Strider vs Sebenza

[Nathan L]

i know there are other posts on this subject but i could seem to find out how thick, what is the measurment, of the cutout on the lock bar on the strider smf and sebenza. I have heard people say that the sebenza is thicker but from pictures i have seen it looks like the sebenzas cutout is two half circles forming a point in the middle of the cut out. That point is thicker but the thinest part looks to be the same thickness as the strider from the pictures i have seen. am i correct? also the sebenza does not have a lockbar stabilizer but would the pocket clip on the sebenza not help prevent over extending somewhat. on pictures i have seen the clip looks like it sits over the lockbar. Thanks for your help, i am considering buying either a strider smf or a sebenza(it is strange that these two knives are compared so much, in my mind they both have completly different functions yet i keep debating which one to get.)

 

[kadinh]

My suggestion:

If you are seriously going to buy/use this knife, buy both and sell the one you prefer least.

 

[neuron]

My suggestion:

If you are seriously going to buy/use this knife, buy both and sell the one you prefer least.

+1 on this.

Like you (the OP) said, they're very different knives, and it's somewhat strange that they get compared so much. But both do hold their value well, so if you have the funds to get both -- or, even better, a nearby store or knife show at which you could handle both -- you can sell the one you end up liking less for very close to what you paid for it. (Or, in true BladeForums fashion, you might just keep both. )

As for the thickness of the cutout, I don't have a Sebenza currently but I do have an Umnumzaan and various SMFs, and the cutout thickness on the CRK and the Striders is very similar. The differences in the lock design, cutout placement, and so forth between CRKs and Striders have been covered quite a bit in other threads, but suffice to say that both work very well. So I wouldn't let that be a deciding factor between getting the Sebenza and the SMF. There are much more significant differences -- in size, ergonomics, blade thickness, etc. -- that will be much bigger determinants of which is best for you as a working knife.

 

[Nathan L]

thanks for the responses guys. I would love to get one of each and could, but i realy need to save it insted. Every bit helps when your in college. I think what will happen is i will get the strider first and then latter(when i have a full time job) ill pick up a sebenza and have both. That is unless i get the strider and i dont like it at all, then ill sell it and get the sebenza. It would be so much easier if there was a dealer around were i live (Prosperity, SC) to go and hold them both. Dose any one know of a dealer somewhere close to Columbia sc, that i dont know about?

 

[RevDevil]

The title of this thread has the potential to create a disaster in short order. Every Titanium framelock knife has a diffent set of tolerances on the thickness of the cut out, it is based on design mor than a universal engineering formulation. Common sense and familiarity with the knife prevents overextension of the lockbar. There are discussions on lock bar cut outs, geometries, etc. Yuhave to search tem out though.

As for where to buy a knife in your area. Your best bet is to search in the yellow pages or another local resource. Call and ask local gun stores, ask if they are authorized dealers for Strider or Chris Reeve knives, and ask where you can go.

 

[Ankerson]

One would have to handle both and then make up their mind I believe.

 

[mdc5162]

You could do 2 things with limited income.

1. Get the sebenza first because its pretty much guaranteed to have a perfect lock up and zero blade play. Also no matter how many times you open and close it, it will not develop blade play. Where a strider has the potential to have blade play or develop it. (if this doesnt bother you then never mind)

2. Get strider first because generally a sebenza will have tighter tolerances and more of a refined feel and might spoil you. My first 2 striders which I traded were not up to snuff with the sebenza's I had. However the strider I have now, one of their newest ones by the way, is almost as solid.

 

[kawr]

The lockbar cutout on my SNG is noticeably bigger than on my Large Sebenza. The cutout on the Sebenza at the thinnest point is thicker than the thinnest point on the SNG. I would guess that the SMF would have a slightly thicker cutout than that of a SNG but I dont own an SMF to find out for sure. No amount of youtube watching and forum reading will help you make the decision until you handle both and find out what you like. Good luck.

 

[J85909266]

You could do 2 things with limited income.

1. Get the sebenza first because its pretty much guaranteed to have a perfect lock up and zero blade play. Also no matter how many times you open and close it, it will not develop blade play. Where a strider has the potential to have blade play or develop it. (if this doesnt bother you then never mind)

2. Get strider first because generally a sebenza will have tighter tolerances and more of a refined feel and might spoil you. My first 2 striders which I traded were not up to snuff with the sebenza's I had. However the strider I have now, one of their newest ones by the way, is almost as solid.

