strider

[Ebbtide]

Who is arguing that people should not by knives if it makes them happy, however I don't see a lot of makers promoting their knives as "I don't offer superior performance, but my knives are hella cool." Who could argue those knives were over rated, you can't even define a rating for that anyway.

-Cliff

No one is arguing that cliff, I was adding yet another reason that people buy knives, hard use, light use and never use knives.
It isn't always an argument.
Just another thing to consider when talking high end knives.

If you only have a hammer......

 

[USAFSP]

I never carried a Strider fixed blade over 4 1/2 inches long. All I carry now is the folder. The USAF survival knife is crap. We don't even get those issued. Our issue knives are the reglular bayonet (Crap) and a BM auto for deployments. It is my own choice to carry an expensive knife. I am not talking about how high speed, or low drag I am, or not. Actions speak for themseleves, and from someone who doesn't know me from a hole in the wall, you shouldn't speak like I don't know how good a Strider folder is. I know that Cliff is a smart guy, but his reviews are biased on the tests that he performs, and they may or may not prove how usefull one of these knives are in the "Real World". They do however match the knives against each other for how they perform in "his" tests. That means nothing to a guy like me that has to go half way around the world, and may need it to make the cut in a emergency situation. Air Farce huh? I don't hear any whining when you need us.

 

[Bohica2u]

.

Yes, in fact the Air Farce did need me during an air show once. They could not start their #1 fukking engine of their helo. The crew chief ran over to see if I could help them determine what was wrong. Sometimes the starter solenoid in the bow compartment would stick, so we would use the Air Farking knife to tap on it. Of COURSE a Strider would work too, but in this case, a cheap POS knife did the job. Maybe even a hammer would work.

The FIVE aircrewmen on the helo had no apparent mechanical abilities (the two pilots did not count either) and thus had to ask ME to help them. We worked and crewed our own helos, kinda a form of quality control. Plus the Air Farce only flies in good weather (OMG! There's a cloud! Ground all the bombers and fighters! EEEEEEEK!! EEEEEEEEK!).

Before you get all wiggly on me, we have deployed PJ's from our C-130's before in long range SAR missions that require parachuting to a ship at sea that is out of our helos range.

Don't give me the tough talk. We usually made tough talkers do fuel samples on the mid shift (or shaved their a$$es and made them walk backwards). Especially if they have only been in a couple of years and have more patches sewn on their jackets than a Master Chief with 35 years.

 

[USAFSP]

I guess you got me pegged then. Me and my overpriced, overrated Strider will go hide under a hole now. I am scared anyway because I think I saw a cloud. I
am just a tough talker with no operational experience according to all you know about me, so I will bow down to your awesome air show skills.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

... his reviews are biased on the tests that he performs, and they may or may not prove how usefull one of these knives are in the "Real World".

The work that I do is open to suggestions from makers and I have never refused any "real world" use. If you think the reviews lack work which show where one of the knives has strong performance then make a suggestion while the review is being done, it takes about a year on average, most are longer, so it isn't like you are rushed for time, nor are the makers who always know I am doing a review because I tell them and ask them for a list of representative work. Once again I have never refused to do it. Thus how can you claim the work is biased when the makers who make the knives have the ability to choose it.

-Cliff

 

[USAFSP]

The best thing I think you can do Cliff is post a thread of the knife you are going to review, and do a poll of which tests we think would be the most aplicable. Or ask us to list what we would like to see. Then you will be providing a review to us that we all have a stake in. (no pun intended). Remember we are the end users that rely on your reviews in part to spend out cash. You do a good job at what you do, but it isn't always what we need. If you do a Strider SNG review, I will tell you what I used it for in Iraq, Saudi, and Kuwait, and maybe you can mimic that for a field portion of your review.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Or ask us to list what we would like to see.

I have been doing this for about ten years now and this was always a known aspect of the reviews, I have stated it clearly many times over, plus many of the reviews actually have such comments right in them, and many of the methods of evaluation are based on user feedback.

Plus if you read any amount of the posts I make it should be clear I am willing to look at the behavior of knives I have if someone asks about them, even if it is not specifically towards me. I have even done this multiple times in the past week alone.

You can make such suggests any time the review is in progress. In fact if I still have the knife and it is usable, you can make such suggestions after the review has been finished.

They are all periodically updated every couple of years with EDC comments anyway. The only real restriction is not to wait 1-2 years until the knife is too damaged or returned and then start complaining about scope of work.

That looks kind of lame anyway.

When I get a knife I usually post up a short overview like the Trident, M60, Manix, comments recently, and then they go into a long extended use evaluation.There is a section in the reviews page with reviews in progress, these hang out there for a long time until the review gets finished as my EDC rotation is a *LONG* time.

The only exception to this is unexpected breaks like on the Buck/Strider Solution where my brother broke it accidently chopping in hardwoods. He was supposed to carry it for at least a month before going heavy with it, but before that I had some other work planned. But these things happen from time to time, but still even with that, the review was public knowledge for a long time. I mentioned that I had that knife for review last year for example.

-Cliff

 

[Fool4Blades]

I am always amazed to see all the emotional reactions stirred up by the word "Strider." This topic will always be controversial to some, but to the Men and Women in the field that have relied and will continue to rely on Strider Knives for their missions and Day-to-Day use, there is NO controversy at all.

My Utmost RESPSECT and sincere Gratitude to ALL who serve and Protect this country.

