Theoretical evidence that the strider PT is better than the small sebenza

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guitarted

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Mind you I never handled any of them but:Fit and Finish aside, The PT is probably a better knife by design because:

1- The PT has a full flat ground (better cutting, slicing than the hollow blade sebenza)
2- The PT has a leaf blade (better utility than the clip point or drop point blade shape of the small sebenza)
3- The PT has a finger choil (better for close work than the small sebenza)
4- The PT has better knukle clearance than the small sebenza (imagine chopping up an onion on a flat table)
5- The standard PT has textured G10 and more secure handle shape than the standard small sebenza that only has Ti and a flat smooth handle.
6- The PT has a whole as an opening device.

Well guys, This is me thinking aloud because I cant decide. Do you know something I don't know ? I mean beside the obvious case I made for the PT?


Both come from reputable manufacturers and both are comparable in price and quality.

What do you think?


ciao for now
 
I have had many a Strider, including a PT. And I have had many a Sebbie. I STILL have the Sebbies. For ME, the small Sebbie IS the perfect knife for EDC. And I will take the consistant EXCELLENT quality of Chris Reeve knives any day of the week, over Striders' iffy quality. Now, mind you, my Striders were great, and I really liked them. The ONLY Strider I had a problem with, was my brand new PT. But, I contacted Strider, sent it in, and they sent me another new PT. To each his own.
 
I think you opened a whole can of worms....However having owned and handled both I like the small sebbie better. Just my opinion, I carry my small sebbie in my edc rotation. Is the PT better? I dont really care I just like my sebbie better in feel and appearance. It is also more sheeple friendly as it has no stripes etc. To each his own, I own striders and Sebbies, I use both for diff reasons.
 
You left out how the PT handle design allows it to dig into your palm when using it for just about anything in a normal grip. Which is the reason I sold mine by the way.

STR
 
Theory without experience can only take you so far. There are plenty of people who have handled both and still prefer the Sebenzas (and vice versa). Handle both of them and then give your experience. Its all speculation prior to that.
 
bwhahahha yer nuts, and I mean that in the most polite way. :D

First congrats for getting one that doesn't need rework new from the factory.

PT blade is a dull brick, only with radical thinning will it approach being able to cut well.

leaf blade, OK I'll give you that.

Finger coil is a toss up, all the other ergos, like the plam poking back end negate any adavantage.

G10 side, maybe grippyer, but then they don't give you a price break for 1/2 the quality materials that a seb has.

PT hole opening device, uh yeah the oval sucks, pony up for the real deal or give it up.

Mind you I never handled any of them but:Fit and Finish aside, The PT is probably a better knife by design because:
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geeze how did I miss this? I've had both, you're wrong.
 
Reminds me of when I was in grad school (chemistry). We experimental chemists would always give the theoretical chemists grief - without experimental chemistry, theoretical chemistry would still be stuck in the 1930's. Maybe the same could be said here...

That being said, I have handled some Sebenzas, but not any Striders, so I am not in a postion to judge between them.
 
Well, Strider make the SnG series of knives uncomfortable on purpose, so if your looking for a comfortable knife........... But, I personally like the choil, so thats one, CRK has great fit & finish, Strider has production knife finish. And for a small knife the 22-25 deg shoulder behind the blade is ridiculous. But, one could argue that Sebenza's aren't much better there, something like 19-20. So go with what you like. Personally I would like a small graphic sebenza with a choil!
 
TFin04 said:
Not to sound rude...

Then why did you make this thread?

This is a completely personal preference issue anyway.
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He made the thread because he is considering purchasing one of the two, and wanted to share his current thoughts on it to see if people would agree or disagree, further helping him towards his final decision.

That's what I gathered, anyway.
 
This is a completely personal preference issue anyway.
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This is true, but just so you understand guitarted, if you don't mind a little risk, go with the PT. Of the Striders I have Had, the Pt had the best F&F, and has most lock contact (ti to blade base), others have not been so lucky.

