Spydy Byrd--WOW!

FRN Cara Cara 2's are great, but they WILL develop rock lock after a while. The G10's are noticeably heavier and a little sharp on the liners. They'll develop the same problem though not as bad. It's a shame because the FRN's are my favorite locking knife otherwise.
My Robin 2 was ok but my Meadowlark 2 (both FRN) was the only lockback I've had that you could defeat with just your hands.

My three Endura 4's and one Delica 4 also have rock lock and much more uncomfortable handles. I think I'm probably done with Spyderco...
 
Mr. Bob said:
FRN Cara Cara 2's are great, but they WILL develop rock lock after a while. The G10's are noticeably heavier and a little sharp on the liners. They'll develop the same problem though not as bad. It's a shame because the FRN's are my favorite locking knife otherwise.
My Robin 2 was ok but my Meadowlark 2 (both FRN) was the only lockback I've had that you could defeat with just your hands.

My three Endura 4's and one Delica 4 also have rock lock and much more uncomfortable handles. I think I'm probably done with Spyderco...
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Wow, that's the first time I have heard that about Enduras and Delicas
 
Supposedly that's just how lockbacks can often wear if used hard. Granted, I've used my spyderco and byrd lock backs extremely hard and never had even an iota of play in the blade....

Onto Byrd, I got a SS handled Cara Cara 2 as a groomsman gift for my friend's wedding. Fit and finish wise it is on par with all of my other Spydies, meaning I can't really find any flaws.
 
the only spyderco lockbacks that I've handled about 20 to 30 with no play are both my awesome original large persians I dont know why I thought all lockbacks have play but not these two knives you grab the tip and hold the handle tight and wiggle up and down none side to side none it feels like a cold steel triad lock rock solid.
 
If that Spyderco was anywhere near the Sog that I returned this past year, I would be against Spyderco too. You guys should have seen that Sog Aegis, it was like an eccentric weather vain.
 
I just returned 2 sog vulcans with vertical blade play too bad because it was a beautiful blade I just hate blade play luckly the third on I got was rock solid.
 
Planterz said:
Says who?
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I second the "Says who". The Golden Spyderco's I have are a work of art as far as tools. I could be wrong, but it seems the high quality knives coming out of the Taiwan factory are the higher priced models, maybe that's the "difference" between the two.
 
the only spyderco lockbacks that I've handled about 20 to 30 with no play are both my awesome original large persians I dont know why I thought all lockbacks have play but not these two knives you grab the tip and hold the handle tight and wiggle up and down none side to side none it feels like a cold steel triad lock rock solid.
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No problem with you liking cold steel knives but I've had spydercos since 92 and sure don't have the same experience as you with Spyderco lockbacks all having play. It's true that Ed had the Persians built extra tight so they could wear in but the regular lockbacks don't have the play you describe. You are either 1) exaggerating, 2) getting lots of counterfits, or 3) getting knives after they have been badly abused.

My guess is you are exaggerating. Even the Byrds are much better than you describe and they are more of an economy model.
 
cncpro11 said:
So forum hype makes those two knives a step below other knives?
Interesting .
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Well, it's more forum hype propping Taiwan models above Golden models.

Once a handful of people are seen to say "Man, these Taiwan Spydercos are excellent, possibly even better than my Golden made ones." Then all of a sudden you have hundreds of people parroting it, some of whom have never even had models from both factories. And before you know it, it's basically "common knowledge" that Taichung produces way better models than anywhere else. ;)

Much like people who praise Chris Reeve knives for their tolerances being tighter than anyone else. Do you really think the vast majority of people somehow have calipers for fingers and microscopes for eyes so they can quantify it? No, they are just parroting what everyone else on the internet says. It's a literal impossibility that they can tell the tolerances are tighter unless they are comparing to a really horrible knife with slop all over the place.

Not to take anything away from any of the great models made in Taichung or by CR, as I believe the hype is well founded. People like what they will like. I just find the arguments not based upon real experiences to be pretty entertaining.
 
goodeyesniper said:
Well, it's more forum hype propping Taiwan models above Golden models.

Once a handful of people are seen to say "Man, these Taiwan Spydercos are excellent, possibly even better than my Golden made ones." Then all of a sudden you have hundreds of people parroting it, some of whom have never even had models from both factories. And before you know it, it's basically "common knowledge" that Taichung produces way better models than anywhere else. ;)

Much like people who praise Chris Reeve knives for their tolerances being tighter than anyone else. Do you really think the vast majority of people somehow have calipers for fingers and microscopes for eyes so they can quantify it? No, they are just parroting what everyone else on the internet says. It's a literal impossibility that they can tell the tolerances are tighter unless they are comparing to a really horrible knife with slop all over the place.

Not to take anything away from any of the great models made in Taichung or by CR, as I believe the hype is well founded. People like what they will like. I just find the arguments not based upon real experiences to be pretty entertaining.
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Ok, I agree with that.
The only Taichung knife I own is the Southard, and I remember folks defending the superb fit and finish and close tols and saying that if it were US produced it would easily be $400 or more.
It is absolutely a wonderful knife, and very well made, but not any more so than any US produced knife and, in my opinion, it is worth what I paid and not a penny more.
 
Iam not exaggerating went to buy a native when walmart used to sell them went to about 5 different walmarts couldn't find one that didn't have play went to a knife store in san jose played with some frn lockbacks all had play I am pretty pickey with blade play this is how I check I firmly grab the handle then grab the tip of the blade and wiggle up and down then side to side with medium strength alot of people grab the middle of blade and lightly wiggle thats fine knife still works fine with a little blade play but I am just picky and like bank vault tightness. I'am not the only one saying this you can search the forums and find similar people complaints it's been talked about for years.
 
Most lock backs tend to have slight play. As a matter of fact, all of mine do.

That does not mean poor quality, just something inherent in the design.
 
DShiflet said:
None of my Byrds or Spydercos have any blade play.
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"Play" might be poor wording on my part, but speaking strictly of lock backs, I have owned 16 Spyderco and 3 Byrd knives, and they all had at least a slight amount of movement, with my Police G10 being the worst and both Natives being the best.
None of them are what I would consider "bank vault" tight.
 
Thanks everyone, for your comments on the byrd meadowlark. I am looking to order a meadowlark 2 for now . Thought the delica 4 looks pretty damn good ! I save up for the delica
 
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