Buck/STRIDER 880's...mini review with pics.

killerskill

killerskill

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Oct 6, 2006
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I just aquired 2 B/S 880's of the Exchange/sale board. I am ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSED with these knives. I got 1 Tanto and 1 Spear point, for $75 each. Both are like MINT as far as I'm concerned. The Spear point has a BEAUTIFUL SATIN finish and the Tanto has a darker grey bead blast type finish. These knives are BEEFY, thick, Strong!! I cannot believe how SHARP they are for thier thickness. I ran them both on the light/white Sharpmaker rods about ten times each side and they BOTH, even the Tanto, can shave free standing arm hair and cleanly slice a peice of paper in half in mid air. I don't really know much more sharpness tests, but these are about as sharp as it gets. Tha satin finish on the spear point is VERY beautiful. The Tanto is darker and is beautiful in a tough Strider type way. They have long tight pocket clips so you cannot loose them, no way. They are a bit heavy for pocket carry in light pants, better for jeans. I'm going to get a Lifters leather belt sheath. I have one for my SMF and it rocks!! Now about the lock. These are liner locks. On such a beefy big folder I'd prefer something like a lock back or something, BUT, these are the thickest liners I have ever seen on a production folder. The lock side liner,the lock it self, is as thick as some frame locks. And there is no way for it to ever really wear accross the tang because the tang where they meet is curved like they do on expensive Strider liners or customs. They BOTH open SMOOTH as SILK, effortlessly. and Click closed with the detent like they are supposed to. ROCK SOLID and NO blade play at all, with minor adjustments, and loc-tite. The G-10 is, well, G-10. It's nice and grippy but not abrasive. The Ergo's are perfect for me. I tend to like handles like these and like the Emerson CQC-7 so I can get the same grip in any position, edge in/out ect. These are the Best Bang for the buck purchases for me ever. I would have gladly paid full MSRP for either one of these knives. But for $75 each you can't go wrong. I HIGHLY recomend either one of these knives, ESPECIALLY if you can find them second hand in good condition, They are worth the MSRP, so second hand for cheaper is a Steal. U.S.A. Made, Titanium liners, G-10, and a thick SHARP slab of BOS Treated ATS-34, You can't go wrong. These things would kick ass in those destruction videos that that dude does. If you can Find one GET IT!! If you like big folders, this is great. Too bad they don't make them anymore:mad:
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I got one of the 880t's(2nd Gen.) about 2 weeks ago and I like it. The liner
took a few openings to break in but now it's smooth and it locks up secure
on the left side of the tang. I bought mine at a local shop and paid too much but I wanted one real bad because I had never seen a folder that is so
beefy. Also the fact that they don't make them any more and it is a Strider
design(I can't afford a real one right now). I find that it carries pretty good
in any pant pocket. It is a real impressive knife!!
 
Nice! I really like the spear point one (looks more like a drop point to me). I've had my eye out for a used 881 spear point for a little while, but haven't found one at a price I could afford. Hope to some day.

What's the blade thickness? and can you measure the liner lock thickness?
 
These by the way are 1st gen. after the BG42. The Liners are heat treated so that will help prevent wear, even though that shouldn't be a problem as mentioned above. The liner's are .083'' thick and the blade is .180''. I love these as much as my real Striders,Almost. But the price point is better.
 
Yeah I done a few mods to my 881. It is smaller than the 800. WOW they a beefy to say the least. STR raves about how they should of marketed them better. So true, I believe they would be best sellers if everyone was informed just how beefy, and well built, and what steel was used.

Anyways I cut the G-10 down to grab the stud better. I smoothed out the area on the lock bar, it hurt to unlock it. I also but JB quick in the thumb stud razor sharp area. All can be seen in the pics.

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The blade on the left is a mini manix, look at that beef!!!!!!

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Beefy blades. I like the Buck/Strider idea in making a bullet-proof folder, but then again, the spyderco is so much sharper with that wafer thin edge...why not get a fixed blade?
 
Those do look like awesome knives...... And I am pretty embarrassed here.
A few monthsback I bought a Fenix LED light that came with a free knife , pretty nice little guy too , I modded it and made it all nice and clean looking and posted it up for show ,someone commented on it looked like a Buck/Strider , until now I have not seen a pic of one of those and I say my knife looks like a dead on copy , albeit smaller , of the 881.
Sigh.......
 
I like how beefy these knives are too, but I am simply underwhelmed by their cutting ability. Mine also has a tiny bit of vertical play if you push on the blade, which STR also noted as a problem with many of these knives. That's certainly not to say I don't like the knife though.

I did happen to buy a second 881SP and am going to see if I can get it reground by Tom Krein after it comes back from Buck's repair center. With a higher grind, I would imagine it would be a rather versatile folder capable of some pretty heavy duty stuff as well as it's primary function as a knife.
 
Yeah ehhh that is its problem. It is a prybar first, then a knife second. A higher grind will help it become a knife first. Mine also had the slightest bit a vertical play, but I'm not complaining either, because I also paid under 80 bucks for mine. Tough knife at the price point. I wish they would of marketed the better.
 
So is the "more prybar than knife" thing only true for the Tanto?...or also true for the Spearpoint? I like the spearpoint 881 if I could find one for a good price.
 
I have the 881 spear point and it is not a great cutter. It can cut, but you will probably reach for another knife when you want to cut something. They all have pretty low hollow grinds and I doubt the spear point cuts much better than the tanto.

Still a fun knife though.
 
This series of Buck Striders are downright awesome, period! (imho). Prybars with edge, so true.:) I also have the 881 SP, this is the one I plan to pass down for posterity. Great review killerskill, and hope to see a revival of this fine tool because of it. At the pricepoint, the Buck/Strider name and the Paul Bos logo, all make the knife a worthy contender to stand among the best production folders out there. One need only to handle an 880/881 first hand to feel the raw power this tool exudes!

Matador-
 
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