Buck Strider 880 881 and BM 910 CS Recon 1 followup

[Tweakmeister]

My mega order has pretty much arrived, so here is a quick run-down of my comparison of these knives.

Key (top to bottom): BM 710HS, SAK (right), BM 910 D2, CS Recon 1, B/S 880SPX, B/S 882BKX, 880TX, 881T.

If I could only have one, the Buck/Striders are pretty sweet, but I would have to take the 710HS as a daily user (which is what I have been carrying for the past several months). The combination of size and blade steel make it the obvious choice for me, though the downcheck here is that it's nearly twice as expensive in terms of going street price.

With the B/S arriving today, the surprise of the bunch is the 881T, or Mini-Strider. It's about the size of a SAK in hand, but has great ergonomics and a really thick blade. Overall the B/S don't quite have the fit and finish (blades/handles were covered in crap - dust/black stuff/red dye, etc and lock up/feeling various for each one) you'd expect for a knife at their retail price, but for the current going rates, you get quite a chuck of steel for the money.

Speaking blade thickness, the Striders really shine here in terms of their points. Where the 910 point would probably collapse with a couple of direct hits, the Striders maintain the blade thickness all the way up (the downside here is they won't penetrate as smoothly).

Holding the fullsize 880's in my hand, I couldn't get over how huge these things are. Like the Recon 1, they could easily be used with gloves, and feel like a "folding fixed blade knife," instead of just a "folding knife/folder." The lock up is tight.

I'm waiting for the sun to shine before taking some better pictures. I hope these quick overviews have offerred some first-hand insights on these folders. I've enjoyed reading the forums over the past several months, and wanted to give a big comparison of the various moderately-priced ones that piqued my interest.

 

[kel_aa]

Can you guess which knife stands out as the sore thumb in a very nice collection? Thanks for sharing the pictures and your thoughts! Can you label the knives in the picture of only the tips? As well, what are your thoughts on the rectangular handles vs triangular handles of the Buck/Striders, and the finger choil?

*Big Bunny is a character created by Robert Taylor

 

[Tweakmeister]

Uhm, the SAK?

I bought the Recon 1 to prove a point...at $50 shipped, it was the cheapest folder of the bunch, and yet it had size, G10 grips, a good lock, the sharpest blade, and Aus8 stainless. Though the 710HS is my daily user, the Recon 1 easily has a place in my glovebox or tool kit. It's the only knife there that is pure utility for the price.

Tip picture...

880, Recon 1, 881, BM 910

I know what I wrote was pretty short, I will add to it over the afternoon...

The Buck G10 is a mix between the Benchmade (smooth) and the CS (like sandpaper). It has a grippy feel to it without rubbing your hand off. The ergonomics of the rectangular grips is surprisingly good, and fits the hand well. In terms of the triangular 882 - it's going to be more "slip proof" because of the finger area and tapering...it's also comfortable in the hand.

The 882 picture has the plastic ("Taccom") grips, so it's a different beast in itself. The B/S all had ambi belt clips on the grip, though they are so tight, they'd easily rip your jeans when you try to clip them on.

As other members on here have mentioned in the past, the B/S knives are all "heavy duty" - the liners are huge, and the knife feels like a fixed blade in your hands. In terms of practicality, they differ greatly from something like a Spyderco Military or Manix, because the blades are just so darn thick. I think most of the Spydercos thin/flat grind have a leg up in terms of daily usage.

I should also note the BM 910. At $90 it's a pretty good price, and a good slicer for having the tanto blade. It's also very light with a slim profile (good for the pocket).