Buck Strider 889, my new EDC

Splat

Splat

Joined
Nov 19, 2006
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907
After having my lock fail on me again on a top-shelf brand knife I decided it's time for a new EDC. I won't disclose the brand until I hear back from them about warranty work. Anyway, I've got a few other blades but they're all under 3", except for my M21-14. I was looking for something around 3"-3.5". It's amazing how you see a knife online, see the specs and think it'd fit your hand. NOT! :grumpy: After looking at the BM's, Spydercos, and Kershaws I had listed on my "check out" list I eyeballed a Buck/Strider 889. I've never handled a Strider before. Well, long story short, I bought it. :) I can't believe how solid this knife feels! Ergos are pretty good though the top back corner is a little hot in my palm but I think it'll be alright. The liner looked a little thin but this thing locks up tight, and sounds it too! Zero blade play in any direction. The salesman said it was the last one they had and didn't know the steel so I took a chance. I wish it was something better than 420 but at least it was Paul Bos heat treated and I don't have to worry about rust. I never had a knife with a choil so I'm unsure if I'll like it. I can always settle my index on the guard, using the choil for fine work. I cut some rope, whittled a little, and sharpened her up on the Edgepro. All in all I'm happy with this Buck Strider. It was cheap, yet seems to be solid. Anyone else got one?
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Splat
 
Guys its 420HC and Munky88 is most correct that it is not to be underestimated.
And yes Splat I have one and its a brawny knife for a heck of a good price. I just bought two Coyote brown handle build outs with the ATS-34 Tarani blade. Heck of a knife.
 
I have 2, they are one of my favorite knives, great blade, great feel in the hand and I really like the ability to grip up on the blade. They are also easy to maintain and sharpen.:thumbup:
 
It's one of my favortes too....

If the liner was just a little thicker it would have been an almost perfect design.

DSC00306bb.jpg
 
Bought one recently, sitting on a shelf gathering dust at an Aussie surplus store.

Very solid lockup, but snags on the release.

I think its just a burr on the liner, and it will wear "in".

Don't want to break out the file at this point, not like I'll find an easy replacement on this side of the globe! (Oz).

For what it is, it's a damn good knife.
 
Nearly every guy I work with is a gun nut but until now I have been the only combo gun and knife nut. In the last couple of weeks I have been training a new man that I can finely talk knives too. The first night he reaches into he's A bag and pulls out all kinds of quality knives and he has all the various Buck Taranis, the G-10, coyote brown, OD green and the black one that he EDCs. I have never handled one of these before and I have never liked the other Strider designs. I had to force myself to hand the G-10 one back:thumbup:. These knives fit my hand just right and feel soo good. I think I'm going to try and trade him out of the coyote brown one since he likes it the least. Have they stopped making these anyone?
 
I have several of the B-S 889s and also the 882s. Great folders!
I have one as my garage & garden knife and use it for serious chores around the house. The 420 blade doesn't hold an edge quite as long as ATS-34, but it's durable and so is the black coating on the 889s.
Too bad they did discontinue making these. If you find some at decent prices, just get them because they're great all-around folders to carry.

Plus, if you have an eye towards getting a Strider SnG someday, you can think of the 889 as it's 'budget-minded brother' since they're both about the same size. (Obviously, the blade steel, handle material, liner vs. framelock, etc. is different, but the basic design/configuration is very similar.

Regards,
Mike
 
Had a Coyote Brown 889. I liked it but I sold it :p It locked up Solid & felt good in the hand but the 420 didn't hold an edge for long & the linelock was a little on the thin side for such a Beefy knife. All in all It was a really good knife for the money & Yes I would purchase another one :thumbup:
 
Did you smack the back of the blade against the palm(heel) of your hand
to try the lock? I have owned 3 of these 889(and one 882) series and every one of them have failed a spine wack. The locks are junk.
 
yerscattergun said:
Did you smack the back of the blade against the palm(heel) of your hand
to try the lock? I have owned 3 of these 889(and one 882) series and every one of them have failed a spine wack. The locks are junk.
Click to expand...

At the store I gave it a firm whack and the liner didn't even move. The salesman said I could though I usually don't do that to my knives. If the liner had moved I wouldn't have bought it. I took it to work today and cut some rope, tubing, and boxes and it worked fine. I think it's a keeper.
 
Splat said:
At the store I gave it a firm whack and the liner didn't even move. The salesman said I could though I usually don't do that to my knives. If the liner had moved I wouldn't have bought it. I took it to work today and cut some rope, tubing, and boxes and it worked fine. I think it's a keeper.
Click to expand...


It's a good thing you checked it. You must have got one of the 25%
that's good. Enjoy it, it's a cool looking knife.
 
OK, this is likely to make you guy's go "Wow"
These are some knives I just purchased from Buck Inc. They are the annual sale knives that Buck does on-site every year. This year the Buck Collector Club members got a shot at them first. I bought two of the Coyote brown 889 build outs with the ATS-34 blades for $25. Note the 119 Special with ATS-34 and charcoal dymondwood (I've lusted for one of these sprem. steel 119 for years).

DSC_1212.jpg
 
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Congrats on getting a 889 with a working lock. They're OK knives when they work, the ergos are quite similar. Bucks horse hoof rasp checkering was too severe on my pockets so I sanded it down. I had other issues that prompted me to just pony up for a mint pre-owned RG SnG.

Once side by side, the handling, operation, and use of a real SnG completely blows the Tarani out of the water. For most Strider owners across the web, call the Buck a cheap cousin is being nice - mostly it's ignored, more like the red headed step child. Nonetheless, it's family.

The G10/ATS34 versions are respected, finding a Tarani for less than $30 seems to put it in the category it deserves. At that price point it is good value for a beater knife that could be lost without much regret.

The pics of STR's work look great - that's the way Buck should have done it to uphold the true spiriit of an authorized copy.
 
I purchased a PE black blade coyote brown 882 yesterday and so far I'm happy with it. I did the spine wack thing even though I'm no fan of it and it passed easily. Many years ago I had an Odyssey and I was never happy with it. This 882 to me is far and away better but part of it has to do with the supperior design by Strider. To me the liner looks plenty beefy enough for my uses.
 
I played with 2 of them in a store recently, they were collecting dust as well. I didn't have high confidence in the locks in either one. When I opened the knife I couldn't tell fully if the lock was engaged or not. The second knife I was able to push down firmly on the back of the blade and basically fail the liner lock. One of the few knives that I didn't hesitate to not buy. Ergonomically and size wise, very nice.
 
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