- Joined
- Apr 15, 2002
- Messages
- 3,375
Yesterday I got 2 Byrds in the mail, the Raven and the Caracara.
I took some time to play around with the Raven and put it to some cutting tests.
Specs:
BY08BKP
Length overall 7 7/8" (200 mm)
Blade length 3 1/2" (89 mm)
Blade steel 8Cr13MoV
Length closed 4 3/8" (111 mm)
Cutting edge 2 7/8" (73 mm)
Weight 4.3 oz. (122 g)
Hole diameter 15/32" (12 mm)
Blade thickness 1/8" (3 mm)
Handle material Anodized Aluminum
The blade is coated black and has enough of a curve for most cutting chores. I found it easier to make a pull cut than a pushing type cut.
Fit and Finish:
The fit and finish is what is expected of a spyderco product. excellent. The blade opens smoothly, the clip is secure, and there was slight up and down play in the blade, but it was barely noticeable. The black finish on the blade had no scratches or scuffs, nor did the clip. The liner lock up was secure when thumbing the blade open, and with the "spyder drop", but with an inertia opening in both a forward and reverse grip the liner actually passed the tang of the blade to settle on the opposite side. The blade seemed to be locked up tight, and there was some difficulty unlocking it. The clip was tight, and held the knife securely both in the waistband, and in the side pocket. The textured handle (in a fish skeleton pattern) did not hinder drawing the knife from either position. The steel, similar to 440C was impressive in its edge holding ability, and ease of sharpening. I have yet to use the medium sharpmaker stones on this knife. All sharpening so far has been touch ups.
Ergonomics:
The knife seems to be a sturdy knife, and is somewhat heavier than I expected, although I prefer a heavier knife for harder use. It is well balanced and is comfortably held in a variety of grips. The handle feels slippery at first, but I found that it was actually quite secure, even with wet hands.
The opening hole is somewhat difficult to get used to. I prefer the circular spyderhole, and I had some issues at first with opening the blade with the comet shaped hole. the tip of my thumb tended to hang up in the comet's "tail". I got it after some practice, but again, I prefer the round hole.
Cutting:
The knife shaved hair right from the box. The first thing I cut with the Raven was an apple, and I made 30 cuts. the blade was somewhat thick to be a good slicer, cracking off the pieces at the end of the cut, but it is hollow ground, and my delica behaves in the same way.
Still with the original edge, and still hair-shaving sharp, I cut up a plastic 12 oz water bottle. I made 10 cuts and the knife still shaved hair from my forearm. I then made three 12 inch cuts of a 9x12 piece of cardboard, and then proceded to cut them into smaller (inch wide) pieces. I made 28 cuts. This made it a little more difficult to shave hair, it tended to catch on the hairs and pull them before taking them off. It still easily sliced a free hanging piece of notebook paper on both a pull cut and a push cut. I made about 50 cuts on the paper. The knife hung up more on shaving hair after the paper, but stropping it on a piece of cardboard got it shaving sharp again.
I then cut up a soda bottle that was slightly heavier plastic than the water bottle. I made a continuous cut, creating a spiral of plastic about 1/3" wide, like a slinky. Then I cut an 8x8 piece of cardboard into small squares. It took about 88 cuts to do.
The Raven still sliced free hanging paper in both a push and pull cut after these tests, and the belly of the blade still managed to shave hair with some difficulty.
I then took a 7/16" piece of pot warp, (sinking line used on lobster pot trawls, consisting of 3 strands of nylon and polypropylene fibers. Rope of this type is extremely hard on a knife's edge.) After 2 cuts the edge was noticeably duller, and the blade had somes scratches on the polish of the bevel. Also, there was a chip or burr in the edge, visible to the naked eye at arm's length. The third cut on the rope took 4 tries to completely sever the line, and left the blade dull. all of these cuts were made with the rope bent over the edge of the blade, and were made by pushing the blade away from me, and drawn downwards at the same time. This steel is very good for the money. I was impressed so far.
I sharpened the raven on the sharpmaker after the rope cuts with 20 passes (10 per side) on the corner of the fine (white) rods at the 40 degree angle. This left the knife sharper than it was when I took it out of the box. did I say I liked this steel? well, i do.
After sharpening, I made another cut on the rope. It took 2 strokes to part it, but that seemed to be due more to the shape and length of the blade than to how sharp it was. Then edge was noticeably duller after this try, but it was not dull by a long shot. I sharpened it again anyhow (I like a SHARP edge) on the sharpmaker. 10 more strokes per side of the blade, again on the corners of the white stones at 40 degrees.
Next I shaved the bark from a 2 foot, 3/4 inch thick maple branch and made 150 shaving cuts. When i was finished, I was still able to shave a patch of hair from my forearm, which now looks like steve carrells chest in the 40 year old virgin.
Overall impressions:
I like this knife. It is small and unobtrusive. I'm not really a fan of black blades, but other than that, this is a great little knife. The coating was scuffed after these tests, but I could not see the metal underneath. I carried it around for the rest of the afternoon in my right front pants pocket, and I hardly knew it was there. It offers a very positive grip and opens smoothly. For $20 I don't think you can beat this knife. The steel is very good, and takes and holds an edge as good as, if not better than, 440C. I plan on carrying this knife for a while and giving it a workout on the boat.
