Byrd Wings is a good knife

jackknifeh · #1

Owned a Byrd Wings knife several weeks now. Two blades, Serrated and plain, 3.5" ea. GREAT work knife. Won't break the bank if you break it but unless you are stupid with abuse you won't break it. If you need a work knife but don't want to subject your more expensive knives to being scratched a lttle this is the knife for you. Comes with a pocket clip and sheath. I use the sheath on my workbelt. It's really too big for the pocket but the pocket clip is good for hanging the knife temporarily during use when your hands are tied up.

The 8Cr13MoV steel blades hold an edge better than the crappy knives I'v used all my life until I started looking at better quality knives. Does anyone know the Rockwell hardness of this steel? I've seen it advertised at 52-53 and 57-58. What's the deal? Either way the Wings knife is one I recommend if you need a knife like this.

Jack

PS
Spyderco also has a Microdyad. Same knife only smaller, VG-10 blades I think and prettier. 2" blade. Great for the pocket.

Jay_Ev · #2

The slip-it version of the Byrd Wings is a good knife as well.

cbibbs · #3

jackknifeh wrote:The 8Cr13MoV steel blades hold an edge better than the crappy knives I'v used all my life until I started looking at better quality knives. Does anyone know the Rockwell hardness of this steel? I've seen it advertised at 52-53 and 57-58. What's the deal? Either way the Wings knife is one I recommend if you need a knife like this.

I've seen lots of ranges thrown around for 8Cr13MoV, but none harder than 56. Where did you see the 52-53 claim?

ghostrider · #4

Haven't been paying a whole lot of attention lately, but do remember that when the byrd steel first came out, Sal told us that the Cara Cara tested at 61. That is what got them started on changing the markings from 440C to 8etc... The manufacture had originally told them that the best steel they had was 440C, so that's what Spyderco ordered. When they tested it at 61HRC, Sal said that they decided to test it because it wasn't performing like 440C. I still have a Cara Cara marked 440C, but it isn't 440C.

Maybe they've softened it since then, but I can't understand why they would do that.

jackknifeh · #5

I just looked at A.G. Russell's site and they have 8Cr13MoV at 58-59 Rc. I called Spyderco a month or two ago and asked what the rating actually is and was told if it was a Spyderco knife it was 58-59.

If I remember correctly I ordered a Byrd Meadowlark a few years ago which was advertised as 440C or 8Cr13MoV. It came with the latter so I looked it up somewhere. I Don't remember where I got the lower rating. Wherever it was it may have been a typeo. I've seen small differences in the Rc level on other steels also. Example: VG-10 at 59-60 and 60-61. The numbers are a good guide but until I get hands on experience they are just a good guide. I've had enough experience with both these steels as well as AUS-8 and that's what I really trust. 8Cr13MoV and AUS-8 I don't think I could tell the difference in as far as sharpening ease or edge retention in everyday use which leads me to believe the Rc is 57-59.

I didn't use the Meadowlark much and it stayed in a box with several other knives. A friend was over one day and looking in the box picked the Meadowlark (stainless handle) up 3 to 1 over the others so I gave it to him. He brought it back to me once to resharpen but it was still very sharp. Someone else told him it was dull. I have taken a knife that will slice paper like butter and holding it wrong just tears it. To get proper use of a knife it needs to be sharp and used correctly it seems.

Does Spyderco manufacture different steels for blades or buy them from manufacturers? What type of quality control is in place? I'm not questioning Spyderco because they haven't been wrong (except maybe the AUS-8 vs AUS-8A). I've read where there are two different steels and AUS-8A is a tiny bit better. Cold Steel was the first place I saw AUS-8A (as advertised). I'd like to know more but haven't looked into it. That means I'm curious but in the grand scheme of things it really isn't that important to me. I don't research steel. I just see it in advertisements for knives. I did get a Cold Steel neck knife with AUS-8A and I like it except I don't use it as a neck knife. It's the first Cold Steel anything I've bought and was only disappointed in one thing. One of their claims when advertising is razor sharpness. On the knife I got that's a laugh to say the least. It was kind of sharp but toothy enough to almost be considered serrated. Maybe that's what they wanted. I re-sharpened it and I like it as an inexpensive work knife which will do much more. I am happy with it. It replaces and Old-Timer knife I've had for 25+ years and I use that sheath because neck carry is not for me. I think this post is long enough, sorry.

Jack

RJNC · #6

Just seeing this post now. I just posted a new thread on people's thoughts on a Micro Byrd Wings like the Micro Dyad.

The Deacon · #7

jackknifeh wrote:Does Spyderco manufacture different steels for blades or buy them from manufacturers? What type of quality control is in place?

Jack

Spyderco does not manufacture steel, nor do any of the makers it uses around the world. Some makers may do their own heat treat, others may contract that work out. Some US manufacturers farm that out as well. For example, Buck uses Paul Bos. Not sure whether Spyderco heat treats their Golden made knives in house or not. Heat treat is what's responsible for hardness, so Spyderco probably specifies how hard they want the blades of knives being made for them. Any given steel can be run hard or soft. All have an upper limit, but that's higher for some than for others. Some a most effective/desirable at close to their maximum hardness, others are not.