Lower end Spyderco vs Byrd

J

jeff_c

Joined
Jun 9, 2009
Messages
725
So as I am learning and reading (devouring the Spyderco catalog!) I have a question.

Ok, so the Byrd line was created to offer a more economical knife line "by" Spyderco.

Why then release knives like the Tenacious and Persistence?

Is it simply to give more options? Would people be more likely to buy a Tenacious or Persistence just because it says SPYDERCO instead of BYRD?

I know there are obvious design/style differences Im just curious. They use the same blade steel, Presumably the same handle materials and all of them are made in China.

Finally, other than the design and style differences is there any difference in quality or build from say a Persistence and a Meadowlark?

I ask all this because im so impressed with my Byrds, Im thinking of getting a Persistence. LOL. Im wondering if I would notice a major difference in materials or build quality.
 
I have a Tenacious and a Cara Cara.......both are very high quality, the Cara Cara ends up in my pocket more often!
 
Just got my first Byrd...a G10 Meadowlark. Has features of a higher priced knife and besides being a somewhat sticky opener its a great knife for the price.

I actually prefer it to the the Tenacious and Persistence due to its closely resembling a favorite of mine the Delica. Basically a Delica with a choil.

But yeah...the line between low end Spydercos vs. Byrds...blurry.
 
I'd say the Tenacious "family" of knives is a step up from the Byrds for several reasons. If nothing else the round hole opener gives them an advantage. But they also carry the regular Spyderco warranty while the Byrd warranty is more limited and the overall fit and finish seems better, at least on the examples that I've handled. But to answer your question, no, you will not see a "major difference" in materials or workmanship. If you notice it at all, it will be subtle. Of course, design can be more important than any of that, so if one of the Byrds "works" better for you, then it's a better choice.

Paul
bar_02.gif

My Personal Website ---- Beginners Guide to Spyderco Collecting ---- Kiwimania ---- Spydiewiki
Dead horses beaten, sacred cows tipped, chimeras hunted when time permits.
WTC # 1458 - 1504 - 1508 - Never Forget, Never Forgive!
It's easy to grin when your ship comes in and good fortune and fame are your lot, but the man worthwhile is the man who can smile with his shorts twisted up in a knot. - Morey Amsterdam
 
Well, I can say between the Tenacious I bought a couple years ago, and the CaraCara G-10 I purchased recently, the Tenacious is head and shoulders above the Cara as far as F&F and overall quality goes. The grind on my Tenacious feels like a flat grind should, while the Cara's "flat grind" was wavy and WAY too thick at the edge. To put it short, I would buy another Tenacious for use, or as a gift, however I will NOT be buying another BYRD.
 
I ripped the clip off my G10 Cara Cara. Took it apart to find out out that that the clip screws weren't fully threaded into the liners. Never seen any problems like that on any of my regular Spydies.
 
Go to the knife shop and handle both, you will see the tenacious family is a better quality of knife...
 
yeah, no where around that sells them... It seems like Spyderco used to be everywhere back in the early 90s. Now the few shops around here that have them have a pretty small selection.

I have about decided my next purchase will be a Tenacious or a Persistence... now to decide which one.... And then to write some comparisons!
 
A friend of mine just bought a Tenacious at a local gun shop. I was impressed with the design and construction. Not a super steel blade, but adequate for urban EDC use.
 
In some cases, it's a clear decision. There's no mainline Spyderco equivalent to the byrd Wings Slipit at all, or the locking Wing (Unless you spend a ton of time and money tracking down the old full-sized Dyad.) In others, I think it's mostly a matter of what shape, style and lock you like better.
 
I just bought the Byrd Hawkbill II and I'm pretty impressed. These latest gen Byrds are pretty nice if they are all like mine. Rock solid lock up, the steel holds and edge as good as any AUS 8 blades I have, blade well centered. Clip is same exact design they use on the Delica/Endura series. Serrations cut perfectly. Only thing I don't like is the high polish clip, it's pretty and doesn't get ugly like black clips, but I "stonewashed" mine to cut the shine way down. Looks far less attention grabbing now and will wear well.
 
I have a Byrd Crossbill G10 and a Tenacious, a Persistence and a Resilience. I like them all, can't really see or feel a difference in quality or F&F except the Byrd clip is less "nice" than the others. All that being said, I carry the Spydies more as they're much more suited for EDC than a scary looking, serrated talon like the Crossbill is. Don't think you can go wrong with any of them, really.
 
Sorry to bump an old thread, but I was just looking into this very subject and used the newly resurrected search function.

I was thinking of picking up a Tenacious and a Persistence, but I hate that neither has a Choil (something that I didn't used to find as necessary in a folder until I got a few Spydercos that had them and now I can't live without one in a smaller knife).

So I was looking at the Meadowlark, the Crow, and even the Robin.

Anyone who has both a value-Spydie and a similar Byrd have any input? Is the Choil worth going to the lesser warranty and lesser fit/finish?
 
The Chinese Spydercos are excellent. I bought them all after getting the Tenacious & my girlfriend stubbornly edcs a Persistence despite having some pretty pricey blades in our collection. That said, I'm waiting on the new Meadowlark 2 frn to hit my mailbox ($25 shipped!). I like the design & the tweaks they made for 2011. It'll be my at-work edc so I'll sound off again when it shows up.
 
I have found both the Tenacious lineup as well as the Byrd family to be of excellent quality. I probably prefer the Byrds as they consume less space in the pocket.

budget-allopen.jpg

Tenacious and siblings.

IMG_0332.jpg

Byrd Meadowlark G10.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top