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Strider Knives Unofficial FAQ

Information Compiled from Strider Knives Inc., The BadLands & UsualSuspect.net.

 

• Who is Strider Knives?
• Does Strider provide a discount to Military & Law Enforcement?
• Are Strider knives production or custom?
• Where can I get a Strider?
• Does Strider accept custom orders?

• What is Strider's warranty?
• What is Strider's warranty on custom knives?
• Will the warranty follow the knife?
• Where do I send my Strider for warranty work?
• What do I include with my knife sent in for warranty work?

• A note on "Pimped" knives
• Will Strider send out parts?
• How do I sharpen my Strider?
• What is the angle used to sharpen my Strider?

• How are Strider knives made?
• What materials are used to make Striders?
• Why the move to S30V?
• What is Stellite 6K?
• Who heat treats Strider knives?
• How are the Stripes made?
• Will the stripes on the blade wear off?
• Will Strider redo the stripes if they show wear?
• What is the Strider smell?

• What do the names of the different Strider knives mean?
• What does MSC or DDC mean?
• How do I know if I have a custom Strider?

• What are the specs for the AR, GB, SMF, SNG & PT?
• What are the screw Sizes for the AR, GB, SMF, SNG & PT?
• What are the improvements in the AR & GB?
• What are the differences & improvements in the SNG Generations?
• What are the differences & improvements in the SMF Generations?
• What are the differences & improvements in the PT Generations?
• How do I tell the difference between a SNG & SMF?
• Why G-10 on the SNG, SMF instead of all Ti?

 

• Why doesn't the Thumbstud/Bladestop touch the G-10 on the SNG/SMF?
• Why are some Thumbstud/Bladestops different Sizes on the SNG/SMF when comparing the G-10 and Ti sides?
• Why a full bevel grind instead of a hollow grind?
• Is the upper swedge on custom folders sharpened?
• What is the trisula and how is it used?
• Why does the G-10 overlap the tang on the EB series?
• Why are some knives numbered and others not numbered?
• Why is the lockbar cutout on the outside of the Ti instead of the inside?
• Why does only the lower section of the lockbar contact the blade on Strider folders?
• Hinderer Lockbar Stabalizer explained!

 

• What is a Lame knife & how can I tell if my knife is Lame?
• What is the cause for the off-center blades on some folders?
• The stampings on my knife are light, can they be redone?
• Reasoning behind the fixed blade thumb notch orientation
• Why is the pocket clip on the PT so big?
• Will the blade on the AR/GB, SMF or SNG cut my lanyard when closed?
• How do I attach my pre-made lanyard on a AR/GB SMF or SNG?

 

• How do I loosen the pocket clip on my SMF/SNG?
• How do I field strip a SMF, SNG, AR, or GB?
• The thumbstuds on my AR/GB hurt my thumbs when opening, what can be done?

 

• What is the history of the MARSOC SMF project?
• Information regarding USMC SOCOM Det. 1.

 

• What are the super six knives?
• What is the difference between the WB & BT?
• What is a Nightmare Grind?
• What is the NM folder, also referred to as the XL or XLSNG?
• What is the RC folder?
• What is a SLCC?
• How do you hold the SLCC?
• What are the carry options for the SLCC?
• What is the purpose of the holes in the SLCC?

 

• What are the Strider Karambits?
• What is the CC Dagger?
• What is the V42?
• What is the AJAX?
• What is the CR Axe?
• What is a Mod 10 knife?
• What are the TAD Gear exclusive folders?
• Strider Collaborations?
• Has Strider Collaborated with a Production Knife Company?

 

• How durable is the G-10 & Ti on a SNG or SMF? (SNG Vs. Sledgehammer!)
• Comparison Test Extrema Ratio Fulcrum IID Vs. Strider GB.

 

• Credits & Contributions to the Strider FAQ.

1.  Who is Strider Knives? Strider Knives is an American owned and operated Company, whose goal is the evolution of Problem Solving Tools. Around the globe, people stake their lives on our tools; because of this we spare no expense when designing and manufacturing our products. Using only the finest materials and latest technology, Strider Knives continues to set the pace in cutting geometry, function and durability.

The World is our Research and Development facility. 

We at Strider Knives include our customers as part of the Company. We LISTEN to what our customers are saying. We understand people’s needs and attempt to fill them with the best tool available for the job at hand.

• Does Strider provide a discount to Military & Law Enforcement?

Yes, Call the shop: (760) 471-8275 or check with your friendly Strider dealer.

• Are Strider knives production or custom?

Per Josh Lee:

"We have catalog and non-catalog knives. Catalog meaning our regular designs, non-catalog meaning MSC and DDC. All Strider knives are custom knives, meaning that there is a large amount of hand finishing done on the knives."

• Where can I get a Strider?

Most Strider knife models can be obtained by contacting an authorized Strider dealer. Contacting Strider Knives directly for a specific model could take a significant length of time.  A listing of authorized Strider dealers can be found on the Strider Knives web site.

• Does Strider accept custom orders?

Strider does NOT accept custom orders. You can obtain custom knives at knife shows or through authorized Strider dealers.

• What is Strider's warranty?

Per Mick Strider regarding repairs:

“I’m not sure what's wrong….the knife is brand new I never even took it out of the package”…. That’s odd… because we always put the screws in the correct side of the knife… and we don’t cover everything in red loctite…

This has nothing to do with Pimpers, Tweakers or Fumblers… We’re fine with all that. Unfortunately, much like your auto warranty wouldn’t cover a home made fuel injection system on your new Corvette, we can’t assume liability for your home made knife changes.

Strider no longer does cosmetic repairs. This includes but is not limited to blade refinishing or scratch removal.

Strider Knives Inc. Statement of Warranty:

If it's broken, we'll fix it.
If it's dull, we'll sharpen it.
If it's old and tired, we'll refurbish it.
Some things have a fee, some don't.
Ask around ... we won't do you wrong.

• What is Strider's warranty on custom knives?
  

Per Mick Strider:

"Custom knives carry the same warranty as other Strider Knives."

• Will the warranty follow the knife?
• Where do I send my Strider for warranty work?
• What do I include with my knife sent in for warranty work?

Strider’s warranty follows the knife, not the initial purchaser of the knife.

Strider Knives, INC
120 N. Pacific St. Unit L-7
San Marcos, CA 92069 USA
760 471-8275

It is recommended to NOT use Strider Knives, INC as the company name on your package as you will be advertising the contents of the box. The first line of the address can be changed to "Strider, INC." or "S.K. INC" to keep the contents discreet.

Include your name, address, phone number, problem and $15 for return shipping.

• A note on "Pimped" knives

A Note On "Pimped" or altered Knives from Josh.

"If you purchase a used knife that has been modified in any way you buy at your own risk and we STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU DO NOT BUY "PIMPED" folders because 90% of them are ruined beyond normal repair and it will cost just as much to fix them as it would to purchase a new knife"  -Josh

• Will Strider send out parts?

No.  Strider Knives are hand fitted and assembled, they do not have interchangeable parts.  Send it in.

• How do I sharpen my Strider?
• What is the angle used to sharpen my Strider?

Use any means possible to keep your Strider knife sharp. Some use free hand sharpening, others use devices to assist with maintaining a constant angle. Strider can also sharpen it for you.  Strider knives usually leave the shop with a 22.5 degree (+-.5) angle one each side or 45 degree (+-1) inclusive.

