Spyderco vs Strider

[samosaurus]

I will say that I have not owned a Strider but I do want to try an SNG out sometime.

Yeah, that will be cool! :D I have a great deal of respect for the Spydercrew as well as the Striderguys. Personally speaking, I don't think Spyderco should emulate anyone else in the knife community. If you follow Poppa Spyder's work through the ages, Spyderco has achieved much in terms of innovation by producing knives that are practical with a bang for the buck! :cool: :spyder: :cool: And for that reason, I don't see any reason why Spyderco should go all the way out to produce a knife just to please a minority. In the past, we learnt that hardcore knifeknuts have wanted this and that, making special-runs which either crashed and burned or enjoyed little success.. IMHO, the Chinook and Manix is capable of matching any hard-use folding knives in the market. I think they are over-engineered for the chore of cutting alone.. What really nailed me in the head is this : Spyderco produces custom-quality folders, tough as nail as the Manix at prices which is affordable. Take my word for it, in my country, I have to pay four-times as much. And yeah, I too own a few Strider fixed blade and folders. But having said that and done, I never make it a point to compare or bluntly criticize both parties for their lacking or advantage. In closing, I show my appreciation because Poppa Spyder has always been there for you, answering your post and sharing his thoughts which I don't find it as a norm with other manufacturers.. :D Thanks for making cool knives at good prices Sal! And keep up the good work!

Sam

[i.v]

here's my 2 cents...
i'm speaking as a military man with combat experience... the day i will be forced to rely on a knife to save my life, will truly be a bad bad bad day.
if attacked by a person, i don't need my knife to be able to chop down metal chairs & stab through concrete.
if attacked by a bear.. well, i might as well give the knife to the bear so it'll hurt less when he tears me apart :)
strider do make superb knives, simply superb... they are overbuilt, which would be great if they weren't overpriced..
if i want a great affordable cutting tool - spyderco
if i want a knife to defend myself - a higher end spyderco (still costs half as much as a strider)
for anything else... every job has it's tool...

[Joe Talmadge]

Joe,
Thanks for the clarification. :)
I'd brought up the comment about Paul Bos doing their heat treat, but did not mean to imply that he has an exclusive recipe just for Strider]

I'm glad I got the chance to clarify ... I was getting uneasy with the way my posts were coming across.

Someone in this thread (don't remember who, too lazy to go back and look, maybe it was you and didn't come across right) did say Strider's S30V was stronger, which explains the responses. The response wasn't so much "heat treat is heat treat", but "Paul Bos heat treat is Paul Bos heat treat" (and Sal added that he thinks Spyderco's is just as good). A historical note: back in the ATS-34 days, Duane or Mick (can't remember which, think it was Duane) told me that while Paul Bos was doing Strider's ATS-34, he was following a proprietary formula just for Strider. I assume it was an extra temper cycle or something, who knows.

A large number of their current blades do have thinner edges, and are quite high-performance. I believe you'd love the MFS, with it's drop-point, 4-inch blade; great for hunting/skinning/camping/whatever.

That's my favorite type of fixed blade; I'm pretty demanding on it. If the MFS has an edge that even approaches the fixed-blade Temperance's, then it totally passes muster with me on that. Of course, that just leads me to the next feature I hate: rectangular, cord-wrapped handles that are uncomfortable to use for any length of time. But, as we agree, this is subjective, tastes vary. And a side note here: either Duane or Mick have written pieces explaining why they feel ergonomics don't matter -- only grip security does. Again, I admire how they state up front what they're designing for, and find an approach that works for them ... I just think that for most of us, ergonomics definitely matters.

Here's where I believe some people get mixed up, and where some generalities seem to emerge: Strider's tantos. They truly are meant as sharpened pry-bars, end of story. Great for extricating people from car wrecks, cutting through/prying open steel fire doors, and other brutal tasks that most knives have no business tackling. Their front edge of the tanto blade is basically unsharpened on purpose; it's not meant to cut, but rather to pry. The straight cutting edge can be sharpened to a fairly effective cutter, but it's not one of the greatest; it'll get you through, but certainly won't excel at most cutting tasks.

On the other hand, when most people say they want a Strider-ized knife, these are what they're talking about, don't you think?

Joe

[severedthumbs]

what does that stabilizer do on strider knives?

[severedthumbs]

How often have you had to defend yourself?
Thought so.

Well I try to at least once every other month.

