Spyderco vs. Byrd

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No_b00st

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Aug 10, 2008
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563
So, today I acquired one of Spyderco's "starter" models- the Tenacious - in a half-serrated blade. When I got it home and placed it in my collection, I realized how similar it is to another knife I have - the Byrd Cara Cara G10.

These knives are both designed by Spyderco, both use identical steels and G10 handles, and are both tough and well built knives for an attractive price. Which is better? Well, let's take a look.



Byrd Cara Cara G10:
caracara1xu2.jpg

MSRP: $38.95
Country of Origin: China
Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV
OAL: 8 5/8"
Blade length: 3 7/8"
Lock type: Back-lock, boye detent
weight: 5.6 oz
Handle material: black textured G10
Clip: right or left hand tip-up only
extras: lanyard hole, strange looking opening hole,

Spyderco Tenacious
tenacious1zx4.jpg

MSRP: $49.95
Country of Origin: China
Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV
OAL: 7 3/4"
Blade Length: 3 3/8"
Lock type: locking liner
weight: 4.0oz
handle material: black textured G10
clip: 4-way repositionable
extras: thumb ramp in handle, lanyard hole


So, to get down to business:

Blade Steel: Obviously a draw. the 8Cr13Mov is basically Spyderco's chinese answer to AUS-8, and it's not bad. It doesn't stay hair-popping sharp for long, but it's not difficult to return to that nice edge.

Locking Mechanism: the Cara Cara. The lockback here is just rock solid, with great ergos for one-handed opening or closing. The Boye detent is a great idea; makes it easier to close when you want to, and harder to accidentally close when you don't want to. Although to the Tenacious' credit, there is absolutely 0 blade play in any direction - which i find impressive with a cheap liner lock.

Ergonomics: tough, but it'll have to be the Byrd by a margin here. It's got a nice choil that's formed by the forward part of the grip and the back end of the blade which allows you to choke up for more delicate work. Thumb ramp on spine is a bit shallow but nice jimping for grip. The G10 on both of these knives is grippy and feels wonderful. Downside to the Cara Cara: it's much narrower (top to bottom) than the Tenacious. Basically, I'll put it this way: if you're an Endura kinda guy, you'll like the Cara Cara. If you're a Native kinda guy, you'll probably like the Tenacious. I'm an Endura kinda guy.

Fit and finish: the Byrd has a CLEAR advantage here. I'm not sure why, but the G10 mates to the liners much cleaner, it feels tighter and more expensive. Considering it isn't, that's weird. The Tenacious doesn't feel CHEAP... just cheaper than the Cara Cara.

Usability: Tenacious. Honestly, for EDC purposes I find the blade on the Cara Cara to be a bit large for the delicate things you end up doing. This is not a knife you'd really feel comfortable, say, taking a tag off a girlfriend's collar with. Also, the full-flat grind of the Tenacious makes it more of a slicer in my eyes than the Cara Cara, although the blade isn't nearly as thick at the spine so I wouldn't pry with it. But then again - DON'T PRY WITH YOUR KNIFE!

Price: Cara Cara. I paid 38 for my Tenacious and 27 for my Cara Cara. Honestly, the Cara Cara is the better deal.

Other notes: I like how the Cara Cara's clip setup is done. I think tip up left and right is a good way to do it - that way you're not leaving out the lefties! If you're looking for a "flickable" knife, i'd go for the Tenacious - I tend to find it more difficult to flick a backlock open compared to a liner.


Overall: Well, ok. Clearly the Byrd is the "better" knife. However, it's a bit big 'n scary for everyday carry, and the blade geometry of the Spyderco is probably more useful on a day-to-day basis. Which would I get? Well, both, honestly.

Here are some pictures for size comparison:

both1lu4.jpg

both2kc8.jpg
 
the g10 cara cara is my current and favorite beater. i don't mind abusing it slightly more than i would another knife because i can always pick up another one for like $30.

the tenacious is a nice as well, but i like the cara cara's length to width ratio more.
 
pedicabdriver said:
the g10 cara cara is my current and favorite beater. i don't mind abusing it slightly more than i would another knife because i can always pick up another one for like $30.

the tenacious is a nice as well, but i like the cara cara's length to width ratio more.
Click to expand...

I think that's why these two similar knives feel so different in the hand. I'm still on the wall about which really feels better in hand... thank god I've got two hands!
 
No_b00st said:
Basically, I'll put it this way: if you're an Endura kinda guy, you'll like the Cara Cara. If you're a Native kinda guy, you'll probably like the Tenacious. I'm an Endura kinda guy.
Click to expand...

Sort of like being either an Elvis fan or Beatles fan, eh?

Nice review.
 
My wife carries the G-10 Cara Cara at times. She really likes the Clack! it makes when it opens.:D
 
The serrated edge on the Tenacious ought to provide substantial cutting ability well beyond that of the Cara Cara (though the Cara Ditto does come with a partially serrated edge, too). I also would expect the blade of the Tenacious to be slightly better than that of the Cara Ditto, though the longer blade also has to be taken into consideration.

Overall, I still like my Cold Steel Voyager better than the Cara Ditto, but for the price, the latter can't be beat!
 
Hmm, my Tenacious' scales line up perfectly with the liners, and looks at least as good as the Byrd Robin G-10 in the house (don't own a Cara.)

For carry options, the Tenacious should definitely have the edge over the Byrd, tip-down feels safer to me, the main reason I don't carry my SS Native and got the Tenacious for EDC.

I have an Endura, which is about the size of the Cara, and I get nervous looks when I take it out, due to its size. The Tenacious (in PE at least) looks much friendlier with the leaf shaped and stubby looking blade.

The only thing I'm still struggling with, is the lack of a finger choil on the blade. I have a tendency to try and grip the blade. Not drawn blood on it yet, though :p
 
I had a different experience. CC is a nice knife, no doubt, but there were clear quality differences in favor of the Tenacious. Ten. liner works flawlessly, no worries about pocket dust interfering with the mechanism like in the CC. Also, I found the Ten. ergos to be better, for me. A closer-to-3" blade is much more practical than a closer-to-4" blade for big city urban carry. I still like the Spydie opening hole better, though I do tend to give the edge to my Meadowlark over the Delica, but that is another story.. :)
 
The serrations were too toothy on my CE Tenacious - it rather rip than cut most material... :thumbdn: but PE version is a great slicer. :thumbup:

I put the blade for 9 hours to saltwater, only minor pitting occured. ;)
nhgalOJu77u.jpg
 
Nice review, the byrds are a good deal but I really hate the shape of the eye. (minor gripe)
 
As good as my Byrd Crossbill is (which is currently my daily carry), I'd take my Spyderco Civilian over it every time in a fight.

The Byrd's economic value is unbeatable though!
 
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