Strider makes “high-speed tools for hardcore individuals”. While I’m not a hardcore individual like some of my readers and commenters here, I do know what a quality made knife feels and looks like. The Buck Strider 880 is Buck’s production version of a Strider folder, designed and executed in collaboration with them.

The Buck Strider 880 is essentially a Small Strider AR folder with what I would consider more EDC-friendly dimensions. The AR/GB sized folders from Strider, while very cool, are ridiculously sized for most people to carry daily. The Large 880 is is equivalent to the AR in terms of blade length – both are 4″ – but the thickness and width of the knife are scaled down. Additionally, the AR/GB models have a very pronounced guard built into the handles which is not present in this 880, which is one of my bigger complaints when comparing the two.

Interestingly, when I stop comparing the 880 to the original Strider AR, the faults are minimal. On its own, its a great, overbuilt knife that would be suitable for EDC as well as outdoors and camp use. The grinds are nicely done and feel of the knife is great. The finish is a bit rough, and there is some blade play on this knife but I sill think these were a great value for the $100-120 they were available for when they were around. I believe their secondary market value is a bit higher now.

The Paul Bos heat treating leaves a killer sharp ATS-34 steel blade that can pop hairs like the best thin blades from Spyderco. Very impressed with Paul Bos heat treatments, which are probably why even Buck’s 420HC blades are very good. For those that might not know, Paul Bos does all of Buck’s heat treating, and actually has a heat treatment facility on-site at Buck. The specifics of this have changed somewhat over the years so I can’t be sure how their arrangement works exactly.

Buck has done a great job with their collaborations including those with Strider like on this 880, and is much nicer than the Tarani collaborations that came out later, at least the ones I had owned. I really recommend the 880 if you can snag one in the low 100′s on the used market. Its a great user.

Specs:
Overall Length: 9.375″
Closed Length: 5.375″
Blade Length: 4″
Blade Steel: ATS-34
Handle Material: G-10
Weight: 5.75oz

I remember the day that Strider announced its collaboration with Buck was a very happy day for me along with a lot of knifeknuts, because it meant that all of us that either could not afford Striders or could not justify the price of a Strider could finally own one and see what was so darn special about them.

While the Buck Mini Strider Tanto is a very well built knife, suitable for hard use, it is clearly not as overbuilt as the Strider GB, with liners much thinner, and overall handle thickness much less. The pivot is also much smaller, so not quite as sturdy. The ATS-34 steel is not as good as the S30V used in the GB either. The Buck is Paul Bos heat treated, however, while the Striders used to be all heat treated by Paul Bos, the new knives may or may not be. They still use the same procedure that Paul Bos uses to heat treat their knives to acheive the same results. This is why the newer models no longer carry the Paul Bos stamp.

The Buck Mini Strider is probably the best Buck I had ever owned at that point. Since then of course Buck has really stepped it up in terms of quality with their Tactical knives with the Mayo stuff and others. The G10 ont he Buck Strider is pretty gritty, and will shred your pockets if you use it a lot. The pocket clip was a bit tight when I received it, so I pulled it out from the scales a bit.

The Strider designs in general tend to be more angular and less organic, but this is not a negative thing. They fit the hand really well and no real hotspots in use. Blade on this knife is pure Strider in it’s thickness. Very beefy. The American Tanto grind is sort of smaller on the tip edge, and not quite as sharp due to the obtuse angle. I had some difficulty sharpening the tip of this one, but it got there eventually, and since it’s not the primary cutting edge, its not as crucial.

Overall, this is a sweet little knife and for the money, which is $100-150 on the net, its not bad. I don’t know if Buck is still making this model, but it seems to still be available on and off around the internet. Its grippy, thick and chunky, with a nice blade steel. ATS-34 in this case. Heat-treated by Paul Bos. Its a great knife!

Specs:
Blade Steel: ATS-34
Handle Material: G-10
Liners: Titanium
Blade Length: 3″
Overall Length: 7″