• How are Strider knives made?

Per Mick Strider:
"We take a piece of metal, and grind off EVERYTHING that doesn't look like a knife!

We use fixtures
We use jigs
We use CNC
We use grinders
We free hand
We use hammers
We use fire
We use ice

If there is ANY way we can make the knife better......we do so.

.....its tough to hold a part in your hand in that damn CNC machine.....and ya get all that damn coolant on your shirt.....

To answer your question, we use ANY means necessary to make the very best product we can......

Just for the record.....we DO NOT water jet cut our profiles. We water jet cut an oversized blank, then mill the profile."

• What materials are used to make Striders?

Strider has used and still uses a variety of different materials to make their knives.  Current standard material for production knives include: S30V steel, Titanium, Paracord, G10.

Previous steels used for production / custom knives include: ATS-34 and BG42.

Custom materials: S30V, Stellite 6K, A2, Titanium, Jim Fergusson Damascas, Paracord, G10.

• Why the move to S30V?

S30V was developed by Crucible Steel specifically as a stainless CPM cutlery steel. S30V offers improved toughness and wear/corrosion resistance over previous steels.

Per Mick Strider:

"There are a few advantages to powder metal. It is a little better at most ‘knife’ oriented tasks. That being said, MOST people cant tell the difference between 154CM, ATS34, BG42 and S30V."

S30V Data Sheet in PDF Format

• What is Stellite 6K?

From: Deloro Stellite Company

Stellite 6K is a cobalt-based alloy with outstanding resistance to most types of wear. Their wear resistance is inherent. It is a "built-in" characteristic and not the result of heat-treatment, plating, nitriding or other methods used to produce a superficial hardness on metal parts.

High temperatures have little effect on the hardness, toughness or dimensional stability of 6K. It is resistant to atmospheric oxidation at both low and elevated temperature; outstanding in severe conditions of wear combined with corrosion and/or high temperature. 6K has greater abrasion resistance and lower ductility than 6B.

Stellite 6k has a hardness of Rockwell 'C' 47.

Composition:

Chromium:	31.00%
Tungsten:	4.50%
Nickel:	max 3.00%
Iron:	max 3.00%
Silicon:	2.00%
Carbon:	1.60%
Molybdenum:	1.50%
Manganese:	1.00%
Cobalt:	Balance

• Who heat treats Strider knives?

Paul Bos performs a UNIQUE to Strider heat treat on all Strider Knives.  The hardness for S30V is 59.5/60RC

Strider Knives, Inc. performs the heat treat on their Damascus blades.

Update 9/8/05
Per Mick Strider:

So rather than bother with the stamping of the knives he actually does....we just stopped stamping the logo."

• How are the Stripes made?

• Will the stripes on the blade wear off?

"They wont wear all the way off. They just get cooler looking."

• Will Strider redo the stripes if they show wear?

NO! Strider no longer refinishes blades nor do they do any cosmetic repairs.

Knives were meant to be used, let em' look that way...

• What is the Strider smell?

C.R.T.
Chemical Rot Treatment.

What do the names of the different Strider knives mean?
The names of our models come from several things, some are the initials of the person the knife was designed for, sometimes the name has a personal or funny meaning to us, and sometimes the initials are those of a warrior or hero we wish to show our respect.

If you know the meaning of a name, keep it to yourself!

 

A listing of authorized Strider dealers can be found on the Strider Knives web site.

How do I know if I have a custom Strider?
The blade will be stamped or signed M. STRIDER or DWYER. Production models are stamped STRIDER.

What does MSC or DDC mean?
MSC = Mick Strider Custom
DDC = Duane Dwyer Custom


How are Stripes made?
BG42 and ATS-34 are dark colored after heat treat, the blades are then bead blasted to create the stripes (this gives the stripes a red tinge).
S30V is light after heat treat so it is black oxide finished and then bead blasted to create the stripes.

The stampings on my knife are light can they be redone?
Stampings are done by hand prior to heat treat using a stamp and a sledgehammer.
There is no way of restamping the blade post-heat treat.

What are the specs for the AR/GB, SnG, SMF and PT?

 

 

What are the screw sizes for the AR/GB, SMF, SnG and PT?
AR/GB = 4-40 thread 0.250
SMF = 6-32 thread 0.430 long and a head 0.258 in diameter and 0.075 thick. Driver size is T-10 Torx.
SnG (Gen IV +) = 6-32 thread 0.375 long and a head 0.258 in diameter and 0.075 thick. Driver size is T-10 Torx.
SnG (Gen I - III) = 4-40 thread 0.355 long and a head 0.205 in diameter and 0.060 inches thick. The driver size is T-9 Torx
PT = 2-56 thread by 0.1875 on the body screws
Hinderer Lock Bar Stabilizer Screw = 2-56 thread by 0.250

What are the improvements in the AR/GB?
Changes in the AR/GB over time include:
1. Changed the grind from hollow ground to full bevel ground 
2. Hollow Ground AR/GB were numbered, full bevel ground AR/GB are not numbered.
3. Changed from single thumbstud to duel thumbstuds
4. Went to Non adhesive bearings
5. Dropped the tip deeper into frame when closed
6. Changed the bump stop from .125” to .152”
7. Removed material from lower area of blade to facilitate rotation
8. Upgraded detent ball size
9. Upgraded belt clip and added ambi-carry option
10. Radiused G10

What are the differences/improvements in the SnG Generations?
Gen I SnG = Tanto/Droppoint, #’d, Tiger Striped Blade, Flamed Ti, Green/Black G10, Dimples (some had dimples on the Ti < 10).

Gen I SnG Dimpled G10, Gen I SnG Dimpled Ti
(Photos by MikeTrack on USN)

Gen II SnG = Tanto/Droppoint, #’d, Stonewashed Blade, Stonewashed Ti, Black G10.
Gen II SnG Tanto
(Photo by MikeTrack on USN)

Gen III SnG = Tanto/Droppoint, #’d, Black Blade, Blackened Ti, Black G10

Gen III SnG Droppoint
(Photo by MikeTrack on USN)

Gen IV SnG = Droppoint, #’d, Tiger Striped Blade, Flamed Ti, Black G10, introduction of the bull pivot and thicker Ti frame.

Gen III SnG Pivot, Gen IV SnG Pivot
(Photo by MikeTrack on USN)

Gen V SnG = Tanto/Droppoint, Tiger Striped Blade, Flamed Ti, Green G10 and/or Black G10, introduction of the Lock Bar Scallop and larger screws (Gen V SnG Tantos have a unique grind – a flat grind instead of full bevel).

Gen V SnG Lock Bar Scallop (top), Gen IV SnG Lock Bar (bottom)
(Photo by MikeTrack on USN)

Gen V SnG Tanto with flat grind (foreground), Gen VI SnG Tanto with full bevel grind (background)
(Photo by MikeTrack on USN)

Gen VI SnG = Tanto/Droppoint, Tiger Striped or Digicam Blade, Flamed Ti, Black, Coyote Brown, or Ranger Green G10, introduction of the Hinderer Lock Bar Stabilizer (LBS), thumb oval enlarged.

