folder? Hell yes.:thumbup:
Worth the money? Not really, but I seem to keep getting them...

 

[mystro]

Brendog10 just bought a new Strider and wants to hear some stories and I dont blame him. He bought a hell of a knife. Congrats :thumbup: At this point if your a Strider hater then post elsewhere. Lets hear some Strider glory stories.

I'm throwing in a Strider pic or 2 .......

Excelent blade centering.
My new SMF GG

My recently sold SMF CC

Even this guy carries a Strider.

 

[bada61265]

i dont know, i like strider, nice looking folders, the sng is very cool, so are some of their others. but to go on about how these are like a 200mph sports car in comparison or that they are as strong as a fixed blade is somewhat irritating. they are in fact a luxury knife, made im shure with close to a fine custom made quality of materials and workmanship, and that is pretty much where it all ends. shure maybe some dolt stabbed one into a car door or something. go see what cold steel does with some sub $100 folders in there videos. fact is ive looked and cant find video of anyone beating the snot out of a strider to see what it takes to make one fail. and ive looked pretty hard. so i think what ticks non strider guys off is this insistence without proof that they are some kind of miracle knife. i dont doubt the cool factor, i dont doubt there strong within limits. i dont doubt they are a cut above most other knives in fit and finnish. i do doubt most any other claims made about them. do i want one? yea if i had cash to play with id get one, for the cool factor. set it next to my custom 45 that looks prettier than it shoots.

 

[Thalestin]

When people talk about folders that are made with a thin slab of g10, fairly thin titanium and a common ol s30v and call them stronger or as strong as fixed bladed I know they know nothing about knives or they arent actually thinking about what they are saying.

Striders are neat little "tactical" blades with a lot of hype and an equal amount of hate. Nothing more really.

 

[brendog10]

Thanks to those who answered my question and posted some experience. Thanks mystro for the pics too. Anytime I can see pictures I'm happy.

Although I do not want to offend those who posted there opinion. I just want to say that I'm not asking to be persuaded one way or another on the quality of strider, nor am I interested in arguing if the strider lives up to the hype or not. I did the research and have heard the arguments, including fit and finish, and ability, and I know that it will never be as strong as a fixed blade to spite what I wrote previously.

I'm interested in those who can testify to it's strength and quality. ultimately I'm mostly interested to hear if most of these become safe queens or are used. as they are expensive and I assume that many can be hesitant to use them super hard.

Anyway Like I said, I appreciate it if you posted your opinion on Striders, but there are already plenty of posts out there on that. I just wanted some experiences from those who like and use there SMF's .

 

[trix2004]

SMF very good , strong knife and will last for years ,
I carried SNG for years and never had a problem , also using my SMF just about anywhere , this knifes asking to be used .
.... price is different question .

 

[mystro]

I plan on using mine for EDC. My EDC tasks includes,....field dressing several deer a year. I live on top a a mountain so my knife is used in the woods a lot. I find myself cutting limbs when hanging treed stands and opening up shooting lanes. Then there is the modest uses of opening up my kids toys, and around the house tasks. I am looking forward to see how the digi camo finish holds up. I do understand the hesitancy of that first hard use with a $500.00 knife but the knife deserves to be used. .:thumbup:
I dont know if this would be considered hard use but,...I am a chronic flipper. Especially in front of the TV watching football. I needlessly open and close my knives 1000's of time. Its fun.

 

[arjung]

Been using my SnG consistently since July. Reprofiled it and everything.

It's been with me in the city, it's been with me when I went camping and hiking, and never once did I feel it would get damaged etc. Is it flawless? No, nothing in this world is.

But it is a knife that in 'proper' use won't fail me. It can run dry without lube and is low maintenance. That's what I want in an outdoors folder. It's familiar and comfortable in my hands and I usually end up reaching for it.

I ended up buying a PT CC to complement my small sebbie. I'm in the city a lot more so I like smaller knives. It's served me well so far and I like it as much as my small sebbie.

EDIT: Just wanted to add that I obviously carry a fixed blade with me when I go out hiking, but tbh I don't reach for my 7 inch kabar that frequently.

 

[zrfunited]

Thanks to those who answered my question and posted some experience. Thanks mystro for the pics too. Anytime I can see pictures I'm happy.

Although I do not want to offend those who posted there opinion. I just want to say that I'm not asking to be persuaded one way or another on the quality of strider, nor am I interested in arguing if the strider lives up to the hype or not. I did the research and have heard the arguments, including fit and finish, and ability, and I know that it will never be as strong as a fixed blade to spite what I wrote previously.

I'm interested in those who can testify to it's strength and quality. ultimately I'm mostly interested to hear if most of these become safe queens or are used. as they are expensive and I assume that many can be hesitant to use them super hard.

Anyway Like I said, I appreciate it if you posted your opinion on Striders, but there are already plenty of posts out there on that. I just wanted some experiences from those who like and use there SMF's .

Don't worry about the half cocked idiots that come around trying to derail threads. It's your post and you asked a reasonable question. You have the right to expect people to give reasonable and pertinent answers.

I own two striders. An MFS fixed blade and a PT. I have not had the MFS out to play with yet but I have used my PT quite extensively. I have never punched it through a car door or helicopter canopy but I have used it to score drywall, tear boxes down, carve a recess in a door frame for a dead bolt, cut fuel line, scrape gaskets on split engine cases, and various other tasks similar in nature. I don't really hesitate to use it. I don't do any heavy prying but I don't worry about using it to wedge something apart.

Phil, i hear what your saying about the g-10 but it seems that I remember reading somewhere that g-10 has a higher tensile strength than steel. I don't know that for a fact though.