A find this a rather strange industry trend - S&W ( see alot of them in SMKW's catalog )and some other manufacturers that now use "camoflage" on their blades.
Oh, forgot SOG....
I had a late friend who(m) was with the SEAL
teams in Laos ( okay to mention it now I guess ) who once related that the most the guys in his unit carried were parkerized USN
issue types ( the old Gerber MK I & Mk II had "satin finishes" & weren't oriented to "humpin' the boonies" ) My two copper coins say a camo blade is far easier to lose
in the backwoods than a bead-blasted, parkerized or even black ti blade ( and how many former grunts out there have lost their equipment now & again!?! Not the M-16,
I hope! Uncle Sammie spent ( circa 1982 ) $104 a copy ; You lose it, it comes outta yer hide! <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>)
So who finds practical use for a camo blade?
OTAC I pass!
AET
Some things are necessary evils, some things are more evil than necessary. John Le Carre
Edited by - AllenETreat on 4/4/2004 11:33:53 AM
KOT : Camo blades?
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AllenETreat
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Jimmy_Dean
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for the most part, i think stripes and camo are not a cool deal.
they look scary. "militaristic," although it's really not militaristic at all. sheeple, nonetheless, perceive this type of equipment as threatening (as if just having a blade was hard enough!!). I work and play in a sheeple environment- so i ended up getting my strider entirely blast finished.
as for the utilitarian aspect of "camo..." well.. i'm wouldn't be hardcore enough to begin answering something like that...
two weeks ago, our master sergeant schooled us on how to properly affix camo facepaint. he spent ten minutes thouroughly dissing the camo you see on soldiers portrayed in movies, wearing, as he called them, "the lightning bolts." he was talking about the guys in movies like "the rock," etc, where they put sort of the black three "stripes" across their face.
apparently, this defeats the purrpose of camo, because... they look like stripes. they wouldn't blend in with a background, really. which made sense. if knife companies really wanted to 'camo' blades, they would be green and brown, and be made to look like bark and foliage, which isn't aesthetically appealing.
but then again, i'm not hardcore, elite type, and nor is anyone on our cadre.
if i'm lucky, in 2 years, i'll get a sweet desk job in the engineering or medical corps. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
they look scary. "militaristic," although it's really not militaristic at all. sheeple, nonetheless, perceive this type of equipment as threatening (as if just having a blade was hard enough!!). I work and play in a sheeple environment- so i ended up getting my strider entirely blast finished.
as for the utilitarian aspect of "camo..." well.. i'm wouldn't be hardcore enough to begin answering something like that...
two weeks ago, our master sergeant schooled us on how to properly affix camo facepaint. he spent ten minutes thouroughly dissing the camo you see on soldiers portrayed in movies, wearing, as he called them, "the lightning bolts." he was talking about the guys in movies like "the rock," etc, where they put sort of the black three "stripes" across their face.
apparently, this defeats the purrpose of camo, because... they look like stripes. they wouldn't blend in with a background, really. which made sense. if knife companies really wanted to 'camo' blades, they would be green and brown, and be made to look like bark and foliage, which isn't aesthetically appealing.
but then again, i'm not hardcore, elite type, and nor is anyone on our cadre.
if i'm lucky, in 2 years, i'll get a sweet desk job in the engineering or medical corps. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
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Shards of Narsil
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samosaurus
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sorry, sam. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
honestly, though. around sheeple, the stripes really have more a tendency to scare.
this isn't a bad thing, because striders are geared toward military bearing, so... i guess they are the right tools for the right job.
but i always have them blasted.
and they don't suck. they are just extraneous.
honestly, though. around sheeple, the stripes really have more a tendency to scare.
this isn't a bad thing, because striders are geared toward military bearing, so... i guess they are the right tools for the right job.
but i always have them blasted.
and they don't suck. they are just extraneous.
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AllenETreat
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Midget, I gotta agree with ya'! Only because
the Army of my time ( circa 1980's ) would've felt that way...
We had alot of holdovers from the LRRP, SF's
etc. from Viet Nam ( guys that wouldn't have "fit in" in "the world" ) that had practical experience "in the field" ( you'd
wish the **** blade's handle was neon and
blade itself shiny when lost on a night patrol! <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>) While something may look good "in a collection" or "on parade" or
"for show" ( to the civilians ) it just won't "work" ( other than perhaps in MOUT
ops where camo would stick out like a sore thumb ) If i were still in the USAR I'd opt
for something like a Chinook ( the ever popular "Bowie clip point" <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>) or Gunting,
just the way they are.