Gen V SnG (top), Gen VI SnG Hinderer Lock Bar Stabilizer (bottom)
(Photo by MikeTrack on USN)

Gen VI Thumb Oval (left), Gen III Thumb Oval (right)
(Photo by MikeTrack on USN)

Digicam Drop Point SnGs
Black, Coyote Brown and Ranger Green G10
(Photo by MikeTrack on USN)

Ghost Digicam
Ranger Green G10
(Photo by MikeTrack on USN)

 

 

SnG CC = Droppoint Gen VI SnG with tapered/rounded Ti and G10.
CC = Concealed Carry

Gen VI SnG (top) SnG CC (bottom)
(Photo by MikeTrack on USN)

 

SnG Lefty = Droppoint Gen VI SnG with Lockbar on the left side to allow for left hand pocket carry.

What are the differences/improvements in the SMF Generations?
Civilian SMF = Droppoint, #'d 1 - 150, Tiger Striped Blade, Flamed Ti, Black G10.
Gen I SMF = Droppoint, Tiger Striped Blade, Flamed Ti, Black G10.
Gen II SMF = Droppoint, Tiger Striped or Digicam Blade, Flamed Ti, Black, Coyote Brown, or Ranger Green G10, introduction of the Lock Bar Scallop and the Hinder Lock Bar Stabilizer (LBS).
SMF R = Recurve, based on the Gen II SMF, Black G10, Coyote Brown G10 or Ranger Green G10, Lock Bar Scallop and LBS.
SMF T = Tanto, #'d 1 - 100, based on the Gen II SMF, Black G10 available only thru Blue Line Gear
SMF T SW = Tanto, based on the Gen II SMF, Stone Wash blade, Black G10 available only thru Blue Line Gear
SMF T Digi = Tanto, based on the Gen II SMF, Digi Cam blade, Black or Ranger Green G10 available only thru Blue Line Gear
NSN SMF = Droppoint, #'d 1-100, Based on the Gen II SMF, Ti engraved with NSN available only thru Strider Knives.

 

Civilian Numberd SMF (top) Production Gen I SMF (bottom)
(Photo by HKSIG45)

 

SMF R w/ Black G10
(Photo by NCBlades on USN)

 

SMF T
(Photo by Tendoncutter on USN)

 

SMF T SW
(Photo by Blue Line Gear)

 

SMF T Digi
(Photo by Blue Line Gear)

 

Civilian Numberd SMF (top) NSN SMF (bottom)
(Photo by HKSIG45)

What are the differences/improvements in the PT Generations?
PT = Droppoint or Recuve, Beadblasted, Tiger Striped or Digicam blade / Ti, with Black, Ranger Green, or Coyote Brown G10

PT ORD from the 2005 Chicago Custom Knife Show = Recurve, Digicam, Black G10 and flamed Ti (only 10 available)

 

PT Bleadblasted Blade
(Photo by Ted Voorde on USN)

PT Recurve
(Photo by cqbdude on USN)

 

PT ORD from the 2005 Chicago Custom Knife Show
(Photo by rvin1911 on USN)

PT Tiger Striped Blade
(Photo by MikeTrack on USN)

 

 

PT Stonewashed Digicam Blade
(Photo by Blue Line Gear)

How do I tell the difference between a SnG and SMF?
The SnG has 3 body screws the SMF has 4 body screws.

Why G10 on the SnG/SMF instead of all Ti?
Per Mick Strider:

"The actual reason is that as much as you think it would ‘look’ cool. It’s a less quality knife. We use the G10 because it is rigid as hell. Ti is rather flexible by nature…it moves around quite a bit. The way we mill the G10 it is a solid piece of .390” thick material.

There are a lot of other reasons I could toss in there as well.

Its cold on your skin.
It is less ‘grip-able’."

Why doesn't the thumbstud/bladestop touch the G10 on the SMF and SnG?
Per Mick Strider:

"It doesn't matter and is designed not to matter.

We would RATHER that it "Just misses" the G10.
We do this because it wears a lot quicker than the ti. If your lock is set to touch the g10....then it wears....your lock is less secure. If it always hits the ti, it rock solid.

On a lot of knives, you my find a small spot where we took off a little g10. This was done to insure bump stop to ti integrity."

Why are some of the thumbstuds/bladestops on the SnG/SMF different sizes when comparing the G10 to the Ti side?
Per Mick Strider:
"We make the them two ways.....

1. We make a cut on the G10 so that it sits further back than the Ti.

2. We make a bump stop that is larger on one side.

We do it two ways because i can't decide which way i like better......"

Why a Full Bevel Grind instead of a Hollow Grind?
Per Mick Strider:

"Most everyone likes the way the hollow grind looks better....including me.

I know that the AR and GB work WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better with the full bevel grind.

We make the damn things to cut.....not look at!"

Is the upper swedge on custom folders sharpened?
Per Mick Strider:

"Most of custom folders have a false edge...but its NEVER sharp."

What is the Trisula and How is it used?
The Trisula is a tool / technique taught by Guro Inosanto through Steve Tarani. It has applications which when used correctly are very effective. It’s basically a flesh scraper. You use the back edge to ride up the side of the forearm, filleting the flesh from the bone. When the back edge of the knife hits the elbow, your hand will flip the knife to the primary edge and sever the triceps. 

Or another way: Picture stropping a knife, the spine of the knife is going away from you (trisula edge) when you run out of leather on the strop, instead of flipping the knife
and stropping it the other way, you continue to cut in the same direction with normal edge. The elbow forces the trisula edge to stop, but the momentum will allow you instead of stopping, to pivot the knife and continue cutting.

And yet another description: I have my knife in my right hand, thumb up and off of the handle. I trap BG's right wrist in between the back of the blade and my thumb. (Kind of like chopsticks my right hand thumb is one, the back of blade is the other). Slide the back of the blade up inside of the arm up, digging in as you go (filleting), when it hits your elbow bone, there is still upward momentum, so the blade flips (picture a bike going fast and slamming on the front brake) the edge then continues up cutting whatever is in its way.

Why does the G10 overlap the tang on the EB Series?
Per Mick Strider:

"I made them that way because they were designed to be used by guys wearing flight gloves.

When we take the fight to the badguy.....we usually wear flight gloves.....the handle allows the glove or hand to smash into the handle and gives you much more grip friction surface.

This was a design that was first used in CQB applications…..the pilots came later."

Why are some knives numbered and others not numbered?
Knives can only be numbered prior to heat treat. Strider generally numbers the first run of a new knife design up to 100.

Why is the lockbar cutout on the outside of the Ti instead of the inside?
Per Mick Strider:

"If you think about the geometry of the knife, and the lock in particular, you will notice that the line of the stress caused by the lock interacting with the blade runs in a (mostly straight) line from the back of the blade down the lock and into the ti side handle.

If the cut was on the inside, the stress would run down the lock bar until it reached the cut, then it would transfer over to the other side of the lockbar…and cause the bar to flex and pop off the blade, rather than transfer the energy down into the rest of the handle."

Why does only the lower section of the lock bar contact the blade on Strider Folders?
Per Mick Strider:

"The reason we only want contact at the lower section of the lock bar is this:

1. For the most solid lock, you need two points of contact, as far apart as possible. (bump stop and lock face)

2. For the most solid lock, your lock contact should be as far away from the center line of the pivot as possible. This keeps your lock from "rolling" off the blade.

