Strider tiger stripes

I

Illiya

Joined
Nov 17, 2000
Messages
58
I'm considering buying my first Strider knife. Can any of you tell me about the tiger stripes on the blade? Are they just airbrushed onto the blade? Do they scratch off the blade with use? Can I visit the Strider plant and buy a knife (Or two) there? Thanks in advance for your replies.
 
The stripes are not painted on, they are a result of the heat treatment and then I believe they just beadblast them to get the stripes. I've had and handled alot of Strider knives, the finish holds up really well and with the camo, the scuffs blend in.
As far as visiting I think you can but need to call first.
 
It is my understanding that on the ATS-34 blades the stripes were a remnant of the heat treating process and were very resistant to wear since they were actually carburized onto the blade.

I remember hearing that the stripes on the S30V blades are applied, and will be subject to wear.

Perhaps one of the Strider people can clear this up.
 
I believe Dave's got it right. After heat treating, the blade is completely dark. Bead blasting removes some of the surface finish, and what is left behind are the black stripes.
 
Actually, they are done with Crayola crayons. Don't buy them. (More for me!!:D )


On a serious note, they are very durable. You may see some scratching, but the disruptive pattern stays fairly well. As to the method. I think they covered it.
 
I was over at the Strider table at the Chesapeake show, and Duane Dwyer was just telling a gentleman about their tiger-striping methods. He didn't have any ATS-34 heat-treat tiger stripes left, as they'd moved on to S30V for most of their line. So I pulled out my ATS-34 MFS from the previous year to show them, but Duane took a look at it and said, "Nah, that's black oxide."

:footinmou No wonder the tiger stripes seemed to be wearing a little (from much rough handling). I guess that means that there could be some ATS-34 knives out there that have the newer black-oxide tiger striping.
 
So it is true that the newer striped blades are not quite as wear resistant as the older ones?
 
No that is not true.
When you heat treat a blade it leaves an oxide residue from the treatment and quench.
The ATS-34 and BG-42 blades come out with the oxide coating black and the S30V does not have the same coloration so they apply a black oxide coating on the blade then selectivly (sp) remove some of it to get the TS finish.

Basically the same but 1 goes thru an addition operation.
 
Originally posted by fishbulb
So it is true that the newer striped blades are not quite as wear resistant as the older ones?
Click to expand...
I haven't used an older Strider, so I won't be able to tell you about the wear properties. But I can say that my black oxide tiger stripes haven't worn too much-- just enough that I could notice them under the kydex scuffs (n.b. "real" kydex scuffs that can be scratched off).

The difference in heat-treating scale formation suggests that it's possible that the black-oxide coating on ATS-34 will wear differently than that on S30V. Any reports?
 
No answers from this guy here (me!), I'm still learning myself.....

:)

Just one more question -- I've both been told by old hands at Striders as well as have personally seen that the BG-42 blades "stripe" in a kinda reddish hue instead of the "black" that is typical of ATS-34 and S30V.

But here, y'all are saying that BG-42 should be "black" as well......

:confused:

Thanks,

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 
I picked up a KH at the Chesapeake show. Its BG42. The stripes do have a red hue to them. The blade has some sheath marks on it but they aren't as visible on the stripped areas.
 
How is "flaming" of Titanium done ? -- mostly skewed in terms of not the technical aspects, but rather, just a general lay description of how the finish on the backs of our Strider frame-lock folders are achieved...

And for that matter, what about Stellite?

:)

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 
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