I own a Buck Strider Tarani SBT 887, bought it about the time this thread started. I was playing around at lunch taking pictures with other knives and had a wild thought "Why not give these knives the good ol spinewhack on the steering wheel test to see if they hold?" It 's a leather covered wheel, I'm not going to beat it up. The CRKT M1-13 held, the Benchmade CQC-7 held, the 887 broke back faster than a lonely cowboy.
Close examination realized the Buck designed liner lock had point contact with the blade back. A light tap would easily overcome the friction on this lock, which has a much shorter length than a Strider, and the blade ramp is at a steep angle. Holding the lock up to the light showed mostly light - almost neglible engagement.
Later, I jammed the lock in the closed postion with a folded 3x5 card and spinewhacked it more seriously, in an effort ot use a prescribed fix as recommended by another knifemaker. Basically beat about two years wear on it to force engagement. I gave up, sent it back to Buck with a nice letter, and got another one within days. Great service.
The new lock has 100% engagement and does not appear to have any problem with the same level force spinewhacking.
I now regret buying this inexpensive look-alike, and even have reservations about its country of origin. I have it for sale on another forum, presently for about half price, and it's not moving, which I take as an indictment by the knife enthusiast market toward 420 and FRN in Striders. If it won't sell I may just have to mod it to remove some objectionable features and use it as an EDC. I do love the style - I am disappointed with the execution. Save your money and buy a real Strider you have handled to inspect it's function, fit and finish.
