What do you think about the STRIDER axe?

JWBirch said:
Midget, don't let the intimidated haters get to you. Apparrently I'm one of the only guys around here that
1) has actually served in combat and knows first hand how much steel is worth, and/or
2) isn't intimidated by the general superiority of Strider products.

Good on Cliff Stamp for being one of the few posters around here who actually backs up his statements with something more substantial than some lame "I saw a green beret on tv once, and he didn't have a strider" comment.

First, S7 is about the best steel for a tactical Hawk. This indicates that the Strider Boys know what they're doing. I've made this stuff work in Baghdad, and I was amazed at how it ate up automotive steel without edge damage. Hawks + S7 = Good. Hell, even brilliant super-high-end hawk makers like Crag Camerer know this.

The design. You got me there, I can't get into chisel edges and probably wouldn't use this one if it was issued to me. I'd give it away and use my Justin Gingrich or K-5. But just because it's not for me doesn't mean it doesn't have a very valid application. And I'd be happy to have it elsewhere on my team.

The Price. I think this is what sets the posers off the most. Bottom line, while the Hawk may not be worth that, the Strider Boys are. If you're so lame that you don't know that your (retail price) money subsidizes knives going to troops then, I don't know, go sharpen your 420J2 or something.

Here's 3 guys that carry Striders
c7362a61.jpg
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First off let me say, that Pic is Helarious! Now back to the topic at hand.

Nobody is raggin' on the steel, or the quality of Striders products.

All the negative coments boil down to one thing: The only thing that makes it "worth" $475 is the Strider logo. The steel, while excellent, does not. The design, while theoreticaly usefull, does not.

But I guess im just a hater? :jerkit:

Making a Folding knife that can go to Hell and back and still be in prime working order is HARD. Stider does that, and thats whyt hey have such a reputation. on the flip side, making a hatchet out of solid brick of tool steel that can go to hell and back is EASY. Anyone with a credit card and a grinder can order a brick of tool steel, shape an axe out of it, send it off to be heat treated and wrap the handle with 550 cord from the Mil. Surp. Store. Would an Axe of similar design made from the same materials, and heat-treated to the same specs be worth $475 if it was made by Billy-Bob instead of Strider? No. Would Striders axe outpreform Billy-Bobs virtualy identical axe? No.

Comparing a quality folding knife made by strider to a cookie-cutter Hatchet made by strider is Apples to Oranges.

If you want to buy one thats fine with me. Im not going to try and stop you. I just dont want to log on to the net and see people saying what a supper AwEsOmE Strider hatchet they got and what a bargain it was.

Now, if your reason for paying striders over-the top prices is due to troop donation, then why dont you just buy the competitions knives and donate the extra money to a fund? Same effect, but no exoribent prices. You shouldnt need an "excuse" like striders donations to buy from a company.

If thats not that case, then i appologise. I just wanted to throw that out there. :)
 
Wow it's got the Strider logo on it. That alone should stop the enemy in their tracks. I heard those rag heads are terrified by anything made by the Strider mob.
 
mr.trooper said:
Making a Folding knife that can go to Hell and back and still be in prime working order is HARD.
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Have you compared the Strider folders to the production folders costing a fraction of the price and found superior performance? I have seen Zytel Spydercos take severe use for extended periods of time still function. No not used by "operators", just carpenters and tradesmen but I would put what they do up against any standard of "hard use" anyone cares to define.

-Cliff
 
I don't comment here often but I think I'll take a shot at this one. I just finished making myself something close to that design but double bit. I wanted a lightweight, sharp, light chopping double hatchet. (I also made a Nesmuk knife I love) I did not forge a fancy Nesmuck double because of the weight.

Anyway, I have this thing a big workout and have decided it's easy to carry but leaves a lot to be desired as a hatchet. It's just too light and the handle is too hard on your hand for long periods...It's a little too pricey for the Mall Ninjas but I'll bet Frost has one close to it that they will love.

The price is laughable for what it is but then again, I'm not the one that has to be happy with it.
 