3. No matter how far from the pivot center your lock surface is, if its contaminated with crap (sand), it will fail. We send knives into some nasty shit. This is a huge concern for us. By making contact at the lowest section only, it creates a "shit vent" above the lock surface. That is the same reason we make our detent hole go all the way through the blade....its a "shit vent"."

Hinderer Lock Bar Stabilizer Explained.
Per Rick Hinderer:

"I felt that I should write a post explaining the new feature on Striders framelocks, the Lockbar Stabilizer.......Of course as all of you have found out it is obviously a overtravel stop..in other words it prevents the accidental overtravel of the lockbar during closing of the knife...some of you have stated that sometimes repeated closings sometimes weakens the lockbar and thus the lockup is not as tight,well, I can visualize that,but actually the problem I wanted to correct concerning overtravel is the complete overspringing of the lockbar thereby rendering the knife useless...cant be done some say?...a little story of how I came up with it...I am firefighter as alot of you know...while working a accident scene I was using one of my Firetac's to cut the upholstery material around a seat post prior to using the jaws to cut the post...being that it was a good wreck, and adrenalin was running high,and the fact that we wear heavy glove when working a MVA,I pushed the lockbar way to hard thereby springing it,and of course the blade could no longer lock,not a good thing to happen, at the wrong time! I knew then I needed to do something about it...The other issue I wanted to address was the lockbar springing towards the back of the knife when gripping it...this is what is not so obvious in a improvement...the reason is that sometimes the movement in the lockbar is not really noticeable when using the knife under normal conditions...but when you use the knife really hard, and really grip it you WILL move the lockbar..this is because to make a framelock or linerlock for that matter you have to cut the long slot in the frame or liner to make the lockbar,it does not matter what size slot you cut you will still have material missing there...simple physics, suggests that you have a lever and it will move toward the back of the knife...guaranteed...now, what does this mean...1, whenever you have movement in a mechanism it is a chance for that mechanism to fail..2,extra movement in the lock to blade joint will wear the lockface quicker...3,when the blade is locked up on a framelock with the lockbar stabilizer there will be absolutely no movement in the lock....

So given all this is the improvement overkill? Extreme?.....when do we stop designing extreme use knives,as in ... is good enough the way it is?
Myself and Strider Knives design hard use knives gleaned from actual field experience,I didn't hear of this problem from anyone else in the field,I was in the field and experienced it!...Given the addition of the Lockbar Stabilizer Strider framelocks are even tougher and more hardcore than before..worth it? YOU BET!!"

(Diagram by Rick Hinderer)

What is a LAME knife? How can I tell if my knife is LAME?
LAME refers to a miss-stamped knife, usually a S30V knife stamped as BG42. A BG42 knife’s stripes have a red tinge to them where as a S30V knife’s stripes are black. If your knife has black stripes with no red tinge and it is stamped BG42, then you have a LAME knife. The LAME ARs also had larger stop pins then usual and most had black belt clips. Although there were a few double LAME ARs which were miss-stamped and had silver belt clips.

What is the cause for off center blades on some folders?
Per Mick Strider

“The way our pivot works is this:

Our folders pivot on an “open pivot”, a shaft made of hardened 416 stainless steel that is .390”. Our pivot is designed to slide through the G10/Ti and index into the Ti on the other side. The pivot is then held captive using a bolt that threads directly into the center of the pivot shaft. The smallest part in the pivot assembly is this bolt. Its diameter measures .303”.
The second strongest pivot I have seen uses a 6-32 screw to hold the pivot shaft. A 6-32 screw has a diameter of .134”.
The Blade pivots around the shaft and between two bronze bearings that are .020” thick each. We don’t use anything but Bronze bearings because these folders are made for very hard use, and we learned a long time ago that bearings made of lesser material don’t hold up well in surf zone or dessert environments.
For our discussion, let’s use an AR as a test piece.

An AR has a pivot shaft that is .390” +0/-.001.
It has two bronze bearings that are .02”+/- .0002 thick.
Blade thickness is .190” +0/-.002
For those of you who don’t understand the measurements, +/- stands for plus or minus and represents the degree of variance we are willing to except in our parts. A measurement of .001 is one, one thousandth of an inch.

Now let’s do some math.
In order for a blade to pivot around a shaft that is .390”, the hole has to be at least .391”/.392”. Or it will not pivot, but act as a press fit part.
We ream our pivots to .3915” using a Mori Seiki NV5000 Vertical milling center. This machine is considered to be one of the most accurate made. Our holes have a variance of .3915”/.392, or one tenth of one thousandth of an inch. Give or take…
Our blade length on an AR from pivot center to tip is 4.685”

So……

We have a blade and pivot assembly. The pivot is .390 +0/-.01 let’s just say it is .389”…missed it by .001.
And our Blade has a hole that is .392”. I rounded these off because I hate math.

Okay we missed on the pivot by .001 and on the blade hole by .0005.
That is a stack of .0015 of missed tolerance at the pivot.

BUT…..we also need to add the scales. In order for the pivot to slide through the scales (sides of the knife) it has to have some clearance. We like it to be tighter than the blade, but not a press fit. So we ream them with the same reamer .3915. They are made of Ti and G10, therefore they don’t cut as cleanly as the steel, They just come out a little more tight by nature.

Let’s add that now.

So we have a stack of:
Pivot .001
Blade hole .0005
Scale side one .001
Scale side two .001

Total .0035

Or three and five tenth of a thousandth total missed tolerance.
Now lets call that blade play.

If we have roughly .0035 of blade play at the pivot, and we compound that by the length of the blade, what will our total amount of blade play be at the tip?
Sure we can pull some of that out by tightening the pivot….but then your knife will be stiff……couldn’t have that….
So what you get is a blend of taking all of those parts and making the very best knife we can.
IF it turns out that the knife functions better when the blade is not perfectly centered……then we don’t make it perfectly centered. Centered doesn’t mean good. Good means good. If the person that gets the knife isn’t happy with how the blade centering looks, they can send it in and we’ll make them happy. Even if in the end, the knife looks better than it works.

Our goal is to make you guys happy.
BUT remember, there is an ass for every seat, some people like a loose pivot, some tight.
We’ll never make EVERYONE happy on the first try.”

Fixed Blade Thumb Notch Orientation?
Per Rob @ Strider Knives:

"On the folders and smaller blades (read:DB-L, SA, DB, EB series) we place the thumb notch on the side opposite the primary edge, so that when held in an edge-up grip the notch rests more comfortably in the palm of your hand.

This practice eventually found its way to the Mod10 sized knifes.

On full size fixed blades we place the thumb notch on the same size as the primary edge, so when held in a blade down/edge in grip, the thumb can comfortably rest on it.

Placing the thumb on the notch is ones personal preference. It also serves as an index point when sheathed."

Per Mick Strider:

"Rob nailed it!

Its a question of angles of leverage against your hand. If we were to flip it on the larger knives, you couldn’t get any leverage when you worked the knife…..you would build a hot spot on your hand very quickly.

Though it IS comfortable….that little angle doesn’t really have anything to do with your thumb in reverse grip…not on purpose any way….when I design a knife I use my own hands as reference, and when I hold a knife in reverse grip I go edge in…..which puts the ramp on the far side of the knife…."

