Spyderco Byrd Lightweight Knife with Stainless Steel Blade and High Performance FRN Handle

Recently I heard about Spyderco’s byrd line so I’ve picked a few up to give them a try. I’m writing this review with the intention of serving as a primer for people who are curious about the byrd knife line, and to provide some side by side pictures.I’ve been a very happy owner of a Sypderco Delica 4 FRN for a couple of years. It’s been my EDC for most of that time, and it’s the folding knife I recommend to people that want an affordable, high quality knife to carry around.I’m not a knife expert, but I’m learning. Most of my knowledge comes from owning Benchmade, Kershaw, Ontario, Cold Steel, and Spyderco knives, and figuring out what I like. I can’t offer a good assessment on steel or locking mechanisms.The bottom line is this: The byrd line is a terrific value and the Spyderco quality is still there.I’ve put up some side by side pictures that help give a sense of the size and look of these terrific knives.General thoughts about the byrd line:I really like FRN, and think it’s wonderful on the Spyderco Delica 4. On the Robin 2 and Cara Cara 2, it’s a bit simpler and not as refined. The textured pattern on the Delica 4 is more artful and sophisticated, and Spyderco calls it Bi-Directional Texturing. It provides a better grip when you need it, but is smooth if you feel it moving away from the blade. The byrd line is more general. It’s still grippy and feels fine, but it isn’t quite as good. It has little bumps as textures, but the Bi-Directional Texturing isn’t there, and it actually is noticeable.Byrds have a similar opening hole to the Spyderco, but it’s a comet shape. There’s no noticeable difference, and I like the look. It doesn’t feel any different than opening a traditional Spyderco. I think the comet shape is unnecessary, but looks better than the traditional Spyderco hole.I haven’t purchased the Meadowlark 2 (the byrd equivalent of the Delica 4). I hear it’s great, I just haven’t picked it up yet.Spyderco byrd Robin 2 FRN************************Comments: I love the size of this knife. It’s small and lightweight, but I don’t believe that I’m sacrificing much in blade size. The weight is barely noticeable in my pocket, and I don’t really notice its presence. This is comparable to the Spyderco Dragonfly2. The blade can cut hair right out of the box, and the opening and closing is smooth immediately.Description from the Spyderco Website:Much of the byrd Knife Line is being upgraded through a process called C.Q.I. or constant quality improvement. As the line broadens, existing models are receiving upgraded enhancements such as improved ergonomics, four-way pocket clips and high performance full-flat ground blades.The Robin 2 Lightweight is refreshed with these new features. Its mid-size makes the Robin2 an easy knife to carry everyday in an office our outdoor environment. Its full-flat ground blade is high-carbon 8Cr13MoV stainless steel with a comet-shaped hole for one hand opening/closing. Jimping (crosshatching) dots the spine, making a textured section where the thumb rests, creating tactile resistance that restrains the folder from sliding and slipping when cutting. The FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) handle is molded with Bi-Directional Texturing with a fish-scales pattern. The scales hold the knife steady while cutting even in hands that are wet, slick or gloved. The welcome addition of a four-way clip offers the option of carrying the folder tip-up/tip-down or left-right-handed and a lanyard hole located at the back of the handle accommodates a secondary-retentive thong or cord. Custom knifemaker David Boye's dent feature is a half-moon-shaped snip of steel removed from the lock's release lever as an added safety feature to the back-lock.Spyderco byrd Crow G-10************************Comments:I’m not a huge fan of G-10. It feels fine, but not very grippy. I haven’t carried a G-10 knife enough to confirm that it will tear up a pocket, but I’ve heard that in multiple reviews. This is currently only available in G-10, so FRN is not an option. That having been said, this is another very nice knife. It’s the little brother of the Spyderco Raven 2, and it’s great. It cut hair right out of the box. It doesn’t have the back lock of a lot of the byrds and Spydercos (which I like), but the lock is good. The lock is a liner lock, and it’s a bit clunky out of the box, at least for mine. It wasn’t as smooth as I would like, but after working it for about 30 minutes, I could start to see an improvement. That having been said, the liner lock immediately feels better than the liner locks of a lot of other knives, and I can easily open and close it with one hand. The liner lock isn’t