 

[darkestthicket]

I have a strider folder and 2 fixed blades, the folder is an EDC, I have had it for a year, very smooth action, ive used it for some of the worst possible tasks that may come up in life and its still in excellent condition (tough knives, thats for sure) and continues to perform day in and day out. Ive used it to pry open a car door, many knives would have snapped from the stress.

 

[Blop]

I have a strider folder and 2 fixed blades, the folder is an EDC,

I have had it for a year, very smooth action, ive used it for some of the worst possible tasks that may come up in life and its still in excellent condition

Ive used it to pry open a car door, many knives would have snapped from the stress.

The folder?

What else have you done with it?

Would you say it´s strength comes from it´s thickness or is there something else about it?

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Many knives would have snapped sure, however there are lots of knives that would not that are much cheaper than the Strider folders. Similar for the fixed blades.

-Cliff

 

[rover]

Many knives would have snapped sure, however there are lots of knives that would not that are much cheaper than the Strider folders. Similar for the fixed blades.

-Cliff

Why do you keep saying the Strider folder failed when you tested the Buck/Strider?

It seems to me that you intentionally leave information out of your statements in order to slander makers. This does little for your reputation as a "scientist".

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Why do you keep saying the Strider folder failed when you tested the Buck/Strider?

When I mention the release of the Buck/Strider folder I usually describe it as Buck/Strider folder, if I have referenced it as a custom Strider folder specifically let me know where so I can check the post.

Note though that Mick was asked about the behavior and his responce is that he considered such use invalid, torquing / leveraging on a folder, not that specific one, just in general.

So it is hard to argue that the Strider folders would be any more secure especially when Mick also declined to address that issue when he was asked directly on the forums if there was a difference between the two.

The above post I made #151 has nothing to do with the Buck/Strider I used, just a general statement that it isn't difficult to find a strong folder capable of significant prying.

Considering the blade on the Chinook and the SnG for example, the Chinook is obviously much stronger blade wise as it has a significantly thicker cross section.

-Cliff

 

[dino]

Are strider folders overrated?

Maybe this would be a good place to ask the following.
I'm in the market for a heavy use folder. I think I've narrowed it down to the following criteria:

• Light weight
• Rounded blade (strong tip)
• Thick lock
• Beefy Pivot
• Resonable carry size
• Good steel
• Flat grind from edge to spine for strenght and cutting ability

From all the knives I've looked at, I can't find any that meet all these criteriea except the Strider SnG. Nothing seems to do it better.

• Light weight 4.6oz
• Rounded blade (strong tip) YES
• Thick lock YES
• Beefy Pivot YES
• Resonable carry size .4625" thick by (guessing around) 4.5" closed
• Good steel S30V
• Flat grind from edge to spine for strenght and cutting ability YES

Any suggestions?

 

[rover]

Go with the SNG (or SMF if you want a bigger knife). It is the strongest and best suited knife for your needs on the market.

Some might say the Manix is stronger but they fail to take into acount the much stronger bull pivot on the Strider.

 

[thombrogan]

You could also try tracking down a discontinued John Greco folder. The folders are discontinued, not the knifemaker.

 

[thombrogan]

Some might say the Manix is stronger but they fail to take into acount the much stronger bull pivot on the Strider.

That stronger pivot doesn't make the lock stronger and that stronger pivot doesn't make the lock more reliable (less susceptible to disengaging when the knife is torqued such as if it binds in a material it's cutting or piercing). That stronger pivot doesn't make the titanium which mates with the blade steel harder than the steel on the lock of the Manix.

Of course, I'm not saying the Manix is stronger; I have no idea about that; but I did take the much stronger bull pivot into account.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Some might say the Manix is stronger but they fail to take into acount the much stronger bull pivot on the Strider.

The Manix isn't stronger, well it might be lock wise but that isn't the real advantage as the strength of integrals and decent liners is very high to slow loads, they are just problematic under impacts and torques. Lock backs like the Manix are much more secure under those situations.

The Manix would match the SnG for the above work at a fraction of the price. In fact the Cold Steel Voyager would do quite well also, while it isn't flat ground, its hollow grind offers decent cutting ability, and the steel while not having the crisp edge retention of S30V, is more suitable for really hard and/or abusive work as it will better tolerate some types of cutting and be easier to repair.

While the handle looks like a weakpoint on the FRN models, as it is only plastic, on 1/8" blades, you will snap the knife before the handle goes, you only need really heavy grips for strength on really thick blades. Otherwise it is overbuilding something which isn't the weak point, looks nicer but doesn't actually gain you performance - unless you want to be able to hammer on the handle of course.

In the price range of the Striders there are lots of interesting folders to look at, the Jones brothers posted up a review they did of one of their folders awhile back which was very impressive. The Greco's that Thom mentioned get very solid reviews as work knives, with the only downside being a stiff opening, they are also a lot cheaper.

-Cliff

 

[dino]

This is what I found on the Manix
Priced around $120.

• Weight 6.1oz
• Rounded blade (strong tip) - Looks pointy. Not sure how strong it would be.
• Thick lock - YES. How does a lockback handle dirt, grease, ect..?
• Beefy Pivot - NO. Looks kind of small.
• Carry size - 0.593" by 5 1/16
• Good steel - CPM S30V
• Flat grind from edge to spine for strenght and cutting ability - YES

It may be a little large, but looks like a great knife for the money.
Does anyone know if it can be closed with one hand?

 

[tknife]

Point strength is the only real fault I can find that would make the Manix anything less than heavy duty. (And this is only based on looking at it, I have had no problems with light prying)