- Joined
- Jan 17, 2004
- Messages
- 283
Let me start off by saying that this is probably not going to be a juicy one. I've by no means carried out any quantitative testing (e.g. Cliff's tests) or destructive tests/ broken my knife (errr...also e.g. Cliff's tests). I'm a simple, average knife person that has used my own personal Strider SNG as an EDC for a while and thought I'd write something down .
In summary:
+ Excellent fit and finish
+ Smooth action (after break in)
+ Good selection of materials - very light yet sturdy and instills confidence
+ Sharp as ......
+ Carries well IWB
+ Strider warranty (not tried yet)
- Thick blade gets stuck (wedged in) when making deep cuts
- "tiger" stripes and general blade finish
- non-sensical lanyard hole
- dead handle space
I'm not a Striderista (similar to a Sebenzista but different knife
), but wanted a tough EDC that wouldn't let me down - picking a Strider was perhaps a random choice since there are many good blades of similar size available in a similar price range.
First impressions:
My first impressions were very favourable. The knife is light and fits well in my hand. I was maybe slightly dissapointed in the size - I truly thought it would be bigger (never handled one in person and ordered blindly). Before I ordered I was paranoid about the fit and finish - asked the dealer to look over the knife to make sure I don't get sent a bum one. What an idiot I was
- the Strider workmanship was flawless and just what you would expect from a $400 knife. G10 and Ti mate 100% perfect with no gaps. Lock-up was rock solid from the word go and the blade perfectly centered with no play. The blade was sharp - I'm used to Spyderco sharp (which is extremely sharp), but this was sharper. I ran the blade along my arm to check shaving capabilities and it seemed like the hairs actually leapt off BEFORE the blade touched them. You would cut yourself with this blade and not even realise it - that's how sharp it was. The opening action was stiff initially, but quickly (a few hundred cycles) settled down to a syrupy smooth glide.
Cutting ability:
I've used the knife for a few weeks now as an EDC and have cut a variety of everyday things. Everyday things excludes stuff like concrete, barbed wire, car doors and the like (sorry Mick
). I cut myself, rope, cardboard, duct tape, plastic, fruits and veg, stripped cable and chopped a bit out of pine tree to recover an arrow to name but a few. The blade is rock solid and it seems like the more I use it, the better the frame lock settles down. Not once has it come close to disengaging - in ED use. The size is truly useful and I found it more than adequate to cope with the cutting tasks. The thickness of the blade was a bit of a pain on deep cuts - especially giant carrots and apples: The blade would cut up to the thick part and get stuck solid. I'm sure the blasted finish does not help either for general cutting. At least the knife is solid and as soon as it got stuck I could wedge in half anything I was cutting. The edge holds really well - I have not needed to sharpen it and it is still razor sharp. The choil is large and actually useful - protects the fingers nicely when closing the knife and can act as a forward grip.
Carry-ability:
I carry the knife 7 days a week for about 16 hours a day. All done IWB. The clip is perfect and the knife carries just like a glove. I have to check that it is still there every now and then. One small gripe - it is tricky to produce the knife quickly from this position. This could have easily been remedied by Strider just continueing the square serrations on the back of the knife a little further around past the lanyard hole to where the tip of the blade rests when closed. Hopefully we'll see this in gen 7
Handle ergos:
The lanyard hole is useless with the blade cutting through the hole when closed. Yes, I've read the faq about just using one half of the hole, but that seems a silly way to compensate for a design flaw. No worries though - I would not stick a piece of rope on this beauty anyhow.
When closing the knife, I found the handle to be bigger than it needs to in order to house the blade. A smaller overall folder can easily house the same blade size, but this is not an issue either. I found the lines of the handle to be plain, square - yet simple and functional. Easy to hold onto.
I've dropped it a few times onto slate floors onto G10 and Ti side and the knife doesn't even flinch. It just comes back for more.
Style:
I'm not a fan of the tiger stripes. These are just over the top and not sheeple friendly at all. Yes - I hear you ask: do we really care about the sheeple? Quite honestly: No. BUT, we have to live and work with them and they can put up such a whine that you sometimes just want to sell all your sh!t and buy SAKs man. I've used my Stider a few times around the office (it sorts out the photocopier nicely ) and as soon as I pull it: Not "Wow, from where did you manage to pull a knife so quickly?" nor "man, that blade looks big and sharp ". Everytime, without fail: "Look, his blade is even camoflaged - he must be some right wing, extreme, soldier of fortune reading, blah, blah, blah." Me: "no you idiot, those are tiger stripes, not camo." The Strider gen 7 will also be available in plain finish
The Ti finish on the handle, on the other hand, is awesome and is good urban camo. When I carry it IWB, it actually blends in with my clothes and is hard to pick out.
Bottomline is that this is a knife with attitude. Good fit and finish, very sharp and something that won't let you down. There a some small odds and ends that aren't perfect for me, but will suit the next guy to a tee. This will be my preferred EDC for the next while - and this knife will keep going until I decide to sell it for another one day. If you're in the market for something like this and can look over some small niggles - don't hesitate: get one today.