I pretty much LOLed when I finally broke down and bought a Strider, an SnG. It came all dusty and used-looking in a plastic baggy, had blade play and an off-center blade. Looking at it next to my Sebenza was pretty funny. How they manage to generate a market willing to pay that much for knives not even on the level of common production companies, with poor integrity, a record of animosity towards customers and outright lies used to sell their products, astounds me.

 

[CrimsonTideShooter]

I pretty much LOLed when I finally broke down and bought a Strider, an SnG. It came all dusty and used-looking in a plastic baggy, had blade play and an off-center blade. Looking at it next to my Sebenza was pretty funny. How they manage to generate a market willing to pay that much for knives not even on the level of common production companies, with poor integrity, a record of animosity towards customers and outright lies used to sell their products, astounds me.

Owning a whopping one Strider, you aren't exactly an expert on the subject. If your strider wasn't up to snuff, then they would have fixed it for you. You think every CRK that leaves the factory is perfect? Please.

 

[Noctis3880]

i know there are other posts on this subject but i could seem to find out how thick, what is the measurment, of the cutout on the lock bar on the strider smf and sebenza. I have heard people say that the sebenza is thicker but from pictures i have seen it looks like the sebenzas cutout is two half circles forming a point in the middle of the cut out. That point is thicker but the thinest part looks to be the same thickness as the strider from the pictures i have seen. am i correct? also the sebenza does not have a lockbar stabilizer but would the pocket clip on the sebenza not help prevent over extending somewhat. on pictures i have seen the clip looks like it sits over the lockbar. Thanks for your help, i am considering buying either a strider smf or a sebenza(it is strange that these two knives are compared so much, in my mind they both have completly different functions yet i keep debating which one to get.)

Why is it so difficult? For me, the ultimate question is what you plan to do with the knife. For cutting cardboard and other thick materials, I think the thinner blade of the Sebenza along with the high hollow grind will make those tasks easier while I would compare cutting with the Strider to using a sharpened prybar.

Honestly, unless you pry things with your knife regularly or you stab your knife into a tree, you shouldn't be able to break or wear down the Sebenza.

Alternatively, consider the Umnumzaan as the studs are placed closer to the pivot, making it easier to open in one smooth motion(also doesn't have the pointed thumbstud). The machined titanium also feels and looks better than the plain jane slabs on the Sebenza.

 

[neuron]

Owning a whopping one Strider, you aren't exactly an expert on the subject. If your strider wasn't up to snuff, then they would have fixed it for you. You think every CRK that leaves the factory is perfect? Please.

No kidding, but posts like the one you were responding to are pretty much to be expected with any thread here on BladeForums that so much as mentions Strider.

 

[Bluesummers]

No kidding, but posts like the one you were responding to are pretty much to be expected with any thread here on BladeForums that so much as mentions Strider.

Guess that should give people an idea of what to expect when ordering a Strider folder yeah?

You may or may not get a knife that is ideal when buying new.

 

[neuron]

Guess that should give people an idea of what to expect when ordering a Strider folder yeah?

Not really. Despite being a big fan of titanium framelocks, I actually held off on buying a Strider for a long time because I thought that posts like those did give a good indication of what to expect. However, once I finally did buy one, I found that the charges of poor F&F/build quality didn't at all fit my experience, and that positive first experience has been borne out by the subsequent Striders I've bought as well. (All of the ones I've bought have been made within the last year, so I can't really speak to the issue of whether there were more frequent/significant issues in the past.)

At least on BladeForums, Strider (along with perhaps Emerson) is probably the most polarizing company that can be brought up, as evidenced by the fact that nearly every thread about them has significant potential to turn into a food fight. In light of that, I'd suggest people considering them simply handle one for themselves at a knife show, B&M store, meetup, etc., and make their own judgments rather than simply relying on what they hear on this particular forum.