[Joe Talmadge]

what does that stabilizer do on strider knives?

On many frame locks, if you hold the knife firmly, hand pressure pushes the lock down. When I say "down", I mean towards the spine of the handle. It's actually a little bit disconcerting, and you gotta think it can't be great for the lock long term. The stabilizer appears to be a piece of metal that keeps the lock from moving.

[Jon_USA]

I have to comment on this one. As a guy who has owned both Spydercos and Striders. I have had a Strider BT Fixed Blade since 1999. Great knife and it has done it all. Chopping trees, clearing stone and dirt, for a hide. Just a general all around knife it cuts well and holds an edge it is in ATS-34. Now I have also owned a Strider SNG, S30V steel so forth. I sold it.

I bought a Manix, in which I preceive no differnece comparing it to the SNG.
None. Same steel, same flat grind, in general. Heres the differnce PRICE. Dollars, Dineros, Euros or whatever you use. The Manix cost me WAY less than the SNG, does the same things.

I think people in the begining bought Strider Knives because they worked, then it caught on, now they buy them for collections or to re-sell, there still is that guy who uses them hard but most I see are safe queens. Not so with my Manix. I have done with it what I did to the fixed blade Strider BT. Chopped wood, dug through stone looking for a set screw. Dug through gravel/ aquarium stone during installation of a new 50 Gallon tank.
Cut all sorts of wire and cardboard, cut up what seemed like miles of rugs. Pryed, with it a whole bunch.
I hit the spine with a hammer, to split two peices of wood, no damage to the spine or the lock up, I did the same thing with the SNG the spine showed marks and indentations that tells me the Manix is tougher and has a better heat treat and Rc hardness. It prys better than an SNG by far. You can flex an SNG, but not my Manix. I did so. I tried both knives out on the same tests, general EDC and hard use.

Could I re-sell the Manix I have yeah I guess but I don't want to.

I have carried it every day since getting it.

I beleive Sal when he states the Manix Lock Back is far stronger than the Framelock.

It feels like it to me. Thats why the SNG went buy buy and I would buy another Manix if I had to. **** I could buy 4 for the price of the SNG.

I will take the Spyderco Manix over the SNG thats my personal prefernce


The knife you describe would beat the SNG IMO also

The only thing Spyderco needs to do is continue making GREAT knives most of the industry copies them anyway.

and my 2 cents says the SNG gets beat by the Manix.

[J Smith]

I am kind of sorry I ever started this.
I did not mean to really but the two companies up against one another but just to see if there was interest of Spyderco produceing a little thinner more ussable knife with the features of an SNG.

[Joe Talmadge]

This was a great discussion, and everyone is still friends. Not everyone is always going to agree with each other, that's the way it goes. But I'd say you started up the most interesting thread (to me) in a while. Feel free to do it again!

[severedthumbs]

yeah this is not an argument at all. it is a very good discussion.

Joe thanks for that stabilizer info.

[Jon_USA]

Don't be sorry, great topic. Good points made.

I will however add my SNG did not have the Hinderer thing. My lock would move under hard grip and if I held the blade and moved it side to side the lock wandered around. It moved far inboard towards the frame on hard grip which is good but when releasing the grip pressure the frame lock moved out towards the unlock position quite a bit. This was something the new buyer sent the SNG in for and was not upset but wanted if fixed I have no idea how it turned out most likely very well as the Strider policy is "they fix it period."

It ticked me off that my $400 dollar folder did this which is why I went searching again for another carry knife. I bought the Para Mili and then the Manix and have been very happy with the choices. I would not look back in fact.


This question would do very poorly on some forums, and you would even be called the dreaded "TROLL" for asking it on USN. IMO this is a better environment with GREAT PEOPLE it starts at the top with SAL trickles down to us and we have a nicer forum with better people.

I think this thread will be great.

I am thinking more and more about your Native idea and **** I would buy one in a heartbeat. Although I think the Manix fills this roll of comepeating with the SNG or SMF.

I will also add the Manix 14 mm opening hole is better postioned and far easier to use. The SNG hole is to far out and does not open well for me.

