I had an AR once and was not impressed. I got it in a trade and ended up trading it away and buying something else. I will never understand why folks like 'em so much. I think they are way over priced.
My vote would be definitely YES to the Strider. In addition to all the positives spoken about the striders already, if you ever needed to sell it, you'd have better resale on the strider than most other folders, imo. Another alternative to consider if you want a large folder would be the benchmade 630s, they are large and great folders.
Posted by H2H907 HOLY CRAP. I think thats the VERY First time someone EVER agreed, or atleast "Couldn't argue" with me in History. Especially on the internet in a long Irrational rant like usual. I think I made history. I actually made a reasonable point.LOL
I've got Striders, and am known here as being a Sebenza fan. All that being said, I think anyone considering a Strider should be considering the CRK Umnumzaan. Beefy blade and pivot for sure, Ti handle slabs, award-winning CRK quality, and amazing CRK service. For less $$$s, my favorite big folder is the Kershaw Tyrade. 2007 Blade Overall Knife of the Year. They retail for $350, but currently I'm seeing them for well under $200. Only 2000 pcs. are made, so they won't be readily available for long. Man, you're havin' fun shoppin', aren't you!
*shrugs* A good point's a good point. If someone makes one I'll shut up, change my mind, eat crow, etc. I find it interesting however that someone would classify non-strider blades as "weekend warrior" accessories, as everyone I personally know who owns a Strider falls into this category. All the Strider owners I know are rich, and have never served in the armed forces. None of the operators I know can afford them, or in most cases, are even aware of them.
. . . or are knife enthusiasts? I can't claim much knowledge around the typical Strider owner, but am tuned up to CRK EDC'ers. I know a lot of Sebenza owners that would not be classified as rich -- fixed budget college students, career military, your average hourly wage earner. They are often oudoors folks & hunters. They often drive 20 year old cars (hmmm . . . I drive an '88 Nissan ), and otherwise skimp in other areas of their lives in order to endulge in their passion for knives, and the pastimes where knives are used.
WOAH!!! I'm Poor as ****! Well Not that poor, but I went back to school and am on a TIGHT Budget. I consolideted all my knives in Trading to Get better ones Until I Started trading Strider,Microtech, Busse. I have paid VERY Little. Besides shipping. I don't think I have any $$ In my Current Strider SMF EDC. Except the lifters Custom sheath. I never waisted my money on impulse buys ( well, Like all of us there are a few exceptions) But It takes Discipline to get what you want. I think in the past 5 years I only paid $$ for 3-4 Striders and a Microtech. I don't like eating out. My only hobbies are MA and Climbing, Climbing is free, MA is VERY little, so it's easy to set money aside JUST for a knife. I didn't even notice making a Dent. And Neither did my wife. If my Wife doesn't notice it, it's good,LOL. Just saying, It is VERY, VERY easy to save a little money. even 10-20 a week and in no time you can buy any knife you want, or consolidate your trading, 2-3 knives in the Spyderco/BM class for something a little higher, and keep going with one or 2 of the higher end knives, and before you know it you'll be trading Sebs and whatever you like. It just depends where your passions lay. Some spend $$$$ On X-Box, Some on Cars, some on Booze and whatever else. Tell you one thing, not drinking or smoking anything will save you hundreds if not thousands a year. Definatly wouldn't say any other knife is a "weekend Warrior Blade".
On the Discovery Channel there was a Show about Green Berets. They where all at "Fire base Cobra" in Afganistan. I paused and looked very Closley. 2 had Strider FBs on their M.O.L.L.E The Rest had RATs some had Ontario M9 bayonets on their hip. but the Majority had RAT3 OD next to their pistol on their chest. so 2 out of 12 or so had Strides. ALL had GREAT Quality TOUGH knives. Bet you they mess around when not so Busy and throw( I know we did) And Bet the ones with Striders are "Knife snobs" about it,LOL PS, The ones with Striders Might have been donated. I know they donate thousands of knives, and some units of Marines are issued/given for graduation a Strider. Don't know about Army, But Some Striders have a DOD number.
One phenominon of note, that I think surprises most civilians, is that most soliders, sailors, marines, etc. are not really knife or gun enthusiasts. Your average SeAL knows how to filed strip, reassemble and clean an M4, and also which end goes down range and how to make the bullets go where they want 'em to, but your average poster on AR15 dot com can tell you tons more about the weapon. This goes for knives as well. There are exceptions to every rule, and I'm sure Strider owners run the same gamut of social demographics as virtually anything else. Just stating my personal experience. I've been out of the service since before Strider's time, but the guys I know and who I've worked with have carried a virtual smorgassboard of personal blades, mostly commerical stuff, or weird-ass custom hand-me-downs. I know better than to say that just because I don't know anyone in the service who carries one doesn't mean there aren't those who do. Especially if Strider is sponsoring certain units, as other makers have done over the years in order to be the "official" blade of Unit XYZ (remember the Buckmaster?). We always seemed to have an ass-ton of cheap, chrome-plated dive knives with 4 1/2" blades. We used them for everything, and tossed them when they got dull. They had just about the weight and balance of a steak knife. A couple guys I know who served in E co, 4th Recon had Randalls, and there were a couple more nice looking customs from more obscure makers. The rest had Buck, Gerber, Cold Steel, etc. One of the PJs from the 210th Rescue Squadron had a small, stag-handled handmade something-or-other on his web gear. I carried a Buck folding hunter until Spyderco started making bigger knives (not grouping myself in with the high-speed guys, as I was not one).
I dont own a Sebie or other CRK knife but I plan on getting a Sebenza soon. I have handled them several times. They are different animals in my book. Different enough to cover a lot of ground having both.
Well, I have a Spyderco Military, Fallkniven PXL, Benchmade Stryker, CRK Sebenza & a Spyderco Endura ZDP on the way. They should be here this Thursday. I WILL add a Strider to the collection but had to get my fix. It is soooo hard to just buy one of anything. The Strider really has my number and the only other folder I want is the Hinderer XM 18 flipper. I guess that I will be buying different Striders until I find the one that is right "for me" in my EDC rotation. Thanks for all the input.
Another vote for the SnG. I love it. It flat beat out my Emerson CqC15, Surefire Delta and Sebbie as my EDC. Cant comment on the XM but i loved my SnG for its 1) ergos.. the choil, grip shape and feel is excellent (subjective of course) 2) It's lightweight 3) toughness... I use it alot and it looks better and better with the wear ;-)
i love striders and have had maybe almost a dozen of them thru the yrs, AR's, GB's, SnG's, SmF's and a FB or 2, all great knives, if i was gonna buy that style knife right now though i would get a hinderer '18 FWIW. why? better F&F, grinds, and i like the style a little better and the ergos.
Get a Strider, you will love it. If you don't like it, resale value is high. They are not cheap, but they are built tough and stand up to abuse other knives would not tolerate. They are not refined like other knives and purpose built. I think of Striders as tanks. Everyone has their opinions - like anything else, until you own one, and have used it, all this talk can make a decision confusing. Before I bought my first one, I did a lot of research. I also thought the price point was high. After I got my SMF, I was happy with my decision. There is a reason while there is a cult-like following. Once you have one, you will understand why. Sure there are a lot of other knives you can buy for the same price, or less - but none of them are Striders.......
POSTED BY ME http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603597 See, What did I say(Look above)
I read in Tactical Mag. that some of the larger Strider folders (SMF?) are preferd by Marine Recon. A Strider SMF could take anything that might happen over the course of being behind the lines for months at a time and still be a great knife.If you NEED a Strider,for what a Strider is made for then get a Strider.
The trouble with strider knives is that their fit and finish out of the box is generally poor. I have sent 2 back over the years. The smf is a very large folder. I find it very difficult to open with one hand. In order for mine not to rattle I have to tighten the pivot scew and then it is almost impossible to open. Personally, I would spend that money on a custom from another maker. Look at Marz knives (Peter Marzitelli) . You may find them interesting.
