Affordable and of high-quality construction, the entire Strider ED Skeleton knife is one solid piece of 154CM steel—one of the strongest, most resilient, USA-made steels. The Skeleton is also lightweight and slim, making it easy to conceal around your neck under a shirt, or inside your waistband.
Style of knife: Fixed blade
Blade length: 3.0″. Sharpened length is 2.81″. Overall length is just under 7″.
Type of edge: Standard V grind
Blade and handle materials: Blade and handle material is 154CM. I have paracord-wrapped the handle of my personal knife. This alone gives the knife a very secure, full-hand grip. The entire tang of the knife has been coated with a non-reflective finish.
Weight: 2.10 ounces
MSRP: $120.00 from GP Knives
Unique features: The knife handle is engraved with a M-40 rifle and the handle has the outline of the 168-grain 7.62mm bullet. The M40 is the bolt-action sniper rifle of the USMC.
Application: Everyday fixed-blade carry. Can be carried either as a neck knife or concealed inside the waistband. Can be used as a defensive weapon.
Pros: This knife is considered the most affordable Strider knife on the market. It’s made of 154CM steel—tough material and made here at home in the U.S. Lightweight and slim, the Skeleton is easy to conceal. Plus, it comes with a Kydex sheath.
Cons: It’s a smaller knife, so if you have larger hands it may not grip well. Other than that, this is an outstanding knife.
Bottom line/overall performance: For a while now I’ve been on the hunt for a small fixed-blade knife capable of being carried inside the waistband for use as a defensive blade and everyday utility knife. The most sought-after knife for this is the Tracker Dan Bloodshark, which is damn near impossible to find, and if you do find one you’re going to pay well over $300 for it. The Strider ED Skeleton has almost identical specs, but at a reduced price. Two modifications I have made to my personal Strider are the cord-wrapped handle and the IWB belt clip I added to the Kydex sheath to allow for inside-the-waistband carry.
Stay tuned for a full review along with my modifications.