Straight Talk About the Byrd Line

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WoodenChicken

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Sep 11, 2008
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Just wondering what the real Spyderco purists think of the Byrd line of knives? I picked up two new ones yesterday, the Crow and the Cat Byrd. I like the Crow, it is compact, tight, good blade and so cheap. The Cat Byrd is heavy because it is all steel, but strong and tight.
These knives seem like a great purchase, I decided to buy more eventually, as well as more Spydercos.
What's the general concensus on these knives by you Spyderco enthusiasts?
 
I like them. I don't own any (yet!) but I plan on it. It's a good way for me to get other people interested in buying higher quality knives without breaking my wallet in doing so. The steel is fine, and the construction seems admirable. :)

+1 Spyderco for offering a lower priced line of knives.
 
They're well made knives aimed at people who think normal Spyderco's are too expensive, which is almost everyone, so it makes sense to have a low end line of knives.
I don't have any becuase I fine with the value of your average Spyderco.
 
I was impressed by the Meadowlark and Cara Cara a couple years back when I handled them in the stores. Great feel and seemed to be well constructed. I recently (6 months ago?) purchased a Tenacious, which AFAIK is basically a Byrd with a spyderhole (same steel, made in china...) and I'm completely impressed with it. I don't carry it too much due to blade size, so I can't comment on the performance of the 8cr13mov steel, though.
 
I have the G-10 Cara-Cara & the G-10 Crossbill(each under $25).They're tough,low cost knives.IMHO the best you can buy(that I've seen so far) for that price.
 
I'm going to stick with Spyderco

Nothing against the Byrd line, but I've found that Spyderco's can be affordable if you know where to look.

Here are some of the better deals I have found on the famous auction site.

Endura 4 ZDP-189= $41.00
UKPK Foilage Green= $55.00
Para-Military D2= $86.00

Granted these are auctions I had to win, but if you are persistant anyone can afford some decent knives.
 
While the Byrd line are good quality knives for the price, I don't envision myself getting one for my collection - I'm not really into the whole bird theme they incorporate in some of their designs. They make great gifts though...
 
I've got a G10 cara cara that I used then gave away, a Raven that I did the same with, and an SS flight. I like the steel just fine and the fit/finish is great on every one I've handled. Plus on NGK you really can't beat the price for a byrd. Wings is my next purchase for sure

DC
 
There are lots of people who will not, under any circumstance, spend more than an arbitrary amount on "something". I'm that way with watches, some are that way with knives. Others are forced by circumstances to live within a budget. To me, the Byrd line exists to serve those would be either unwilling or unable to pay for a Spyderco, but willing and able to spend more than the price of a knife in the $5 bucket at their local hardware store.

I'll stick with Spydercos myself, primarily because I believe they're better, but also because knives are one of those areas where I indulge myself with nicer things rather than settling for the least expensive.
 
mr-winkie01 said:
While the Byrd line are good quality knives for the price, I don't envision myself getting one for my collection - I'm not really into the whole bird theme they incorporate in some of their designs. They make great gifts though...
Click to expand...

+1 I'm thinking of getting one to carry around as a "beater" knife. Practice some freehand sharpening skills, and loan it out on those BS (Read: Boy Scout) camp outs. :thumbup:
 
Josh K said:
+1 I'm thinking of getting one to carry around as a "beater" knife. Practice some freehand sharpening skills, and loan it out on those BS (Read: Boy Scout) camp outs. :thumbup:
Click to expand...


This what the Byrds are for to me: "beater" dute. I do things with my Cara Cara I wouldn't dream of doing to my Endura. This is because I could buy 3 Cara Caras for what I paid for my Endura.

Obviously, I like the Endura better (not a LOT better - the Cara Cara has a better grip, but my Cara is G10 and Endura is a waved FRN) and it does get used, but I'm not afraid of beating the crap out of either of my Byrds (other is a G10 Crossbill, hasn't gotten much use yet).

And the quality to dollar ratio is off the charts. These are, to me, EASILY the best buys in the low end market. They put the fit and finish of the red-class Benchmade knives to shame, if you ask me.
 
I was thinking about asking the same question myself, glad I ran across this thread. One question are the liners of the G10 models skeletonized?
 
I have owned a few Byrd models. I have a Finch (which is my Guinea pig knife) and a Meadowlark my GF bought me for Xmas a couple years ago. I have also owned 2 crossbills in the past but ended up getting rid of them and getting a Tasman Salt.

IMO the the construction is very good and I like the fact that almost all the models come in G10 which I think is an awesome handle material. I think it is a great start knife for someone wanting to get a good knife but doesn't know much about knives.
I do think the blade steel is a bit soft. I have had to repair the tip on my byrds several times. It is extremely easy to get a very sharp edge on it but it doesn't hold as well as something like VG10.

I have have moved on from them and now only buy Spydercos. I just wish more Spydercos came in G10 handles.

DM
 
I don't like the Byrd. I respect that Spyderco choose to create this new line to enter into a different corner of the market... Just not my thing.
 
I'm honestly not too sure. On the one hand, i think it is cool that Spyderco is dispelling a lot of myths and stereotypes about the capability of low cost Chinese production. On the other hand, a part of me feels like Spyderco should just add the knives to their lineup and do away with the byrd thing. I don't mean this as a flame, spyderco is my favorite knife company by far, but if you are going to tout the build quality that china can produce, then put your money where your mouth is so to speak, and stick a round opening hole on it. At least with Benchmade's system, even though the knife is a different class, it is still labeled as a benchmade.
 
Actually, I think it's very smart what Spyderco has done by creating a different name for their low end knives.

When I sold BMs a few years ago, when people saw the Red Class knives with the BM logo on it, most thought I was trying to sell them fake BMs. When I explained the classes, some people turned up their noses. Well, unfortunatley some people are stupid. So I think it's good for spyderco to put their low end knives under another name. That way there's no confusion, and no associating really high end knives with lower end ones under the same name. (stupid I think, but to some buyers, especially good ol boys who won't buy anything un-American they wont buy)
 
Spydiefan04 said:
I was thinking about asking the same question myself, glad I ran across this thread. One question are the liners of the G10 models skeletonized?
Click to expand...

They have full SS liners. Very good heft. I have a Meadowlark and a Crossbill and I like them. The quality is excellent for such an affordable knife. I will probably pick up a cara cara at some point. I still prefer Spyderco but I just can't make myself use my Spyderco's as hard as I do my Byrds. If I tear up a Byrd, no huge loss.
 
Byrds are great, I like most the G10 Flight and the Catbyrd. :thumbup:
If you can't afford a "real" Spydie, then nothing wrong with these byrdies. :thumbup: (Tenacious were even better choice IMO. ;))
 
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