Strider SNG or Chris Reeve/ Wilson Combat Star-Tac

Ankerson said:
Never had a Strider develop blade play.
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You are luckier than me. Bought an SNG brand new about a year and a half ago. It came with blade play. Strider "fixed" it by putting a cap over one of the studs. I was not impressed with their solution. Mine also had uneven grind lines and a poorly sharpened edge. After Strider fixed the blade play and I had someone sharpen the blade that actually new what they were doing, it functioned perfectly.

I ended up selling it and got a Startac Umnumzaan. For my uses, the Umnumzaan not only functions as good or better than an SNG, but the Umnumzaan has superior fit and finish.

When I purchased my Umnumzaan for $430, I felt like I got a $430 knife. When I purchased my SNG DGG for $475, I felt like I got a $275 knife.

Just my experience owning 1 Strider knife. Looking at the other posts, it does sound that the Strider knives produced today may have better fit and finish.
 
I was worried about fit/finish issues when I bought my SNG (Latest gen Tan CC/Tiger-stripe) but I've experienced none other than my knife came with marks on the blade and it was brand new (not a huge deal since I was planning on using it). I picked it up at Knife Art and it came in a zip-lock baggy with nothing else (no paperwork or anything) and for the money, I sort of felt like maybe it should come with something from Strider telling me how to contact them or something.

If you like knives with a choil or Spydercos - get the SNG. A lot of folks gripe about the fact that you're getting a large handle with a small usable cutting edge, but I really like the finger choil and the ability to choke up on the blade if I need to. The blade-size is perfect for my medium-sized hands (I prefer a 3" blade for EDC and this one has about 3" of useable cutting edge). It definitely isn't as sharp as any of my Spydies have come, but that's not a huge deal to me as I typically re-profile and sharpen my own knives.

Its really a lot like a slightly larger Spyderco Sage 2, only not as smooth on the action since the finish on the blade isn't polished. Ergonomics are perfect for me. I wish they made a low-rider clip for it, but other than that, I have no real design grips (blade is centered, both thumb-studs/blade-stop pins touch the G10/Ti, no play, I guess the blade barely peaking into the lanyard hole - but I don't use Lanyards on my EDC folders).

My biggest gripe was the rough feeling action - it was very tight from the factory and not at all like my Spydies (no glass/ball-bearing feeling here). I opened/closed it and oiled it without taking apart for about 2 weeks but it didn't get too much better.

I finally ordered a spanner-bit from PSD Products (he's local to this board) and took it apart, cleaned it, and used some Lucas Assembly Lube on it - that has smoothed up all of my knives so far, but it didn't make a huge difference with the SNG. Its definitely smoother than it was and I've probably got some more breaking in to do, but I'll never mistake the SNG's action for that of a Spyderco.

My take after owning an SNG for a few weeks now is that personally, I feel that they should:

1. Come with a spanner-bit if the damn thing is going to cost $475 (for the CC version)
2. Come with some literature or a card, or special box, or something letting me know I just spent some serious money and it was on something that is going to be supported from the manufacturer for a bit
3. Come with a smoother action - I don't know, polish the bearing surface or something and use better lube from the factory.

Even with all of these things, I still very much like the knife. When I first got it, I intended to own it for a while and if I wasn't happy, just sell it on the boards here but I don't know that I can let it go right now. I did get a Spyderco Perrin PPT at the same time and the PPT has gotten a lot more pocket-time, but I still dig this SNG.

Here's some comparison pics to a few other folders:

DSCN9745.jpg
 
it will get smoother, and it is partially dependent on the blade finish.

i have a hard chrome that opens like buttered glass.

the lubricant from the factory appears to also be a mild abrasive, similar to the factory grease from glock. i assume this is to aid the break in process, but i typically remove it right away and apply some flourinated grease. this has always made my striders open much smoother immediately.
 
Thanks for the tips guys...I think I will most likely go with the Strider at this point. I'm after a DC version which aparently doesn't have much if any break in period at all.
 
DrOpPoInT1110 said:
I figured I wouldn't be disappointed with either one but as of now, I seem to be leaning towards the SnG. The only issue is I can't seem to find a configuration I like that is in stock or one from somewhere that will ship to NY. Is there a DC bladed version with the flamed ti but a CC front scale? Again, thanks for all the help and advice.
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Just FYI - that SNG you saw on Oromoto's review didn't have a CC front scale and a standard rear (frame-lock side), it was the opposite (LEGO G10 and CC rear).

Just making sure you realize that before you buy one.
 
I myself am on the lookout for an SMF CC with Ranger Green scales and a Digicamo blade, but that seems to be the most popular combination <_<.
 