Why is the pocket clip on the PT so big?
The pocket clip on the PT acts as a Lock Bar Stabilizer (L.B.S.) by contacting the frame, and preventing overtravel of the lock.

The pocket clip on the PT is also the same size as the pocket clip on the SnG, SMF and AR/GB.

Will the blade on the AR/GB, SMF, or SnG cut my lanyard when closed?
The lanyard should go through only one side of the knife (G10 or Ti), if you tie your lanyard through both holes there is the possibility that you will cut the lanyard.

How do I attach my pre-made lanyard on a AR/GB, SMF or SnG?
Take a piece of floss/ fishing line/ single strand of paracord innards, and loop it through the big loop on your pre-made lanyard. Run the thin string through the lanyard hole on your AR/GB, SMF or SnG and pull the loop of your lanyard through. Pull the business end of your lanyard through the loop. It's easier than trying to poke the paracord through.

How do I loosen the pocket clip on my SnG/SMF?
Per Mick Strider:

"Remember that we make these things to STAY.
We didn’t design the SnG as a weapon......I don't care how FAST you can get to your folder...thats up to you. I care that you KEEP your folder.

We make the clip to hold very strong. Its easy to make it feel however you want it to....but we make it strong. If you want it to work more easily…I just push a flat screw driver under it and lift it a little….i know its just right for me when I can see that the part of the clip that can touch the ti has enough room to slide a piece of notebook paper through without snagging."

If you aren't comfortable with bending the clip, place a #60 o-ring between the Ti slab and pocket clip.

How do I field strip a SMF / SnG / AR / GB? 

Disclaimer: Strider Knives is not in the business of putting your knife back together for you, therefore they recommend you do not field strip the knife. Field Strip your Strider folder at your own risk. If you can’t put it back together, then don’t field strip it.  

 

 

Field stripping a Strider folder before it’s had time to break in a bit is a waste of time.

The area where the washers contact the blade is the area that has to wear in. Bead blast blades need for that area to wear down/polish up before break in is complete. This polishing takes time, sometimes 300 to 1000 opening/closing cycles.

If you open/close it 1000 times and still feel the need to take the knife apart, send it in to Strider.

 

All information on field stripping and disassembling knives has been removed at the request of the Strider guys.

The thumbstuds on my AR/GB sometimes hurt my thumbs when opening, what can be done?
Goto your local hardware store and in the pipes & washers secion find a #60 o-ring. Place the o-rings on your thumbstuds.
Some think that the #60 o-ring is to big and prefer the #36 o-ring. 

Or just get tougher thumbs.

 

What is the history on the MARSOC SMF project?
Per Mick Strider:

“Our folder was selected by SOCOM to be an issue item. This is super cool for us on many levels. I don’t really need to go into that….

Here is the part that applies to you:

Our plan is this; In the beginning there will be only matched sets of knives. For every knife we send to SOCOM, a matching numbered knife will be sold in the private market. A portion of the cost of the civilian knife will go to the production of the government one.
This does a couple of things….Firstly it helps us provide the knife to the government at a cost that is effective. Secondly, it allows you to have a knife whose twin brother is out there kicking ass and taking names!
Let’s say you buy folder number C0069. Well out there somewhere is a highly trained super hero using the knife M0069 that YOU helped them to have!

Once we have the ability to match governmental demand, we will make a normal non numbered version.”

Strider made an initial run of 150 numbered knives for civilians (C0001 – C0150). They have since made the SMF a catalog/production knife, which has changed slightly since the first run. The Gen II SMFs have the Hinder Lock Bar Stabilizer and a scallop in the locking bar.

Information regarding USMC SOCOM Detachment 1.
 

The USMC-SOCOM Connection
By
Otto Kreisher
March 2003
Otto Kreisher is a reporter for Copley News Service.

Source: Navy League of the United States

In a nondescript office at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Lt. Col. Robert Coates and his staff are screening hundreds of applicants for what soon may beconsidered a prime assignment for Marine Corps personnel.

The Corps is forming a new unit at Pendleton that could bridge the artificial divide between the Marine Corps and the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) that has existed for 16 years. SOCOM, founded in 1987, is composed of specialized units from the nation's other armed services--except the Marine Corps.

But that may soon change. With the global war on terrorism putting greater demands on all of the armed services, the Marine Corps is working on ways to lighten the much heavier load imposed on SOCOM since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. One way, Corps officials say, is the formation of a Marine unit that could be the first to deploy as an element of SOCOM. Coates, now director of the Marine special operations training group at Pendleton, will command the Corps' Special Operations Command Detachment of 81 Marines and five Navy corpsmen.

"It's all about how we can best contribute ... complement, supplement" the special operations forces, said Lt. Gen. Emil R. Bedard, the Corps' assistant commandant for programs, policies, and operations.

A Bridge-Building MOA

The initiative to promote a much closer working relationship between the Marine Corps and SOCOM is the result of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed in November 2001 by then-Commandant Gen. James L. Jones and Air Force Gen. Charles R. Holland, commander of the Special Operations Command. "We need to move the Marine Corps and special operations forces [SOF] closer together, to establish the framework for building bridges between the two organizations," Jones said at a defense writers' breakfast in November 2002.

The Pentagon's senior leadership wants more special operations forces, Jones explained, "so we are looking for ways to use Marine forces to go into what were previously SOF missions that we can do and were trained to do."

There are "some cultural things to overcome" as well as certain "institutional ties and confidence-building measures that we have [to deal with]," Jones said. But, he quickly added, "I think it is going to happen and I think it is going to be very capable and very good."

The Marines' interest in working much more closely with SOCOM comes at a time when the SOCOM forces have been deploying at their highest operational tempo since Vietnam. Special operations troops have been increasingly in demand for use in unconventional conflicts since the end of the Cold War. They currently are heavily engaged around the world in the global war on terrorism, and played a crucial role in the U.S.-led victory over the Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan. Following that success, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld gave SOCOM the authority to plan and execute antiterrorism missions on its own initiative and to seek support from regional combatant commanders if necessary.

New-Found Respect

The new focus on and respect for SOCOM is in sharp contrast to the years following World War II, when unconventional warriors enjoyed only episodic support from the nation's senior military leadership. The Marine Raider battalions that conducted a number of daring strikes against the Japanese during the early years of World War II, for example, were disbanded when the Corps expanded to six divisions in preparation for the massive amphibious assaults in the Pacific.

The largely unconventional conflict in Vietnam led to a proliferation of elite units, including the Army's Green Berets, the Air Force's Air Commandos, and the Navy's SEALs--who evolved from the underwater demolition team "frogmen" of World War II and Korea. But those units were cut back sharply after Vietnam.

In 1980, special forces of various types, hastily formed into a special mission unit, were assigned to the fatally flawed attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran. The 1983 Grenada operation is remembered in part for the poorly planned missions assigned to the SEALs and the secret Delta Force. Several U.S. military personnel died, partly because of equipment failures, while attempting reconnaissance of the Point Salines airport. In addition, an attempt to rescue an American thought to be held prisoner in an old fort was thwarted by a hail of heavy gunfire.

In 1987, Congress stepped in to upgrade the status and improve the capabilities of the nation's special forces by creating the Special Operations Command, giving it its own budget and four-star commander.

