Byrd Cara Cara 2 FRN - rusty liners!

S

stefan_wolf_ss

Joined
Jul 29, 2009
Messages
577
Blade steel is great for the price, but the liners are not so good - this rust is for 2 months EDC in the summer! :thumbdn::grumpy:
You can see the wrong position of locking spring - not so good quality control I think...

For the price is a good knife, but I preffer to pay a little bit extra for good SS liners, because the knive is not with open construction.

[video=youtube;Kx5pCMmB0Eg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx5pCMmB0Eg[/video]
 
I know it doesn't look great but that is fairly minor surface rust probably mainly from the bead blast finish. Besides looking bad when you take it apart, it isn't going to get much worse than that. No pitting or rusting away to failure like what could happen with carbon steel. I would bet it is pretty humid where you live or it got damp with sweat a few times.

Sure they could have polished the metal parts but that extra work would also raise the price. If you are real worried you could polish the metal pieces that are bead blasted and got the surface rust by working your way up in grits of sandpaper. It could be a $1000 knife and would get that surface rust/ staining if it had a bead blast finish.

The spring does look like it slid out of its pocket a few mm but I don't think it would have failed and really don't know if it came like that or if it moved after it was carried and used even though that is not as likely.

Other than looks, that little bit of rust isn't going to hurt anything and you can't see most of it unless taken apart. The knife doesn't cost a lot and you get a lot more knife for the money than most other knives in its price range. It's a good knife but not perfect and why I don't buy cheaper knives much anymore. Those little details get addressed more in the higher end knives.
 
Did you expect it to be just like the Endura 4 but half the price? You do get what you pay for, which is pretty good considering the Cara Cara 2's price. But there is a difference. I hated the feel of my friend's Cara Cara 2 SS, but that doesn't mean that SS handles are bad. My Delica 2 feels great.
 
Great video, Stephan, and a nice cleanup. I would agree with others that for the price, it is still a great deal.
 
The bead blasted finish is... dumb. For looking marginally better, it increases the chance of rusting tenfold. I don't see why satin finish isn't more popular with knife makers (like companies), it is pretty easy to do, just hit the blade/parts with a wire brush.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
Other than looks, that little bit of rust isn't going to hurt anything and you can't see most of it unless taken apart. The knife doesn't cost a lot and you get a lot more knife for the money than most other knives in its price range. It's a good knife but not perfect and why I don't buy cheaper knives much anymore. Those little details get addressed more in the higher end knives.
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All of my $10-14 Enlans have polished ss liners and they come with the same blade steel. I don't consider them higher end knives.
 
I don't have problem with the rust on the liners, good knife for the money - but want to show that the steel and the finish for the liners are not so rust resitent ;)
 
vortex said:
All of my $10-14 Enlans have polished ss liners and they come with the same blade steel. I don't consider them higher end knives.
Click to expand...

That's good to know but I will never buy one to find out. As an engineer, I would never want one of my designs stolen unless I was getting paid for it so I won't support a company who has to copy other designs for their own products. All the CCC lovers can love them, and I will be the yang and hate them.

It's been a long time since I have bought a knife under $100 so I'm not going to start buying $10 knives now. I just use my old $100 knives for beaters if I need one.
 
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