- Joined
- Sep 5, 2005
- Messages
- 273
The Buck 880. I have wanted one since 2005 when I really started getting into knife collecting. I had never heard of Strider at the time, but I had heard of Buck. I grew up with Buck knives. In fact, growing up, I seldom saw a knife that wasn't a Buck or Case. One of my Dad's favorite knives was a 112, and one of the first knives I ever owned was a 305. Those were the days before tactical folders became ubiquitous in the marketplace. A well prepared man around my neck of the woods carried a 110 in a leather belt sheath. Spyderco? Heck, that must be a pest control company. The 880 appealed to me because it came from the Buck tradition but was a modern design complete with a super steel that had both letters and numbers in its name. Must be good stuff. Back then I had not yet spent over $100 on a knife. The 880 seemed expensive. I din't buy one then, but the knife stayed in the back of my mind.
Just recently I discovered that the 880 had been discontinued, and $125 no longer seems like all that much to spend on a knife. I ordered one from New Graham Knives to scratch an old itch. It just showed up. The first thing that I noticed, even before opening the box, was that the box has a sticker on it that says "154CM". I had always seen the 880 advertised as being made from ATS-34. I guess they changed the steel late in production. The box has another sticker that says "10-18-17". I figured that must be the date of production, though I could be totally wrong there. 154CM is fine by me at any rate. The next thing that I noticed, after opening the box, is that the 880 is a very big folder. It is long. It is heavy. It is thick. It is a lot of knife. It is easily the biggest folder that I own.
The first thing that I check out on a folder is the lockup. The 880 did not let me down. It has a very solid lockup with zero blade play, not to mention a smooth action. The edge has a perfectly even grind, and I don't ever recall another knife being as sharp out of the box. The limited cutting that I have done with it so far has impressed me for such a thick blade. The G10 scales are well textured and perfectly fitted to the titanium liners. The one gripe that I have is that the pocket clip screws are not anchored into the liners but only into the G10 scales. It may never be an issue, but it seems unusual on a knife that is otherwise so sturdily constructed.
It's a shame that the Strider/Buck collaboration came to an end. The 880 is a fine knife. I'm glad that I went ahead and bought one.
Just recently I discovered that the 880 had been discontinued, and $125 no longer seems like all that much to spend on a knife. I ordered one from New Graham Knives to scratch an old itch. It just showed up. The first thing that I noticed, even before opening the box, was that the box has a sticker on it that says "154CM". I had always seen the 880 advertised as being made from ATS-34. I guess they changed the steel late in production. The box has another sticker that says "10-18-17". I figured that must be the date of production, though I could be totally wrong there. 154CM is fine by me at any rate. The next thing that I noticed, after opening the box, is that the 880 is a very big folder. It is long. It is heavy. It is thick. It is a lot of knife. It is easily the biggest folder that I own.
The first thing that I check out on a folder is the lockup. The 880 did not let me down. It has a very solid lockup with zero blade play, not to mention a smooth action. The edge has a perfectly even grind, and I don't ever recall another knife being as sharp out of the box. The limited cutting that I have done with it so far has impressed me for such a thick blade. The G10 scales are well textured and perfectly fitted to the titanium liners. The one gripe that I have is that the pocket clip screws are not anchored into the liners but only into the G10 scales. It may never be an issue, but it seems unusual on a knife that is otherwise so sturdily constructed.
It's a shame that the Strider/Buck collaboration came to an end. The 880 is a fine knife. I'm glad that I went ahead and bought one.
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