Great beater knife?

[ringzero]

There's a discussion over in the General forum on blade preferences - plain, serrated, or combo edge?

How about both in one knife:
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=301 ?

I expect this knife will have a street price of a little over 30 bucks, judging from actual street price versus MSRP of the rest of the Byrd line.  (I picked up a Byrd Cara Cara G10 plain edge for 23 bucks a few months back, which is well under the MSRP.)

This knife, like the rest of the Byrd line, looks to offer  lots of 'bang for the buck.'

Looks like it'd make for a great beater, working, or general outdoor knife.

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[ducktapehero]

That would be a great beater knife. And from what I have heard the Byrd line of knives are outstanding values. But it's so...so...so ugly. 

[WhichDawg]

hmmm what does that remind me of....

[Grant Lamontagne]

The Byrd Wings model is a re-issue of an older Spyderco design called the Dyad.  There was also a Mini Dyad, which I have in micarta and think it is one of the best pocket knife designs out there.

The Dyad and or Mini Dyad have been discontinued for a few years but can still be found around the $100 mark.  Here's the Mini next to an OHT:



The Dyad is a nice model, and for a reasonably priced version of it, the Wings might not be a bad purchase, but it better be a good price!

Def

[ringzero]

The Byrd Wings model is a re-issue of an older Spyderco design called the Dyad.  There was also a Mini Dyad, which I have in micarta and think it is one of the best pocket knife designs out there.

The Dyad and or Mini Dyad have been discontinued for a few years but can still be found around the $100 mark.  Here's the Mini next to an OHT:

(Image removed from quote.)

The Dyad is a nice model, and for a reasonably priced version of it, the Wings might not be a bad purchase, but it better be a good price!

Def

Nice pic.  Always liked the looks of the Dyad, but was never tempted to buy one because of the price.

Spyderco knives are mostly too pricey for me, because most of my knives eventually get lost, stolen, or broken.

I don't collect knives so when I buy one it's to carry and use.  Get above a certain price point - maybe 50 bucks - and I'm hesitant to actually carry and use the knife.

The Wings model looks to be somewhat stouter than the Dyad model.  Judging from my Byrd Cara Cara, I imagine the Wings will be a tough knife that'll hold up well performing demanding tasks.  Rather heavy, but tough.

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[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

That looks like a handy wee knife mate

I'm a big fan of the Dyad too, but there just silly money these days , so the bryd could be a good option

[ringzero]

That would be a great beater knife. And from what I have heard the Byrd line of knives are outstanding values. But it's so...so...so ugly. 

Actually - excepting the Native - most of the Spyderco knives are at best homely.  When you get right down to it, some of them are downright ugly.  Even the best looking of the bunch still have an ungainly, awkward look to them.

Since I generally value function over form, I can live with a homely knife if it offers good ergonomics and durability.

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[hawkchucker]

Agree with the Native as a standout beauty. Especially for the price and the quality of the steel.

[ducktapehero]

most of the Spyderco knives are at best homely.

NO!!!!!!

*DTH runs around screaming, fingers shoved very tightly into his ears*

 


These are the exceptions to your statement.

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=193

http://cgi.ebay.com/SPYDERCO-KNIFE-Co-PILOT-MODEL-C-09S-DISC-MINT_W0QQitemZ250215258106QQihZ015QQcategoryZ63800QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Interestingly enough, those are the two models I own, except the Co-Pilot I have is plain edge(Thanks Hawk)

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

You forgot the dragonfly mate

[ringzero]

most of the Spyderco knives are at best homely.

NO!!!!!!

*DTH runs around screaming, fingers shoved very tightly into his ears*

 


These are the exceptions to your statement.

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=193

http://cgi.ebay.com/SPYDERCO-KNIFE-Co-PILOT-MODEL-C-09S-DISC-MINT_W0QQitemZ250215258106QQihZ015QQcategoryZ63800QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Interestingly enough, those are the two models I own, except the Co-Pilot I have is plain edge(Thanks Hawk)

What's that old saying about 'beauty' and 'eye of the beholder?'

Honestly, I have a Lowes Kobalt one-hand-opening boxcutter knife that is better looking to my eyes than the Co-Pilot and Navigator II.

I'm sure those are both fine knives, but they definitely fall into the homely category for me.

My Byrd Cara Cara is a very homely knife.  In fact, it verges on being plug ugly.  But, I'm still fond of it and carry and use it a fair amount - great ergonomics and very toughly built.

The Native is the standout Spyderco knife combining beautiful form and function into one very appealing package.

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[ducktapehero]

I have a Lowes Kobalt one-hand-opening boxcutter knife that is better looking to my eyes than the Co-Pilot and Navigator II.

I have one of those too, and it's a cool looking knife. I even EDC'd it for a while.

