Byrd Robin G10 vs Persistence

thejamppa

thejamppa

Joined
Aug 20, 2009
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Hi!

I am now really drooling over few models in ebay: Spyderco Byrd Robin with G-10 handles ( $23 + shipping ) and Spyderco Persistence with G-10 handles ($32+Shipping)

I am looking quality small folder that I can carry for light to medium tasks but can still be called good quality while being value in price. I like Spyderco's and they seem to fit bill.

Currently I am leaning towards Persistence. Both models are unavailable in Finland but in eBay there seems to be quite many choices. I love my Tenacious but I am looking something smaller than that while bigger than Ladybug. I am just wondering is it worth paying $10 extra of G-10 Robin is quality build too, as most byrds seemed to be?

It would be great if someone could make some comparasions between Byrd Robin and Persistence or has both could post photo of their sizes.
 
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I just bought the Persistence, to complement my Tenacious, but it hasn't come in yet. I don't have the robin, but I do have the G10 CE meadowlark. I'll take some pics and do a quick comparo on size and shape, since they have the same steel. I'll admit, my choice was purely for the brand name, though I know Byrd knives are great users. I had a hard time deciding between a plain-edge G10 meadowlark and the Persistence.
 
I got my Persistence yesterday and am totally impressed with this $31.95 knife! the opening felt a little hesitant so I just finished a disasemble, cleaning, relube with miltec, and reassemble, and it is ever so smooth. The lockup is really good, especially with the thick liners, and the lockbar exerts good pressue to keep itself from sliding loose, and also good pressure when blade is closed. Another thing I like to see in a liner lock, and a mark of quality I think, is when the detent ball and detent hole line up so that the last 1/4" of closing feels like the blade is being pulled closed by some outside force, the Persistence has it. I did some cutting today, and this included the normal stuff; envelopes, sharpened some pencils, cutting card stock, etc., and also some not normal stuff like several medium cardboard boxes I cut down just to see how the edge and the ffg would work. Happy to report that it came through the cutting just fine and still shaving sharp. This is a great knife, and when you factor in the price it becomes a most excellent knife!
 
Honestly, the phosphor bronze bushings alone justify spending the extra 10 bucks for me. My Tenacious owns my byrd crow.
 
I own the Robin and a Tenacious. I'd go Persistence for the blade shape and lineage!
 
*waits for kershaw ppl to come in and tell you to get a kershaw* haha
get the persistence for the FFG!
 
both are great blades, the Robin's are tough little knives, but the Persistance has better materials and design. Assuming it's exactly like the Tenacious, just shrunk, which I hear it is.
 
vitekboi said:
*waits for kershaw ppl to come in and tell you to get a kershaw* haha
get the persistence for the FFG!
Click to expand...

Well, actually I just got Kershaw Needs Work Black... Its here right by my hand. Wonderful little knife... Just wondering if there is way in this model for disabling the speed safe like some Kershaw's.

But I'll see situation later with these two knives. What their availability. On the ebay shop I am currently watching Robin G-10's are 10+ and Persistences 6
 
For the few extra dollars, I think the Persistence is worth it. I think Spyderco hit a homerun with the Persistence. My hat's off to Sal and company.
 
Well, just got my Robin a couple days ago. It's a neat little knife, that's for sure. The G-10 is very, very grippy. Paired with the basic pocket clip, this little knife sure isn't going to be slipping out of my pocket anytime soon. It's a pretty small knife, but with the finger choils and nice jimping, it works very nicely. It's not quite as smooth as the Persistence in opening and closing, but I think if I cleaned it up some, it'd be just fine.

Overall, I like how low-profile the Robin is, but the G-10 is a little annoying. Perhaps it just needs to be polished up a bit. For the price, I think it's definitely worth it.
 
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