I just remember the late Bob Beimler ( USN )
That's better than me ; try being lost somewhere in Laos with about 1,500 hostiles
looking for you because you escaped from captivity, and you don't dare fire that captured AK ( for fear of giving yourself away ) and the only tool ya' had was a sturdy knife. Oh, almost forgot - you're not
with the USN ( or the US forces PERIOD! )
****, the US wasn't even in Laos ( the "offical story" was )
Too bad Bob Beimler wasn't offered a $1million book deal...
A real "silent professional".
AET
Some things are necessary evils, some things are more evil than necessary. John Le Carre
the Army of my time ( circa 1980's ) would've felt that way...
We had alot of holdovers from the LRRP, SF's
etc. from Viet Nam ( guys that wouldn't have "fit in" in "the world" ) that had practical experience "in the field" ( you'd
wish the **** blade's handle was neon and
blade itself shiny when lost on a night patrol! <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>) While something may look good "in a collection" or "on parade" or
"for show" ( to the civilians ) it just won't "work" ( other than perhaps in MOUT
ops where camo would stick out like a sore thumb ) If i were still in the USAR I'd opt
for something like a Chinook ( the ever popular "Bowie clip point" <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>) or Gunting,
just the way they are.
I just remember the late Bob Beimler ( USN )
That's better than me ; try being lost somewhere in Laos with about 1,500 hostiles
looking for you because you escaped from captivity, and you don't dare fire that captured AK ( for fear of giving yourself away ) and the only tool ya' had was a sturdy knife. Oh, almost forgot - you're not
with the USN ( or the US forces PERIOD! )
****, the US wasn't even in Laos ( the "offical story" was )
Too bad Bob Beimler wasn't offered a $1million book deal...
A real "silent professional".
AET
Some things are necessary evils, some things are more evil than necessary. John Le Carre
I have several Striders, and enjoy the "camo" finish.
Actually, the finish isn't "applied" camouflage; it's a mixture of the aluminum oxide (the black part of the finish), and the other portion, which is arrived at by bead blasting. They don't spray paint the finish on, or anything like other manufacturers are doing.
I've never had a problem with the camo finish of the blades. Then again, I don't lay my knives down in the woods and then walk away from them. Heck, it wouldn't take a camouflaged piece of equipment to get lost that way; nearly anything could!
My recommendation: don't leave equipment lay around in the woods if you want to find it again.
Sniper -- One Shot, One Kill Email: ST8PEN01@aol.com
Actually, the finish isn't "applied" camouflage; it's a mixture of the aluminum oxide (the black part of the finish), and the other portion, which is arrived at by bead blasting. They don't spray paint the finish on, or anything like other manufacturers are doing.
I've never had a problem with the camo finish of the blades. Then again, I don't lay my knives down in the woods and then walk away from them. Heck, it wouldn't take a camouflaged piece of equipment to get lost that way; nearly anything could!
My recommendation: don't leave equipment lay around in the woods if you want to find it again.
Sniper -- One Shot, One Kill Email: ST8PEN01@aol.com
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AllenETreat
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jim -
It's not a question of laying equipment down ; if you should lose your camo blade
in, say, an airborne jump ( it DOES happen )
it's pretty hard to find it in camo.
"Humpin'the boonies" if in a jungle ( or wooded area ) ESPECIALLY during a firefight
it's also concieveable to have a piece of
equipment get lost.
Better to tuck that camo knife in the rucksack, IMO.
AET
Some things are necessary evils, some things are more evil than necessary. John Le Carre
It's not a question of laying equipment down ; if you should lose your camo blade
in, say, an airborne jump ( it DOES happen )
it's pretty hard to find it in camo.
"Humpin'the boonies" if in a jungle ( or wooded area ) ESPECIALLY during a firefight
it's also concieveable to have a piece of
equipment get lost.
Better to tuck that camo knife in the rucksack, IMO.
