- Joined
- Feb 11, 2005
- Messages
- 582
Well, my Cara Cara got baptized this weekend. We spent a couple of nights in the Ouachita National Forest and I decided to put my new Byrd through its paces. I used it for all my regular tasks, plus some extra use just for kicks. I cut jute, 550 paracord, and some rather dirty nylon twine found by the camp. I chopped about 10 limbs ½ in diameter from a seasoned blown down hickory using a loose 2 finger grip on the end of the handle. It took about 3 good smacks per limb due to the light blade, and very hard dry wood. I whittled with my son until my hand just quit on me. We whittled pine, cedar, oak, and hickory, probably a couple of hundred slices all weekend. All the wood was dead and dry. No green cutting allowed there, and wouldnt anyway unless necessary.
I also cut up a couple of cardboard drink boxes, snack cracker boxes, etc. The final analysis is that the knife would still roughly shave with a good bit of pressure, and would slice, but not push cut newsprint. There was no chipping, or rolled areas visible along the edge. After about 10-15 strokes per side on a strop it was shaving cleanly, and most sections of the blade will now push cut again. The blade did take some scratches, but my mirror polish shows every tiny scratch so its probably not as bad as it seems. The handle was a bit rough for extended heavy whittling. The FRN will definitely grip, but is also quite abrasive. The ridges on the top of the handle along side the lock really dug into my hand. The clip is very tight, and even with the very thin fabric on my fishing pants it held snug. There was no loosening of the blade, or handle after the chopping. The blade length was nice when slicing sausage for the grill, and spreading mayo & mustard for burgers. All in all I am very pleased with the Cara Cara. Now I am looking forward to the Catbyrd.
:thumbup:
I also cut up a couple of cardboard drink boxes, snack cracker boxes, etc. The final analysis is that the knife would still roughly shave with a good bit of pressure, and would slice, but not push cut newsprint. There was no chipping, or rolled areas visible along the edge. After about 10-15 strokes per side on a strop it was shaving cleanly, and most sections of the blade will now push cut again. The blade did take some scratches, but my mirror polish shows every tiny scratch so its probably not as bad as it seems. The handle was a bit rough for extended heavy whittling. The FRN will definitely grip, but is also quite abrasive. The ridges on the top of the handle along side the lock really dug into my hand. The clip is very tight, and even with the very thin fabric on my fishing pants it held snug. There was no loosening of the blade, or handle after the chopping. The blade length was nice when slicing sausage for the grill, and spreading mayo & mustard for burgers. All in all I am very pleased with the Cara Cara. Now I am looking forward to the Catbyrd.
:thumbup:
