Byrd serrated hawkbill

[johnsmith1212]

Wanted to try a serrated hawkbill, but didn't want to spend the money to get the orange Spyderhawk. I ordered the Byrd serrated hawkbill. Been carrying it now for 2 weeks. My impression so far is wow! Wish I had done this sooner. It tears thru nylon wire ties, paracord, cardboard, anything I have thrown at it so far. It's not as smooth opening as my delica, not hard or rough, just not as smooth. On the other hand, I like the comet shaped opening hole better than the round Spyderco hole. Lets my fat thumb get a better purchase when opening. Not to shabby for a sub 25.00 knife. But, I will be gifting myself a orange Spyderhawk for Christmas to use kayaking and fishing.

[JD Spydo]

Wanted to try a serrated hawkbill, but didn't want to spend the money to get the orange Spyderhawk. I ordered the Byrd serrated hawkbill. Been carrying it now for 2 weeks. My impression so far is wow! Wish I had done this sooner. It tears thru nylon wire ties, paracord, cardboard, anything I have thrown at it so far. It's not as smooth opening as my delica, not hard or rough, just not as smooth. On the other hand, I like the comet shaped opening hole better than the round Spyderco hole. Lets my fat thumb get a better purchase when opening. Not to shabby for a sub 25.00 knife. But, I will be gifting myself a orange Spyderhawk for Christmas to use kayaking and fishing.

I just recently had a Forum Brother ask me what I thought of the blade steel they used on those Byrd Crossbill models>> I informed him that I had never owned a Byrd knife. To the best of my memory I think the Crossbill model has "8CrMo13v". I'm tempted to try one of those Byrd Crossbill models because I've found many of those blade steels that don't make for a great PE blade but do seem to work well on Spyderedged blades. The two older Spyderco blade steels that are great examples are "GIN-1" and "AUS-8" >> both are great blade steels for Spyderedges IMO.

I've avoided Byrd knives for many reasons but I am about to cave in a get one of the Crossbill models in SE just to see how that steel works in serrated edges. I do like the blade geometry of the Crossbill so I'll let you all know when I get one and test drive it.

[500Nitro]

Another one who's found Serrated blades are great

[VashHash]

Sounds like your knife just needs to break in to smooth out. Hawkbills are very good for utility task. Especially those plastic clamshell packages everything comes in now.

[curlyhairedboy]

I'm planning on picking up a number of these in the future. I got converted to the SE hawkbill way thru owning a Spyderhawk and a Hawkbill DF2.

They may be the perfect blade for your most typical 'office edc' tasks. Cutting tape or zipties, trimming paper on a flat surface, opening packages - It's way better for virtually all of those than a standard drop point.

[500Nitro]

JD Spydie

"The two older Spyderco blade steels that are great examples are "GIN-1" and "AUS-8" >> both are great blade steels for Spyderedges IMO.

I have been impressed with my Aus 8 Endura.

Now got a Combo in ATS55 so will be interesting to compare.

Your thoughts on ATS55 ?

[ABX2011]

The orange Spyderhawk supply is beginning to dry up. Still a few around though at normal pricing.

[JD Spydo]

JD Spydie

"The two older Spyderco blade steels that are great examples are "GIN-1" and "AUS-8" >> both are great blade steels for Spyderedges IMO.

I have been impressed with my Aus 8 Endura.

Now got a Combo in ATS55 so will be interesting to compare.

Your thoughts on ATS55 ?

I've had great luck with ATS-55 and I still own and use several of my ATS-55 Spyders. Some of them include the C-44 & C-39 Dyad models, also my beloved Stainless handled RESCUE model which I still use as a companion blade to my M390 Military. ATS-55 is one of the very few steels I've found to perform well in SE & PE both>> VG-10 also has that distinction.

There were so many great models to come from the ATS-55 era. One of my C-46 Lum Tanto folders with the combo edge has an ATS-55 blade. My old, original Catcherman which is one of the very rare fully serrated models has the AUS-8 blade steel and it is awesome in that blade steel. I use that AUS-8 Catcherman at least 2 to 3 times a week with food preparation and I always take it on outdoor trips too.

But ATS-55 I always thought was a decent blade steel and it really performs well in SE. That STainless RESCUE of mine has been through some really harsh conditions and it still performs very well. I tend to really like many of the old-school Spyders anyway and whenever I can buy or trade for an older ATS-55 unit I'm always interested in Spyders with that blade steel>> especially in SE.

[500Nitro]

That's good, my catcherman I just purchased is in Aus 8, fully serrated.

[JD Spydo]

That's good, my catcherman I just purchased is in Aus 8, fully serrated.

Holy Cow!!! you have no idea how long I've been looking for another one of those full Spyderedged AUS-8 Catcherman models. I've been trying for at least the past 5 years to find another one with no luck at all. Congratulations because those aren't easy to find. You will enjoy it. And I do hope that Spyderco will someday give us another full SE Catcherman. But the low profile serrations on that AUS-8 Catcherman is one of the best serration patterns I've ever seen or used. I truly envy you.

[500Nitro]

JD
I thought you knew ? Don't you post on the Aussie Spyderco Enthusiasts web site ? We were talking about Catchermans and someone posted some old sales and my one was shown.

[anagarika]

JD,

See the shallow serration

[500Nitro]

I do like that type of serration shown above. Over the other one where the 2 smaller serrations are closer together and sharper points.

It was interesting to see Sals comment re the different serrations.

[JD Spydo]

JD,

See the shallow serration

Yes I do indeed see the shallow serration pattern. I guess I'm going to have to cave in a get a Crossbill. Maybe if I do that Spyderco will take notice and decide to go ahead and give us the next G-10 Harpy. Again I'm anxious to see how that particular blade steel does with a serrated edge.

But again we need a Hawkbill with a G-10 handle. And the Harpy would be the one to do it with>> then they could think about a G-10 Spyderhawk.

[Evil D]

I can't say much about byrds but I have been thinking hard about a SE Persistence lately. I'm intrigued by the difference in serration pattern and it's FFG with a full blade length edge. Seems like a winning combo.

[sal]

Hi Johnsmith,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

[fliptide]

Has been my go to EDC for last several years. I broke the tip on 1 an the other tip is bent and will probably break soon. Love them and it is a $20 knife, so you wont cry if the tip breaks!

[Evil D]

Hi Johnsmith,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

How about a full SE Resilience?

[JD Spydo]

JD
I thought you knew ? Don't you post on the Aussie Spyderco Enthusiasts web site ? We were talking about Catchermans and someone posted some old sales and my one was shown.

No I have never been on that website to my knowledge. I post on 3 knife forums and this being one of them, 1 straight razor forum and one survivalist/prepper forum. Those are the only ones I'm a member of. I'm not on any Aussie websites unless I visited one by default but I highly doubt that.