Buck Strider Tarani 882

[STR]

I must admit that Mick Strider's response on another forum really disappointed me the other day and for a time I let it affect my wanting to have anything to do with him or his knives but a deal came along for me to acquire one of these Buck 882 models in new condition for about half price so I took it.

I must say that the knife is very impressive. I have not been so happy with a Buck knife in a long time in fact. The Bos heat treated ATS34 blade is impressive and has enough heft to actually split small logs with a baton to help through the tougher parts and it did so with little worry. I like the way you can just flip the blade out with little effort too. Mine has the FRN or I guess glass filled nylon is what Buck calls it. But for the $60 price I can't complain. I do wish the lock was a bit thicker than .040 but at least it is steel and not titanium at that thinness.

Overall this knife is a high 9 on a possible high score of 10 IMO. I can honestly say that it feels quite good in the hand and performs very well even if some have complained about the pockets wearing from these knives. My take on that is that nothing is as hard on a pocket as a Waved knife so mine were already pretty shot to begin with.

Anyway CJ, this is a nice knife offered by Buck. I can say I am impressed with the collaboration and have since ordered one of the 881 models from the Buck store as well after seeing this one. For what it is worth I don't much care for Michael Jackson, the musician either but I have found myself listening to his music at times. Same goes for Mick. He may be questionable in the way he deals with the public at times and be a bit rash in some of his personal statements but his knife designs speak for themselves and do what is expected of them. Good job on this one. I'll be recommending it when someone needs a heavy duty folder and in fact I already have.

STR

 

[STR]

I put this same post on the review forum but wanted to add it here as well for Buck to see it.

As I said above in my first post I have the Buck 882 combo edge with the Bos heat treated ATS34 blade and I am quite happy with the purchase. This post was made after becoming more familiar with the knife and carrying it everyday to get to know it and use it more.

First thing I noticed was how easy it was to open the blade. It flips right out without needing to use the opening hole or the thumb studs on the blade that also function as the blade stops. The blade is so tip heavy that it can be whipped out easily by a flick. In some regards the blade could function much as a cleaver could because it is good for chopping veges and lots of kitchen work. I also used it for splitting small pieces of wood for kindling as i said above. It performed quite well and was unaffected by batoning it through a smaller log to split it in half and then in half again. From what I can tell this is a very capable folder although I have not had it long enough to get into much more detail than this.

The second thing I noticed was how abrasive the handle scales were to my pants pocket because of the checkering and sharp edges on the scales. This wear problem was much worse than I thought and didn't realize it until it literally ruined a pocket in no time flat. Granted a couple of Waved knives had already torn it up some but the Buck knife finished it off.

I should probably point out here that the reason I got this knife for $60 used from a guy on active duty in the Air Force was because of the fact that it tore up his pants in no time flat also and he couldn't be affording new pants everytime he carried this knife. One fray in a uniform technically made him 'out of uniform'. Maybe Mick Strider made more money in his active duty days than the normal everyday serviceman does? You hearing this BUCK? I thought I'd seen a good bit of wear from the Waved knives I've been using and carrying but the Buck Tarani really can tear up pants pockets fast in it's own right. First mod I did to this knife was taking my 3m Cratex wheels to the glass filled nylon handle checkering to get rid of all the rough abrasive character it came with from the factory.

After that I took off the burr edge on the liners and there was plenty of that also. Then finally the lock grooves had to be sanded because they were almost borderline sharp edged enough to tear skin from your thumb when you closed the knife. To be honest I don't really buy into the Strider boys attitude that, "if you want it sanded do it yourself". That is just plain lazyness to send out a knife unfinished like that in my opinion. Buck should stand up to that guy and have no part in that attitude. When you pay for a premium working knife you don't expect to have to take it to your own shop to make it right before you can carry it. No knife would ever leave my shop with sharp edges like this one had on the liners or the lock. Now it is pocket worn and still tacky enough for grip but not near as hard on pants or fingers or skin from sharp rough edges.

The blade is razor sharp and I really like Bucks serration pattern on this knife. I also rather like the built in finger nail file type of abrasive area on the top part of the blade on both sides. It is almost identical in abrasiveness to the files on the Swiss Army knives.

I agree that the lock is a bit thin but based on my own tests of steel locks in my own handmade folders a .040 steel lock is plenty strong and can surprise you at the abuse it can take. If this were a titanium lock at that thinness in a knife this size it would be a recipe for trouble and easily bent but this Bos hardened steel lock is stronger than even a .060 ti lock and will most certainly wear better than any titanium lock where the lock meets the blade.

 

[RedEdge77]

Thanks for the review cause i was thinkin about buying one of these but was a little unsure. A little labor to get it right is no problem for me, so thanks for the help :thumbup:

 

[Tweakmeister]

"Long term" follow up?