I have had 4 Striders, and 2 of them did not make the cut (no pun intended ;) )

If you want to be able to count on the quality, with minimized worry of having to send it off for repair - go with the Seb.

If I were having to choose between the PT (one of which I have kept) or my small seb for EDC I would choose the Seb and here's why:

1 - Rounded spine, which if you really do a lot of cutting , will make a world of difference for you. I do a lot of wood working, and the seb wins hands down in the ease of comfort standpoint.

2 -
the PT handle design allows it to dig into your palm when using it for just about anything in a normal grip
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STR nailed it..

3 - longer blade.

4 -
only with radical thinning will it approach being able to cut well.
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True, I have done this, and now see that cutting ability is near the same of the seb (which I also lowered considerably), but the dissadvantage with the Strider, was that in doing so it really did a number on the tip, as it is tapered so much from the factory. With the Seb, even after re-profiling, i did not have near the issues.

If I had only the PT and the Small Seb to choose from, the Sall Seb would win every time.

However, I still think the PT is a good knife for some uses, (pull cuts in tight spots in carving / short timeframe cutting) I carry it as a back up / Money clip, to my primary EDC either a Large Seb or a SNG.


Again, totally your call and plenty of others like the PT, but just thought I'd let you know my expereince with both.

Thanks, and good luck with your decision.
 
Forgot to add, that if you ever decide to use your PT (if you get one) as a throwing knife - beware.

I did a test between my PT and the Seb, by doing a few different short range throws into some aged Oak ( no more than 4 feet away).

Out of 3 throws , the Strider hit the wood with the tip twice,and closed both times from the impact, although one of the times it hit, the blade stuck even though the handle closed.

Seb - no issues.
 
Having seen both in person, I would much prefer a Sebenza. The fit and finish feels much nicer, and I prefer the geometry of the knife. Cutting onions or something can easily be done by either having your hand over the edge of the table or rotating what you're slicing.
 
On paper yes, you might think the PT is a better choice. But it's not. I had a PT, but have and carry a sm Seb. Everyone has very vallid points why the Seb is better. I want to add:

The PT s30v is softer than the Seb.
Fit and Finish on the PT is low. If you polish the the BB away on the blade you will see lots of pits. The lock tension is really higher than it needs to be. Opening and closing is very rough (even with polishing the washers).
Seb fits the hand better, and if you want one that's grippier get one with micarta.
The cutouts on the back of the blade will eat your thumb up in extended use. Unless you have tough hard working man's hands.

The only two things the PT has going for it is the flat grind blade (I would love a flat ground Seb BTW and your still going to do lots of work to improve the PT cutting ability) and the sharp edge on back of the PT, it was just perfect for openig beer bottles.

With work the PT can be good but I'm talking about lots of work, but it will not come close to the Seb fresh out of the box (which even gets better with use).

Also, both knives have very strong and vocal followings. If you have the money get both and see which you like. Whichever you don't like you can sell it and shouldn't loose any money. Currently, I don't have any Striders cause I've traded them for some very fine customs (Dozier, Terzuola and Atwood)

Striders are fun, but in 30 years I still will have my Sebenza's.
 
I've had both of these knives also so I base my opinion on using them. The PT choil is nice. I like choils also and incorporate them into my own knives often. It makes no sense to me to make a knife on purpose to be uncomfortable in the hand. A lot of the philiosphy I read as to why things are done as they are over at Strider bring up more questions that answers for me personally but I'll pass on writing about that for now.

If Strider just rounded the tail end of the PT, took a few of the tractor tread grooves out of the design and made it smoother there where it bites into the palm of the hand it would compete better with the Sebenza in comfort in my opinion but even that would not make it better. Seems to me that the only people I've seen that really take to the PT are woman and men with smaller hands. I can't use one but did like a lot about the knife. Actually I tried to use it and like it. Unfortunately the hand biting got very old for me though. I think the Sebbie is about as good a user as I've had but due to not liking the blade shape as much I don't carry one. I also did not feel that the PT really cut all that well but do like the blade shape. Still, I'd take a good wharny blade with a choil and a comfortable grip over either of them about any day of the week.

