First Spyderco (byrd)...wow.

M

Maikutis

Joined
Jan 2, 2007
Messages
193
So, I've never been a fan of Spyderco, the style just wasn't something I was looking for. But, after lurking here for the last few months, I decided that it is so well loved, its worth a look. I then weighed the two facts that it is supposedly a great knife, but that I didn't like the style. I'd have to depend on the budget line to satisfy these issues, so I checked out the Byrd knives. I found a G-10 Meadowlark for $21.00 plus some change for shipping and put in an order. With that, my knife arrived last Friday. I took my D.R. Grip (note: I still love my Grip) out of my pocket, threw in the Meadowlark, then went to work for a 72 hour shift (small boat station, Coast Guard). It's now Monday, and I've been using the knife for three days now. I have four words:

Mr. Glesser, you're amazing.

This knife is so nice. Solid lock up, no blade play, easy to open, secure pocket-clip, grippy handle, quality build, quality feel, nice and heavy in the hand (G-10 and I dislike a feather-weight knife), and razor sharp. I used it a lot, requiring sharpening both Friday and Saturday night, and I was able to get it sharp without a hassle. Oh-and that isn't to say that the knife didn't hold an edge, the knife was just heavily used.

Oh-and the threat of losing a knife over-board on a small boat is pretty real. Being able to replace such a knife at $25 is doable. Several of my shipmates have noticed (alright, I bragged) and will also likely be picking up a byrd model.

I may have to save up some cash, I'm now starting to eye the salt-series Spyderco's.

Thank you, Mr. Glesser.

SN Rushane,
U.S. Coast Guard
 
Glad you enjoy it. While I have no Byrds, I have been eyeing the Cara Cara G-10 lately. I have several Spydercos already and hear the Byrd line is a good bargain.
 
Maikutis said:
I took my D.R. Grip (note: I still love my Grip) out of my pocket, threw in the Meadowlark, then went to work for a 72 hour shift (small boat station, Coast Guard).
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Funny that you have a Ritter grip as well. I just bought a Delica 4 wave and I adore it to death. This is my second spyderco, my first was the Native Gen 1 with the s30V also an amzing knife for the price.The wave feature is amazing. I've tried it before since my friend had one that I ended up waving my Ritter Mini-Grip the day before I received my wave Delica 4 in the mail.

Currently I carry both just because I can't decide which one to take out of the house with me! The delica however, stays with everywhere in the house for cutting tasks since its so thin.

If you had to sharpen your byrd, have you thought about carrying both knives? Try tieing a lanyard onto your ritter and attach it to your pants belt loops IE paracord. Like you said, it doesn't hurt too much to lose a 25$ knife but it would be horrible to lose that Ritter which ran you around 107$ ish?

If the byrd line is your first spyderco, you need to try others, you will get addictied. I am a benchmade loyal guy, but spyderco has some really amazing knives that I can not resists.
 
Similar experiences myself. My G10 Cara Cara is the only modern one handed knife I use, the only one I feel I need. Good heft, very solid construction and wonderful ergonomics. Cuts better if you thin the edge out, but out of all the knives I've purchased it's one of the few that shipped with a profile I could leave at the factory angle and be happy with. That's one of my favorite things about Spydercos, is they use sensible edge angles.
 
I've also been keeping an eye out for a Spyderco with looks I can appreciate. I understand the form over function thing, but a lot of the line just looks funny to me.

That being said, the continued praise of Spyderco by those 'in the know' has me really wanting to try one out as an EDC. I don't mean to theadjack, but Sal Glesser posting in a thread, really impresses me as a customer.
 
Chinese Man: I'm also checking out the Delica, but I've got to convince my wife that I need another knife (gonna be a hard one). Oh, and I do carry two knives. I also carry a Myerchin with a marlinspike on my belt. However, when the SAR alarm goes off I take my pocket knife (now the Meadowlark) with me when I change out to a dry suit, while the Myerchin stays on my belt with my uniform at the station.

Vivi: I agree, awesome working knife. Nothing fancy or out of the ordinary, just something that gets the job done well. Oh yeah, the "choil" (is that right?) that allows you to get a grip close to the blade, awesome.

Enderwiggin: pick up a byrd line knife. Seriously. You're not dropping a lot of cash if you don't like it, and you're picking up one hell of a knife if you do. I'm not joking, I was in the same frame of mind as you. Let me put it this way: knowing what I know now, I would have paid triple the price. How do you count value? I love my D.R. Grip, a lot. But I can easily see it finding a home in my civilian jeans, where my Meadowlark will find a home in my ODU's and dry suit, hell, I may buy one for each because I can afford it (Hmmm, I'm seeing a reason to convince the wife!).

