Spyderco Byrd Cara Cara2 Rescue?

S

ShooterMcgavin

Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
609
What do you folks think of this knife? Decent quality for the price?

I ordered this knife recently but I have not received it yet. I wanted a knife for water-related emergency situations, where I might need to cut a rope quickly. It could be a situation where I need to jump into water, cut something free, and just let the knife go, so I figured I'd get something cheaper than the H1 models. Resistance to rust is not a major concern; I definitely wanted a larger than average serrated edge. If you have any experience with it, I'd like to hear your thoughts.
 
I almost bought that knife. Wanted a serrated but cheap knife. The nuts meadowlark hawkbill fit my needs more (it has a point) but I kind of wanted to cara cara rescue due to size. I would by both but I'm leaving the country soon.
 
Just to follow up... I got the Cara Cara2 Rescue last night. It seems like a good blade but I can't comment on its edge holding yet. The blade is pretty thick at the spine, which I like for an emergency knife. The fit and finish is not up to par with the regular Spydercos that I have used. However, at <$23 shipped, I would buy it again. I think it is a good value, even if the edges are a little rough. The opening action is somewhat stiff, but not too bad. At least it is not pinned, like some higher-end Spydercos, so I can make adjustments myself. The traction on the grip is very good, using a bi-directional design. The blade is pretty long at 4" and it is not office-environment-friendly. I do like the blunt tip and it is not an overly heavy knife. The opening hole is oversized, which should be a good thing if gloved deployment is ever required. There is a little side-to-side play, and a little less up-down play when opened, but I am not worried about it. The pocket clip is a little looser than the wire-clips I have received on Spyderco knives, but it is "good enough". I could bend it if I want a firmer hold, and it is 4-way position-able. When it comes down to it, if you want a "good" (not "great" or "excellent") rescue-style knife, I think this is an excellent value at $23.

I need to test it out on some rope/cord/webbing/etc., but my initial feelings are that this is a very capable folding knife. I will add a brightly colored lanyard. I may carry this as a backup edc knife on occasion, and I will definitely have this handy when involved in water activities.
 
it is a very good workhorse knife. I have used one for the past 3 years. click the link in my sig or search here. I did an ongoing review of my first one before I lost it overboard setting lobster traps. Spyderco sent me another one. The serrations are by far the most user friendly that spyderco has ever put out.
 
It depends on how much of an emergency situation you're talking about. If you're cutting a dolphin free, that's one thing; if you're cutting a person free, that's another. People don't last long when they're caught in rope in deep water. I remember an old knife ad that included a note by an oil rig worker who was caught in rope and had to cut his way free using a locking folding knife with no serrations. The writer said that now his buddies all wanted the same knife.

Before using serrations, you should try cutting the type rope to ensure it cuts quickly and cleanly. Some nylon nautical ropes tend to snag on serrations unless you double the cord and cut upwards. The whole Spyderco Cara Cara line is normally rugged and dependable. Not sure I would get the blunt ended model as you never know when you'll need a point.
 
Confederate said:
It depends on how much of an emergency situation you're talking about. If you're cutting a dolphin free, that's one thing; if you're cutting a person free, that's another. People don't last long when they're caught in rope in deep water. I remember an old knife ad that included a note by an oil rig worker who was caught in rope and had to cut his way free using a locking folding knife with no serrations. The writer said that now his buddies all wanted the same knife.

Before using serrations, you should try cutting the type rope to ensure it cuts quickly and cleanly. Some nylon nautical ropes tend to snag on serrations unless you double the cord and cut upwards. The whole Spyderco Cara Cara line is normally rugged and dependable. Not sure I would get the blunt ended model as you never know when you'll need a point.
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if the serrations on Shooter's Cara Cara Rescue remain unchanged from the models I have owned, they won't snag on any nautical rope. I have cut everything from commercial fishing rope laid so tightly it was not spliceable to modern nylon dockline that was so loosely laid that it would unravel if you looked at it wrong. The Cara Cara Rescue and Byrd Rescue 2 serrations will slice paper without catching. They are not "pointy" or deep. They will cut through monofilament fishing line as easily as sawing through two inch hawser.

