Streetbeat review

[Mr Blonde]

I’ve always liked Spyderco’s fixed blades. They featured sharp edges and the edge geometry has always been geared to slicing as opposed to prying or chopping. As cool as the FRN models were, I and many other wanted to see some higher end fixed blades from Spyderco. The Lum tanto was cool, but not a real user to me. The Streetbeat is –to me- the first high end practical fixed blade from Spyderco. It’s small enough to occasionally carry and use in my urban environment and it’s bound to be the camp knife I’ll reach for this summer.

[Mr Blonde]

The short blade is nice and wide to support that thin and sharp edge. I’ve used the Streetbeat around the house for the past few months. The Streetbeat is an excellent little kitchen knife. I know that’s not a big surprise. The dropped edge and thin edge really come into their own on a cutting board. The jimping on the spine is relatively ‘long’, which is great for finding a grip for your thumb or index finger, even if your hands are wet and gooey.

[Mr Blonde]

The grip is just about as perfect for a small fixed blade as I can imagine. That big finger cutout keeps my hand where it should be, on the handle and not on the edge. Regardless of whether my hands were wet and slippery from kitchen work. The handle is also rather short. This makes the Streetbeat more comfy to carry on the belt and it makes for a more discreet carry package. Furthermore, that short handle with a round and wide end is perfect for resting in the palm of the hand for certain grips. For when you want to pierce through something tough, for example. On top of all that functional gripping action, the handle looks really pretty. It’s almost a kind of gentleman’s fixed blade. The surface of the Micarta is smooth to the touch, so the Streetbeat is comfortable to use for longer periods of time. I used the Streetbeat for preparing the Christmas dinner with my family, so my Streetbeat saw plenty of food prep action.

[Mr Blonde]

A few years back I had a passing interest in fixed blades, and when I carried them I preferred the IWB appendix carry. I was inspired by the writings of the late Bob Kasper on that subject. The Streetbeat somehow doesn’t work as well for this. I prefer the Streetbeat as a little belt knife. Just regular vertical carry on the belt behind the hip and the knife is out of the way until I need it.


Sheath
Sal, I’m sorry to have to say this but the out of the box sheath of the Streetbeat simply isn’t up to par with the rest of the package. I got the opportunity to try out a bunch of different knives and sheaths in the SFO and all of them had a less than perfect fit. The knives all wanted to rattle in their sheaths. The sample I chose in the end worked the best, it was rattle free and had a good tight fit. After a month or so, the sheath wore in a bit and the fit became loose enough to cause a rattle during carry.

I can appreciate how tough it must be to design and make a proper sheath for the Streetbeat. The handle becomes rather narrow at the handle/blade junction; I can imagine that there is very little material for the sheath to hang to, if you want to create a quick draw (with a full grip on the handle) type sheath. Luckily, I was able to obtain this Mike Sastre sheath which works wonderfully. I also wanted a sheath that looked more classy, so it could match that nice looking handle a bit better. That’s why I opted for the carbon fiber pattern concealex.

I don’t think the standard sheath is unsafe, as the retention was still good. It’s just terribly irritating to have this knife rattle in its sheath. I do think that factory sheaths, also from Spyderco, can be perfect and rattle free. The best sheath to date, came with my Moran fixed blades. The Temperance sheath was also really good. The Kumo sheath was OK, but not as nice as the previous ones. I would recommend to get more sheaths designed by the maker of the Moran sheaths. Another point I want to make is, for an expensive and high end fixed blade like the Streetbeat, I’d be more than happy to pay a little extra for a better sheath.

[Mr Blonde]

The Streetbeat is a really nice, and nice looking, fixed blade. Once I was happy with the sheath, I finally got to understand a little more about those bushcrafters that extol the virtues of small fixed blades. A knife like the Streetbeat can do more than the average folder, of similar size. It’s just as comfortable and safe to use right or left-handed. It also empties a pocket, where the clipped folder used to be. I really like this size for an EDC fixed blade. The design is excellent for EDC and for all sorts of tasks. It’s a versatile little knife. The downside of fixed blades for EDC is the legal issues involved. Urban carry of fixed blades (even as small as these) is probably frowned upon by the authorities. So for me, the Streetbeat won’t make the carry rotation. That is, until I hit the country side for hiking or camping.

I’d like to see more Spyderco fixed blades in this size. I know the ‘Mule’ project is coming up, which is a similar size design, so that takes care of the leaf shape design in a small fixed blade. How about a Streetbeat with a Wharncliffe blade?

Wouter

[buferoe]

Hoi Wouter,

Nice review of the Streetbeat, and those pictures Yummie!
But please stop with those nice reviews, my wannahave list keeps on growing.


See you next week Saturday I hope you can bring that little bugger with you so I can see it in real live.

