Buck/Strider Mini-Spearpoint

[kutch133]

Just got this a few days ago. Although I found more cons than pro's to this knive I'm keeping it because overall, its a tough knife and I like the blade shape.


Cons:

1. The placement of the thumbstud makes it diffuult to open the blade one handed.
2. This blade is not a smooth opening blade and any adjustment of the pivot screw does not help.
3. The side to side play and up and down play of the blade is slightly evident, however no worse that most other production knives.
4. Fit and finish is slightly worse that on some folders half the cost.
5. There are two pivot pin screws insteady of one, which makes it harder to adjust.
6. It looks like Buck sharpend the edge with a jackhammer.
7. The design of the knife and the generous amount of loc-tite that Buck applied to all the screws makes the knife harder to user disassemble. I think Buck wants it that way.
8. G-10 scales are too rough. I see them wearing out a lot of pockets.
9. Bead blast finish.

Pro's
1. Design is very good although not as good as say an AR.
2. Thick blade.
3. Tip-up carry.
4. Appealing to the eye once I did some touch-ups to the blade, screws, and pockets clips and got rid of that ugly bead blast.
5. The pivot pin screws and the stop pin screws both affect the tension and the centering of the blade, so there is enough adjustments available to put the blade dead center between the liners.
6. TI liners.
7. Heat treat by Bos.

My overall impression of this knife is that it is an unfinished product with very good capabilities as it is shipped to you. If you are a tinkerer as I am, then you can ajust, polish, etc. to your own taste IMO, for the same money, an Al Mar SERE 2000 comes with better fit and finish with lock-up that is near vault like. Although I sound more negative than positive about the knife, don'tlet me dissuade you from buying one if you're interested. I think I have the bad habit of comparing everthing to a Sebenza.

 

[SALTY]

Originally posted by kutch133
Just got this a few days ago. Although I found more cons than pro's to this knive I'm keeping it because overall, its a tough knife and I like the blade shape.

I agree. I really like the Buck-Strider knives and find myself carrying and using the mini spear point more than the others. They probably could do more in the may or streamlining the thickness of the knife so as to make it more comfortable in acrry and in use without compromising any strength. The mini is my user/beater folder that has held up very well.

As to them being unfinished I generally agree with that observation as well except that these are tools in the true sense and have function as the top priority. Even with that said, however, they could have smoothed out of couple of the rough edges, figuratively and literally.

Bottom line, its a tough and functional knife that is certainly worth the money and has a company behind it that is renowned for the customer service.

 

[AlphalphaPB]

I'll try to keep my personal opinions of the knife out of this post (I really love the knife).

Originally posted by kutch133
Cons:
2. This blade is not a smooth opening blade and any adjustment of the pivot screw does not help.
5. There are two pivot pin screws insteady of one, which makes it harder to adjust.
7. The design of the knife and the generous amount of loc-tite that Buck applied to all the screws makes the knife harder to user disassemble. I think Buck wants it that way.
9. Bead blast finish.

In my own experience, the pivot screw loosens easily, so I contacted Buck and they told me to use Loctite once I've found the right setting. I err on the side of tightness, since the heavy blade is easily flicked out, and the thumbstud (for me) is easily accessed and very fun to use.

To tighten the two pivot screws, it's not too hard to have two torx screwdrivers, stick one in the back, if necessary. I don't need to do this, I just tighten on one side (the other side doesn't spin around).

I didn't have an over-generous application of Loctite in my folder. Disassembled very easily, and the lockup was even better on reassembly. I guess this shows you're right about it lacking a good finish (but I'm alright with that, I'm a inveterate tinkerer).

Previously a Strider-Buck owner contacted Joe Houser about their finish rusting within one day of carry, and Mr. Houser seemed very concerned about it. He said that the oxide-blast should not rust so easily, and encouraged the owner to send the blade back to see if there was a problem. Personally, I've gotten my blade all wet, and kept it in a soaking bag for a day, and there was no rust problem. I've gotten it horribly dirty and wet on occasions, no problems. Sweat, no problem with that either. I think that the smoother blast is less rust-prone than a coarser-grained blast used on cheaper blades to blast out poor finishes (e.g. in CRKT knives).