Any knife with a sharp edge will work to cut rope, especially rope with a strain on it. I like the sheepsfoot blade because it gives you a long straight cutting edge. I have found cutting rope that using a blade with belly causes the rope to slide off of the point where the angle and straight edge of the sheepsfoot blade makes cutting even thicker rope easier with less effort.
 
Pete1977 said:
it is a very good workhorse knife. I have used one for the past 3 years. click the link in my sig or search here. I did an ongoing review of my first one before I lost it overboard setting lobster traps. Spyderco sent me another one. The serrations are by far the most user friendly that spyderco has ever put out.
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Pete, where were you 3 weeks ago when I was debating this purchase??? :p ;) Thanks for the good review :) It looks like you are involved daily in exactly the situations where you can know in a short time whether a blade will be "great" or "chum". I appreciate the insight.

Also, thanks for the explanation on the Rescue serrations' profile. I am far from an expert on serrations, since I have avoided them most of my life.

P.S. I used to live in Boston for a few years. I miss it!!

Confederate said:
It depends on how much of an emergency situation you're talking about. If you're cutting a dolphin free, that's one thing; if you're cutting a person free, that's another. People don't last long when they're caught in rope in deep water. I remember an old knife ad that included a note by an oil rig worker who was caught in rope and had to cut his way free using a locking folding knife with no serrations. The writer said that now his buddies all wanted the same knife.

Before using serrations, you should try cutting the type rope to ensure it cuts quickly and cleanly. Some nylon nautical ropes tend to snag on serrations unless you double the cord and cut upwards. The whole Spyderco Cara Cara line is normally rugged and dependable. Not sure I would get the blunt ended model as you never know when you'll need a point.
Click to expand...
That's the thing about emergencies. I don't know what they will be or when :) Giving it a good test on some material is definitely a good idea though. I should put a lanyard on it and get comfortable grabbing it from its carry position and deploying it too. The first step is having a good tool though - I'm not training to be a Navy SEAL.
Honestly, I don't put myself into emergency situations often. I don't know what I might need to cut. I do know that, if ever in that situation, I want something with a good, long, aggressive blade which will cut/rip/tear/free-up whatever is causing the threat. Seatbelt, cord, rope, webbing, strapping, dock-lines or whatever I can reasonably prepare for. I used it yesterday for de-pitting an avocado. It worked perfectly, the first time; no lives were threatened! Hopefully, that is the most traumatic situation it ever needs to be used in :)

Here are some situations where the knife could be put into good, quick use, from my experience...
-I was in a boat, towing my brother on a knee-board. He was young at the time. He fell and let go of the tow rope, but he could not get free from the strap holding him onto the knee-board. The board was floating with him underneath, struggling to stay above the water. My dad was quick to dive in and get the strap off him.
-I was towing a skier, who fell in a very awkward position, face-forward. The skeg/fin of the water ski came up behind him and put a deep cut into the top of his head. If this had been worse, or different, it might have required getting him out of the life vest quickly by cutting the straps.
-There was a storm coming and we had a relatively light weight aluminum boat tied to the windward side of the dock. The waves picked up and the strong wind caught the side of the boat as it was high on a wave and flipped the boat up and into the dock pylons. In that position, the weight of the boat was preventing it from being freed, because it was resting on the lines that were tying it to the dock (and the lines were being pushed down to the water line). It took a lot of work to keep the windward side of the boat down on the water, as we untied the boat to move it into a better location. Cutting it free would have been much faster and probably safer, rather than fighting to untie ropes between a dock and a boat, as the waves moved everything up and down.
...Those are just some examples. I'm not living in a fantasy world - um, not as far as being able to put a good knife to use, at least :)
 
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