Mr. Glesser: Again, thanks. Great price, great knife. While I know there are better knives out there, even better knives that you sell, I honestly have a difficult time believing that there is a better value (forum readers: yeah, I know "value" is relative to the beholder, but work with me) for a working knife.

m. rushane
 
i alsso have a byrd,,,not bad at allfor the price,,,am thinking of getting some more,,,great little knife,,,
 
I'd heard a lot of good things about the Byrd's and decided to order the little Robin model to check them out. I was simply amazed (and I don't throw the word "amazed" out lightly) that I could get a knife of this quality for the price. ($21.21) Fit and finish was very good, lockup was solid and tight, and the G-10 scales looked great and had a nice grippy finish... About 5 minutes after examining the Robin I shot over to New Graham Knives and ordered the Cara Cara and the Meadowlark w/G10 scales - you certainly get your bang for the buck with the G-10 Byrds.
 
I have a Cara Cara G10 and I like it a lot, it’s a great knife for the money. It’s a solid sharp and functional knife.

CaraCara_hand1.jpg
 
As I've said before, I bought 6 Byrds at once just to see what they were like. Dollar for dollar, I have never been so impressed with a knife. :thumbup:
 
i work on boats as well, and i carry a serrated Spyderco Salt. For 50 bucks i wont cry too much if i lose it, but sure as hell hold on to it when i'm on deck.
 
I've been carrying around a plain edge G-10 Robin the last few weeks and am very pleased with it. It's been through the routine at work cutting cardboard, packing tape, bundle strap, and shrink wrap. It's a great knife at a bargain price. :thumbup:
 
I just got my meadowlark in the mail today. For $23 shipped, I really don't know how it can be beat. I have a feeling this will not be my last Spyderco product - maybe not even my only Byrd knife.
 
Maikutis said:
So, I've never been a fan of Spyderco, the style just wasn't something I was looking for. But, after lurking here for the last few months, I decided that it is so well loved, its worth a look. I then weighed the two facts that it is supposedly a great knife, but that I didn't like the style. I'd have to depend on the budget line to satisfy these issues, so I checked out the Byrd knives. I found a G-10 Meadowlark for $21.00 plus some change for shipping and put in an order. With that, my knife arrived last Friday. I took my D.R. Grip (note: I still love my Grip) out of my pocket, threw in the Meadowlark, then went to work for a 72 hour shift (small boat station, Coast Guard). It's now Monday, and I've been using the knife for three days now. I have four words:

Mr. Glesser, you're amazing.

This knife is so nice. Solid lock up, no blade play, easy to open, secure pocket-clip, grippy handle, quality build, quality feel, nice and heavy in the hand (G-10 and I dislike a feather-weight knife), and razor sharp. I used it a lot, requiring sharpening both Friday and Saturday night, and I was able to get it sharp without a hassle. Oh-and that isn't to say that the knife didn't hold an edge, the knife was just heavily used.

Oh-and the threat of losing a knife over-board on a small boat is pretty real. Being able to replace such a knife at $25 is doable. Several of my shipmates have noticed (alright, I bragged) and will also likely be picking up a byrd model.

I may have to save up some cash, I'm now starting to eye the salt-series Spyderco's.

Thank you, Mr. Glesser.

SN Rushane,
U.S. Coast Guard
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First off , thank you for your service to our Country. My Dad did his term in the Coast Guard. :)

Second , glad you liked the Byrd , they really are great knives for the ever inflating budget of today's folks. :thumbup:
 
. . . they really are great knives for the ever inflating budget of today's folks.
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Part of that budget problem just might be all of the offshoring, no?:p

Nah--keep shovelling money over to the Chicoms.:rolleyes:
 
Boats said:
Part of that budget problem just might be all of the offshoring, no?:p

Nah--keep shovelling money over to the Chicoms.:rolleyes:
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Hi Boats,

Unfortunately true. Lower and lower wages drive budgets down. American manufacturing going offshore, reduces skilled jobs which drives wages down. Immigrants working for lower wages which drives budgets down. A deadly spiral.

Sad part is Americans demand those "budget" prices and 9 out of 10 times will vote for them with their wallets. This forces American companies to manufacture offshore to compete. Part of the spiral.

We make knives in Golden as well for the 1 out of 10.

I will put in a plug for our "business style" to keep prices as low as possible, instead of as high as possible so we can serve our customers more effectively.

It also helps pay our own American crew.

sal
 
Boats said:
Part of that budget problem just might be all of the offshoring, no?:p

Nah--keep shovelling money over to the Chicoms.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Have you also considered what the typical American's budget would look like if it weren't for the abundant availability of inexpensive Chinese goods? Hopefully it's clear to most people that the situation is quite a bit more complex than to be explained away in a single sentence. I think Spyderco's "hybrid" manufacturing model is a good example of how an American knife company can operate and prosper in an economy that is becoming more and more global every day. However, this is not to say that it's the only viable solution, and there is certainly still a market for quality American knives.
 
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