quite as smooth as I would want out of the box, but it’s a small negative on an otherwise terrific knife.Description from the Spyderco site:The Crow™ 2 is more than just an updated version of the handy, pocket-friendly design of the first-generation Crow; it’s a significant step toward defining the future of the byrd line of knives. The Crow 2’s most significant improvement is its full-flat-ground CTS BD1 blade, which provides enhanced cutting performance, edge retention, and corrosion resistance. Like all byrd knives, it also includes a signature “comet-shaped” hole for swift, ambidextrous, one-handed opening.The improved handle construction includes full skeletonized stainless steel liners, textured G-10 scales, and a robust new clip design that now offers both left and right-side tip-up carry. An enlarged relief cut makes operation of the sturdy LinerLock mechanism easier than ever, while the knife’s open-backed construction reduces weight and simplifies cleaning and maintenance. Compact, convenient, and incredibly capable, the Crow 2 sets a new standard in affordable cutting performance.Spyderco Byrd Cara Cara FRN************************Comments: This knife is a steal at its current price. Buy it now, then come back and read my assessment. Yours on the way? Great!This is the byrd equivalent to the Spyderco Endura. The knife cuts hair right out of the box, and is a dream to open and close. I’m not going to carry this around as an EDC because of its length, but it’s absolutely worth having. The opening and backlock are both butter smooth, and I’ve got no complaints about this knife. The ONLY thing that should give you pause is to decide which version you want. They have stainless steel, FRN, G-10, and they’ve just released a Titanium version.Description from the Spyderco site:Already one of the best values in our popular byrd line, the Cara Cara 2 Lightweight has been completely reengineered to yield the new, improved Cara Cara 2.Its many upgrades include a full-flat-ground blade for enhanced edge geometry and cutting performance, a Bi-Directional Textured-? FRN handle that offers a superior grip and increased control, and phosphor bronze pivot washers for even smoother blade operation. Like its predecessor, it also features spine and choil jimping for precise control during use and a four-position clip that supports all possible carry configurations.Conclusion:All of the knives I’ve mentioned are great. You won’t regret the purchase of any of these knives. If you want a small EDC, get the Robin 2. If you want something bigger, investigate the Meadowlark 2/Delica 4. The Cara Cara 2 is worth having. Period.I’m still making my mind up on the Crow. I don’t know where it fits in on the hierarchy, but it is a great looking knife that is high quality. At the very least, the Crow 2 is a terrific value.

** 11/17/2022** still carrying it and using it hard daily! 2 benchmade bugout, 2 griptilian variations, and a 940 have come and gone... no other knife lasts more than about a day and I put my Byrd Meadowlark 2 back in my pocket. PJ shorts at night, shorts, sweats, or dress pants for work days... this knife sta ut s with me at all times. Yesterday I laughed...I used it for opening boxes, scraping wasp's nest off the front doorjamb, food prep veggie cutting, and slicing open the new bag of dog food. I bet I reach for it 5-10 times a day.* Update 3/1/2019 **I've now carried this knife all these years - it's my EDC now. Our son has settled on a Kershaw Leek and he's carried that knife (2 versions) for about 5 years now. I moved this to my pocket pretty much right at 5 years ago now...and while I have strayed with 3 different Benchmades (Grip, Mini Grip, and 530) I have never lasted very long at all before returning to this knife.Many times I've "threatened" to upgrade to a Delica...but every time I hold one...I can't IMAGINE being without the finger choil on this Byrd. I love the finger choil so much that have bought the Dragonfly 2 - fully serrated - for my canoe / kayak / fly fishing knife.I've used this knife for food prep about a zillion times...because it's clipped to my pocket - shorts, pajamas, jeans, or my suits! Boxes, packages, even used it to destroy a very thick trash can once to break it down for another use. The Serrations are awesome. Easy to sharpen and I doubt I could imagine my life without them. The serrations do 90 % of the cutting that doesn't involve food prep or cleaning fish. (a LOT of fish!)OK- the clip - I found a more long-lasting solution to black out the clip The flat black spray paint was good...but only lasted a few weeks to a month. My wife helped me pick out the most durable black nail polish we could find at Walmart and it seems to be super hard. It lasts for 4-6 months I think.