Strider SMF for hard use tasks

Think of it this way....If Strider knives where not all that and more,...why would such great companies like Buck and Kershaw (Zero Tolerance) do a collaboration with Strider??? And the knives they did a collaboration with are their top tier knives in their line up. ie....ZT0300 series.
Click to expand...

All that and more huh? Isn't it"all that and a bag of chips" or something? Maybe I got that from my Irish inlaws (ex inlaws now)

My opinion is the name has a following. If there's a buck to be made by both people why wouldn't there be collaborations? It's just business, and yes, hype.

I say Striders are overpriced for what you get. Anybody who hasn't seen quality issues including the famous "break in period" often talked about here hasn't been around enough Striders.

I like them. I have a Dwyer Custom even. It was overpriced too, but I like it and plan on keeping it. :)

No they aren't the toughest or strongest. No, they sure aren't the best cutters and slicers. They do seem to make a lot of people happy and really, that's the bottom line.

They are just knives nothing more.
 
I've got two SMFs and the hardest i've put em through is batoning a four foot piece of 2x4 lengthwise...just to give my buddies a mild stroke. I believe that any knife claiming to be for "hard use" should handle that menial task...i mean c'mon...i've split bigger stuff with thinner blades than that! And if a strider fails at that, I will be VERY disappointed :(
 
The Mastiff said:
All that and more huh? Isn't it"all that and a bag of chips" or something? Maybe I got that from my Irish inlaws (ex inlaws now)

My opinion is the name has a following. If there's a buck to be made by both people why wouldn't there be collaborations? It's just business, and yes, hype.

I say Striders are overpriced for what you get. Anybody who hasn't seen quality issues including the famous "break in period" often talked about here hasn't been around enough Striders.

I like them. I have a Dwyer Custom even. It was overpriced too, but I like it and plan on keeping it. :)

No they aren't the toughest or strongest. No, they sure aren't the best cutters and slicers. They do seem to make a lot of people happy and really, that's the bottom line.

They are just knives nothing more.
Click to expand...


Ahh, finally somebody here that lays off the cool-aid. Thank you. I tried to say just that, but I guess I couldn't phrase it in such a proper manner.
Anybody who buys a Strider and expects miracles is up for a couple of BIG surprises...

I've batonned with a $9 Opinel and it held up just fine. I even pried open an elevator door with the same Opinel. Still using it in the bush. You don't see me claiming that it is a super tough folder though. Maybe because it's a $9 blade, or maybe because it comes Cool-aid-free.
 
Razorsharp1986 said:
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 :p
Click to expand...

Every thing except you could probably baton the strider throughout the GB and if you managed to break it send it to strider to be repaired under warranty :D
 
On a side note regarding Striders customer service... I called Strider on Thursday and left a message if I could buy a flamed Ti. pocket clip as a different look for my new SMF GG. Strider called me back Friday morning and asked for my address and said they would just send me one for gratis.:thumbup:
 
Last edited:
I have used mine for cutting and minor tree trimming (cutting and hacking). I like the ergonomics & design of this knife. Cut anything but I would try not to baton with it.
 
mystro said:
On a side note regarding Striders customer service... I called Strider on Thursday and left a message if I could buy a flamed Ti. pocket clip as a different look for my new SMF GG. Strider called me back Friday morning and asked for my address and said they would just send me one for gratis.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Nice! I've heard amazing things about there customer service.
 
Razorsharp1986 said:
I've batonned with a $9 Opinel and it held up just fine. I even pried open an elevator door with the same Opinel. Still using it in the bush. You don't see me claiming that it is a super tough folder though. Maybe because it's a $9 blade, or maybe because it comes Cool-aid-free.
Click to expand...

Ok, I realize that this may look like I am picking on you a bit but I swear I am not. I am genuinely curious. How did you pry an elevator door open with an opinel? The blades are thin and the handle is wooden. Admittedly I have never had to pry open a set of elevator doors but I can't imagine it would be easy. I believe I have seen maintenance in the building I work in using a large flat prybar to foce the doors open.

Edit: I have removed the earlier comment. My statement had nothing to do with the subject of this thread. I felt that I needed to exercise a bit of self control and descretion. :)

Cheers gentlemen!
Brandon
 
Last edited:
I think it's interesting that nobody wants to admit that the activities being discussed are not tasks that a knife is designed for. My coworker really beats the hell out of his Kershaw SpecBump and I just sort of suggested a fixed blade instead as I figured it would better fit the role of "hard use". But he asked what precisely a fixed blade can do that a folder can't.

Only thing that really came to mind would be prying, stabbing something really solid(like wood or metal), and perhaps chopping/batoning down a small tree. He said he would bring out his chainsaw if he wanted a tree down, which does make sense there.