PS: I love that Sheat.......

kind regards,

Werner

[jaislandboy]

thanx for the wonderful review and pics Mr. Blonde! the Street Beat is most excellent....my sheath had a snug fit....

[connor]

Very nice review, Mr Blonde.
I, too, agree that the factory sheath just isn't on par with the knife itself, so I made my own leather sheath for it.

[bell]

Thank you Mr. Blonde and jaislandboy. What a great review and super pics.

I own a SB, love the ergos and like the sheath. For me this is the ultimate fixed blade. Just a push of the thumb and the knife pops out. Love the Perrin choil and agree this is perhaps the most utilitarian fb from Spyderco to date. I guess FP considers himself a SD guy but this fb is totally good in the field or the kitchen as a camp knife, skinner, slicer/dicer, you name it.

Way to go, Spyderco!!

[jaislandboy]

I know nothing about Boltaron sheaths.....but i've successfully snugged up some kydex sheaths with the 5mins hair blowdryer trick and reshaped the sheath with my fingers.....

Hey Bell, glad u like the SB too....I agree with your statements 100%...

[Mike Sastre]

Wouter,

I think the Street Beat is a sweetheart of a little knife as well. Thanks for the kind mention of my sheath - glad you like it!!

[jaislandboy]

yeah Mr Sastre, that kydex sheath looks Schweet!

[Mr Blonde]

Originally Posted by Mike Sastre

Wouter,

I think the Street Beat is a sweetheart of a little knife as well. Thanks for the kind mention of my sheath - glad you like it!!

You're welcome, as far as I'm concerned your drawpoint sheath in CF concealex is the no. 1 accessory for the Streetbeat!

Wouter

[ken]

A very good review on the Street Beat. Great photos also-thanks.

Nice cf sheath you had made up for it. I was going to ask what you thought of a leather sheath for it? Also is this knife to "nice" to be a "user"?

Nothing real fancy about this knife but it looks to be a good useable size!

Thanks again!

[zenheretic]

Originally Posted by ken

A very good review on the Street Beat. Great photos also-thanks.

Nice cf sheath you had made up for it. I was going to ask what you thought of a leather sheath for it? Also is this knife to "nice" to be a "user"?

Nothing real fancy about this knife but it looks to be a good useable size!

Thanks again!

Only if a Rolex is too nice to be used.

[ken]

Originally Posted by zenheretic

Only if a Rolex is too nice to be used.

Zen-

You have a point there but-
If I could afford a Rolex I wouldn't ware it to work for fear of messing it up. It would only be used at church, weddings ect. Not a real "user" watch.

My point (and it would make for another thread) is: That a lot of people will buy expensive and nice looking knives but do they really use them or just strap them on to get compliments? Is it a working knife or is it used just for opening your mail? How many people out here use there Lum folding knife as a user when they go for big buck$. If money is not object than no problem.

And why doesn't the "Y" on my keyboard work without pounding on it????

[Mr Blonde]

Originally Posted by ken

A very good review on the Street Beat. Great photos also-thanks.

Nice cf sheath you had made up for it. I was going to ask what you thought of a leather sheath for it? Also is this knife to "nice" to be a "user"?

Nothing real fancy about this knife but it looks to be a good useable size!

Thanks again!

Leather is just not my personal cup of tea for spydie fixed blades, especially for users. If I'd go with the leather option, I'd try a sheath like Connor posted; a drop/dangle sheath like the Nordic knives tend to have. But, I personally prefer one of the new 'plastics' that are available for sheaths.

Is the streetbeat a real user? To me, yes it is, but not in the 'strider-sense' of 'hard use'. To me, the Streetbeat is just too classy to be subjected to crate opening and doorjams. It's a really nice size and configuration for more mundane everyday tasks (chores around the house, camping, picknicks'etc..), and I think it makes for a wonderful little MBC knife.

Wouter

[Mr Blonde]

Last week I got the opportunity to handle a brand new Streetbeat. I immediately noticed a tiny little design change in the sheath. There seems to be a bit more material on the inside of the choil of the Streetbeat (when sheathed). Anyways, this factory sheath fit very well. There was no rattle or shifting in position at all. I still think that the factory sheath 'looks' crude compared to the knife itself, but the sheath was functionally sound. It seems that the current sheath problem with the Streetbeat has been solved.

Wouter

[Blackscorpion47]

I posted a query about the STREETBEAT on another thread "before" searching for this thread. My mistake. I will be ordering a couple of STREETBEATS pronto! I will have to work on the sheath problem though.
Thanks for all the fine info fellas.

BlackScorpion47

[WORKER#9]

What excellent pictures! Very nice. The review was cool, theres no doubt about a the value of a small fixed blade.