Knife Deep Dive: Buck 881 Strider Review

Knife Deep Dive: Buck 881 Strider Review

This top pick from the past is the Buck 881 mini Strider, designed by Mick Strider.

Are Buck Striders still being produced?

Among collectors, Strider knives are well known and have become increasingly popular since they stopped making knives in 2017.

The History of the Buck Strider Series

The Buck Strider series dates back to 2001 and they were a huge hit. As shown in Buck's 2002 catalog, the first 500 pieces were made from BG-42 sheet steel, where everything made after that got ATS-34. The specific piece we have is number 173/500 from the first production run. It originally came in spearhead or tanto. This is the tanto version with G10 handle scales and titanium liners that keep the knife compact and lightweight.

On top of the BG-42 blade steel, it also has the infamous BOS heat treatment, which nicely improves that edge retention. If you want to learn more about BOS heat treatment, we covered it in our 110 Slim EDC post, so check it out.

Who invented the Buck Strider?

Mick Strider is a former US Army Ranger who has been making knives since 1988. His designs all have a distinct Strider look and are 100% functional, despite looking slick. Originally designing knives for the military, it wasn't long before knife users around the world wanted a Strider. The knives he designed were especially popular with the military and law enforcement because of how Mick's designs seemed to capture the idea of ​​their intended use and the challenges these people faced. But many civilian users and collectors also loved it and a legend was born. For decades he made and sold his own custom knives until he decided to retire and shut down the company while they were ahead. “We would rather finish strong than start the Indian casino circuit. When we started this there was a huge gap in the knife industry. We have filled that gap… we have earned a rest.” They still continue to take care of their customer for warranty issues.

Did you know? The first production run of this model is with BG-42 sheet steel. All 881s produced after this first 500 had ATS-34 blades.