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Buck Strider...Initial Impressions
- Thread starter misque
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 13, 1999
- Messages
- 1,729
I have my Strider in my hands right now, it makes my BM's feel like toys in comparison.It is one sturdy knife!Massive and over built, yep, but it sure feels at home in these big ol' hands. I'd prefer the tanto edge sharper and the corners of the scales a little rounder. but other than that I'm very impressed. I know as soon as a spearpoint is produced, one will find its place here. The Strider guys and Buck did one hell of a job on this knife.
Jake Evans
Jake Evans
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,842
Take this review for what it is: a quick "first impressions" report based on a more cursory inspection than I would like.
Whenever I see someone singing the praises of a folder by emphasizing how massive, overbuilt, and strong it is, I become a little wary. For me, a folder is more about cutting performance, long-use comfort, carryability, and lock reliability, more than being huge and strong. In other words, I don't seem to be the target market for this Strider folder.
I was able to do some quick handling and a visual inspection of 2 Strider folders at a gun show a few weeks ago. As you might imagine, I have some mixed feelings about it:
THE GOOD: As far as feeling rock-solid, this may be the best folder Buck has ever built. There wasn't a hint of handle movement, lock play, or anything like that in the ones I handled. It felt like a tank. I wasn't able to through a full battery of tests, obviously, but there was no hint I could torque or white-knuckle my way to lock failure. The very beefy blade was well-ground. Overall, if Buck uses the production techniques and values learned in putting together the Strider, they can become a solid contender in the tactical market.
THE BAD: To my hands, the handle felt boxy and uncomfortable. I am usually attuned to things that might make the handle especially comfortable in long-term use, and it didn't feel like this handle would be comfortable at all; however, I of course did not do any actual cutting, so I'm open to my mind being changed. I'm not a huge fan of tanto blades, and one that has a rather dull front edge is even less interesting to me. Yes, I know why Strider did this; I guess I'm just not convinced that a sharper edge up there would really provide too much of a weakness. Lastly, the handle is awfully big for the blade size.
In short, I rapidly came to the conclusion that this folder is not aimed at me, the medium-hard utility user with defense as a backup purpose. Or if it is, there are some changes that can be made to improve it. If it is aimed at the tactical/defense only crowd, it probably makes more sense (but even then, I'm not sure if I can say I really understand the design choices).
Joe
Whenever I see someone singing the praises of a folder by emphasizing how massive, overbuilt, and strong it is, I become a little wary. For me, a folder is more about cutting performance, long-use comfort, carryability, and lock reliability, more than being huge and strong. In other words, I don't seem to be the target market for this Strider folder.
I was able to do some quick handling and a visual inspection of 2 Strider folders at a gun show a few weeks ago. As you might imagine, I have some mixed feelings about it:
THE GOOD: As far as feeling rock-solid, this may be the best folder Buck has ever built. There wasn't a hint of handle movement, lock play, or anything like that in the ones I handled. It felt like a tank. I wasn't able to through a full battery of tests, obviously, but there was no hint I could torque or white-knuckle my way to lock failure. The very beefy blade was well-ground. Overall, if Buck uses the production techniques and values learned in putting together the Strider, they can become a solid contender in the tactical market.
THE BAD: To my hands, the handle felt boxy and uncomfortable. I am usually attuned to things that might make the handle especially comfortable in long-term use, and it didn't feel like this handle would be comfortable at all; however, I of course did not do any actual cutting, so I'm open to my mind being changed. I'm not a huge fan of tanto blades, and one that has a rather dull front edge is even less interesting to me. Yes, I know why Strider did this; I guess I'm just not convinced that a sharper edge up there would really provide too much of a weakness. Lastly, the handle is awfully big for the blade size.
In short, I rapidly came to the conclusion that this folder is not aimed at me, the medium-hard utility user with defense as a backup purpose. Or if it is, there are some changes that can be made to improve it. If it is aimed at the tactical/defense only crowd, it probably makes more sense (but even then, I'm not sure if I can say I really understand the design choices).
Joe
Cliff Stamp
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 5, 1998
- Messages
- 17,562
Joe, while I don't even have one of the folders, I have a WB which is similar in blade profile and design goal. A couple of comments :
The handle on the WB is not ergonomic in any sense unless you have a grip like Robocop. It is cord wrapped in a interlooping style which provides a very secure handle by basically creating many high pressure points in your grip. Full power stabs or hammer blows with the extended tang are possible with no movement on the grip. These are full power hits into hard wood with and inch penetration on the tip work. Because the handle is not secure because of a particular design but rather a texture it has the same high security no matter what way you grip it.
Is it a style of handle I would like? I don't know. I did not like it at all when I first worked with it and my impressions were similar to Marions that he posted awhile ago. However after discussing the intent with the guys at Strider and working with it for a few weeks it is bothering me less and less in the comfort department and the security in any grip position I am starting to appreciate.
As for the tip, the WB I have currently is Brian Thornburg's and it used so the tip was fairly sharp when I first got it. It wasn't shaving sharp but it was only a few minutes work to make it so. Similar with the handle wanting security over comfort, the tip is strength over cutting ability. It is very strong, I broke the tip off of a Steel Eagle prying 2 cm in dense wood and the WB didn't even bother to flex. Same as for the sharpness, the tip profile is designed around heavy impacts, if the edge was acute and sharp it would get mauled during this work.
While the design does have its disadvantages as you clearly described, the guys at Strider seem to me to put a lot of thought into the design and while I have not handled one of the folders I would bet on it suited to intended goal which is very high stress work.
-Cliff
[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 05-20-2000).]
The handle on the WB is not ergonomic in any sense unless you have a grip like Robocop. It is cord wrapped in a interlooping style which provides a very secure handle by basically creating many high pressure points in your grip. Full power stabs or hammer blows with the extended tang are possible with no movement on the grip. These are full power hits into hard wood with and inch penetration on the tip work. Because the handle is not secure because of a particular design but rather a texture it has the same high security no matter what way you grip it.
Is it a style of handle I would like? I don't know. I did not like it at all when I first worked with it and my impressions were similar to Marions that he posted awhile ago. However after discussing the intent with the guys at Strider and working with it for a few weeks it is bothering me less and less in the comfort department and the security in any grip position I am starting to appreciate.
As for the tip, the WB I have currently is Brian Thornburg's and it used so the tip was fairly sharp when I first got it. It wasn't shaving sharp but it was only a few minutes work to make it so. Similar with the handle wanting security over comfort, the tip is strength over cutting ability. It is very strong, I broke the tip off of a Steel Eagle prying 2 cm in dense wood and the WB didn't even bother to flex. Same as for the sharpness, the tip profile is designed around heavy impacts, if the edge was acute and sharp it would get mauled during this work.
While the design does have its disadvantages as you clearly described, the guys at Strider seem to me to put a lot of thought into the design and while I have not handled one of the folders I would bet on it suited to intended goal which is very high stress work.
-Cliff
[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 05-20-2000).]