The problem is that these days "soul" almost always means "weird fit and finish issues". It's like the same thing people say with Alfa Romeo's from the 60's. And I believe this thinking enables companies to continue with their status quo, e.g. Emerson. Can we have knives with "soul" that have them for reasons beyond nagging imperfections?
He mentioned many other knives with soul that aren’t necessarily “imperfect.” Along with striders he listed hinderers, spydercos, and GEC, none of which he equated with having nagging issues. So your point is invalid
Rob, I love the attention to detail and wealth of knowledge you put into your videos. I don't yet have a Strider, but I'm sure I'll add one to my collection eventually. They do have some SOUL from what I can see. I free-hand sharpen all my knives, and well, but I think I'll be sending you a knife to sharpen soon. If nothing else, just to support the channel, and of course the addiction. I appreciate hearing another knife enthusiast with some solid experience give their opinion, and I happen to agree pretty often. One of my favorite channels. Thanks!
Customer service is great. I am fortunate to work near their shop and I walked my two striders in for service. I got a tour of the shop at Josh's suggestion even though he was about to go to lunch. They know that the folks that own Striders take pride in ownership and would appreciate a look at the factory. I did get rid of my double gunner grip because it was shredding all my pockets but it does look pretty. I wont judge or comment on the military service discrepancies because I don't know enough about it and because it has nothing to do with the quality knives I have purchased. By the way I do use pencil lead to prevent excessive lock stick. It doesn't bother me.
Your discussion of knives with soul got under my skin and stayed there... so I sold my 3 Hinderer-designed ZTs and funded an actual Xm-18 Bowie! Thank you Rob... Now I'm in trouble as I analyze my entire collection in terms of each knives' "Soul Factor." Now, let's see, how many Kershaws will I have to sell to get a Sebenza?
Great monologue and one of the best Strider commentaries on RU-vid. What's strange is that, Chinese Strider clones have the exact same problem, *hmmmmmm*
what a great video Rob, you have my respect Sir, this old Glasgow boy just loves your musing brother, had a bad day, but you gave me a wee bit of a lift. Saying my prayers and keeping it real.
There is no reason for lockup issues from a company that isn't brand new. There just isn't. I love the look of the Strider models, but since you can't trust the owner, can you trust the company when it comes to things like warranty (charging for warranty coverage on knives bad out of the shop?), heat treat, etc?
I carry an SMF DGG, I've got a lego but my DGG works fine for me, I have nasty ass callouses all over my hands which I think helps, and generally if I'm using it heavily I'll have gloves on, which it works better with than my lego. I also, for some reason, seem to have less obnoxious knuckle scrapage with my SMF DGG than my lego SNG... Probably because of the thickness of the lego knives. I'd liken the texture on the DGG to a stippled Glock, it can become abrasive but it's not immediately an issue with medium use. DGG's have all the "edges" between the "pits" sanded and rounded. Always like listening to your opinions about Striders!
i love the design of striders but mine had lock rock with in a month (2015 sng) so i got it fixed which took nearly 2 months. and i traded it off. now i come to find out the guy who i traded it to now has lock rock as well
Great vid TAP! I think that people enjoy the Polynesian look that striders have, I know I do. Mine has treated me great in all aspects especially since it came back from the TAP spa! Hey Rob give that Never Seize grease a try, it cures lock stick like no other! If only it didn't look so toxic lol. Thanks for the vids and work TAP. And thanks for reminding me that the word is indeed sharp.
Mick Strider is definitley a liar. That man did NOT serve spec ops with the bogus story he has told...That being said I can appreciate the features you've talked about with this blade..I've been hesitant to buy one because of what I previously said, but knife guys seem to appreciate this design so it makes me want to at least give it a try
You said it brother. I have a strong love/hate relationship with every strider I have owned (like 7 now over the years). Some are better than others, and the old ones are way better than the newer “M Striders.” The newer ones have been extremely finicky, one of which was just plain garbage and should have never made it off the production line due to an overbored pivot. Anyways, they all had some endearing quality that made me always want to have at least one in collection. I still don’t know what exactly it is, but maybe it’s this “soul.” I do know that anything with flippers and bearings doesn’t have it.
What can you say......it is a love hate relationship! Right know I have 3 Strider and all of them work perfectly. I have also had one's like yours. lt works well to keep them clean and put graphite on the lock in lieu of the sharpie. Just my experience. However enjoy!
I have mused about owning a Strider on and off for years now, I totally agree about some knives having soul, sometimes the shape and look of a knife sells itself as long as it is of good quality, I maybe presume too much about what a lot of us perceive to be a quality knife. Anyway have you noticed how much the Strider looks like a shark, or as I have seen it, like the snout of a deer hound that I know, The only reason I would own it would be to treat it like a pet, that blade from the hilt upwards has an animalistic preditory look.
Ive carried a dgg SMF for about a year, it tears your pockets up, and its super rough on your hands. i still loved it though for some reason, it was actually a LOT lighter than it looked because of the texture it has, thats why i liked it so much. but alas, i did sell it, not sure why, think i needed the money at the time.
so good in hand. ive had only 1 sng and 1 smf the aluminum smf they were both great. i just bought a new large seb 21. im trying really hard to love it but i just might sell or trade for a nice sng or smf cause i love how they feel and flick open which i cant yet do with my sebby im close but requires tiny bit of wrist
The way I see it, striders and emersons are similar yet different. They're both lacking in either for or finish. For Emerson they have good fit but terrible Finish and for strider they have good finish but bad fit
Im sure all of us are wondering what that mid-tech is. I know you review some of Jason's work but im not convinced you are talking about his. Care to inform us :P.
Love the design, but everything else about a Strider leaves much to be desired. At this point I think the Cost Steel AD-15 is everything the SNG is and better.
On the opening hole down to the edge started that the weak point of the knife and it will break there, Strider engineering is a fail over all on the knife, the quality is there but the design is a fail and there is nothing tactical about Strider knifes
Vnbsm I’ve heard that same song for 8 years now. Nobody has every shown me failure at that point on a strider blade ever. Please don’t call anyone’s design a fail unless it truest has failed.
You're a wuss rob, I love my dgg sng aside from how it jambs open when whittling green willow limbs into weenie roasting sticks😆. Seriously though it does that. My xm18, not so much. The xm is more strider than strider.
