opinions on buck strider needed....

S

SIFU1A

Joined
May 12, 2001
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hey everybody, hope everyone had a great weekend!! anyway i got a bonus this month, about $200, and its burning a hole in my pocket - have been thinking about getting a buck strider tanto, seems like a big heavy duty knife - i found one for $120, and probably will order next week - so - what do ya guys and gals think about the strider? i think i read that the tip portion on the tanto is not sharpened, is that right? and is it a tip up/or down carry?? would ya rather have a spear point, and why? blade will be used strictly for self defense, carry a smaller utility knife (usually carry either a SIFU, Crawford Kasper Ti fighter, BM 975SBT or a Emerson Commander right now, utility varies from my spydie lum tanto, a CRKT M16-00, or small kasper pro, or a BM leopard cub) so tanto is ok - and is it chisel ground?? any suggestions on another model w/same characteristics? wanna get a good fighter, in the $200 range, blade no longer than 5.5" - or should i just save up a month or so and get a mayo TNT or a ralph mad max??? all info/suggestions very much appreciated......


sifu
 
If you haven't yet, handle one before you buy. Not for QC reasons (never hear complaints about Buck's QC), but - let's just say it's not a knife for everyone. I don't own a Strider, and from what I hear it's a quality knife, but - it's really big. I carried a Sifu daily for months so I'm not adverse to big knives, but the Strider is really really big. Just get your hands around one before you decide.

Personally, I'd go with a LCC DA, which I've seen for around $200.
 
Hi!

I own both versions, never used the spearpoint though, i really like the tantopoint, it isn't very sharp at the point edge, i use it for any scraping etc. It's perfect for that. The regular edge is very sharp and cuts well. It's tip-up.

To me it's very much not a defensive piece, it's strictly utility.
I like a deep cut-out for my fingers on any knife intended for self-defense.
The g-10 is very coarse and i don't think that you'd slip on it very easily, but...

To me, the commander is a defensive capable knife, the Buck/Strider is for hard utility use.

Get one, i'm sure that you'll like it :)
 
Right now I carry a Strider AR, and don't own a Buck/Strider yet. From the reviews I've seen from people I want to get one for a comparison. Seems to be a well built tank just like the custom verison. I would say go for it, you definately won't have a problem unloading it here if you don't like it.
 
I have 2 Buck Striders, one tanto and one spear point. They are very solid hefty knives and are built tough. On the tanto, the primary cutting edge comes shaving sharp, but the edge on the tanto point is sharpened very thick and not sharp enough for cutting. It's not a defect on the part of Buck as the knife is purposely designed this way for maximum tip strength. You could literally ram the knife through a car door several times and there won't be any tip damage.

The spear point is obviously more utilitarian and is built equally as tough as the tanto version. If you wish to carry a tough sharp utility knife, the spear point is the one for you. If you want to carry one for for self-defence, then the tanto version would be the one I recommend.

Both have strong stainless steel pocket clips attached to the butt end of the knife for tip-up carry. The lockup is very secure on both my models thanks to thick titanium liners and have no blade play in any direction. These knives are are thick and the texture on the G-10 scales are rough in order to provide a non-slip grip. Again, these are big hefty knives designed to be tough and are well suited for rough use.
 
It depends on what you are looking for in a knife. As has been stated, the Strider is a very well built knife. It is also very thick, heavy and the handle is as rough as sandpaper. This knife is hard on the material of your pants pockets or waist band.

This is a good knife if you want big and tough.
 
I just got the spearpoint. It is massive, but I find it easy and comfortable to handle. Curiously, the blade is almost identical in outline to the Sebenza, and the open back of the handle and clip placement look like the Sebbie, too.

It came very sharp, and after a little use, I went to work on it with my Sharpmaker. First thirty degree, then forty, for a strong working edge. I had it out in the woods, hacking away at some very tough thornbushes. Remster135 came over and I showed it to him; he checked out the edge and found it razor-sharp. That's after the thornbushes, without so much as a touch-up.

Defense? It's practically ambidextrous. If you hold it left-handed, thumb on the back of the blade by the tang (there's a small projection) and snap down, it will fly open. You might be better off with something sleeker. But you might also scare some people off just by waving the little monster around :D
 
Hey Sifu, I forgot to mention that the Buck Strider is not chisel ground. The tanto version is ground on both sides like the spear point. As far as big, rough and tough production folders go, the Buck Strider is the one. It's not for everyone, but it makes one heck of a hard use knife.
 
I picked up a mini tanto just because I had to have it! It is an impressive knife as everyone above has described. But two things bothered me soon after purchasing, after I had a chance to play with the knife.

The tanto point grind is quite useless for anything but prying. I decided to regrind it so that it was closer to the geometry of the main blade grind. It is more useful now for scraping and cutting chores.

The other gripe I have is that upon using this knife for various heavy duty cutting chores I find that the knife just plain won't cut. The answer is simple. IMHO, the blade is just too thick for normal everyday cutting chores. As an example, I tried cutting a couple of small, pinky sized green branches the other day. I couldn't even get the blade to go halfway through. It's just tooo thick. I think this is a great knife to make you feel like a macho bada$$ but absolutely useless for utility purposes.

Go for the TNT. A MUCH better choice!
 
hey guys thanks for the info - i called around and found one i can look at , a spear point version (priced at $199 may i add, we are spoiled arent we lol) so i am gonna go look at it tue or wed and see what i think - they are a big knife, will post what i decide,

thanks

sifu
 
SIFU1A -
Try Micheal Dye at the new Graham knife shop. I got mine for something like $110.00 from him and Mike is great to deal with.

I have a spearpoint and like it, but I bought it for a very specific set of tasks requiring a "pointy folding crowbar" and it does these very well.

I also don't get all the "it's to big " comments as it seems perfect to almost a bit small in my hand. Personnal preference I guess and a good reason to get your hands on one first.

Seems like a nice piece except for the Torx screws:barf:
Gordon
 
Hey Gordon what line of work are you in. I really like hearing about people that buy knives for specific tasks and use them a lot (not just cutting twine and opening letters) anything that requires a pointy folding crowbar sounds like business. I have been looking at the buck striders too although I don't put my knife through enough of a ringer that I need that heavy duty of a knife
 
Gordon, are you talking about the Mini-Strider or are you actually saying that the full size Buck Strider feels small in you hand? If that's the case, then an Emerson CQC-7 must feel like a keychain folder to you. :D
 
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