Strider SnG, titanium & cost/value

J

JohnM

Joined
Oct 22, 2005
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I own a few Benchmades, Spydercos, and Chris Reeve knives. When I'm in the mood for a big, strong folder, I usually go with the 520, Mini Manix, or Sebenza.

I handled a Strider SnG today for the first time. Like the others, it felt great in the hand and was rock solid. No blade play whatsover.

My question is about price and value. The SnG is $400, more than twice the price of the 520 or Mini Manix, and about the same as the Large Sebenza. I justified the Sebenza based on it reputation, all titanium design, and fit and finish. The knife is expensive, but worth it to me.

Do the materials and construction justify the price of the SnG? I'm not asking whether you like or don't like the SnG so much as whether its design, construction, materials, and warranty ("you break it, we fix it") justify its higher price. For example, how expensive is titanium? Does that alone almost double the costs of production? Thanks very much.
 
Also take a look at the various Zero Tolerance knives on the new Kershaw web-site. If you like the Strider, I think you'll find them of interest.

Certainly, titanium is expensive and extremely difficult to work with -- especially if you want to texture or figure it. Does it justify a high price for a knife? Only to a small degree. I wouldn't let that bother me.

Ask, instead, how much you appreciate and 'like' the knife. In other words, what is it worth to you? In terms of cost/benefit, and similar economic terms, a Strider is unlikely to look good v. the other, less expensive knives you own. If your interest in knives is simply as tools, the Strider probably isn't 'worth' it. If you are a hobbyist or (horrors) a Knife Knut -- it could well be just the thing for you.

In other words, for an enthusiast the economics are not the key issue.
 
yeah, what he said, it only matters to you. If you already seb(s) you might as well. Oh I should add that you might want to handle the one you want to buy in person, just in case.
 
Hi,
I think you already answered your own question....."The knife is expensive, but worth it to me." ....
Pretty much the consensus.
Just my opinion.
 
I recently accquired an sng and I asked myself the same question for a long time prior to actually getting one. Clearly, there are other knives with similar materials that cost far less. What made me decied to actually go for one finally was basically that, hey, I'm only gonna live once. I like knives very much, and I really wanted an sng. If Strider knives cost less, far more people would buy them; but they don't cost less. Does that make some look right past them? -Sure. Personally, I like the design of the sng and feel they're made well and feel good. So I went for it.
However, with that said, when it comes down to it, it's just another knife. It locks and cuts. It's not super natural. It does have a huge pivot, big screws, and a thick strong lock, but I've never broken another quality knife in those areas. Do I "need" a knife of such design? -No. But am I glad I have those improvments? -Of course I am. I feel it's my single best knife due to it's exccessive strength, but if I could only have $400.00 worth of knives total, I don't think I would have an sng. I'd have 2, 3, or maybe even 4 other knives. But so far I'm very happy I have one in addition to my other knives. And I have yet to find a fault in it. If you like it, don't let the price stand in your way. Unless you're gonna get one of those cheapy buck versions, there isn't another knife quite like it. That's how I'm most able to justify it's price.
 
I am going to be getting one soon aswell my friend is a Strider fanatic and him letting me use his AR is what made me decide to want to get one or maybe two the sng also!! :D
 
I find mine worth it to me . They do what I want , very well .

Chris
 
The real question is whether the average Joe understands the economics of knifemaking. Read up on the value of knife components and you see the costs of materials are quite a bit higher for S30V and titanium. Then add 3X the labor and materials to shape Ti or S30V - it takes three belts to shape and grind S30V to one belt of lesser steels, and time to change out and finish the blade increases because of that.
Then compare size of operation - say Kershaw making the ZT's, to Strider's. Huge difference in available machines, capital expenditures, overhead, and production capacity. Kershaw makes lots of knives cheaper because they have production volume ability. It even limits their offering - either make, say, 10,000, or forgedaboutit. Strider is making production knives, sure, but also lots of customs which eat up production and set up time, and priced accordingly.

So it's unreal to compare their manufacture against major players like Benchmade, Spyderco, or Kershaw, and totally wrong to expect them to toe a high volume factory cost per unit ratio.

But most of the detractors have no clue about all this and whine about the high price and other intangibles. I like my SnG just fine, it cuts what I want, and the cachet of owning one is like owning a Cobra kit car.

They're not for the faint of heart.
 
Strider and Chris Reeve are in their own league...they will not develop blade play no matter how much you abuse them, are amazingly light for their design, support a simple, practically fail proof lock, sport amazing ergos, use amazing materials, etc.

Few people will ever use a Strider to the degree they are made to be used (it is almost disgusting to see how these things cut up 55 gallon metal drums like pie), but that really doesn't matter if it makes you happy. Not to mention it is nice knowing it is their if you need it. If you like it and it makes you happy, buy it!
 
Striders are nowhere as nice a Gent's folder as a Sebbie , or a number of others . If TSHTF , I would rather have my Strider , they will take a lot of guff , and produce the goods .

Chris
 
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