Greg
In summary:
+ Excellent fit and finish
+ Smooth action (after break in)
+ Good selection of materials - very light yet sturdy and instills confidence
+ Sharp as ......
+ Carries well IWB
+ Strider warranty (not tried yet)
- Thick blade gets stuck (wedged in) when making deep cuts
- "tiger" stripes and general blade finish
- non-sensical lanyard hole
- dead handle space
I'm not a Striderista (similar to a Sebenzista but different knife
), but wanted a tough EDC that wouldn't let me down - picking a Strider was perhaps a random choice since there are many good blades of similar size available in a similar price range.First impressions:
My first impressions were very favourable. The knife is light and fits well in my hand. I was maybe slightly dissapointed in the size - I truly thought it would be bigger (never handled one in person and ordered blindly). Before I ordered I was paranoid about the fit and finish - asked the dealer to look over the knife to make sure I don't get sent a bum one. What an idiot I was
- the Strider workmanship was flawless and just what you would expect from a $400 knife. G10 and Ti mate 100% perfect with no gaps. Lock-up was rock solid from the word go and the blade perfectly centered with no play. The blade was sharp - I'm used to Spyderco sharp (which is extremely sharp), but this was sharper. I ran the blade along my arm to check shaving capabilities and it seemed like the hairs actually leapt off BEFORE the blade touched them. You would cut yourself with this blade and not even realise it - that's how sharp it was. The opening action was stiff initially, but quickly (a few hundred cycles) settled down to a syrupy smooth glide. Cutting ability:
I've used the knife for a few weeks now as an EDC and have cut a variety of everyday things. Everyday things excludes stuff like concrete, barbed wire, car doors and the like (sorry Mick
). I cut myself, rope, cardboard, duct tape, plastic, fruits and veg, stripped cable and chopped a bit out of pine tree to recover an arrow to name but a few. The blade is rock solid and it seems like the more I use it, the better the frame lock settles down. Not once has it come close to disengaging - in ED use. The size is truly useful and I found it more than adequate to cope with the cutting tasks. The thickness of the blade was a bit of a pain on deep cuts - especially giant carrots and apples: The blade would cut up to the thick part and get stuck solid. I'm sure the blasted finish does not help either for general cutting. At least the knife is solid and as soon as it got stuck I could wedge in half anything I was cutting. The edge holds really well - I have not needed to sharpen it and it is still razor sharp. The choil is large and actually useful - protects the fingers nicely when closing the knife and can act as a forward grip.Carry-ability:
I carry the knife 7 days a week for about 16 hours a day. All done IWB. The clip is perfect and the knife carries just like a glove. I have to check that it is still there every now and then. One small gripe - it is tricky to produce the knife quickly from this position. This could have easily been remedied by Strider just continueing the square serrations on the back of the knife a little further around past the lanyard hole to where the tip of the blade rests when closed. Hopefully we'll see this in gen 7
Handle ergos:
The lanyard hole is useless with the blade cutting through the hole when closed. Yes, I've read the faq about just using one half of the hole, but that seems a silly way to compensate for a design flaw. No worries though - I would not stick a piece of rope on this beauty anyhow.
When closing the knife, I found the handle to be bigger than it needs to in order to house the blade. A smaller overall folder can easily house the same blade size, but this is not an issue either. I found the lines of the handle to be plain, square - yet simple and functional. Easy to hold onto.
I've dropped it a few times onto slate floors onto G10 and Ti side and the knife doesn't even flinch. It just comes back for more.
Style:
I'm not a fan of the tiger stripes. These are just over the top and not sheeple friendly at all. Yes - I hear you ask: do we really care about the sheeple? Quite honestly: No. BUT, we have to live and work with them and they can put up such a whine that you sometimes just want to sell all your sh!t and buy SAKs man. I've used my Stider a few times around the office (it sorts out the photocopier nicely
) and as soon as I pull it: Not "Wow, from where did you manage to pull a knife so quickly?" nor "man, that blade looks big and sharp ". Everytime, without fail: "Look, his blade is even camoflaged - he must be some right wing, extreme, soldier of fortune reading, blah, blah, blah." Me: "no you idiot, those are tiger stripes, not camo." The Strider gen 7 will also be available in plain finish The Ti finish on the handle, on the other hand, is awesome and is good urban camo. When I carry it IWB, it actually blends in with my clothes and is hard to pick out.
Bottomline is that this is a knife with attitude. Good fit and finish, very sharp and something that won't let you down. There a some small odds and ends that aren't perfect for me, but will suit the next guy to a tee. This will be my preferred EDC for the next while - and this knife will keep going until I decide to sell it for another one day. If you're in the market for something like this and can look over some small niggles - don't hesitate: get one today.
Greg
it's nice because i am thinking more of getting another strider,i have a PT already. 
Maybe I just stink at sharpening. I use a lansky clamp thing with five levels of stones and use the second hole down from the top. I like the choil and not having to worry, too much, about lock failure.
