alejandrino,
ATS-34 blade steel. Heat treated by BOS. Oh yea, its the real thing. 1/8th inch thick with a real nice choil on the blade for accurate blade control.
On a small portion of the blade, opposite from the side with the stamped (indented) "Strider Buck Tarani (with the Strider symbol) is the imprint: a "flame", followed by "BOS" and below this "ATS-34" and below this "USA." The imprints are symetrical, small, handsome and permanent. The Strider symbol is particularly attractive.
Per Joe Talmadge: "ATS-34 - 154-CM
ATS-34 was the hottest high-end stainless in the 1990s. 154-CM
is the original American version, but for a long time was not
manufactured to the high quality standards knifemakers expect, so
knifemakers switched over to ATS-34. CPM is again making high-quality
154-CM, and some companies seeking to stick with American-made
products (like Microtech) are using it. ATS-34 is a Hitachi product
that is very, very similar to 154-CM. Normally hardened to around 60
Rc, it holds an edge very well and is tough enough even at that high
hardness. Not as rust resistant as the 400 series above. Many custom
makers use ATS-34, and Spyderco (in their high-end knives) and
Benchmade are among the production companies that use it.
Contrary to popular belief, both steels are manufactured through
the Argon/Oxygen/Decarburization process (AOD), not vacuum
remelted."
Here is a better link to the attributes of the 882BKX:
http://www.buckknives.com/catalog/detail/371/233
Best,
Oregon
