Strongest folder for 500 $?

Shing said:
I would not get a Strider if you are in Italy, their QC such as it is is patchy and its a real pain to send them back from Italy and getting it through customs more than once.
Click to expand...

I know... :(

I bought a SnG in Germany, but it had a bad lock up and blade play so I sent it to the USA. Strider assistance is great, but as you said it has been a real pain.

I sold the new SnG received and only now I realized it has been a very bad idea. :(
 
razorsdescent said:
Also you should take a look at the jim burke semi production rockstar i think they are about $300 now and they are supposed to be some amazingly stout knives.
Click to expand...

The Rockstar is a stout knife :D

Damn near as tough as a SnG IMHO :thumbup:

It's the bottom knife(I don't own this guy anymore... Ward where are you???:D)
IMG_2593.jpg


The clip is ugly, but nothing STR can't fix :cool:
IMG_2592.jpg
 
I LOVE the XM-18 out of all of those. But, like you said, it is impossible to find, and to find one for $500........

I had an Umnumzaan, and sold it.

The SMF is a tank of a knife. What about maybe one of the CC SMF's or SNG's, as that seems to be more comfortable of a handle.

May I suggest that you look at RJ Martin, Kirby Lambert, Bob Terzuola, DDR Trigger or Express Trigger,and Yuna Knives.
 
T.K.C. said:
I LOVE the XM-18 out of all of those. But, like you said, it is impossible to find, and to find one for $500........

I had an Umnumzaan, and sold it.

The SMF is a tank of a knife. What about maybe one of the CC SMF's or SNG's, as that seems to be more comfortable of a handle.

May I suggest that you look at RJ Martin, Kirby Lambert, Bob Terzuola, DDR Trigger or Express Trigger,and Yuna Knives.
Click to expand...

+1 :thumbup:

Not that it should matter at all, but I carry the Large Double lug Micarta 21 the most out of them all posted... Love the Umnumzaan too, but still not a favorite over the 21 yet.. :D I do like the Umnum better than my Regular Sebbies if that helps at all. :cool:


Good luck, your options are WIDE open at $500 ;)
 
veleno said:
- Strider SmF
- Hinderer XM-18 (difficult to find for me :rolleyes:)
- Chris Reeve Umnumzaan
Click to expand...

I have the Umnumzaan and the SmF.
The SmF has a big handle. It's big in the pocket and big in your hand. If you have a big hand, it has a decent grip. Has a few hot-spots to the ergos, but it feels great when wearing gloves.:thumbup:
The Umnumzaan is slim in the pocket---a true joy to carry. The blade is 0.140" thick, which is plenty for strength. The pivot is awesomely strong, perhaps more than the SmF; either one has a tough pivot.
The clip on the Umnumzaan is nicer than the SmF as far as not wearing on your pants/drawing it from the pocket. The SmF will NOT fall out of your pocket, no matter what gymnastic moves you do. That said, the Umnumzaan Hasn't come close to falling out either.
The Umnumzaan slices quite a bit better than the SmF, due to blade geometry more than the stock thickess.

They're both great, but for a hard-use knife I'd give the nod to getting the XM-18 if you can track one down, based on what I've seen in comparison pics and reviews.

Between the SmF and Umnumzaan, the SmF will do better at chopping and prying, while the Umnumzaan will out-cut it; the Umnumzaan has a slight bit more cutting edge as well.
You are unlikely to break either one though.
If you'll carry more than use, then the Umnumzaan would win hands down, even over the Xm-18 likely, due to how easy it carries.
 
I would seriously also consider the ZT 300, 301, or 302. I own one of those and 1 strider and I cant say that I think a strider would be tougher. I consider the quality to be as good as the strider for almost half the price ($240). There is a youtube video on the 301 where the reviewer takes out his SMF and compares it. Could help your decision. However, I would also love the three knives you mentioned and between those, I would probably go with a SMF.
 
T.K.C. said:
I LOVE the XM-18 out of all of those. But, like you said, it is impossible to find, and to find one for $500........

I had an Umnumzaan, and sold it.

The SMF is a tank of a knife. What about maybe one of the CC SMF's or SNG's, as that seems to be more comfortable of a handle.

May I suggest that you look at RJ Martin, Kirby Lambert, Bob Terzuola, DDR Trigger or Express Trigger,and Yuna Knives.
Click to expand...

I have a Strider SmF CC and it is thinner and more comfortable than the standard handle one, also 1 oz lighter. :thumbup:


stabman said:
The Umnumzaan slices quite a bit better than the SmF, due to blade geometry more than the stock thickess.
Click to expand...

The edge geometry can be changed without much of a problem. :D
 
Last edited:
So-Lo said:
The Skyline is a gents knife, about as far away from a "hard use" knife as you can possibly get. The thin hollow ground blade cuts great but not great for "hard use," the same can be said for it's thin liner lock ;)

Not bashing the Skyline, mine had great fit and finish... and for the money I think it is a GREAT buy, but far from what the OP is looking for..


YMMV
Click to expand...

i dunno, imo the skyline is as far from hard use as it is from "gents". its a light use "tactical" knife, and what i mean by tactical, is that is a modern styled knife, not "tactical" as in stabbing a gansta. a gents knife to me is a pretty slip joint or classic lockback, not g10 and stainless. the skyline has an extremly slender tip, that would not hold up to hard use.

i think a larger framelock like one of the striders would be the itcket, as a fixed blade is out of the question for you.....BUT someone said to get either a sebenza or strider and buy a izulu with whats left over...THAT sounds like a plan...a heavy duty folder and a handy fixed blade.
 
Last edited:
All three folders you have listed are all strong as can be.

The Umnumzaan is an extremely innovative knife that draws a line between regular and hard use. Striders and XM-18's have a thicker blade and tip, but sacrifices slicing ability.

The XM-18 is the strongest without a doubt.

IMO, Sebenzas and Umnumzaans are very comfortable knives to hold and the best fit in the pocket.
 
Look at a Cold Steel folder! Not eye candy or anything but tough & priced reasonable most of the time..
I just got a used Cold Steel Recon-1. Watch the vids on youtube!
 
Steel Dragon said:
Look at a Cold Steel folder! Not eye candy or anything but tough & priced reasonable most of the time..
I just got a used Cold Steel Recon-1. Watch the vids on youtube!
Click to expand...

Please forgive my frankness, but I strongly disagree with almost all those points.

For their price range on folders, it is better to get a Spyderco, Benchmade, etc. The only products thats not a joke from Cold Steel are some of their fixed blades.
 
Steel Dragon said:
Look at a Cold Steel folder! Not eye candy or anything but tough & priced reasonable most of the time..
I just got a used Cold Steel Recon-1. Watch the vids on youtube!
Click to expand...
He is looking at XM-18's, Strider SMF's, and an Umnumzaan. Why on earth would he want to look at Cold Steel. :barf:
 
IMG_0920.jpg


Strider SMF DGG

Just got this baby a few weeks ago, and I just aquired an SNG that arrived yesterday. I got a CC SNG w/ the digi finish

The SMF is a beast, and I love it. The SNG fits a little better in the hand though, I love them both, and cant wait to buy two more of each type.

-steve
 
veleno said:
- Strider SmF
- Hinderer XM-18
- Chris Reeve Umnumzaan
Click to expand...

I have #1 and #3. #1 has a thicker and (presumably stronger) blade. I think the handle and pivot on #3 is stronger than #1 (all titanium handles, thicker pivot) but I have no proof. I can't imagine breaking either one, unless I was trying to do so, and then I'd need the proper tools...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top