A few weeks ago I ordered two Byrds from Spyderco's online store. The prices were just right to try out these blades. I think I paid 20.00 for the G10 Meadow lark and the G10 Crow.
I received the knives and LOVED the quality and build so I ordered one more. I think my SS Meadowlark cost around 15.00.
I am totally impressed with these knives. They came razor sharp out of the box and the fit and finish is very impressive. I keep saying to myself... "Impressive for the price" but quite frankly... these little workers are great buys. Especially when you can find them direct from Spyderco on sale!
Here they are enjoying some sun:
The G10 is very well done and on a knife at this price point I was excited to even find G10 on a blade under 25.00. The scales on both G10 models are very clean and have a great texture to them.
One big difference between the Crow and the Meadowlark is the blade design, but also the locking mechanism and the construction.
The Crow has a liner lock and "see through" construction, while the Meadowlark has a back lock and solid construction. One nice feature of the Meadowlark is the scalloped spine seen here on the left:
I'm sure that's done for some technical reason, but to me it just adds a nice little touch and gives the spine some "dimension".
One thing I really like about the Meadowlark is the jimping for your index finger choil. Notice how they body of the knife, and the blade have jimping. When the blade is out it really makes a nice choil.
What a great detail for a knife at this price point... Oh who are we kidding... nice feature at any price point (IMHO).
The big surprise for me was the SS Meadowlark. I bought it on a whim to see if I liked a SS EDC. While it is heavier, it has great heft in the hand and honestly I don't notice the weight difference even when carrying the knife in my back pocket of khakis at work.
All that said, there are some cons to these knives. One thing about the design of the Byrd blade is that the thumb ramp jimping is pretty aggressive. I always carry my EDC clipped on my back right pocket and I prefer tip up carry. But if you put a Byrd into your front pocket that spine jimping is pretty sharp against the fabric of your pocket. Carried in your back pocket the jimping is away from the hem. Carried in your front pocket the Jimping is against the hem and could eventually be pretty abrasive to the material.
And the clips on all three knives are pretty stout. I guess thats a good thing, but it can make clipping them in and out of the pocket a little tight.
Finally, I guess some may call the brand and origin of manufacture a con. But hey, a well built knife is a well built knife. I would definitely buy another Byrd.
G10 Crow:
G10 Meadowlark:
SS Meadowlark:
Which is my favorite? WOW... I don't know... I may have to buy a Raven (the Crow's big brother)to see. I love that blade design on the Crow. And for EDC the Crow is about right, but it does have a shorter blade. The Meadowlark has great blade length to it. I think I like the G10 Meadowlark the most, but honestly the SS Meadowlark has been seeing more carry time.
I received the knives and LOVED the quality and build so I ordered one more. I think my SS Meadowlark cost around 15.00.
I am totally impressed with these knives. They came razor sharp out of the box and the fit and finish is very impressive. I keep saying to myself... "Impressive for the price" but quite frankly... these little workers are great buys. Especially when you can find them direct from Spyderco on sale!
Here they are enjoying some sun:
The G10 is very well done and on a knife at this price point I was excited to even find G10 on a blade under 25.00. The scales on both G10 models are very clean and have a great texture to them.
One big difference between the Crow and the Meadowlark is the blade design, but also the locking mechanism and the construction.
The Crow has a liner lock and "see through" construction, while the Meadowlark has a back lock and solid construction. One nice feature of the Meadowlark is the scalloped spine seen here on the left:
I'm sure that's done for some technical reason, but to me it just adds a nice little touch and gives the spine some "dimension".
One thing I really like about the Meadowlark is the jimping for your index finger choil. Notice how they body of the knife, and the blade have jimping. When the blade is out it really makes a nice choil.
What a great detail for a knife at this price point... Oh who are we kidding... nice feature at any price point (IMHO).
The big surprise for me was the SS Meadowlark. I bought it on a whim to see if I liked a SS EDC. While it is heavier, it has great heft in the hand and honestly I don't notice the weight difference even when carrying the knife in my back pocket of khakis at work.
All that said, there are some cons to these knives. One thing about the design of the Byrd blade is that the thumb ramp jimping is pretty aggressive. I always carry my EDC clipped on my back right pocket and I prefer tip up carry. But if you put a Byrd into your front pocket that spine jimping is pretty sharp against the fabric of your pocket. Carried in your back pocket the jimping is away from the hem. Carried in your front pocket the Jimping is against the hem and could eventually be pretty abrasive to the material.
And the clips on all three knives are pretty stout. I guess thats a good thing, but it can make clipping them in and out of the pocket a little tight.
Finally, I guess some may call the brand and origin of manufacture a con. But hey, a well built knife is a well built knife. I would definitely buy another Byrd.
G10 Crow:
G10 Meadowlark:
SS Meadowlark:
Which is my favorite? WOW... I don't know... I may have to buy a Raven (the Crow's big brother)to see. I love that blade design on the Crow. And for EDC the Crow is about right, but it does have a shorter blade. The Meadowlark has great blade length to it. I think I like the G10 Meadowlark the most, but honestly the SS Meadowlark has been seeing more carry time.
