What is with Striders going for thousands of dollars?!

[Officer's Match]

A reasonable position, certainly. On the bright side, the fact that this is a thread talking about the high prices the knives command would seem to be proof that the folks hating on MRB aren't hurting him or the market for his knives much, if at all.

And FWIW literally three quarters of the SNGs I handled were poorly made/defective. That was a ways back, and maybe things have gotten better, but they don't have exactly have a spectacular record as far as quality and warranty service go either.

I like you, so I'm going to take the next two Strider threads I see off, I won't hate on them until the third thread that comes around. It's going to be hard, I hope you appreciate the personal cost I will feel in not getting to whack this particular dead horse for a while.

I would miss your input candidly - I don't read threads here just to be agreed with.

 

[Puppadore]

They quit producing production knives a while ago, focusing on custom works from a POS. It caused a jump in resale prices due to end of supply. The prices will come back down eventually. XM-18's used to be $1000.

If you really want a "Strider" look, Protech does a great job with their SNG,SMF and PT Autos!

This is like a ganzo

 

[Officer's Match]

This is like a ganzo

You lost me - what do you mean?

 

[DangerZone98]

For those thousands of dollars, you can get yourself a couple of brand-new, warranty-backed CRKs and Hinderers. That’s a no-brainer right there.

 

[Officer's Match]

For those thousands of dollars, you can get yourself a couple of brand-new, warranty-backed CRKs and Hinderers. That’s a no-brainer right there.

All of the above brands offer their own unique traits - love them all. Current production M.STRIDER knives (SnG and SMF anyway) offer a cross of Hinderer XM brawn and CRK Inkosi slicing - my hybrid gunnergrip SMF reminds of both in use.

 

[Hackenslash]

This is like a ganzo

No P Puppadore , it's not. It's a collaboration between Strider and Protech. That Strider logo on the blade is there with permission of Strider knives. This is nothing like Ganzo at all.

I thought twice about even mentioning the Protech/Strider knives, given Strider Knives still gets a royalty of some sort, but they are really well done and priced reasonably. I have an old Strider SNG that I bought used here at BF and, for me, it's an effective cutting tool that feels good in the hand. My Protech PT is a sweet little knife, unfortunately I don't carry an auto at work during the week.

 

[Officer's Match]

No P Puppadore , it's not. It's a collaboration between Strider and Protech. That Strider logo on the blade is there with permission of Strider knives. This is nothing like Ganzo at all.

I thought twice about even mentioning the Protech/Strider knives, given Strider Knives still gets a royalty of some sort, but they are really well done and priced reasonably. I have an old Strider SNG that I bought used here at BF and, for me, it's an effective cutting tool that feels good in the hand. My Protech PT is a sweet little knife, unfortunately I don't carry an auto at work during the week.

The Protech PT is an excellent little auto - it has replaced the Delica as my favorite small knife. SUPER ergonomic and really, really fun.

 

[Ron Sabbagh]

Chamblin's website no longer works, he doesn't seem to advertise a lot so it's hard for people to buy something if they don't hear of it and can't get hold of him. Also the last knife I saw of his for sale was over $2,000

Joel is retired now. So you can't get one from him. Over the past 15 years or so you could have acquired one of his tacticals in the $500-700 direct from him or an authorized dealer.

But his tacticals still show up on well known dealer websites from time to time. (Three dealers currently have a Chamblin tactical for sale). He was also an extraordinalry maker of traditionals and my guess is the $2000 knife was a traditional with some kind of adornement or engraving.

I used him to make a point. He made extraordinary knives that sold in the Sebenza price range.

 

[ChazzyP]

As with most things, some of the knowledge being shared in false. Regardless of the namesake, current production Strider knives are damned well made knives that actually perform well and are actually offer something notably different than the current glut of Ti-framelock-flippers that are roughly analogous to modern lookalike cars and crossover SUV's. I understand the disdain for MRB; I don't get the hate for inanimate objects that happen to be the basis for this very forum.

A reasonable position, certainly. On the bright side, the fact that this is a thread talking about the high prices the knives command would seem to be proof that the folks hating on MRB aren't hurting him or the market for his knives much, if at all.

And FWIW literally three quarters of the SNGs I handled were poorly made/defective. That was a ways back, and maybe things have gotten better, but they don't have exactly have a spectacular record as far as quality and warranty service go either.

I like you, so I'm going to take the next two Strider threads I see off, I won't hate on them until the third thread that comes around. It's going to be hard, I hope you appreciate the personal cost I will feel in not getting to whack this particular dead horse for a while.

I would miss your input candidly - I don't read threads here just to be agreed with.

At the risk of seeming bro-mantic, I like both you guys and, as much if not more, greatly enjoy reasonable discourse, something not usually associated with discussions regarding MRB or his namesake knives. OM's point regarding the difference between disdain for someone's personal behavior and appreciation (or not) of inanimate objects is well-taken. On the other hand, supporting that individual by purchasing his product indeed poses at least an ethical dilemma and there are those who would argue there is no gray area when it comes to doing so, only right and wrong.

I'd just as soon separate the knife from the man and, wanting to try one for myself, bought an SnG LNIB off the Exchange a couple years back for a very reasonable price. The knife came with a poor factory edge, sluggish action, was slightly off-center, and with just a modicum of lock stick which strangely got to an intolerable level as the knife gradually broke in. I eventually cured the the lock stick after much interior tweaking and polishing, similarly improved the action, scale-shifted to re-center, and got a nice re-profiled edge on the S30V blade. The knife is great in hand, not a bad cutter for being thick-bladed with its high flat grind, and finds its way into my pocket from time-to-time as a work user.

