Strider first hit the scene making fixed blades. The knives were big, thick, and strong, not made for slicing. Strider became known for a low level of fit and finish, but a high level of strength and toughness. The are the “Hummer” of knives. But when Strider started making folders, the fit and finish started to become more important since a folder needs to be precisely made in order to work properly. Strider gets a lot of smack talked about them for their folders supposedly being poorly made, but I think that most of the smack comes from people that have never even held a real Strider. It has become “cool” in some circles to bash Strider because most people cannot afford one.

I have handled and owned several Strider folders and they have all locked up solid with a lock thwack. I am sure that some have lock-up issues, but that is true with any knife maker. Strider also have a great warranty and will fix any problem you have.

Buck used to make a line of Strider-designed knives and many of the Strider haters said that these Buck Strider knives were better than the real Striders, and about a fourth of the price. However, the Buck Strider knives are known to close under spine-pressure. I have done this myself on three different Buck Striders. The lock and the tang do not meet correctly. With the more than ten Strider folders I have used, the lock would not fail under any spine pressure I could create with my hand.

Sometimes it can seem cool to bash expensive things that you cannot afford. It is too bad that such great, tough knives have to take a bunch of heat. Strider knives are not for everyone, but if you can afford it and want a folder that is tough as nails, there are only a few choices that are as good, and they tend to cost just as much, or more.

Two classic Strider folders (SnG and AR):