 

[Popsickle]

I pretty much LOLed when I finally broke down and bought a Strider, an SnG. It came all dusty and used-looking in a plastic baggy, had blade play and an off-center blade. Looking at it next to my Sebenza was pretty funny. How they manage to generate a market willing to pay that much for knives not even on the level of common production companies, with poor integrity, a record of animosity towards customers and outright lies used to sell their products, astounds me.

nothing is perfect, strider is a great company that covers its products completely.... hell i have 2 out of the 5 i own at the strider spa right now getting a tune up. ANy tool that is designed to take a beating will develop blade play at one time or another. And how dense are you exactley? the same materials and MUCH MORE are used in strider models as compared to CRK Sebenza's which are incredible knives in their own right. I have never fondled a Chris Reeve Knife, and i hear nothing but amazing things about them! Different strokes for different folks bud! I am a proud owner of 5 Strider knives(2 SMF's and 3 SnG's) and considering getting my first Sebenza in the carbon fiber version. It sounds to me like your knocking a product that you didnt take advantage of the awesome warranty.... which aside from doing something like pimping a knife, they will fix anything broken on it. As a long time fan of Spyderco i will semi quote Sal Glesser in saying Not bad, just different.

edit: i could honestly not care about what lies certain individuals at strider may or may not have used to sell their products. They make something that works... period. I will gladly put ANY of my striders up against whatever knives are out there. Ill even let you pick your poison lol 3v, s110v, s30v, s35v

 

[Popsickle]

Guess that should give people an idea of what to expect when ordering a Strider folder yeah?

You may or may not get a knife that is ideal when buying new.

that is true about almost all knife companies. no one is perfect 100% of the time. When you order a new spyderco or benchmade and the blade is off centered most people would just sell it rather than take the 2 seconds to tighten or loosen the pivot to center up the blade.

 

[giant1]

Don't know why Strider and CRK get compared so much as they are completely different animals...........
I like the knives from both manufacturers but have no time or respect for one of the companies / operators.

I have 11 or 12 Sebenza's (maybe more - not sure as I am at work). All are perfect.
I have 6 Strider knives and one of them (RC) has a pretty bad sticking lock.

I reckon my stats are about right for what you can expect from both companies.

 

[Gator97]

nothing is perfect, strider is a great company that covers its products completely.... hell i have 2 out of the 5 i own at the strider spa right now getting a tune up.

I don't recall CRK posting insults to their customers on BF, Strider however... I understand, Strider fans consider all that part of being high speed/hard core users, but for a lot of people this is piss poor customer service.

ANy tool that is designed to take a beating will develop blade play at one time or another.

Huh? It is designed to take beating or to develop bladeplay? Ironically, CrimsonTideShooter posted his video regarding this subj, based on this thread, where he also states that the lock wears real fast on SNF. High speed wear...
I'm no Sebenza fan, but as far as CS, Fit and finish and tolerances go, it is way above Strider's.

And how dense are you exactley?

Doh... Why?

Different strokes for different folks bud!

Exactly, and because you are happy with your Striders and others are not, doesn't mean they're dense or bad or whatever...

It sounds to me like your knocking a product that you didnt take advantage of the awesome warranty

He's criticizing a product which was defective, and given Strider price/hype, it was unexpected. And for the record, it is quire hard to find a company which will not replace or service their product which is defective out of the box. Everywhere else, that is considered a norm, what's so awesome about that. And, for most of the people, dealing with warranty is rather a nuisance. Pack the knife, go to PO, send, wait until it gets fixed, sent back. Might get lost during the trips back and forth. Bot no, this is Strider, you get a chance to communicate with their CS one extra time, that's worth something

i could honestly not care about what lies certain individuals at strider may or may not have used to sell their products. They make something that works... period.

Good for you, but not everyone shares your opinions.

 

[Bluesummers]

Not really. Despite being a big fan of titanium framelocks, I actually held off on buying a Strider for a long time because I thought that posts like those did give a good indication of what to expect. However, once I finally did buy one, I found that the charges of poor F&F/build quality didn't at all fit my experience, and that positive first experience has been borne out by the subsequent Striders I've bought as well. (All of the ones I've bought have been made within the last year, so I can't really speak to the issue of whether there were more frequent/significant issues in the past.)

At least on BladeForums, Strider (along with perhaps Emerson) is probably the most polarizing company that can be brought up, as evidenced by the fact that nearly every thread about them has significant potential to turn into a food fight. In light of that, I'd suggest people considering them simply handle one for themselves at a knife show, B&M store, meetup, etc., and make their own judgments rather than simply relying on what they hear on this particular forum.

Not really? Owners of Strider knives have mentioned the following.

So far we have 11-12 Sebenza's without problems vs 6 Striders where 1 has an issue.

Owner of 5 Striders where 2 of them are off getting fixed. Justified blade play to himself which I find odd.

I think the TC should just go with the knife he thinks looks best.

 

[MikeyD]

I really like sebenzas. Just get a sebenza bc I said so.