The command today has about 46,000 personnel in its active and reserve units. It includes Army Special Forces (the Green Berets), Rangers, and the 160th Special Aviation Regiment; Navy SEALs, special warfare boat units, and SEAL delivery units; and Air Force Special Operations airlift units, AC-130 gunships, and special tactics teams. The Army, Air Force, and Navy special operations commands are components of SOCOM.

The Bush administration's fiscal year 2004 defense budget proposes to increase SOCOM funding to $4.5 billion, a 50 percent increase over the amount appropriated for FY 2003. The command's end strength would increase by 1,890 personnel, primarily to expand the 160th Special Aviation Regiment.

Elite Warriors

The Marine Corps has never assigned any of its units to SOCOM, but hundreds of individual Marines have served with special operations forces on exchange duty. There currently are 105 Marines in the elite force--serving as helicopter pilots, as intelligence officers, and in other specialized duties.

Marine Brig. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik is the Special Operations Command's chief of staff, and Marine Maj. Gen. John F. Satler is commanding Task Force Horn of Africa, which includes a large contingent of SOCOM warriors searching for terrorists in that volatile region.

In February, Master Gunnery Sgt. Joseph G. Settelen received the Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict Achievement Award, presented by the National Defense Industrial Association, for service that included classified duties around the world with an unnamed Defense Department unit.

When SOCOM was being formed in 1987, however, the Corps refused to assign any Marine units to it, arguing that it had no fighters to spare.

Instead, the Corps began to train its Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) to conduct 23 particularly difficult types of missions--several of which, Bedard said, "fall into the lower end of the special ops [operations] spectrum." Certification to perform those missions, which include noncombatant evacuation operations (NEOs) and the tactical recovery of downed aircraft and personnel (TRAP), earns an MEU the designation "special operations capable," or SOC.

Rescues and Evacuations

Marine units already have conducted real-world NEOs in Somalia, Liberia, and elsewhere. The Corps' most famous TRAP mission was the daring rescue of Air Force Capt. Scott O'Grady after he was shot down over Bosnia in 1995. The Marines also have relieved SOCOM of certain burdens, replacing special-forces personnel who were training troops in the Republic of Georgia, and sharing SOCOM's training and advisory missions in the Philippines. When a Marine brigade became the first sizable U.S. conventional force in Afghanistan, it worked closely with the special operations units already on the ground in-country.

"In Afghanistan, we did everything," Bedard said. "Everything" included the transport of special operations troops, the evacuation of casualties, providing fire support, the refueling of special operations helicopters, and cooperating in various intelligence efforts. Those kinds of shared missions, he said, "are all the more reason we should work together."

Each MEU also has a number of highly trained reconnaissance Marines, who work very closely with the SEAL teams that deploy with the Corps'expeditionary units.

The MOA signed in November 2001 was in large part, Bedard said, an outgrowth of: (1) the close cooperation developed between the Marine Corps and SOCOM in the political and budgetary fight to save the threatened V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft program; and (2) the joint combat missions the two elite organizations teamed up for in Afghanistan.

The Marines have been the leading advocates of the Osprey, but the Air Force Special Operations Command also urgently wants 50 or more Ospreys to replace its current helicopter fleet.

The MOA led to the formation of eight Marine-SOCOM working groups, Bedard said, to address such issues as doctrine, equipment, tactics, techniques, and joint training.

The Marine unit intended for eventual assignment to SOCOM is expected to include a 22-person headquarters element, 30 reconnaissance Marines, 28 intelligence specialists, and a six-man team to coordinate fire support. The recon element will include four six-man teams led by staff sergeants and a command staff led by a captain. The intelligence section, led by a major, will include teams to handle signals intelligence, human intelligence exploitation, radio recon, and an "all-source" fusion team to assemble information from various sources, then analyze and distribute it to all who need it.

The fire support unit--composed of three ANGLICO (Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company) Marines, three radio operators, and a forward air controller--will be led by a field artillery major. The detachment is expected to start training on its own this June, and to join the SEAL squadron in October for joint training in Coronado (Calif.). If the concept is validated and the unit demonstrates its readiness, Marine officials said, the detachment probably would deploy for the first time in April 2004.

Cutting-Edge Missions

The detachment will focus on four types of missions: special reconnaissance, short-duration combat strikes, the internal defense of foreign nations, and the support of international coalitions--the training and advisory role Marines already are playing in Georgia and in the Philippines, for example.

If the two-year trial is successful, the Pendleton unit could be expanded or duplicated elsewhere, Marine officials said.

Jones said in November that creation of the special operations unit stems from his earlier decision to make force reconnaissance a career MOS (military occupational specialty) for Marines. "That gives you ... [a] higher-end specialty that becomes attractive to Special Operations Command," he said.

The Marines are confident that their proposed new unit will be successful, but a SOCOM spokesman emphasized that the concept is still being studied. "There has been no determination of what we are going to do," said Army Col. William Darley. "We are looking at the interoperability of having the Marines ... [assigned] as a detachment to the Naval Special Operations Command. But no final decision has been made," he said.

Jay Farrar, a national security analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the proposed integration of Marine units with SOCOM would benefit both organizations. "They [the Marines] can take advantage of the cutting-edge training ideas the Special Ops Command is always discovering," said Farrar, a retired Marine officer. "And SOCOM can take advantage of what the Marines are doing in small-unit operations."

What are the Super Six knives?
The first Strider fixed blade models: MT, BT, WB, BG, MH, and GS

What is the difference between the WB and BT?
Per Mick Strider:

"The BT's cutting edge is parallel to the center line of the knife.
The WB's cutting edge has a rise of .250 from choil to tip."

What is a Nightmare Grind?
A Nightmare grind is actually a combination of a hollow grind, flat grind and upper swedge grind. 
The hollow grind is on the belly of the knife and the tip is a flat grind for strength. The hollow grind typically meets with an upper
swedge grind and at this point there is a triangle the complete thickness of the blade. This triangle has been nicknamed the “Triangle of Doom”.

Mick Strider once said that a certain knife was a nightmare to grind and the term stuck.

Examples of the Nightmare Grind:

What is the NM folder (sometimes referred to as the XL SnG)?
The NM folder is a Mick Strider Custom frame lock folder. Mick Strider has made between 10-12 NM folders and 4 Lefty NM folders. The NM folder has been made in three different blade profiles (Nightmare Tanto, Recurve and Nightmare Spearpoint) and three different materials (S30V, Stellite 6k and Damascus). The G10 is hand grooved and some of the NM folders have Textured Ti.

The NM folder should not be confused with other Mick Strider Customs that have the Nightmare grind which are sometime referred to with the NM designation.

 

Size Comparision	NM Folder	SMF	SnG Gen I-III	SnG Gen IV-VI
Overall Length	9.94"	9"	8.125"	8.125"
Slab Thickness	.150"	.150"	.125"	.150"
Blade Thickness	.187"	.187"	.165"	.165"
Overall Thickness	.53"	.53"	.4375"	.4625"
Blade Length from Center Pivot	4.9"	4.4"	4.0"	4.0"
Cutting Surface	3.90"	3.75"	2.9375"	2.9375"
Weight	7.5oz	6.0oz	4.6oz	4.6oz

What is the RC folder?
The RC is a frame lock folder with integral bolsters. The RC folder was introduced at Blade '05. There were two RCs at Blade '05, one was the XM Prototype, the other was a MSC Nightmare Recurve. 