A dedicated tool would outperform a knife used in a makeshift manner. Though ironically he did mention using his knife as a screwdriver:D. But seriously, it seems like a lot of these "hard use" tasks could be done with so much more ease if you simply use a dedicated tool for the job.

I realize I probably sound a bit hypocritical as an owner of an XM-18, but I'm just the kind of guy who likes having a $600 letter opener:thumbup:. I suppose there's a shortage of folding prybars on the market(real ones), but if my job calls for me to pry something open on a daily basis, I'm gonna start carrying around a crowbar.

After running through my brief bout of stupidity in my early knife days in which I tried to cut a mango pit in half with my Spyderco Endura and that other time I tried to cut a watermelon in half with the same, I've finally come to realize that there are things that a knife simply isn't designed to do in the same sense that a human brain is not equipped to handle politics:thumbup:.
 
mystro said:
On a side note regarding Striders customer service... I called Strider on Thursday and left a message if I could buy a flamed Ti. pocket clip as a different look for my new SMF GG. Strider called me back Friday morning and asked for my address and said they would just send me one for gratis.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Wow, Strider is known for NOT returning messages, Mick says himself they don't have time to return messages. Also, they will NOT send out parts...

Wonder why they returned your call AND said they would send out parts? :confused:

Be sure to show us a pic of your new flamed clip, they sure do look cool :)
 
The Mastiff said:
All that and more huh? Isn't it"all that and a bag of chips" or something? Maybe I got that from my Irish inlaws (ex inlaws now)

My opinion is the name has a following. If there's a buck to be made by both people why wouldn't there be collaborations? It's just business, and yes, hype.

I say Striders are overpriced for what you get. Anybody who hasn't seen quality issues including the famous "break in period" often talked about here hasn't been around enough Striders.

I like them. I have a Dwyer Custom even. It was overpriced too, but I like it and plan on keeping it. :)

No they aren't the toughest or strongest. No, they sure aren't the best cutters and slicers. They do seem to make a lot of people happy and really, that's the bottom line.

They are just knives nothing more.
Click to expand...

Best post I'v ever read in a Strider thread! I agree 100% :thumbup:
 
Jeff from Strider returned my call. He also gave me his personal email if I had any other concerns. They were very professional and generally couldn't do enough for me. They are living up to a premium knife brand in my eyes.
I thought the flamed Ti clip would look cool on a GG frame. So far my Strider experience has been knives with excellent fit and finish, no break in required with my SMF GG, and great customer service... if Strider gets any better, I'll be getting free knives soon:D

So-Lo said:
Wonder why they returned your call AND said they would send out parts? :confused:

Be sure to show us a pic of your new flamed clip, they sure do look cool :)
Click to expand...
 
I understand using a knife hard, but Strider shouldn't have to fix the tip of a knife because someone wants to stab a monitor. When I see pictures like that I think "Well that's why they aren't 100 dollars less". If someone breaks it accidentally using it as a tool that's one thing, but just wanting to see if you can baton it through a cinder block shouldn't be covered. I read where someone dismantled a couch with his SMF. I think he said the knife was fine afterwards. This is where I would chosen a different tool. One guy broke his SnG prying something on his truck because it was the only tool he had. That's different to me. I've had 4, 3 SMF's and a SnG.
 
mystro said:
Jeff from Strider returned my call. He also gave me his personal email if I had any other concerns. They were very professional and generally couldn't do enough for me. They are living up to a premium knife brand in my eyes.
I thought the flamed Ti clip would look cool on a GG frame. So far my Strider experience has been knives with excellent fit and finish, no break in required with my SMF GG, and great customer service... if Strider gets any better, I'll be getting free knives soon:D
Click to expand...

I'm really glad to hear this, maybe they are stepping up to the plate in 2011. :thumbup:

I'm happy with my DDG SnG and have put it through hell including heavy prying, the g-10 flexes, but has never came close to cracking. Lockup and action seems to stay the same, in fact after break in the lock set it's self and has not moved in years. The Digi coating shows wear, but is still all there and the S30V from Strider is probably the best heat treated S30V I have ever used.

Yes I always feel like I paid too much for them, but after you get over that, they seem to always find there way into your pocket. YMMV While I don't feel the need for any more Striders, I'll never get rid of my SnG. :)
 
LOL.
sorry, Baton through the M4 Bradley?! I dont think so...
But anyway, I don't need to baton through knives, and the GB is a way better cutter, while also holding a better edge. IMO it also looks better, but that is a whole different story, and is irrelevant to the topic right now. For $600, not only they should fix your Strider (ghetto cap fix from Strider sux), they should also send you a Christmas card every year!

