STRIDER vs Emerson

:thumbdn:ZT I just can't get over the recurves. When they make a strider/zt with a normal strider style blade I'll buy two. The blade they have on the 03XX just doesn't suit me.
 
I own both, and like both. The looks of the emersons appeal to me more, same with the feel of them. My SnG has vertical play after less than a month after purchase...I haven't even used the knife for anything besides light tasks. It does not take away from the knife because it could be fixed by bending the lock bar over slightly (i just havent gotten to it).

I don't think either would fail before the other under logical "hard" use.
 
EZ Bake said:
I looked at both before I made my purchase of the SNG. I was pretty underwhelmed with the Emerson offerings for the price. I'm not saying that they're bad knives, but they just didn't offer the design, steel, fit/finish, or overall quality feeling that I was hoping to get from a high-end production knife that cost as much as all of the models I happened to look at.

I won't say I was underwhelmed with the SNG, but I just never felt that I got the value I expected for the amount of money I spent. I had the option to wait and pick up an XM-18 and I sort of feel like I should have done that instead, but I doubt I spend that kind of money on a knife for a very long time to be honest. I've just found that there is very little I need in a folder that exceeds Benchmade/Spyderco toughness. I've got fixed-blades for fixed-blade tasks and my folders just don't need to be that rugged.

I'm not saying no one needs an uber-tough folder, but I don't. If I did, it would be an XM-18, an SNG, or something from ZT.
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You've hit the nail on the head. This is exactly my experience.
 
ssblood said:
:thumbdn:ZT I just can't get over the recurves. When they make a strider/zt with a normal strider style blade I'll buy two. The blade they have on the 03XX just doesn't suit me.
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What's wrong with the 0551? Just because it doesn't have Strider's name doesn't mean it isn't worth it:thumbup:.
 
foxdoublegunner said:
I have never held a Strider but the controversy surrounding his past is enough to keep me away. I served over 25 years in the Corps and don't have much tolerance for those who embellish their military credentials.
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That's understandable, I served in the USMC also, but I look past those things and see the knives for what they really are.

A lot of people tell sea stories though as you should know.

Mick Strider has treated me right in my dealing with him so I look at the man and what he has done to better himself.
 
I too served in the U.S. Navy and this controversy is touchy to me but like Jim, I too see now, that Strider knives are pretty heavy duty if you can get past the stolen valor and past quality issues. I have very deep opinions and beliefs on certain things but I'm not an activist either.

My SMF CC is the bomb. It's a tool. A very apt tool for what it was designed for and that is where I focus my attention . . .

Ankerson said:
That's understandable, I served in the USMC also, but I look past those things and see the knives for what they really are.

A lot of people tell sea stories though as you should know.

Mick Strider has treated me right in my dealing with him so I look at the man and what he has done to better himself.
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STR said:
I have owned and liked both Strider and Emerson knives at times but my thoughts these days are why spend the money for either when you can buy a Zero Tolerance and beat both pretty much across the board?

STR
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I second this quote, ZT is just as good and they have framelocks, don't get me wrong i'll eventually get a Strider folder, since i got the mad hatter DB.....But ZT knives are my favorites. especially my 0551 tank!!!
 
Putting aside the beefiness, solid feel and performace of the Striders, what put me off is the lack of a website, customer service (in my case specifically) and the on-going debate on the validity of Strider's claims to being a super high-speed SpecOps guru. There's plenty of info about this topic ad nauseum if you search it. Regardless of the quality or whatever else for that matter, outfits with the questionable reputation such as Strider's won't get my business. I don't care how awesome your product is. Period. Not trying to start a battle on the thread over how awesome Mick Burger's work is or isn't, just stating opinion. THAT'S IT. Perfectly happy with my ZT0302 tiger-striped longsword Titanic anchor. Emerson makes a good every-day utility knife.
 
Insaneinmate said:
I own both, and like both. The looks of the emersons appeal to me more, same with the feel of them. My SnG has vertical play after less than a month after purchase...I haven't even used the knife for anything besides light tasks. It does not take away from the knife because it could be fixed by bending the lock bar over slightly (i just havent gotten to it).

I don't think either would fail before the other under logical "hard" use.
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Boy thats a real high quality well made "hard use" knife right there. How much was that knife, again? Go buy a cold steel american law man for sixty bucks a ZT whatever # for say 200 bucks, etc. and bet it doesn't develop vertical blade play in a month even if you beat the hell out of it. Kind makes the whole thread seem like a moot point doesn't it? You can get knives that are either more durable/tougher, made with better craftsmanship and or materials all for less money. Neither brand is worth the money, these are users, hard use tools not collectibles so there is no legitimate need to incur the extra expense. This is a prime example of the law of diminishing returns. If these knives are true hard use tools, and you can get the same kinda of hard use tool that will perform the same function and in fact be more durable or tougher translating to increased longevity then there is no legitimate reasons anyone can offer. Sure you can say I just wanted one, thats fine but that is not a legitimate reason, as your saying hey I just wanted to spend $100.00, $150.00, etc. more on a inferior tool to do the same job. Makes no sense and utterly defies logical explanation.
 