AET
Some things are necessary evils, some things are more evil than necessary. John Le Carre
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Shards of Narsil
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AllenETreat
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AET...
we are in agreement, that's true...
but if you knife comes out in an airborne jump, you're going to be in a lot more trouble that just losing it...
at least.. i'd rather just lost the blade than find it stuck in my side.. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
a lot of guys apparently secure their fixed blades with duct tape before they jump, so i've read.
we are in agreement, that's true...
but if you knife comes out in an airborne jump, you're going to be in a lot more trouble that just losing it...
at least.. i'd rather just lost the blade than find it stuck in my side.. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
a lot of guys apparently secure their fixed blades with duct tape before they jump, so i've read.
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AllenETreat
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midg -
Usually, from what I was told on base ( Ft. Benning, GA ) if a knife came off during a
jump it was lost "to the four winds"!
The probability of you getting stuck with
even a FB ( unless you had a sheath made of cardboard ) was about as much as a sniper picking you off at 30,000ft!
How far? ALL THE WAY!!!
AET
Some things are necessary evils, some things are more evil than necessary. John Le Carre
Usually, from what I was told on base ( Ft. Benning, GA ) if a knife came off during a
jump it was lost "to the four winds"!
The probability of you getting stuck with
even a FB ( unless you had a sheath made of cardboard ) was about as much as a sniper picking you off at 30,000ft!
How far? ALL THE WAY!!!
AET
Some things are necessary evils, some things are more evil than necessary. John Le Carre
Shard of Narsil Posted: P.S: The 'worst' on a Strider beats the 'best' on many another knife!>>>
Certainly true! Only someone who has never handled a Strider would disagree. Honestly, they are the toughest knives I've ever purchased, and would take punishment that would leave many other brands in pieces or completely ruined.
As for losing a knife in an airborne drop -- if that knife falls out that high in the air, chances are it's gone forever.
The Striders I own all have excellent quality sheaths, and the knives won't simply fall out during rough activity.
For me, the camo blades simply aren't a problem.
Sniper -- One Shot, One Kill Email: ST8PEN01@aol.com
Certainly true! Only someone who has never handled a Strider would disagree. Honestly, they are the toughest knives I've ever purchased, and would take punishment that would leave many other brands in pieces or completely ruined.
As for losing a knife in an airborne drop -- if that knife falls out that high in the air, chances are it's gone forever.
The Striders I own all have excellent quality sheaths, and the knives won't simply fall out during rough activity.
For me, the camo blades simply aren't a problem.
Sniper -- One Shot, One Kill Email: ST8PEN01@aol.com
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Jimmy_Dean
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Jim, since you have a few Striders, could you tell me about them. I read a lot about them and I'd like to get a couple, probably a BT and a SA model. I'm looking forward to that. But I also know they're made out of ATS-34 which is not the most popular steel at the time and I'm afraid they may be extremly tough but not as sharp as I would like. Are they hard to sharpen and have you aver sent one of your knife back to have it refinished? Boy, I hope I make enough money this summer to afford those babies.
-Dean
-Dean
Dean Posted: Jim, since you have a few Striders, could you tell me about them. I read a lot about them and I'd like to get a couple, probably a BT and a SA model. I'm looking forward to that. But I also know they're made out of ATS-34 which is not the most popular steel at the time and I'm afraid they may be extremly tough but not as sharp as I would like. Are they hard to sharpen and have you aver sent one of your knife back to have it refinished?
-Dean
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dean,
Currently, nearly all Striders are made from CPM S30V steel. The older ones were made out of ATS-34, and I even have one made from BG-42, which I LOVE!
You are not likely to find any knives tougher than those made by Strider. They can literally cut many other knives in half and suffer little or no damage doing it.
Mick Strider and Duane Dwyer used to do demonstrations at knife shows in which they'd take a DB (tanto tip) and slam it, tip first, into the concrete floor as hard as they could. The only thing damaged was the floor. They'd also literally chop up folding metal chairs with their knives and show that the blades were undamaged afterwards.
Are they hard to sharpen? Not really. Every one that I have will shave hair, some to better degrees than others.
I've never had to send a Strider back to the shop for any reason. One nice thing is that Mick and Duane offer a 100%, no questions asked warranty. If you manage to ruin one of their knives, they'll fix it or replace it. Period. Even if you completely abused it and used it for some task that no knife should ever be used for. They offer the best warranty I've ever seen, and they stand behind it; it's not just lip service.
Want to learn more? Email me, I've got an awesome site for you!
