Byrd Meadowlark 2 Plain-Edge First Impressions and Delica 4 Comparisons + Pics!

[RayzorSharp]

So after buying my first Spyderco about a year ago, I soon became addicted to these wonderful quality knives.
The Tenacious was my EDC/Tactical folder but I soon felt as if this knife is slightly too heavy for my EDC tasks. So I decided to get a lighter weight folder from Kershaw, the 3410 Chill. Although I love the knife, coming in @ 2oz, I wanted more, more steel, so I placed an order on a Delica 4. After carrying the Delica 4 and the Chill, I found myself carrying the lighter weight blades than the Tenacious (I still love the Tenacious). But, I kept getting this sickness, bladeritous, (addiction to blades) and wanted a similar knife to the Delica but with full flat ground profile without buying another Delica 4 FFG . I also wanted a knife I didn't have to worry about if I lose or beat it up a bit. So here comes me watching some nutnfancy shot show vids and all of a sudden at the end of the video, Ed Schempp introduces the new changes that are happening to the Byrd line. I immediately put the Meadowlark 2 on my "to get list".


And here it is!

Skeletonized steel linerskeeps the weight around 2.5oz, nearly identical as the Delica 4

Choils got some jimping too. First knife I have with a choil and me likey.

Bi-Directional Texturing is heck of a lot better than the original Meadowlark 1
I still prefer the Delica 4 volcano grip texturing

Notice the jimping differences.




Features:
-Ambidextrous tip-up/tip-down clip
-Spine and choil jimping
-Skeletonized nested handle liners
-Screw construction
-Phosphor bronze bushings for smooth open/close action
-FRN Bi-Directional
-Textured handle
-David Boye Dent (the Dent is much deeper than the Delica)
-Full flat ground blade

Specs:
Blade Length: 2-7/8" (73 mm)
Cutting Edge: 2-3/8" (61 mm)
Overall Length: 6-13/16" (173 mm)
Closed Length: 4-1/32" (102 mm)
Steel: 8Cr3MoV
Weight: 2.4 oz. (67 g)
Edge: Comes in Plain and Combo-Edge (the CE comes with a chisel ground @ the straight edge of the blade)
Clip: Left/Right
Tip Carry: Up/Down
Made in China (Quality controls is AWESOME, as of any Byrd knife and some Spydercos)

 

[RayzorSharp]

Forgot to mention, although it has phosphor bronze bushings, out of the box it is tight. Slower deployment compared to the Delica out of the box.
FRN handles on the Meadowlark 2 feels less solid, but for it's price point and what it offers as far as grip goes, not bad.

Forgot to compare the tip differences between the Delica, I'll try to get those pics as soon as I can but because the Meadowlark 2 is a FFG blade, it's thinner than the sabre ground Delica 4.

Oh and I wouldn't reccommend the combo-edge Meadowlark 2.
It comes chisel ground @ the plain edge portion of the blade.
I. Hate. Chisel. Grinds.

 

[eccvets]

How was the stock edge? My Cara cara 2's stock edge sucked but I was able to get a very nice edge on it.

 

[Sal Glesser]

Hi RayzorSharp,

Thanx much for the review and the pics. We worked on the new version for a long time. Hope you enjoy it.

sal

 

[RayzorSharp]

How was the stock edge? My Cara cara 2's stock edge sucked but I was able to get a very nice edge on it.

My Meadowlark 2 come in hair shavin' sharp.
I'm surprised that the stock edge wasn't what you expected.
Good news is though, 8CR13 is an easy steel to get an edge on.

 

[eccvets]

My Meadowlark 2 come in hair shavin' sharp.
I'm surprised that the stock edge wasn't what you expected.
Good news is though, 8CR13 is an easy steel to get an edge on.

I'd say my stock edge was one of the the crappiest, most obtuse edge I ever got out of any knife but your right, the 8CR13MOV is very easy to get a good edge on. I'm also not sure why everyone says it rusts easily. I live in an enviorment where its constantly at least 60-80% humidity. Never had a problem with rust on either of my knifes with this steel.


I expect all of my knifes pass the hanging hair test so not many stock knifes will pass my tests.

 

[RayzorSharp]

I'd say my stock edge was one of the the crappiest, most obtuse edge I ever got out of any knife but your right, the 8CR13MOV is very easy to get a good edge on. I'm also not sure why everyone says it rusts easily. I live in an enviorment where its constantly at least 60-80% humidity. Never had a problem with rust on either of my knifes with this steel.


I expect all of my knifes pass the hanging hair test so not many stock knifes will pass my tests.

Yeah I find rust resistance pretty darn good.
The only 8CR13MoV steel I carry the most is Kershaw Chill 3410 w/ a bead blasted finish and I had no rust problems over the last several months of carrying it. Although I guess it also depends how you use your knife. If you don't wipe your blade down after food preps and getting it wet etc., rust could be a problem.

 

[ChrisDS]

my issue with the byrds is that the steel liners rust! The blade is fine.