	RC Folder	AR/GB	SMF	SnG Gen I-III	SnG Gen IV-VI
Overall Length	9.150"	9.44"	9"	8.125"	8.125"
Slab Thickness	.175"	.100"	.150"	.125"	.150"
Blade Thickness	.190"	.187"	.187"	.165"	.165"
Overall Thickness	.620"	.66"	.53"	.4375"	.4625"
Blade Length from Center Pivot	4.5"	4.63"	4.4"	4.0"	4.0"
Cutting Surface	3.8"	3.5"	3.75"	2.9375"	2.9375"
Weight	N/A	9.05oz	6.0oz	4.6oz	Size Comparision

What is a SLCC?
The SLCC (S.lim L.ine C.oncealed C.arry) is a Mick Strider Custom neck knife. There are many different variations of the SLCC due to material, grind, size and thickness.

Materials:
BG42
S30V
Ti
6k
G10 (only two SLCCs have been made in G10 a Nightmare Tanto and a Recurve)

Grinds:
Full Bevel Grind
Nightmare Tanto
Nightmare Recurve
Recurve (no Nightmare grind)

Size:
Normal = ~3.5" blade
XL = ~4.5-4.75" blade

Thickness:
Thin Stock = ~0.125"
Thick Stock = ~0.190"

 

Examples of the SLCC:
SLCC Full Bevel Grind
(Photos by SkarpKniv on USN)

 

SLCC Nightmare Recurve
(Photo by ????? on USN)

 

SLCC Nightmare Tanto
(Photo by HKSIG45)

 

SLCC Recurves (Black = Thick Stock, Tiger Striped = Thin Stock)
(Photo by HKSIG45)

 

SLCC XL Ti Nightmare Tanto
(Photo by Junior on USN)

 

SLCC XL Ti Nightmare Tanto (top), SLCC XL Ti Recurve (bottom), Frontsight / Strider Ti Hybrid HAK (right)
(Photo by Mick Strider)

 

SLCC XL 6k Nightmare Recurve
(Photo by Huswald on USN)

 

SLCC 6k Nightmare Tanto
(Photo by 4UND on USN)

 

SLCC G10 Nightmare Tanto
(Photo by Mick Strider)

 

How do you hold the SLCC?
Pictures are worth a Thousand Words.....

(Photos by SkarpKniv on USN)

.

What are the carry options for the SLCC?
Static Cord:
Static Cord carry is a IWB carry technique. You create a loop with your paracord and run that through an eyelet of your sheath near the top, tie off that end. Than run the loop over your pants and have your belt go through that loop. By using a bicycle innertube and wrapping that around your sheath, you can keep the sheath from shifting around too much.

You can also use Static Cord carry and place the sheath in your pocket.

 

 

Paracord Belt Carry between Belt & Pants:
(Description & Photos by Wire Edge on USN)
Run paracord thru the same eyelet on your sheath in opposite directions. Run your belt thru the loop. Tight the paracord, tie a knot in each of the loose ends so they don't pull back through the eyelet, burn the ends of the paracord.

 

IWB pull dot loop:
(Description and Photos by Wali on USN)
IBW pull dot loop is a premade loop made of rubber, that you attach to your sheath via Chicago screws. They also have snap fasteners to make removal easy.
Google IWB Pull-the-dot, to find various resellers.

 

Tek-Lok:
Tek-Lok is attached to your sheath via screws. The system is than attached to your belt. The advantage of a tek-lok is that because of the row of holes on it, you can position your sheath in any configuration in a 360 circle.

Google Tek-Lok, to find various resellers.

 

 

Neck Carry:
Using paracord, run it through either one eyelet or two in your sheath (two will stabilize it better). Than place it where you want to grab it tie off the cord around your neck and cut off the excess and burn the ends. Your could also use ballchain, it's recommended to use gutted paracord around the ball chain to keep the sheath from shifting.

 

 

 

Ripp-Cord by FrontSight:
The Ripp-Cord is a pocket deployment option compatible with most fixed blade sheaths.
The Ripp-Cord consists of an alligator clip, leather strap and connector.
More info regarding the Ripp-Cord can be found on the Hideaway Knife Website

 

 

SheathSticks by FrontSight:
SheathSticks look like decorative pins, but are sized to go through kydex and are secured with a locking back.
It is recommended to use multiple pairs of SheathSticks when attaching larger knives to balance the weight.
More info regarding the Sheath Sticks can be found on the Hideaway Knife Website

 

 

Discreet Pocket Carry w/ Static Cord:
(Idea & Photos by Universible on BadlandsForums)
Connect a Bro-Clip to the bottom of the SLCC sheath and connect a Ripp-Cord to the top of the SLCC sheath. Attach the Bro Clip to the bottom of your pocket and the Ripp-Cord to the top of you pocket. The Bro Clip holds the sheath at the bottom of the pocket, and the Ripp-Cord is setup to be a stop for the sheath, the Ripp-Cord also stops the pocket from turning inside out when deploying the SLCC

 

 

Merc Harness by Mercop:
(Description & Photos by Mercop on USN)
The Merc Harness is a revolutionary new way to carry your fixed blades concealed under nothing more that a t-shirt. It can be used with any knife that has a kydex sheath with eyelets. The Merc Harness is a shoulder holster made of mil spec parachute cord.
More info regarding the Merc Harness can be found on MerCop's Website

 

 

What is the purpose of the holes in the SLCC?
The large hole is for weight reduction, the small hole is for lanyard attachment. The holes are not used for deployment.

What are the different Strider karambits?
Strider makes three sizes of karambits, the HS, the PS and the MB. Mick Strider has also made some custom karambits using Stellite 6k and Titanium. The MSC Titanium karambits are marked with a '22' as Titanium is element 22 on the periodic table, less then 10 MSC Titanium karambits have been made.

 

Strider HS (top) and Strider PS (bottom) comparison photo
(Photo by Mach1 on USN)

 

MSC Titanium PS
(Photo by ????? on USN)

 

MSC Stellite 6k PS
(Photo by M.Olexey on USN)

 

What is the CC dagger?
Per Duane Dwyer:

"The CC dagger is our evolved USMC Raider Stiletto from 1942. #XM01 and #XM02 were made with blued A2 steel, 6/4 Ti handle and a 6/4 Ti guard. Future CC's will be made with S30V in .190" thickness instead of A2 steel. The CC will include a retro leather sheath as soon as we get it all worked out. Meanwhile, it will come with a kydex lined, cordura sheath suitable for multiple carry methods."

Per Mick Strider:

"We at Strider Knives have been given a great honor. Both our Raider Dagger/CC and the V42/RF have been chosen by their founding families to carry on the tradition. What this means is that most of the knives produced will be sent to the US Government for issue and awards. The Raider Dagger/CC and the V42/RF will remain custom only pieces, with all of the STRIDER models being issue items"

CC Dagger #XM01
(Photo by Duane Dwyer)

CC Dagger, Modern Configuration 1911 and Strider system for mounting an edged weapon to the Safariland leg rig (left)
Authentic USMC RAIDER Dagger, Union Switch and Signal 1911A1 in Issue Leather holster (right)
(Photo by Duane Dwyer)

What is the V42/RF?
Per Mick Strider:

"The first V42/RF was made to Honor Col. Thomas Herman, whom was inducted into the Special Operations Warrior Foundation Hall of Honor in Nov. 2003. Additionally, Col. Herman was the individual that evacuated the Commander And Chief on 9/11.