JWBirch said:
BTW, just for the record: other than my own, I've seen 3 other Striders in combat. Two were handed to the individuals by Mick or Dwane, with a request to use them. The third guy didn't pay for his, and left it at that. That's 3 for 4, including my own.
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No one is saying they aren't quality knives, and IF I were to get one for free, I'm sure I'd be singing praises too! I have nothing but the utmost respect for you, sir, BUT!......
IMO...... With all of the servicemen that get their Strider either free or at reduced costs, of course there's going to be a lot of hype about Striders being the best knife for military personal! Think about it. Military people get knives free or at great prices.... Military people talk about how great knives are. Mall ninjas pick up on this and defend Striders to the death because they just KNOW they are best because they were told this by the military personal, who probably aren't as into knives as most collectors are anyway. IMO..... It's a very sneaky marketing gimmick that has really worked!
 
Mick built me an axe when I was in Kuwait during the build-up to the war -

On a telescoping ASP baton -

Kydex scabbard -

Compact, fast, great urban edged tool and weapon -

Axes are very narrow market for most makers / production houses -

Strider makes an axe - on a limited basis - and when they do they charge what they wish for the Product - if you don't want or can't afford or don't like that really isn't their concern -

As you don't or won't buy it -

For the specific user, collector, or just plain StriderManiac the $475 is part of the pleasure of being one or all of the above -

I recently saw/handled a fairly new BM fixed blade model, custom maker design, very nice knife and sheath, going for $190.00. Probably cost under $50 at point of origin -

It's all about what you want, need, desire, use, display, or just enjoy having for the sake of having -

One thing for sure - I haven't owned a Strider yet that didn't perform to spec and statement -

GW
 
Hmmmmmm.....the grind is a little hard to use and the cost for this is high...no choking up on the axe either...but...Stryder has always been a good tool and worth it...knowing how this is made I am not sure I would spend the money on them but then I am biased. I know how they are used in combat and as a tool in "real life". If your hand slides up the handle, you could go home missing some fingers. Brad Roe, Guild Knives & Tools.

http://stores.ebay.com/RoeKnivesNGifts
 
Temper said:
It satifies all the perceived chopping needs of a Mall Ninja




No



S7 Good, Chisel grind, bad. If the Swedes dont do it, its not worth doing.



Impressing other Mall Ninja?
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Brilliant Temper.... ROTFLMAO. My thoughts exactly:D :D :D ;)
 
Something I have observed about Strider:

I think they jack-up their civilian/collector market prices to cover the discounts they give to Soldiers & Marines. Example:

I have a good friend that is active duty enlisted Army. Before he deployed to the sand box, he was craving one of Strider's fixed blade knives (that was based on a rec from his experienced NCO.) Unfortunately my buddy couldn't afford the blade. His NCO told him to call the Strider shop. He did and after verifying his military status, they sold him the knife at almost 1/2 the advertised price.

BTW, he's been depolyed over a year now and still raves about all the handy chores he does with his Strider. . . lots of prying jobs.

I think Strider can do this type of sale because of all the mall ninjas / collectors / and arm-chair Tom Clancy fans that will pay top dollar for their steel in the civilian market. Again, that just my guess on their business model.
 
JWBirch said:
BTW, just for the record: other than my own, I've seen 3 other Striders in combat. Two were handed to the individuals by Mick or Dwane, with a request to use them. The third guy didn't pay for his, and left it at that. That's 3 for 4, including my own. Not bad.

Oh, and those guys just above, they aren't mall ninjas.
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Who are those 3 guys?
 
Since I own and use one of these, I thought I'd put in my .02.

To begin with, when I have a need for a tool I go through several different makers and choose the one that works best for me. Weapons and tools are like underwear, everyone uses what works for them and don't have much use for anything else. For sharp steel, I've settled on Strider and CRKT. I'm sure not everyone agrees with my choices and have very valid reasons why something better works for them, but I like Strider and CRKT. They've fulfilled every need I've had and never failed me.

So I went looking for a tomahawk, and first bought one of the AT Vietnam designs, with the synthetic handle. It's a good enough tool, but I didn't like it. I didn't like the girth of the handle, and I didn't like the way it felt when I smacked stuff with it.