[severedthumbs]

**** the lock on my BM630 dosen't move and I got if for $130.

[CKE]

Joe Talmadge...everything else is: cutting my tomato plants up, scraping dirt off somthing, prying(although I have done that with my Spydies too) basically dirty work.
It is the Warranty of Striders that appeals to me. I do like their designs and ergos. I would still have my SNG and carry it everyday if I did not need the money more a few months ago.
They are different companies all together with very different market approaches. I would like to try a fixed blade Strider someday but my George Tichbournes take all the abuse and use I have thrown at them.
There is something about a Strider, when I have the money again someday I will get another. Jeff, this is a good thread, very civil and we are not bashing Strider at all :)
They are expensive though

[Jimd]

I'm glad I got the chance to clarify ... I was getting uneasy with the way my posts were coming across.

Of course, that just leads me to the next feature I hate: rectangular, cord-wrapped handles that are uncomfortable to use for any length of time. But, as we agree, this is subjective, tastes vary. And a side note here: either Duane or Mick have written pieces explaining why they feel ergonomics don't matter -- only grip security does. Again, I admire how they state up front what they're designing for, and find an approach that works for them ... I just think that for most of us, ergonomics definitely matters.

Joe

Joe, that's a great point, and one I wanted to bring up, but forgot.
Yes, Mick/Duane aren't into ergonomics at all. Rather, their view is that when you desperately need one of their tools, retention is where it's at, rather than comfort.

I have to agree with them in that perspective, so there I agree; their knives happen to mostly feel comfortable for me, because I'm used to them. I don't even notice that they're "not" comfortable, if that makes any sense.

On the other hand, it's nice to pick up a knife now and then that's actually made for comfort, and is a pleasure to hold; that different flavors thing again.

Honestly, though, the MFS and HT model Striders that I have are cord-wrapped handles, and to me, they're some of the most comfortable knives I've ever handles. The Strider folders are less comfortable for me.

Because of the thinner handle circumference of the MFS, though, it's that much more comfortable. You really should take a look at one if you're into that blade profile. It's a no-nonsense, plain knife that cuts like **** and is tough as nails. For general use, it might be the best Strider offers.

[Jimd]

Oh, and almost forgot...a strong thanks to Sal for putting up with this thread, and letting us talk about "other" knives on his message board! He's truly a great sport if there ever was one!

[severedthumbs]

Oh, and almost forgot...a strong thanks to Sal for putting up with this thread, and letting us talk about "other" knives on his message board! He's truly a great sport if there ever was one!

I will totally second that.

[sal]

Hi Jimd. I must say that If I had to defend myself, I would take a Spyderco over any other knife. Simply because they cut better!, We've made a number of knives specifically designed and built for MBC. We're pretty good at it.

Also with regards to performance of steels, Spyderco owns and uses a CATRA daily. One of 17 such machines in the world. I think I can get a pretty good "realistic" idea of what cuts better. We have the equipment to do all of our own testing from cutting to lock strength. Crucible sends me steels to test.

Where are you getting your information?

sal

[thombrogan]

Both companies are into constant improvement and look for customer feedback. Both companies make great knives. Spyderco makes more knives that I can use. Neither company wants to run their S30V at RC61. With Spyderco, I can afford both the knife and to send it to Phil Wilson who will run S30V at RC61 and the knife will cut how I choose. For reference, my Chinook II originally tested at RC58 and didn't behave as planned even with a Sharpmaker-polished edge.

Spyderco makes more ambidextrous knives, including those with the Compression Lock (my favorite lock ever) and they gave a get-well knife to CKE and knives to my daughter and Dialex's child. I'm sold for a lifetime or more on Spyderco.

With regards to Strider's warranty versus their cost, the warranty also applies to their collaborations with Buck.

Buck is awesome, Strider is awesome, but neither make knives designed by Sal or Eric Glesser nor do they license the Compression Lock or Ball-Bearing Lock.

[Mr Blonde]

The Strider knives look very cool and I believe they are very strong indeed. As has been mentioned before, it’s just that Spyderco operates with a different philosophy. I feel Spyderco makes cutting tools, i.e. tools to just cut with. Even (stronger) lock designs are built around that function, not for prying, but cutting. Strider on the other hand appears to make tools that do more than just cutting, they appear to be suitable for light prying and poking in concrete. It is my experience that ‘multi-use’ gear makes compromises, which is why I suspect the striders not to be the laser-sharp cutters that my spydies certainly are. Then again, I am sure the strider makes for a better prybar than my delica!

You want a Spyderco with a Strider flavor? Try the Manix, it looks like a strider and it’s as much “hummer” as I’ve seen Spyderco put into a folder!

Wouter

[samosaurus]

A "Tiger-Striped" Manix! :D *hee-hee!* :D

Sam