Buck Strider 880 or Greco Folder? Help me decide

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Doberman70

Joined
Nov 3, 2006
Messages
16
Hey everybody

I´ve never been much into folders myself, I have an Opinel 8 that cuts like crazy, and a cheap SAK style knife. So far, both have been enough for my needs.

But lately I have been thinking about getting a higher end folder. I´ve spent about a $1000 in sheath knives, I might as well take the plunge into an expensive folder.

I did some research in here and other forums, at first I was thorn between the Ontario Hossom Retribution 2, the Buck Strider 880 and a Greco Folder (probably the Whisper model). I want the most overbuilt folder I can afford, and these 3 seemed to fit the bill. The Hossom was ruled out, the handle is too thick if I ever need to carry my new folder in my jeans pocket. Another reason is that I also want thumbstuds (so no Manix either).

I understand these are thick-bladed knives, and their cutting ability may be severely impaired, but that´s not really important for this buy, I have the Opinel for cutting anyway. I use my knives hard, folders aways seemed fragile to me, and I´m looking to prove myself wrong.

So, I narrowed my choice between the Buck 880 and a Greco Folder. Have any of you guys handled both? Which one would you suggest? The Greco has a framelock, and I think the Buck has a linerlock.

I´m gonna use this knife mainly for a backup outdoors knife, and maybe carry it in my pocket around town, whenever I feel like it.

Any reason I should choose one over the other? Any help will be appreciated.
 
Do a couple searches for frame lock and/or liner lock in the title. Some decent discussion (and no, liner OR frame locks aren't necessarily worse or better).
What are the prices you're looking at? Size? Blade steel matter? How deep the clip allows you to carry the folder? Etc.
 
Hey seno. Price should be up to $120. The lock must be tough and the blade must be thick, size between 3'' and 4''. I prefer a carbon steel blade, but I´m not against getting it in stainless steel either. I don´t care for pocket clips, if the knife has one, it will be removed. I want thumbstuds.

I have considered a Greco Folder, the Manix, the Buck Strider 880 and the Ontario Hossom Retribution 2. I have narrowed it down to the Greco and the Buck 880.

I´ve read quite a bit about framelocks and linerlocks. I´m leaning towards the Greco.
 
I have the Greco in question. The example I have locks up very tight. The frame lock seems very secure. The steel handle ergos do not make it comfortable for me for extended use. The F&F is functional.
 
Thomas Linton said:
I have the Greco in question. The example I have locks up very tight. The frame lock seems very secure. The steel handle ergos do not make it comfortable for me for extended use. The F&F is functional.
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That´s what I´m looking for. The knife has no scales, I figure the thin steel of the frames must be hard on the hands. Is it that bad?

I also read that some of Greco´s folders have a bent blade, is this the case with yours, Mr. Linton?

Have you ever handled the 880, and if you have, what did think of it?
 
The blade is dead on - no bend.

The edges of the frame plates in mine are relieved - not sharp just not comfortable for extended use.

Pretty thin package overall.

Never even handled the Buck. Sorry.

Tom
 
Before you shell out the money on a higher-end knife, I'd buy a G10 Byrd Cara Cara. I've used 100$ Spydercos and one or two 150$+ Benchmades and I prefer the G10 Byrd to them all. The closest competition it has out of the knives I've tried (Modern folding knives) is the Manix. Even if they were all priced the same I'd rather have the Cara Cara, I like the design that much.

Modern folders are nice, but personally I never saw much of a reason to own them compared to the SAKs and Opinels you and I both have. Some people here won't even touch Opinels or SAKs, which confuses me.

For your criteria though I think you should really consider the Byrd. The blade is around 4 inches (Cutting edge a little less), it has a stout lockback design with beefy G10 handles featuring full steel liners. There are tougher knives I'm sure, but I think you'd be happy with it.
 
It is. If he can't accept a thumbhole in a knife I guess he's out of luck. I'm the opposite, I really do not like thumbstuds at all...but if the overall design appeals to me enough I'll still use one.
 
Vivi said:
Modern folders are nice, but personally I never saw much of a reason to own them compared to the SAKs and Opinels you and I both have. Some people here won't even touch Opinels or SAKs, which confuses me.
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I´m with you, I never felt the need to spend big bucks on a folder. My last knife purchase was a Benchmade CSK, and I have gladly spent $300 on a custom chopper, but never more than $10 on a pocket knife. My SAK isn´t even a "real" SAK, but a chinese copy which have served me well.

It is just that, for the things I do, sheath knives are so much more appropriate. I use my knives in the outdoors, I use them hard, and folders are, by design, weaker than fixed blades.

When I need a folder to open mail boxes and peel oranges, I have the Opinel. It has a thin, flat ground blade made of carbon steel, which is easy to sharpen. And the thing cuts like there´s no tomorrow, as we both know.

About the Byrd, thanks for your suggestion, but I am really looking for blades in the 3/16" thickness range, preferably with thumbstuds. The Cara Cara seems like a great knife for a great price though, I may take a closer look at it at some other time.
 
I've owned a Buck-Strider 880 for about a year and I find that as long as the supporting torx screws are kept tight it handles like a fixed blade. The handle is large and solid. If you have big hands it's a perfect fit. It ain't pretty but it works for me. I also have a G-10 Cara Cara that I like very much. It's a lot better looking than the 880 but some how doesn't feel quite as sturdy. I'm not saying that it isn't just that it doesn't feel asa sturdy as the Buck. Don't own a Greco so can't comment.
 
I have a greco falcon folder, thin package and excedingly strong assembly.
Not too confortable in case of prolonged use as the handle is very basic and thin. I got mine for well below 100 from John Greco (very nice person to deal with) quite a while ago and I thought it was (and still is) excellent value for the money. It has no clip (which personally I think it's a shame) but if you carry it in a sheath or you don't mind it moving around in you pockets, it's not a big deal. I have no experience with the buck strider but I think that intemrs of solidity and value for the money it's hard to beat the falcon.
Fausto
 
I have a Greco Whisper folder too and have held a Buck Strider. I think I prefer the Greco, 'cause the Buck just seemed too bulky. The Greco is thick and tough. I've used it for light prying. I've thinned the edge some and it cuts good, not great, but good. I like to it have when I do rough carpentry work, 'cause it's tough. It has no clip which is indeed a shame. I've carried in a pocket even in dress pants and that works, although it's a little too big and heavy for that. It carries well in a horizontal belt sheath (mine from Tadgear) but it's a signifcant disadvantage compared to a pocket clip, in that it takes up (e.g. gun) space on my belt and is much slower to deploy/store. I like it though, and am glad I got mine. It's a very interesting knife.
 
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