"New" s35vn Strider SMF with Aluminum & Titanium liners
Improving the lockup. The standard SMF was already a knife that could withstand harsh tactical use but the one weak point for wear was the G10 side for the handle. The thumb lugs served as the stop mechanism for when the blade was deployed but the lugs only made contact with the Titanium scale. On the new version that has been changed as now the lug makes contact with both the aluminum & titanium scales creating an even stronger lockup. While the original sometimes had some slight side to side movement of the blade when opened, the new version may initially but because the stop pin now rests on both handle scales over time with wear the points of contact will balance & lead to a more solid lockup.
The power of Aluminum.
Aluminum is a soft metal that can be found in everyday objects like music cds & is one of the most abundant metals on the planet but when combined with other alloys to make versions such as aircraft aluminum the Rockwell hardness can exceed 70pts! Hardened aluminum can be found in objects such as stoplight posts. Aluminum's other key feature is it's corrosion resistance. The addition of aluminum to the SMF is the next step in bringing Strider's signature folder towards extreme tactical/hard use.
Weight is a good thing.
With the added weight of the aluminum handle along with the 5mm blade this knife is suitable for chopping wood, being thrown, used as a striking tool, prybar etc. The knife is the best choice for survival knife if you're in the military, LE or just a modern survivalist.
The power of Aluminum.
Aluminum is a soft metal that can be found in everyday objects like music cds & is one of the most abundant metals on the planet but when combined with other alloys to make versions such as aircraft aluminum the Rockwell hardness can exceed 70pts! Hardened aluminum can be found in objects such as stoplight posts. Aluminum's other key feature is it's corrosion resistance. The addition of aluminum to the SMF is the next step in bringing Strider's signature folder towards extreme tactical/hard use.
Weight is a good thing.
With the added weight of the aluminum handle along with the 5mm blade this knife is suitable for chopping wood, being thrown, used as a striking tool, prybar etc. The knife is the best choice for survival knife if you're in the military, LE or just a modern survivalist.
|
|
Things to consider when buying:
-The actual cutting edge & reach of an SMF compared to the smaller SNG model is not much so it should be noted that besides the extra mm of thickness on the SMF blade there's no need to buy an SMF if you own an SNG. If you own neither & are willing to carry the SMF size then we suggest that you start with this knife since it is slightly more robust than the SNG
-Wikipedia has an article about the SMF Marsoc being the first military issued knife since the 80's that was specifically chosen for the marines -The SMF is a simple frame lock knife & therefore the lock bar can slide in further with heavy use & jam. The aluminum handle version cannot receive graphite lubrication to help alleviate this issue -While the design is solid & provides a secure lock up it is not desigined to last a long time with hard use but is designed to not over engage & jam! This is not to say an s30v strider will have wear issues as each knife is specific |
Final thoughts
There's no doubt in my mind that if you're looking for a folding tactical knife that's got all the features to make a well rounded survival tool that this is it. This knife feels unbreakable & until you hold it you really don't know how ridiculously tough this knife is. Previous G10 versions & these videos really cannot depict it's true nature. The knife is pure serious machinery.