Now, back on topic...

zrfunited said:
Ok, I realize that this may look like I am picking on you a bit but I swear I am not. I am genuinely curious. How did you pry an elevator door open with an opinel? The blades are thin and the handle is wooden. Admittedly I have never had to pry open a set of elevator doors but I can't imagine it would be easy. I believe I have seen maintenance in the building I work in using a large flat prybar to foce the doors open.

Edit: I have removed the earlier comment. My statement had nothing to do with the subject of this thread. I felt that I needed to exercise a bit of self control and descretion.

Cheers gentlemen!
Brandon
Click to expand...

Dude, I know you're hating on me. That's why I really didn't wanna post anything about Strider. But whatever.
I did pry and elevator door with an Opinel! It was not THE hardest task of all, and even the same Opinel knife had gone through harder tests. I'm just saying that if I want to beat the crap of my knife I have different, cheaper and at times more suitable for the job (fixed blades)
And anyway I am not trying to prove you anything. you lose temper because of a thread in a forum?! leaving all kind of comments you need to edit out... Get a grip. You like your Strider, GOOD FOR YOU. Now move on with it. I don't think this back and forth cr@p is productive whatsoever.
 
Razor, I really am not hating on you. My edit wasn't because I posted anything hateful it was just snarky and had no place in this discussion. Although my edit does probably make it look like something more than what it was. Maybe I should have put a little happyface in it. You just slightly agitate me with your sweeping generalizations and your obvious below average reading comprehension skills :)

I really was serious about the opinel though. Did you pry or wedge the door open. Did you get it open just enough to get your fingers into it? Are they not as big a deal to pry open as I am assuming? I am genuinely curious. I love opinel's and have a handful of them. I never would have imagined they would handle any prying duties. Needless to say your revelation surprises me.
 
zrfunited said:
Razor, I really am not hating on you. My edit wasn't because I posted anything hateful it was just snarky and had no place in this discussion. Although my edit does probably make it look like something more than what it was. Maybe I should have put a little happyface in it. You just slightly agitate me with your sweeping generalizations and your obvious below average reading comprehension skills :)

I really was serious about the opinel though. Did you pry or wedge the door open. Did you get it open just enough to get your fingers into it? Are they not as big a deal to pry open as I am assuming? I am genuinely curious. I love opinel's and have a handful of them. I never would have imagined they would handle any prying duties. Needless to say your revelation surprises me.
Click to expand...

My reading comprehension skills are not below average, but my attention sometimes is. Also, I tend to visualize more, also read between the lines. Thus, I see truly the motives of all your posts...
So, you did not choose to move along. I'll feed your curiosity about the Opinel though. Why the HELL would I pry the door all the way back using the knife?? Obviously I'd only have to pry it enough to stick my fingers in, so I can push it open. Also, I guess the amount of force you need to expand in order to open the door varies from elevator to elevator. This specific one was easy enough to open, yet not so easy if you have no "proper" tool. As I always say - "you better have the proper tool, than be one". Ohh, I'll put a happy face, so you won't get too agitated :)

Hopefully I did not agitate you TOO much with this post. Relax, eat a fruit, go get some massage done to you.
 
Thanks for answering:) Your right, Obviously you would have to get your fingers into the door. That totally makes sense. I am impressed that the thin carbon steel and wood held up to the lateral stress. :) :) two smileys just to show you I'm friendly.
 
Only time I've ever used my Strider to pry anything was a misplaced staple when we were placing the christmas lights outside. I'm sure other knives could have handles it, but safe to say the SnG had no issues

I tend to use my knives to cut; usually not to pry or unnecessarily stab. But I'm generally a more cautious individual.
 
Every thing except you could probably baton the strider throughout the GB and if you managed to break it send it to strider to be repaired under warranty
Click to expand...

I do think this is the kind of sillyness that causes people to dislike the "kool aid drinkers", a term I don't particularly like but "where the shoe fits" .

It's more likely to be the other way around, to be honest. M4 is much tougher and yes, more wear resistant than S30V.

ON the other hand Dwayne Dwyer has some pretty nice customs out. Seems like I read about a 3V run he did. I know he has used S110V, Rex 20, and now Rex 121. I forget some of the others.

By the way I had a question about my Dwyer custom. I emailed it through the regular contact form on the website and I recieved an e mail from Dwayne telling me to call him on his cell. I recieved that response within about 1, maybe 2 working days. I was pretty impressed after hearing all the stories about how difficult it is to get a response. Maybe it was due to it being a custom. I don't know as I've not had to contact them before.

DD does make a nice custom. He's apparently a steel junky like a bunch of us here. That's a good thing IMO. It doesn't need to be any more complicated than that.

It's us forumites that complicate things with claims like the ones above about Batoning through knives and other silly nonsense. Funny we don't hear that stuff from manufacturers eh? :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top