Spydy Byrd--WOW!

Monofletch

Monofletch

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Jan 14, 2010
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I got a Byrd Cara Cara in a trade. It arrived today. I have to say for such an inexpensive knife this thing is nice. Well built. Aluminum spacer with jimping. I didn't expect this at all. Very impressive Spyderco.
Are they all this nice?
 
I own the both FRN and G10 versions.
I like the handle shape ( front choil specifically) better than the Endura.
 
The ones I've handled have sported excellent fit and finish and, I dig the fact that they are sort of doing their own thing as a brand, and trying to improve the different models, and materials. The new FRN handles look grand, and are a respectable homage to Spyderco's FRN IMO. I've wanted a Spyderco Harpy for some time, but don't really "need" one, so I'm kicking around the idea of getting a new generation, Byrd Hawkbill, just to satisfy my need for a modern hawkbill.
 
I just got one as well an very impressed. If they just got rid of the ugly bryd label on the blade and put a i dunno different logo instead.
 
Spyderco's Byrd line isn't made of the same higher end materials as their Spyderco line(well, other than the Tenacious and it's cousins), but they're still very good budget knives, similar in line to Kershaw's made in China stuff. They won't hold an edge as long as an S30V Spydie, but they're easy to sharpen and well made, so as long as you aren't doing something stupid with them like trying to pry open rocks or chop down tree limbs, they should serve you well.
 
The Byrds are IMO worth their cost and very serviceable. The steel sharpens very easily and takes a nice edge. Some people seem to equate wear resistance with quality. I'm not one of them and some of the steels I like have great wear resistance, some not so much. They are all usable and do the jobs I need them to or I don't bother. I have knives from Byrds up to customs using exotic alloys and they all have their uses.

My son often gets better use from his Byrds than his more expensive knives that have more wear resistance working around and under houses in the crawlspace. He has lost a couple crawling on his belly and it certainly hurts less to lose a Byrd than a P2, or other more expensive knife.

He has yet to chip a Byrd but he has chipped an Endura a time or two and the Endura is a "better" knife going by cost or reputation.

Joe
 
The Mastiff said:
The Byrds are IMO worth their cost and very serviceable. The steel sharpens very easily and takes a nice edge. Some people seem to equate wear resistance with quality. I'm not one of them and some of the steels I like have great wear resistance, some not so much. They are all usable and do the jobs I need them to or I don't bother. I have knives from Byrds up to customs using exotic alloys and they all have their uses.

My son often gets better use from his Byrds than his more expensive knives that have more wear resistance working around and under houses in the crawlspace. He has lost a couple crawling on his belly and it certainly hurts less to lose a Byrd than a P2, or other more expensive knife.

He has yet to chip a Byrd but he has chipped an Endura a time or two and the Endura is a "better" knife going by cost or reputation.

Joe
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I find myself buying less expensive knives too. I recently bought my second Cold Steel Roach Belly. I really like that blade shape, but I have been thinking about having a custom made inexpensively with a convex midrange steel, maybe VG-10
 
SweptEdge said:
I find myself buying less expensive knives too.
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I personally am quite fond of collecting the various budget Kershaws(I'm intending to pick up a Tremor and Burst this week, if I can swing it). My regular usage doesn't involve anything heavy duty, just opening packages, envelopes, and cutting the occasional zip tie, so any of the little $20 Kershaws work just fine. And if something happens and for whatever reason I DO lose one of them, well hey, I'm out $20, not too hard to replace it. Byrds are nice too, CRKT has a few in that range I'm interested in as well though I don't have as much experience with them.
 
DShiflet said:
I personally am quite fond of collecting the various budget Kershaws(I'm intending to pick up a Tremor and Burst this week, if I can swing it). My regular usage doesn't involve anything heavy duty, just opening packages, envelopes, and cutting the occasional zip tie, so any of the little $20 Kershaws work just fine. And if something happens and for whatever reason I DO lose one of them, well hey, I'm out $20, not too hard to replace it. Byrds are nice too, CRKT has a few in that range I'm interested in as well though I don't have as much experience with them.
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Yeah, I hear you on the Kershaws, I have a Leek and an OsoSweet that I really like. I'd like to try out some of the M-16 line from CRKT, and maybe an all stainless hawk bill from Byrd. lol, I have too many on my list
 
Glad to hear the positive review on byrd. I just ordered a byrd meadowlark hawkbill 2 to use as a companion to my new endura 4 wave. It should arrive today! I'm excited.
 
Adrstout said:
Glad to hear the positive review on byrd. I just ordered a byrd meadowlark hawkbill 2 to use as a companion to my new endura 4 wave. It should arrive today! I'm excited.
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That sounds cool! I don't think I've seen that one yet though.
 
SweptEdge said:
Yeah, I hear you on the Kershaws, I have a Leek and an OsoSweet that I really like. I'd like to try out some of the M-16 line from CRKT, and maybe an all stainless hawk bill from Byrd. lol, I have too many on my list
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Yeah, I got a Leek which is nice(hell, you can have a collection just collecting all the various Leeks!) and the Oso Sweet is one of my faves of their budget line(along with the Clash). For CRKT I intend on picking up a Ripple(I have a Premonition, but that's my only CRKT folder so far) before too long, and yeah, I got the Byrd "Crossbill" which is a stainless hawkbill that I quite like.
 
I carry a Blur every day. I have a Leek...this Byrd...a couple of SAKs..and my beloved JYD CB. I might have the Byrd in my pocket today- just to see how it rides.
I use to think the Rat 1 was the best low budget sub $30 knife, but not anymore.
 
Really? I think the rat 1 blows the byrd out of the water and I have 8 cara caras. The rat 1 is way easier to open, better steel aus 8 vs 8cr13mov not a huge difference but still a better steel. and made in taiwan vs chaina wich I've found to have better fit and finish and way better fasteners that don't strip , no blade play which all my byrds have unless I tighten the pivot to where it opens with two hands instead of one not to mention vertical play which isn't to bad but still there.
 
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I have had several Rat 1s. They are great knives. My Byrd is new and has no play yet, so my opinion might change. We will have to wait and see. Day 1 it would be a toss up.
 
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