Sniper -- One Shot, One Kill Email: ST8PEN01@aol.com
-Dean
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dean,
Currently, nearly all Striders are made from CPM S30V steel. The older ones were made out of ATS-34, and I even have one made from BG-42, which I LOVE!
You are not likely to find any knives tougher than those made by Strider. They can literally cut many other knives in half and suffer little or no damage doing it.
Mick Strider and Duane Dwyer used to do demonstrations at knife shows in which they'd take a DB (tanto tip) and slam it, tip first, into the concrete floor as hard as they could. The only thing damaged was the floor. They'd also literally chop up folding metal chairs with their knives and show that the blades were undamaged afterwards.
Are they hard to sharpen? Not really. Every one that I have will shave hair, some to better degrees than others.
I've never had to send a Strider back to the shop for any reason. One nice thing is that Mick and Duane offer a 100%, no questions asked warranty. If you manage to ruin one of their knives, they'll fix it or replace it. Period. Even if you completely abused it and used it for some task that no knife should ever be used for. They offer the best warranty I've ever seen, and they stand behind it; it's not just lip service.
Want to learn more? Email me, I've got an awesome site for you!
Sniper -- One Shot, One Kill Email: ST8PEN01@aol.com
I thought I'd throw a few words in here too. <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>
I find the blades made from .25" stock a bit hard to sharpen. That is, thick blades honestly don't make great cutters, and none of my striders will ever be as sharp as my native or benchmade 770. But then again, i'll never be able to pry with my native or 770, and i'll never be able to use either of them as a hammer, as i have with the SA. pick your poison.
or you could be like me and carry the SA AND the native.
I just got my SA back from the shop yesterday. This will have been the 4th time in 2.5 years that this knife has been back to strider. I try to send them back twice a year, because every time they come back from refurb, they are like brand new. Only cost postage and handling, the knife was back in my hands in less than 14 days.
I would recommend an SA or MFS or DB for starters. Practical, useful, utilitarian designs.
good luck.
I find the blades made from .25" stock a bit hard to sharpen. That is, thick blades honestly don't make great cutters, and none of my striders will ever be as sharp as my native or benchmade 770. But then again, i'll never be able to pry with my native or 770, and i'll never be able to use either of them as a hammer, as i have with the SA. pick your poison.
or you could be like me and carry the SA AND the native.
I just got my SA back from the shop yesterday. This will have been the 4th time in 2.5 years that this knife has been back to strider. I try to send them back twice a year, because every time they come back from refurb, they are like brand new. Only cost postage and handling, the knife was back in my hands in less than 14 days.
I would recommend an SA or MFS or DB for starters. Practical, useful, utilitarian designs.
good luck.
Midget Posted: I find the blades made from .25" stock a bit hard to sharpen. That is, thick blades honestly don't make great cutters, and none of my striders will ever be as sharp as my native or benchmade 770. But then again, i'll never be able to pry with my native or 770, and i'll never be able to use either of them as a hammer, as i have with the SA. pick your poison.
or you could be like me and carry the SA AND the native.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For deep cutting, the 1/4-inch stock offers more resistance than a thinner blade, to agree with Midget's statement.
However, I have a Strider HT with a double-bevel grind that is absolutely hair-poppin' sharp, right from the factory, and it's 1/4-inch stock. For the thickness and heft of this knife, it's level of sharpness is just astounding, not to mention scary.
Yes, Striders make great sharpened pry-bars. And, like Midget, I always carry a Spydie (Native or Dodo) for those jobs when I need a smaller blade to "get in there" and for the extra sharpness. Kind of the best of both worlds; one is grossly overbuilt, the other is graceful.
Sniper -- One Shot, One Kill Email: ST8PEN01@aol.com
or you could be like me and carry the SA AND the native.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For deep cutting, the 1/4-inch stock offers more resistance than a thinner blade, to agree with Midget's statement.
However, I have a Strider HT with a double-bevel grind that is absolutely hair-poppin' sharp, right from the factory, and it's 1/4-inch stock. For the thickness and heft of this knife, it's level of sharpness is just astounding, not to mention scary.
Yes, Striders make great sharpened pry-bars. And, like Midget, I always carry a Spydie (Native or Dodo) for those jobs when I need a smaller blade to "get in there" and for the extra sharpness. Kind of the best of both worlds; one is grossly overbuilt, the other is graceful.
Sniper -- One Shot, One Kill Email: ST8PEN01@aol.com