[Splat]

What's that old saying about 'beauty' and 'eye of the beholder?'

Most Spydercos put me off, too. Their shapes remind me of birds or ducks.    IMO Kershaw, Victorinox, Benchmade, SOG, CRKT, and  Boker all make a much better looking folder. Spyderco may make great knives, I'm sure, but I'm not a fan of Spyderco's thumb hole. My thumb seems to rub the bottom of the blade upon opening. I also think it makes the blade(s) look awkward and sometimes ugly. I liked the Paramilitary's Compression Lock but not its price tag. I'm happy with my non-Spyderco knives and that's what makes the world go 'round. 

[jzmtl]

After playing with different knives, thumb hole is the only thing that'll work with winter gloves. You simply can't grip stub with thick gloves and holes barely, but still work. Also with hole you can literally open it easily with any finger, no matter how you are holding the knife.

So I'll take hole over stud anytime, and carry spyderco. 

[Anthony]

My Delica handles extremely well, great ergonomics.  I can hold it gently to make delicate cuts with the tip, or hold it in a fist to cut tougher stuff, and both feel fine.

[Leatherman123]

I second that Corrugated!

[Splat]

After playing with different knives, thumb hole is the only thing that'll work with winter gloves. You simply can't grip stub with thick gloves and holes barely, but still work. Also with hole you can literally open it easily with any finger, no matter how you are holding the knife.

It's not the only system/feature that works with winter gloves. I can open my CRKT M21-14 with my gloves on by utilizing the Carson flipper and a slight wrist flick. It's harder to close the knife, due to the LAWKS lever, with big gloves than to open the knife.

[Anthony]

Another cheap/good quality knife like is the one Leatherman puts out.  I've handles two, one of which I still have, and they both were pretty solid.  The one I have now is one of the sharpest knives I own. 

The only problem I found on mine is one of the scales was loose, but I just loosened the whole thing, put a dot of super glue under the scale, and it's fine.  Another plus is that you can control the blade tension. 

[ringzero]

After playing with different knives, thumb hole is the only thing that'll work with winter gloves. You simply can't grip stub with thick gloves and holes barely, but still work. Also with hole you can literally open it easily with any finger, no matter how you are holding the knife.

So I'll take hole over stud anytime, and carry spyderco. 

I can open and close my Byrd Cara Cara quite easily while wearing thick work gloves.  That's another reason I think it makes a great beater knife.

However, there are one-hand thumbstud knives that are designed to work with a gloved hand.  My Kobalt one-hand boxcutter opens fine with a gloved hand.  There are other thumbstud knives that advertise gloved one-hand opening in their list of features.

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[ducktapehero]

The legend is that Spyderco's are "designed" in the dark. They're designed solely with function and ergonomics in mind, "prettyness" doesn't save your butt when a knife is needed NOW. I know that my Navigator feels like a much bigger knife in the hand than it is.

Despite it being a small "gentleman's" knife I have no doubt that it would stand up to things that would destroy other gentleman's knives. The knife is thick, the lock is like a bank vault and the ergonomics on it allow you to really muscle down and use it like a real knife.

I haven't had my Co-Pilot that long but I'm sure that knife could handle similar things. Both of them have VG-10 steel so they'll stay sharp long after other lesser knives have been relegated to butter knife duty.

Now excuse me while I go give my Spydie's some lovin.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I want another spydie now

[WhichDawg]

I like my benchmade griptilian for beating and edc. and you can get a mini for under 40.

[hawkchucker]

Of course the classic folder beater is still the Opinel. Best 10 bucks you could ever spend!

[Sea Monster]

I suppose you could do worse.

I'm a bit disappointed they discontinued the Pelican.

Another sad story of low respect for my favourite blade shape.

[Viper]

First off-

Def, why does your OHT have a seat-belt cutter?


Second-
My beater knife is this-
http://www.gerbergear.com/product.php?model=1123

[Leatherman123]

Its the Fireman model!

[hawkchucker]

Viper you could do worse. But 440A is not really that bad of a steel.

That Gerber actually has some really nice lines to it.

[ringzero]

Of course the classic folder beater is still the Opinel. Best 10 bucks you could ever spend!

Opinels are great bang for the buck!

But, these days I want my beater to have a pocket clip and one-hand-opening.

Used to always carry an Opinel with my mess kit for kitchen chores when camping.  I've been meaning to pick up a few more Opinels in various sizes...

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[ringzero]

My beater knife is this-
http://www.gerbergear.com/product.php?model=1123

I've been tempted to get one of those...

Looks like an excellent design - except, why did they leave off the pocket clip?!!!!

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[hawkchucker]

Yup and I have several of the Cold Steel Opie knock offs. I love them and they are absolutely some of the sharpest knives out there. I like also that I dont have to worry about wood swelling on them. Plus I can attatch a pocket clip to the nylon handle.