So I moved to an Emerson CQT. Well, that was like buying a fine stiletto and using it as a camp knife. Not a field tool. Plus, the rubber washer things felt weird to my hand. I decided I didn't like composite handles and what I needed was a full-metal hawk.

So next in line was a K5. Nice tool, nearly what I was after. But the balance is off for me, the aluminum slabs got slippery sometimes, and it's really too long for my uses. But it was the best compromise I'd found.

Until I found a Strider hatchet. Of course, being an owner and user of several Strider knives I was interested in what a hatchet would be like. So I bought it.

Well, this is what I've been after all along. It's just the right size, just the right weight. It balances at the top of the cord, which is where I want it. It *feels* right. The cord wrap, well, maybe it's "cheesy", but it works really, really well for providing a good grip and giving some shock absorption when you smack stuff. It's a solid piece of steel that I really doubt I will ever have to worry about breaking.

I would have preferred a spike rear, but I've actually found the hammer end more useful. I was definitely not happy about the price, but for me it came down to paying for something very close to the perfect (for me) tool, or settling and compromising with a more-reasonably-priced option. Fortunately, I am in a position to not have to compromise on tools. I think it's overpriced, but it's just about exactly what I personally wanted in a tool.

So, where is the uniform issue for mall ninjas?
 
Agree with Temper, Mr.Trooper...

And in my opinion, flat steel cord-wrapped handles are the absolute WORST feeling grip for knife, sword, or axe, period. If the cordage isn't wrapped tight enough it just feels spongy, and the flat profile never seems to sit right in your hand.

I'm sure it's a well-built piece but I have yet to find a fancy new hawk design that truly improves upon the traditional tool for it's intended purposes. :jerkit:
 
axe-blk.jpg


This is from my picture collection of interesting things. This is a older (5 years) one-off Strider 'hawk/axe that I pulled off their site, I think.
 
I'd have to agree with moving target. I think it's a nifty looking piece, but Paracord in my opinion is horrible for chopping. Too many hot spots and it kills your hands after some heavy chopping.
 
LOL almost $500 for something with a para cord handle. I could get a chainsaw and an AX. Some super covert profesional might have a use use for that but not this average Mechanic, hunter, camper, hiker. As one poster already mentioned the steel does not make it worth that and the design does not either and the Elcheapo para cord sure does not make it worth it. If you like it though by all means go for it. Looks like something out of one of the xXx movies to me. As a capitalist though I think Strider should charge whatever they want and if they sell they sell and if they do not then they do not.
 
Im not against Nice tomahawks. Iv been looking at a ATC Sibert Comanche, but I shutter at coughing up $275 for something thats punched out of sheet metal.

About $90 for a 16"x6"x.25" sheet of S7 tool steel.
About $40 for a pair of 12"x1.25"x.25" G-10 pannels
No more than $15 for the set screws

That leaves youw ith less than $150 worth of materials. I know it doesnt cost $125 to heat treat it, so they are definately turning a proffit. But THATS OK.

Turning 300-400% proffit like Strider normaly does raises my eyebrow a little though.
 
Any tool crafted by hand or machine is worth more then the some of its parts: the efforts invested in design, material, construction, and marketing. I don't own this axe, but if I had a need for one, I wouldn't blink. Striders appear to be marketed to a narrow market, dominated by professionals to whom the longevity and durability of a tool is just as important as its function. Keeping PMCS in mind, I don't just appreciate, I NEED a tool that can spend some time taking care of me, rather then the other way around.

I do have the CR Axe, for that matter; its in the same price range, but with a different intent. It meets the intent, and the quality is worth it; therefore, the price is worth it. Its not a perfect tool for me, but the company is being more then accompanying in supporting getting it tweaked to meet the needs of my small hands.

Other then for collecting, why do YOU want this axe? For all those putting forth opinions, positive or negative, what do YOU think this is for, and would you ever have that need? I spent $400+ for the CR Axe, because there is a need in my life and duties to be able to breach a door, and the breaching kit is always elsewhere. Is the axe useless, or just useless to you?
 
Dont own a Strider but have heard good things about them. I just cant imagine how the Strider Axe could out do or out last the ATC VTAC.... Just me though.
 
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