Pete
NEXT- On the boat the next day...and some more cutting tests.
I took some time to play around with the Raven and put it to some cutting tests.
Specs:
BY08BKP
Length overall 7 7/8" (200 mm)
Blade length 3 1/2" (89 mm)
Blade steel 8Cr13MoV
Length closed 4 3/8" (111 mm)
Cutting edge 2 7/8" (73 mm)
Weight 4.3 oz. (122 g)
Hole diameter 15/32" (12 mm)
Blade thickness 1/8" (3 mm)
Handle material Anodized Aluminum
The blade is coated black and has enough of a curve for most cutting chores. I found it easier to make a pull cut than a pushing type cut.
Fit and Finish:
The fit and finish is what is expected of a spyderco product. excellent. The blade opens smoothly, the clip is secure, and there was slight up and down play in the blade, but it was barely noticeable. The black finish on the blade had no scratches or scuffs, nor did the clip. The liner lock up was secure when thumbing the blade open, and with the "spyder drop", but with an inertia opening in both a forward and reverse grip the liner actually passed the tang of the blade to settle on the opposite side. The blade seemed to be locked up tight, and there was some difficulty unlocking it. The clip was tight, and held the knife securely both in the waistband, and in the side pocket. The textured handle (in a fish skeleton pattern) did not hinder drawing the knife from either position. The steel, similar to 440C was impressive in its edge holding ability, and ease of sharpening. I have yet to use the medium sharpmaker stones on this knife. All sharpening so far has been touch ups.
Ergonomics:
The knife seems to be a sturdy knife, and is somewhat heavier than I expected, although I prefer a heavier knife for harder use. It is well balanced and is comfortably held in a variety of grips. The handle feels slippery at first, but I found that it was actually quite secure, even with wet hands.
The opening hole is somewhat difficult to get used to. I prefer the circular spyderhole, and I had some issues at first with opening the blade with the comet shaped hole. the tip of my thumb tended to hang up in the comet's "tail". I got it after some practice, but again, I prefer the round hole.
Cutting:
The knife shaved hair right from the box. The first thing I cut with the Raven was an apple, and I made 30 cuts. the blade was somewhat thick to be a good slicer, cracking off the pieces at the end of the cut, but it is hollow ground, and my delica behaves in the same way.
Still with the original edge, and still hair-shaving sharp, I cut up a plastic 12 oz water bottle. I made 10 cuts and the knife still shaved hair from my forearm. I then made three 12 inch cuts of a 9x12 piece of cardboard, and then proceded to cut them into smaller (inch wide) pieces. I made 28 cuts. This made it a little more difficult to shave hair, it tended to catch on the hairs and pull them before taking them off. It still easily sliced a free hanging piece of notebook paper on both a pull cut and a push cut. I made about 50 cuts on the paper. The knife hung up more on shaving hair after the paper, but stropping it on a piece of cardboard got it shaving sharp again.
I then cut up a soda bottle that was slightly heavier plastic than the water bottle. I made a continuous cut, creating a spiral of plastic about 1/3" wide, like a slinky. Then I cut an 8x8 piece of cardboard into small squares. It took about 88 cuts to do.
The Raven still sliced free hanging paper in both a push and pull cut after these tests, and the belly of the blade still managed to shave hair with some difficulty.
I then took a 7/16" piece of pot warp, (sinking line used on lobster pot trawls, consisting of 3 strands of nylon and polypropylene fibers. Rope of this type is extremely hard on a knife's edge.) After 2 cuts the edge was noticeably duller, and the blade had somes scratches on the polish of the bevel. Also, there was a chip or burr in the edge, visible to the naked eye at arm's length. The third cut on the rope took 4 tries to completely sever the line, and left the blade dull. all of these cuts were made with the rope bent over the edge of the blade, and were made by pushing the blade away from me, and drawn downwards at the same time. This steel is very good for the money. I was impressed so far.
I sharpened the raven on the sharpmaker after the rope cuts with 20 passes (10 per side) on the corner of the fine (white) rods at the 40 degree angle. This left the knife sharper than it was when I took it out of the box. did I say I liked this steel? well, i do.
After sharpening, I made another cut on the rope. It took 2 strokes to part it, but that seemed to be due more to the shape and length of the blade than to how sharp it was. Then edge was noticeably duller after this try, but it was not dull by a long shot. I sharpened it again anyhow (I like a SHARP edge) on the sharpmaker. 10 more strokes per side of the blade, again on the corners of the white stones at 40 degrees.
Next I shaved the bark from a 2 foot, 3/4 inch thick maple branch and made 150 shaving cuts. When i was finished, I was still able to shave a patch of hair from my forearm, which now looks like steve carrells chest in the 40 year old virgin.
Overall impressions:
I like this knife. It is small and unobtrusive. I'm not really a fan of black blades, but other than that, this is a great little knife. The coating was scuffed after these tests, but I could not see the metal underneath. I carried it around for the rest of the afternoon in my right front pants pocket, and I hardly knew it was there. It offers a very positive grip and opens smoothly. For $20 I don't think you can beat this knife. The steel is very good, and takes and holds an edge as good as, if not better than, 440C. I plan on carrying this knife for a while and giving it a workout on the boat.
Pete
NEXT- On the boat the next day...and some more cutting tests.