Blade marking on Byrd Cara Cara

B

Bolt_Thrower

Joined
Sep 21, 2006
Messages
4
Hi eveyrone,

I just got my new and shiny SS plain blade Cara Cara from mail order and I'm very happy with the design and the way it feels in my hand. I am however wondering if I got an original one or if it's a copy since there is no 'Byrd' and '8Cr13MoV' marking on the blade as I usually see on the various photos on the Spyderco web site and elsewhere. On side of the blade has 'China' stamped while the other has (TM). That's it. I may be wrong, but I just don't want to have a lower quality knife and will send it back if in any serious doubt.
 
It's hard to believe that somebody in China would be knocking Byrd off already. Byrd's are already made in China and they're priced very reasonably so there's no real incentive to knock them off. Knock offs are usually made of more expensive models, the price difference is what makes it profitable. To manufacture a SS Byrd copy would probably cost as much as the real thing, but I guess anything is possible.

Did your knife come in a box? Is the "TM" inside a small oval next to the "comet" thumbhole? My guess is that your knife is a genuine Byrd, but is either an early model or a not-for-export Chinese version that was not meant to leave the country. This might make your knife slightly more desirable, rather than less so. It's a curiosity at the very least.

I would keep it and use it. Byrds are awesome knives.
 
Yeah, I guess it isn't really worth to copy those ... it would be pretty hard to have a viable business case even if they're made in China. But again, you never know ... things can be really made dirth cheap over there.

Yes the 'TM' marking is in an oval next to the eyedrop. Now that I've played with it a little more I must say it's a pretty nice and good knife ... whatever the history, I guess I'll just keep it and enjoy it.

Thanks for your input.
 
This is interesting to say the least. I have one of the earlier byrds with the 440C marking, and there is no TM mark on it. I also had one of the earlier Meadowlarks marked 440C and no TM. I’ve never heard of a byrd with no blade steel marking.

Byrd knives have been knocked off in the past. The Harrier has been knocked off last year.
 
Ok. Well that's not really good news. Thing is I paid normal Byrd price for it(Mind you that 30$Can isn't that much). It seems strong, but there's no way for me to know if the blade is made of 440C/8Cr13MoV. For all I know, it can be some low grade SS ...

Moonwilson, how did you know about the oval TM on the blade?
 
Here's how it looks.
2006_09250011.jpg

2006_09250013.jpg
 
That's normal Bolt Thrower. The steel type would be on the other side however, if your's doesn't have it then it's probably just a mix up as that looks like the real deal. Haven't seen any copies of anything other than the Harrier, and they were marked with "Rigid" on the blade IIRC.
 
That sure looks like a real Byrd to me. I'd say I'm 99% sure of it. The tolerances on that thing look much higher than any knock off I've ever seen. You would think that any other manufacturer that has that kind of capability would be making their own knives instead of knocking off Byrd. Why knock off a Byrd when you could just as easily duplicate a full-boat Spyderco?

I think that's a domestic only Byrd, that left China by mistake. I'd be willing to bet that the steel is 8Cr13MoV. I'd keep it if I were you.
 
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