MikeC said:
Boy thats a real high quality well made "hard use" knife right there. How much was that knife, again? Go buy a cold steel american law man for sixty bucks a ZT whatever # for say 200 bucks, etc. and bet it doesn't develop vertical blade play in a month even if you beat the hell out of it. Kind makes the whole thread seem like a moot point doesn't it? You can get knives that are either more durable/tougher, made with better craftsmanship and or materials all for less money. Neither brand is worth the money, these are users, hard use tools not collectibles so there is no legitimate need to incur the extra expense. This is a prime example of the law of diminishing returns. If these knives are true hard use tools, and you can get the same kinda of hard use tool that will perform the same function and in fact be more durable or tougher translating to increased longevity then there is no legitimate reasons anyone can offer. Sure you can say I just wanted one, thats fine but that is not a legitimate reason, as your saying hey I just wanted to spend $100.00, $150.00, etc. more on a inferior tool to do the same job. Makes no sense and utterly defies logical explanation.
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I own Striders, ZT, CS AL, Recon 1's etc and tested an Emerson.

I say buy what you want, but there are differences in the knives, some are noticeable and others might not be as noticeable, but they are there.

No a $60 CS AL isn't better than a Strider or an Emerson.

Different knives for people that have different price points, likes and dislikes.

They are all good, just different.

Strider takes a lot of heat more because of the price than most people would like to admit, they aren't cheap.
 
Strider for me. I like frame lock and I just love the way Striders look as well as the ergos.
 
Ankerson said:
I own Striders, ZT, CS AL, Recon 1's etc and tested an Emerson.

I say buy what you want, but there are differences in the knives, some are noticeable and others might not be as noticeable, but they are there.

No a $60 CS AL isn't better than a Strider or an Emerson.

Different knives for people that have different price points, likes and dislikes.

They are all good, just different.

Strider takes a lot of heat more because of the price than most people would like to admit, they aren't cheap.
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Once I saw and played with a friend's signed Strider Duane Dwyer custom SMF with double gunner titanium grips and the nightmare grind blade, I knew that a Strider was in my future. Now that knife was a pricey, very pricey knife. But before I acquired my SnG, I checked out the Buck Strider and decided against it. I also got a ZT 0300, plenty good, basically a Strider I suppose, but not the real thing. However, once I snagged a really nice, flickable, smooth, perfect SnG from a custom maker (he must have tweaked that knife, it's so good), it became clear to me why I really like the knife: looks, ergos, powerful thwack when flipping the blade open, solid and rugged and light -- all at once. Just a delightful, tough combination. I don't regret dropping what I did for it. Awesome knife.
 
Folderguy said:
Once I saw and played with a friend's signed Strider Duane Dwyer custom SMF with double gunner titanium grips and the nightmare grind blade, I knew that a Strider was in my future. Now that knife was a pricey, very pricey knife. But before I acquired my SnG, I checked out the Buck Strider and decided against it. I also got a ZT 0300, plenty good, basically a Strider I suppose, but not the real thing. However, once I snagged a really nice, flickable, smooth, perfect SnG from a custom maker (he must have tweaked that knife, it's so good), it became clear to me why I really like the knife: looks, ergos, powerful thwack when flipping the blade open, solid and rugged and light -- all at once. Just a delightful, tough combination. I don't regret dropping what I did for it. Awesome knife.
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Sounds like a winner to me. :)
 
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Didn't intend this to be a politics thread, just a knife thread. Many of the main men behind the oil industry are despicable human beings, so don't drive a car from now on because of it. Take a look of mortgage industry leaders/founders (sell yer house), bank presidents (put your money under the pillow), President of the United States (move to Timbuktu), whatever..... I just want to talk knives not people. If I want to get into all that, I'll sit down with my wife and watch Oprah.
 
I simply do not care for recurves, that's what serrations are for in IMO. I've never owned one but a Buck/ Strider looks like a great knife to me.
As for Mick's personal life history it seems to have no effect on the quality of his knives and the people who buy them are not being effected by his past.

It's just a reason for some haters to get their hate on:-)
 
Emerson was the first company that got me into knives. The CQC-7 really appealed to me. But after using it for 6 months the lock bar ended up traveling all the
way to the other side to around 90%. And that was mainly just from opening and closing the blade. I decided I wouldnt be able to trust it so I sold it.
I still dig Emersons but if they would make the liner lock a littler thicker especially on the bigger knives it would possibly fix the lock bar travel and just give
me a sense of well being.
 
foxdoublegunner said:
I have never held a Strider but the controversy surrounding his past is enough to keep me away. I served over 25 years in the Corps and don't have much tolerance for those who embellish their military credentials.
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In my experience, Mick is very open with his military history, and exactly how it came about that he was discharged. With 25 years in the Corps, I find it hard to believe that you never came across an enlisted guy that became a scape goat for a bunch of screw ups (his included) all the way up the chain. It happened to me, though not to the extreme as Mick's situation. It was my fault, but not solely and the situation was more complicated that anyone gave it credit for and the whole thing came down on me and no one else.

Mick may have been convicted, but IMO, he is not a criminal, in the common use of the word.

For the record, the Corps was able to overlook Mick's past to bring a couple Strider knives into the inventory, the SMF and DB-L. That aught to tell you something.
 
Nakk77 said:
Which do u guys like better and why?
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I prefer Strider -- overbuilt, great fit and finish on the ones I've owned. The Emerson's I've owned seem overpriced for what you get and a couple of grades down in quality from a good Spyderco, Benchmade, or Al Mar.
 
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