As a one-off I figure it's a keeper. Would I buy another? I do occasionally look at SMF's on the Exchange, but certainly wouldn't pay the kind of inflated prices they currently command. Why do they cost so much? I guess it's just supply and demand and enthusiasts are willing to pay what it takes to a acquire one. To each his own.

 

[Motega]

The Pro-tech are auto- we can't have them here- and I really love the flamed Ti scale. I have read time and again that a LOT of them have issues with centering, etc. and that figures strongly in my decision not to purchase, but I am really interested in trying one out just to see the ergonomics of it.
And that's the problem. Of ALL THE KNIFE BRANDS we see regularly- discounting the historical ones like Randalls or the "Art Knife" world with makers like Johan Gustaffson whose knives are more art than tool, it's just SHOCKING how much these knives go for.

This has nothing to do with ragging on Mick Strider- that horse has been beaten not only to death, but beaten so hard that it's metaphorically not even horse shaped anymore- and as far as "fools and their money" I get that too, but I guess what I am pointing out is that no other maker or brand comes even close to the aftermarket value these have reached.

Every maker has fans, but do a search on any board or auction site and you see the same thing- every Strider(except for the collaborations) goes for at least $450, and most start out over $500.
I don't think the market is going to catch up- ever - because no one is going to sell a knife for half what they paid for it when we are playing in the major leagues like everyone on this forum. We aren't your average consumers.

I guess the best move is to see if I can get flamed Ti striped scales that will fit one of the collaborations if I ever want to try out a Strider.

 

[unwisefool]

Motega can you flame them yourself?

 

[Quiet]

-snip- no other maker or brand comes even close to the aftermarket value these have reached.

-snip-

LOL Oh, poor dear. As a matter of fa[RING RING] hold on a moment.

*conversation noise*

Hey man, phone's for you. Lyle, McGinnis, Gedraitis, Ron Lake, Loveless, and a bunch of other classic great makers would like to have a word with you.

LOL

 

[Quiet]

Also, for direct comparison for aftermarket values in the same genre, rarer desirable Emerson models like the UBR Commanders and anything handmade like his Customs command similar and in some cases, better secondary market value than any Strider.

How many models does Strider make like the Emerson CQC-6 where you get your name called at the Gathering for one, you pay your $850, and dudes are stepping in your way back to your seat, pushing each other to be the first to offer you $4,000+ cash, because they know they'll be able to sell it immediately for $7,500+?

Oh, wait, sorry, phone again. OH SNAP, Mr. Bob Terzuola, the father of the tactical folding knife himself!!! (how did he even get this number?)

 

[Officer's Match]

Also, for direct comparison for aftermarket values in the same genre, rarer desirable Emerson models like the UBR Commanders and anything handmade like his Customs command similar and in some cases, better secondary market value than any Strider.

How many models does Strider make like the Emerson CQC-6 where you get your name called at the Gathering for one, you pay your $850, and dudes are stepping in your way back to your seat, pushing each other to be the first to offer you $4,000+ cash, because they know they'll be able to sell it immediately for $7,500+?

Oh, wait, sorry, phone again. OH SNAP, Mr. Bob Terzuola, the father of the tactical folding knife himself!!! (how did he even get this number?)

Ah, I do indeed enjoy me some Ernie custom...

 

[King of the Cheese]

Hmmm... well I see a bunch of unnecessary sarcasm getting injected in here, but here’s what I’ll say:
1. Mick exaggerated his service record.. which might work if you’re trying to teach karate to kids and stay at home moms but this is the knife industry and there are lots of veterans that’ll research that stuff.
2. Moving on.. while I have a problem with the guy, the resale value claim might possibly hold water. Striders sell at massively inflated prices and they sell quickly if the price is even close to original cost.. so quickly it’ll make your head spin. Being upset about Mick doesn’t matter... the knives sell, they sell quickly, and they sell for big money. No one can dispute that.

The knives and the maker CAN be mutually exclusive in criticism.
The CEO of Walmart could get caught in some Bangkok brothel shooting heroin and banging hookers, but I’ll still buy chips and beer there if I need it. Not everyone operates on some level of moral principle that dictates tying the maker to the value of the product. Maybe people just really like the knives... even IF Mick is a big shitbag.

 

[Danke42]

I hear a lot of disgusting people "exaggerate" their service records like that to make their lies seem plausible.

 

[King of the Cheese]

I hear a lot of disgusting people "exaggerate" their service records like that to make their lies seem plausible.

There’s no such thing as bad publicity.

 

[allenC]

Hmmm... well I see a bunch of unnecessary sarcasm getting injected in here, but here’s what I’ll say:
1. Mick exaggerated his service record..

NO, he didn't "exaggerate" his service record...he LIED repeatedly.
Lied and said he was a Ranger, lied and said he fought in Somalia, lied and said he worked with Special Forces.
He's a complete fraud and a stolen valor POS.
His service record is pratically nothing at all.
He didn't even serve two years and made no rank at all before he was kicked out of the Army.

 

[King of the Cheese]

NO, he didn't "exaggerate" his service record...he LIED repeatedly.
Lied and said he was a Ranger, lied and said he fought in Somalia, lied and said he worked with Special Forces.
He's a complete fraud and a stolen valor POS.
His service record is pratically nothing at all.
He didn't even serve two years and made no rank at all before he was kicked out of the Army.

I’m not going to get into this with you. My point was the knives and the maker can be separate points of discussion.

 

[allenC]

I’m not going to get into this with you. My point was the knives and the maker can be separate points of discussion.

I don't see it like that at all.
Would you own a knife that was designed and made by a known and convicted child rapist?