Overall both have high points and low points but for me in a side by side comparison of the PT and the small Sebenza the Sebbie wins out by a couple of points. The Calypso Jr. and Calypso III by Spyderco beat out both of them by a wide margin for comfort and useability at a 1/3rd the price. Again my opinion.

STR.
 
So STR,
Did you make the knife you EDC? Is it the "bird and Trout" knife? If not, could you show us a picture?
Sorry for the side track. But your comments above made me really curious.
 
Thanks for the input my friends.

It is your experiance that I wanted. That is why I made this thread.
 
I have had both...

1- The PT has a full flat ground (better cutting, slicing than the hollow blade sebenza)
-A hollow grind slices better than a flat grind. Personally, I will take a hollow grind, especially the EXTREME hollow grind of the Sebenza over anything. The Sebenza is close to a straight razor which is the ultra most extreme grind. The flat grind is better for serious utility and overall edge strength.

2- The PT has a leaf blade (better utility than the clip point or drop point blade shape of the small sebenza)
-How? For piercing, absolutely...

3- The PT has a finger choil (better for close work than the small sebenza)
-The Sebenza has excellent jimping, much better than the Strider

4- The PT has better knukle clearance than the small sebenza (imagine chopping up an onion on a flat table)
-Agreed, although both knives fit the hand amazingly well

5- The standard PT has textured G10 and more secure handle shape than the standard small sebenza that only has Ti and a flat smooth handle.
-I disagree...the Sebenza Classic has an excellent grip in which I have never had issues losing when dry or wet. The spine jimping helps stability of manipulating the blade.

6- The PT has a whole as an opening device.
-Both are easy to open

At the end of the day, the Strider is built with one main purpose...to be used beyond any point that you would think a knife could perform to. Test after test shows how beefy these are made. The ability of the Reeve isn't too far behind, but the Sebenza sports an amazing tolerance and an amazing fit and finish which no one, custom or production, can match. CPM-S30V tops the bill and make these the two best small folders period. Both S30V batches are hardened great. Overall, the Small Classic Sebenza fits my hand and me better and it is the knife that stays in my pocket.
 
guitarted said:
Mind you I never handled any of them but:Fit and Finish aside, The PT is probably a better knife by design because:

1- The PT has a full flat ground (better cutting, slicing than the hollow blade sebenza)
2- The PT has a leaf blade (better utility than the clip point or drop point blade shape of the small sebenza)
3- The PT has a finger choil (better for close work than the small sebenza)
4- The PT has better knukle clearance than the small sebenza (imagine chopping up an onion on a flat table)
5- The standard PT has textured G10 and more secure handle shape than the standard small sebenza that only has Ti and a flat smooth handle.
6- The PT has a whole as an opening device.

Well guys, This is me thinking aloud because I cant decide. Do you know something I don't know ? I mean beside the obvious case I made for the PT?


Both come from reputable manufacturers and both are comparable in price and quality.

What do you think?


ciao for now
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1. not necessarily, i find the hollow grind to be a better slicer, less drag.
2. again, i disagree. i have found a clip or drop point to be more user friendly.
3. maybe, ill concede this point.
4. neither is good for chopping. to small to generate sufficient bladespeed to do useful chopping.
5. i love g10, but i find strider folders to have sharp edges on the scales and they bite with sustained use. while the sebenza has tapered edges and feels soft in the hand.
6. i prefer a thumbstud. provides a more positive feel.

the strider is much much thicker and wider. much harder to conceal, and the clip will tear up your pants.

the pt i find to be too small to manipulate, what with the large thick scales, the blade is a bit small, and i have only medium size hands.
yet i can manipulate the small sebenza just fine.
 
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