EZ Bake said:
Just FYI - that SNG you saw on Oromoto's review didn't have a CC front scale and a standard rear (frame-lock side), it was the opposite (LEGO G10 and CC rear).

Just making sure you realize that before you buy one.
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Yes, I'm aware. The price is what makes that one appealing ;)
 
Noctis3880 said:
I myself am on the lookout for an SMF CC with Ranger Green scales and a Digicamo blade, but that seems to be the most popular combination <_<.
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I've been having terrible luck as well trying to find my prefered combination...digicam blade with flamed ti and either a black cc or black lego scale...either they're out of stock or the website won't ship to NY.
 
So I have been doing a little Strider searching recently and was able to find an SMF in the exact configuration I want...DC blade with flamed Ti and black Lego scale. but, its an SMF which I THINK will be a little too big for me but after thinking about it, I may like having the longer actual cutting edge. Does anyone have a comparison picture of an SMf next to a Spyderco Endura, Delica, or Kershaw Leek? any opinions on the SNG vs the SMF would also be taken into consideration as I have been able to find a flamed Ti black cc tiger stripe blade SNG as well. thanks.
 
I'm actually seriously considering the 'Zaan since I feel like i'll get my more than my money's worth...its less expensive than both striders i'm looking at and neither of them are the EXACT model/configuration combo i'm looking for. Anyone have the Startac Umnumzaan in particular? Do they come with anything extra besides the Ti W.C. bead on the lanyard?
 
Thanks very much for those pictures! I didn't even notice that difference. Just on a side note...do Chris Reeve knives come with that blue micro fiber cloth?
 
I'll probably be of little help here but....You might consider what you like in a handle profile and how it fits in your pocket - if that is important to you. I've had the Star-Tac for awhile now and like it quite a bit - smooth opening, well made, and very sturdy. It has what I consider a good handle profile and carries well in my pocket. I'm not a heavy user but it does everything I need. I never thought that I would buy a Strider because the handle style just looked too bulky for my tastes and I'm not really fond of the camo style blade coatings on a lot of them. Then that dang Ankerson did his review on the SMG CC with 3V. I'm a steel junkie so I had to try the 3V. So now I have one and I like it a lot but it is definitely much bulkier, in my opinion, than the Star-Tac. I know the SMF is a bit smaller but I think many of the same comparisons still apply. The Strider "gun grip" (I think that's what it's called) fits well in my hand but I think I find the Star-Tac design feels better in-hand as far as shape is concerned. I think I have medium size hands. The bulk at the end of the Strider handle takes up a bit more space at the top of my pocket and seems to be wearing into the coin pocket on my Levis faster that other knives. I really like the thumb hole on the Strider for blade opening. Strongly prefer it to studs - that's one reason I like Spydies so much. So I like the Star-Tac handle profile better. I like the blade profile on both knives. They are both very well built. Since I don't beat my knives severely, I think that both will last a very long time and both will do well at any job I ask of them. If blade steel is important to you, the new Star-Tacs may have CPM-S35V blades now (but I'd check to confirm this). A lot of this really depends upon your tastes. If you're drawn to the Strider designs and can get the all of the design particulars you like, I'd say go for it. Depending on how bad your disease is, you may end up getting a Star-Tac down the road anyway. I have both and carry both (not at the same time) on a regular basis. If carry environment is a concern, in my opinion, the Star-Tac is a bit more non-knife people friendly looking. You can't go wrong with either. Good luck. Mike (Though harder to come by at this moment and costlier on the secondary market, the Hinderer XM-18's are pretty nice also.)
 
In general, yes, but there are a lot on the shelf that were shipped before the blue microfiber cloth started shipping, and also newer knives that were shipped during a period when they were out of stock. If it matters, you should ask the dealer to confirm whether the knife they're going to ship has one or not.

DrOpPoInT1110 said:
Thanks very much for those pictures! I didn't even notice that difference. Just on a side note...do Chris Reeve knives come with that blue micro fiber cloth?
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Thanks Mike. I think I will be getting both eventually anyway but I think I may have to move on the Star-Tac since it is more limited. While I do love the Xm-18's, the few that I have found are going for wayyy more than I care to spend at the moment.
 
JNewell said:
In general, yes, but there are a lot on the shelf that were shipped before the blue microfiber cloth started shipping, and also newer knives that were shipped during a period when they were out of stock. If it matters, you should ask the dealer to confirm whether the knife they're going to ship has one or not.
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Thanks. It's not a huge issue for me but I was just curious since I see those cloths under alot of Chris Reeve knives in pictures.
 
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