I was so excited about the Viper Storm I ordered two -- the CF and the G-10 versions. Both stonewashed. The satin models are priced higher and show scratches easier.
Out-of-the box, I loved the design. In size, it's between the Hinderer MP-1 and Half-Track at half the price with better blade steel.
The 4-inch handle allows for a great fit. But this is NOT one of those just-over 3-inch folders that are as easy to pocket carry as a slim 3-incher. A LionSteel TRE it's not. At 3.1 inches, with .16-inch bladestock and weight over 4 oz, this is a robust folder that gives the impression of being capable of serious business.
The clip on my G-10 Storm had too much "air" to tightly hold my thin summer running pants and shorts. It's fine for jeans. The clip on my CF version fit my running pants and shorts perfectly.
The Viper Storm is a snappy flipper without being overly strong like, for example, the 2015 ZTs. It's fun to use manually with the thumb studs. It even flicks nicely. The thumb studs are a bit closer than ideal to the cutout. This reminds me of one of my favorite folders, the Fantoni HB02. With both folders, my fingers quickly adjusted to using the studs.
Both Storms open smoothly and easily. The blades fall closed using just a light shake.
Out-of-the box, both Storms initially closed smoothly. I had asked my dealer to check for that and the sliced- open plastic baggies told me that he had.
But that quickly changed and both Storms began exhibiting that scraping noise that comes with the dreaded sticky lock bar symptom. A dead giveaway that a lockbar face with titanium liners lacks either a steel insert or carbidzing. The Storm has neither.
I tried break-in without success. Next, I added a tiny drop of Nano Oil to the G-10, which seemed to help at first. Then I saw black lube gushing out onto the blade. Someone who had known about the sticky issue had already lubed this Storm. A lot.
Then my second Storm, the CF, arrived. Same thing: smooth closing, quickly followed by a gritty stickiness. But this time the single drop of Nano worked. Closing still wasn't perfectly smooth but was acceptable.
Not so the G-10, which BHQ has authorized me to return.
The Viper Storm is a terrific design at an attractive price. It is marred by a single issue, which you may or may not be able to live with, depending upon how picky you are. I decided to live with the CF even though it is not perfect. I like it that much.
As for Viper, it should recall all the Storms and carbidize them.
At $200, give or take, the Storms should be as smooth as recent ZT models priced about the same. Instead, they are more like the original ZT 560s that were sometimes gritty and sometimes not until ZT did a better job of caridizing and finally added steel inserts.
You may or may not get a Storm that is acceptable to you. If you do, consider yourself lucky -- it's a Hinderer design that's definitely worth having.
Here is a fine video of the Storm by Tyler at GP Knives:
Here is a YT review by EDC Gear Reviews, who mentions the sticky issue:
