Anybody have the Ti Catbyrd ?

The Mastiff · #1

If so, what do you think?

Byrds obviously don't have the collector interest of Spyderco's but with only 200 being made, only model using 9C, and the only Ti Byrd I'd expect some interest.

I have one, but am going to keep my impression to myself for now.

ChrisR · #2

I don't have one but I'm sure it'll be a nice knife ... I just personally thought it was confusing the Byrd brand to have such an expensive knife in the range. Byrd also, like you say, doesn't have the traditional appeal for collectors so it seemed an odd decision to make one. I'd be fascinated to hear what you think about the knife itself though - is it more Spyderco than Byrd? :)

SmoothOne25 · #3

ChrisR wrote:I just personally thought it was confusing the Byrd brand to have such an expensive knife in the range. Byrd also, like you say, doesn't have the traditional appeal for collectors so it seemed an odd decision to make one.

i agree. i was excited at first and grabbed one from someone else. (he sold his:rolleyes :) then i resold it to someone else. its just not going to take up money when i can use its proceeds for a ukpk i want ten times more. i liked its titanium but it was a mistake. for some, byrd fills a need. for me they dont.

for some reason when i see the hole on a byrd i think "cheap spydie knock off" and think its junk. i have to keep telling myself its made by the people who make frn ukpks and then i realize the genius and ingenuity of the spydie crew and why they do it. they MUST sell, they must make a profit or spyderco wouldn't sell them and wouldn't create new models year after year. i dont know, you look at a hole on any blade and your brain immediately forces you to think spyderco. thats what that open hole design has done. and now ANY model i see with a hole must have a circle or its no good. make sense? :confused: :o

v8r · #4

I have a stainless one, and to be honest it is not as nice as the other Byrd models I own.If I knew the TI version was assembled better I would spring for one.I really like the 9cr my mule is made from.

grunt0331 · #5

i got one but have not used it because i have had problems with the liner lock. this really should have been a frame lock, but i'm assuming that would have cost a great deal more. i do not like the liner-less lock design.

when mine arrived, i inspected it and the lock face had wear marks that looked like the knife had been spine-whacked. it does not lock up well. the liner engages to 50%+ but if any pressure is put on the spine of the blade, the lock slides to the very

edge of the blade tang. i disassembled and cleaned the knife, reassembled correctly, added loctite to screws, and tested. i opened and closed the knife hundreds of times in an attempt to break it in, with no luck. it has since been added to my "to-be-modified" box of knives and tools.

i knew it was a gamble when i bought the knife but i wanted to try the steel (i missed out on the 9cr18mo mule) and i like the Catbyrd design. i have many Spyderco and Byrd knives and i am in no way unsatisfied with any.

Scottie3000 · #6

We ELUs are a fickle bunch. Make a Ti Millie and they can't make them fast enough at $200 a pop. (I waited 11 months for my order to be filled) Make a Ti Byrd and they can't get rid of them. Make a M4 Millie and they are all sold 6 months before production. Make a D2 Para and they can't get rid of them for $99 but as soon as they are all sold, they go for $200 on EBay.

demtek9 · #7

Scottie3000 wrote:We ELUs are a fickle bunch. Make a Ti Millie and they can't make them fast enough at $200 a pop. (I waited 11 months for my order to be filled) Make a Ti Byrd and they can't get rid of them. Make a M4 Millie and they are all sold 6 months before production. Make a D2 Para and they can't get rid of them for $99 but as soon as they are all sold, they go for $200 on EBay.

True...especially with the D2 Para.
Spyderco should just say "****, we ran out" ...wait a month and then say they founds some more in the warehouse. They'll fly off the shelves. :p

The Deacon · #8

Scottie3000 wrote:We ELUs are a fickle bunch. Make a Ti Millie and they can't make them fast enough at $200 a pop. (I waited 11 months for my order to be filled) Make a Ti Byrd and they can't get rid of them. Make a M4 Millie and they are all sold 6 months before production. Make a D2 Para and they can't get rid of them for $99 but as soon as they are all sold, they go for $200 on EBay.

True, to a point. But for one thing, the Byrds were intended as "low end, entry level" knives. A premium one, is automatically an expensive version of a cheap knife. Not to mention the Military is a framelock, while the Byrd is a liner lock. Considering you can now get a titanium Lum Chinese liner lock in VG-10 for around $125, or a titanium Sage II framelock in S30V for under $150, the incentive to spend $100 on a Byrd in a Chinese mystery steel with cheezy grip tape inlays in the handle and a 1 year warrranty is somewhat reduced.

v8r · #9

So the Ti version is not a frame lock like the Stainless one?

The Deacon · #10

v8r wrote:So the Ti version is not a frame lock like the Stainless one?

Unless there's an error in the online catalog, it's a liner lock.

When development of the model started, Sal decided to manufacture an additional Sprint Run (limited run of approximately 200 pieces) of Catbyrds with titanium handles and a Michael Walker LinerLock®.

2cha · #11

The Deacon wrote: Considering you can now get a titanium Lum Chinese liner lock in VG-10 for around $125, or a titanium Sage II framelock in S30V for under $150, the incentive to spend $100 on a Byrd in a Chinese mystery steel with cheezy grip tape inlays in the handle and a 1 year warrranty is somewhat reduced.

Don't hold back,... Tell us what you really think. :)

araneae · #12

I really thought I wanted one, but at $100 I have to save my limited knife dollars for other purchases. I was really hoping to try out the 9Cr18Mo in a folder. I have the mule, but my use of fixed blades is limited to primarily yard use.