Gee, I don't see the problem here, the engagement looks safe and secure. It's not really a wear point in a quality knife. It's the knives that barely engage that worry me. I just looked at two Strider 880's in my collection and they both engage about the same amount with a nice reassuring "click". I would worry about accidentally disengaging the liner lock with a shift in my grip if it was closer to the edge. I see you are a knife maker so educate me as to what I am missing about your concern. Somantics.... it's not about how "SOON" the liner lock engages but how "FAR and SECURELY" the lock engages. Even if the liner lock did "WEAR" to the point of moving all the way to the right in your picture, the lock would only be engaged more securely. Put another way, in my opinion, wear would only make the lock safer.
About the warranty, no one here can speak for BUCK Inc. about what they can do to service your knife if the liner lock ever fails but I read on this forum time and again how Buck goes the extra distance to resolve a problem with a knife.
The BUCK Forever Warranty
We warranty each and every Buck knife to be free of defects in material and workmanship for the life of the knife, and we will repair or replace with a new Buck knife, at our option, any Buck knife that is defective. Buck Knives does not warrant its products against normal wear, misuse, or product modifications. Buck Knives are not intended to be used as hammers, chisels, pry bars or screwdrivers. If your knife was damaged due to misuse, our repair department can analyze the damage and repair it for a reasonable fee. If your knife is unable to be repaired, we will extend a one- time courtesy offer, allowing you the option to purchase a new knife for 50% off of our MSRP price listed on the website, excluding any custom knives or web specials.