We at Strider Knives have been given a great honor. Both our Raider Dagger CC and the V42/RF have been chosen by their founding families to carry on the tradition. What this means is that most of the knives produced will be sent to the US Government for issue and awards. The Raider Dagger CC and the V42/RF will remain custom only pieces, with all of the STRIDER models being issue items"

Per Duane Dwyer:

"The V42 is acutally Model RF by Strider nomenclature and is our evolved version of the famous V42 Dagger designed for and carried by the First Special Service Forces in 1942."

The V42/RF Specs:
Blade is .250" x 7.5" x .875"
Blade material is S30V
Guard and Butt Spike are 6AL4V Ti
Handle is glass-filled Delron

(Photo by Strider Knives Inc.)

 

The AJAX?
The AJAX (a.k.a. Gut Shovel) is a Mick Stider Custom fixed blade knife.

"The ONE" (top to bottom: Single Edged AJAX, Double Edged AJAX, Double Edged AJAX)
(Photo by TENDONCUTTER on USN)

 

 

"The ONE" AJAX Stampings
(Photo by TENDONCUTTER on USN)

Stonewashed AJAX
(Photo by Jetrider on USN)

What is the CR axe?
Per Mick Strider:

Has Strider collaborated with a Production knife company?
Strider Knives has collaborated with:

Ken Onion and Kershaw Knives to create Zero Tolerance Knives
A portion of the proceeds from every sale is donated to the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Folder Models: 0200, 0301, 0302, 0400
Fixed Blade Models: 0100

Buck Knives to create the Tactical Buck Line. 
The Tactical Buck Line includes folders and fixed blades.
Folder Models: 880, 881 and 882
Fixed Blade Models: 888 and 890

How durable is the G10 and Ti on a SnG or SMF? (SnG 1 - Sledgehammer 0)
Before and After pics of a Gen I SnG being hit with a sledgehammer. SnG would still open and the lock was solid, the pocket clip was removed prior to "testing".

Photos by Mick Strider

Comparison test : Extreme Ratio Fulcrum IID vs. Strider GB by Messer Magazin
All images are copyright protected by "Messermagazin, 1/2005"

Scans by AlexCeh on USN
Translation by K-T on USN

Methods of testing:

Both candidates underwent hard testings. To test stability of blade and handle a hydraulic presss was used - every knife will break with that one.

1) Cutting Test - Pulling
Test medium here was tha Polyporpylen rope with an 8mm (0.315") diameter. Test was, how well the knife will cut through that rope with a pulling cut and normal pressure applied. Several trials were done one after another, the number of cuts needed to finally cut through the rope were noted. At the end of that test an average was calculated. These were compared and points given in analogy to the cutting performance.

2) Cutting Test - Pushing
Test medium was again the 8mm (0.315") Polypropylen rope. Test was, how good the knife would cut through the rope only by pushing down, no longitudinal movement. Here the blade was pressed down hard with both hands. It was measured, how deep the blade could penetrate the rope or how often a rocking/swaying (?) motion ws needed to cut through the rope. At the end of this test, again an average was calculated. These were compared and points given in analogy to the cutting perfomance.

3) Edge Retention Test
To test the staiblity of the edge and the wear while using it, a very nasty material was cut : a steel square tube (ST-37). The edge was pulled over the edge of that square tube several times with light pressure. In between these cuts the edge was tested on the rope to compare how good or bad it could cut. There by it became clear, that the original edge and sharpness was lost very fast, still both knives could cut even after several cuts on the square tube. The Strider S30V blade proved to keep its edge slightly better.

4) Grip - Test
The knife's blade was mounted to a vice, the handle and hand were rubbed with the good and well known Ballistol weapon oil. This was done to simulate the effect of dirt, blood and humidity. Here the secure grip and/or how easily it would slip out of the user's hand was tested. The subjective results were converted into points. Here the Strider proved to have a lot of grip in oily condition (not less than dry), while the Extrema Ratio was very slippery due to the smooth/slick surface.

5) Blade Tip Test
To test the stability of the blade tip and also the whole knife construction while stabbing, both knives were pushed straight through a 2mm (0.079") thick steel plate (ST-37 construction steel). Here a hydraulic press was used. The Strider GB bent noticably to the side, but flexed back into its inital position. At a hydraulic pressure of 85bar the tip broke off - exactly at the point of time where it completely penetrated the steel plate. The Extrema Ratio blade was "not impressed" (?), the locking bent at a pressure of 65bar. The bolt safeguard of the lock was not activated on purpose, to prevent the handle from blowing/breaking appart. With that safety a higher pressure would have been possible and the Fulcrum might have also penetrated the steel plate.

6) Lock Test
Both knives were first tested with spine-whacking, to perform a dynamic test to the lock. Here the back of both blades were repeatedly beaten onto a hard surface. Both knives passed the test without difficulties. Then a static test to the lock was performed with a hydraulic press. With a slowly raising pressure across the blade pivot, the maximum load was tested. The Fulcrums bolt/hammer of it's lock failed at a pressure of 70bar, releasing it's blade (without bolt safety/safeguard). With activated bolt safety a higher load would have been possible, until the whole handle would break apart. the liner locking mechanism of the Strider GM kept up until 80bar, untl the liner failed. The extreme load/force/stress did not leave any marks on either knives.

7) Blade Bending Test
Both blades were one after another put onto two pads/bases and put under presssure with the hydraulic press in the middle. The Strider GB blade proved to be of etreme elasticity - in spite of the powdermetallic steel (S30V). Not before a pressure of 83 bar (which resembles a high load in transverse direction), the blade broke into several parts. At that point of testing a bending degree of nearly 30° was reached. The extreme thick blade of the Extreme Ratio Fulcrum II passed that test nearly unimpressed. It kept up until the hydraulics maximum pressure of 85 bar was reached and moved back nearly to it's initial position. A slightly deviation of one to two degree (angular transformation) was left.

8) Bearing Test
To test the bearing and handle construction, both knives were put under vertical load/pressure with the hydraulic press. The knives were positioned in such way, that the handle was on the right, the blade on the left side based onto a block, putting pressure directly onto the bearing. The hydraulic press support point was immediatly behind the pivot. The Strider GB proved its impressive flexibility of its handle, which flexed back into its original state. Here the Ti-liners showed their strenght and flexibility. At a pressure of 80bar the outer ring of the pivot blew off. The Extrema Ratio Fulcrum also withstood 80bar, a permanent deformation of the handles stayed.

Comparison

Scores

 

   I hope you found this information helpful. This FAQ would not have been possible without the informative posts on the USN and the old Badlands Forum sites. A large portion of this came directly from the men at Strider Knives. If you want to learn more there is a wealth of information on the USN. 

Special Thanks to:

 Chad (HKSIG45) for originating this FAQ and compiling the information. 

 Michelle (m1) for making sure all of it was not lost forever. -and for putting up with my emails!

 Long Rifle for donating his Artwork.

 and Everyone who has donated their time and photographs.

-Thanks Guys!

   Any Information you would like to contribute to the FAQ can be emailed to me at

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