** Original 2012 review**My son just turned 17 - it was after his 16th last year that I ordered this knife. WOW! has it outperformed my exptectations!I have a Military in LH and really love it - for a massively overbuilt folder it really shines. For my son we wanted to step into this gradually - what if he loses it or breaks it? This was a great knife to start with. Also...since it's smaller it wouldn't spark the "oh my!" reactions that sometimes come when you whip out the biggie Military.So he's really into hammock camping and fires. The guys (and gals) in his group really love to hang out at the fire...and probably 1/2 dozen of us parents have set up fire pits on our property for them to go between...plus all the campgrounds and forest campsites that are close...it's been a good year for them...lots of fires and hanging out.Most of the boys - mine included - have a sturdy fixed blade and a hatchet or axe for the heavy use...but you know DARN well that a kid will use what's close and at hand first. lol. I can tell by the HEAVY useage marks on this little knife that it sees a LOT more use than his ESEE RC-3 Military fixed blade. (He LOVES the ESEE 3, but like I said...if you have to walk back to your truck to get the fixed blade...or you can use the knife clipped to your pocket...and you are 16...well...haha.OUT OF THE BOX - ours needed a few TWEAKS. Hey, it's a $20ish knife...I'm ok with that. We sanded the 'spydie-hole' with some sandpaper, it was a little rough. In 3 minutes it was perfectly smooth. The FRN material (the handle scales) had a few sharp edges and one part sticking out (from the casting process I guess)and it too got sanded down quickly and that was that. Also the factory edge was fair...certainly not like a US made Spyderco...but my gosh...this cost a fraction...we touched up the edge quickly and then it shaved hair.beyond the mucho kindling I'm sure he's processed with it...I've seen it used for countless boxes, envelopes, food prep like cutting sausage, fruits, potatoes, jerky, dicing up potatoes , and cleaning lots of fish. The serrated portion is awesome at rope, paracord, and sawing motions...and is a BREEZE to sharpen with the little cheap pocket Smith sharpeners. (Or any with that little "rod" - sharpens serrated edges SO easy - it's a cinch!)The blade itself is super easy to sharpen - much easier than my Military...it's somewhere between the hardness of that and the sorta soft steel in the swiss army knives we have. As I move along in the 'knife journey' - to be honest...I'd rather have a steel that I can sharpen easily OVER a steel that holds an edge forever but is a real pain to sharpen. I sorta like cleaning my guns...and don't mind sharpening my blades every so often - feels OK to me - and it's very easy with this knife. I did it for awhile...taught my son...now he keeps it very sharp on his own with not much effort on the stone and strop. Plus...the serrated edge gets used the most - and it stays sharper longer anyway...and again...is super easy to sharpen with those rod-type sharpeners (we got a few of the inepensive smith ones here on Amazon.)I am still thinkng of getting him a Delica as a 'step up' in the same size range...but maybe I'll just wait another year and move him all the way up to a Military or Paramilitary 2 when he is 18 next year...but it's awful hard to ignore the fact that this in-expensive version has performed SO well for so little cost.I'm a tip-down person (from the Military useage) and so far this knife has seen both tip up and down useage - mostly tip down I'd bet thru this past year. All the various carry positions work great with this knife.WISH the clip were black! To blend in better in pockets - but we solved this by making a stencil that slides under the clip and then just hit the clip with some flat black spray paint -takes 10 seconds and do it about once a month...and viola! the clip is flat black and blends in well with pockets.oh yeah...the clip is very strong too. I saw this knife clipped to his pack...survive a tumble from the mtn bike on a trail...and never move or separate from the pack.cleaning the knife is easy - we just run it under hot water for a bit and dry it in front of a fan and hit it with wd-40 and it's done. simple.the blade takes on a nice bit of 'wear marks' over time with HEAVY useage...but again...this was a year that covered my teen son's use and abuse - I'm sure it went thru more in this past year than a lot of adults will put their blades thru in 10 years. lol.Am thinking of picking up another actually. especially after writing all this - it's really been a good blade.

Knife is comfortable to hold and open with one hand. Blade is very sharp. Only down side is it is not easy to close with one hand.