byrd mod pics

ghostrider · #1

Alright, last week I received two modified byrds from the shop of fellow forumite jsholli. A Cara Cara, and a Crossbill. This week, I borrowed a friends digital camera to photag them. He put jimping all the way around the handles, and on the outer edges of the Boye dents. He also jimmped the outer edges of the thumb ramp on the Crossbill, and the 50/50 choil of the Cara Cara.

Hope the pics turn out.

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Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting

P.S.
Sorry about quality. First time with digital camera, or doing this.

greencobra · #2

Well you know, I really like the look of it. jsholli does nice work and the mod is really functional. Enjoy them.

butch · #3

looks nice
has lots more grip i bet

The Deacon · #4

Looks very nice! Does the jimping around the handle help make the stainless "stick to your hand" better? Certainly looks like it would.

ghostrider · #5

YES! The jimping around the handle does make for better grip, but it isn’t don’t so deep or wide as to wear on the hand. Very comfortable. The real test will be in the winter time when hands become dry and metal slippery.

Also, he did the jimping in the curved sections of the choils at an angle to the handle instead of perpendicular. This gives each piece, IMO, a look of movement. A “byrd in flight, if you will”.

ghostrider · #6

As an added note to all you people asking about grip, today I recieved an Crossbill PE without the jimping giving me the opportunity to compare. Something I noticed is that, the grippiness is like one of those things you don't realize you have untill it's gone. I don't have any other all SS knives, so I was unable to compare untill now.

Due to the unobtrusive nature of the jimping (done so as not to wear on the hand) it was hard for me to fully before realize it's functionality. Now, comparing it to a non-jimped handle, the difference is amazing. When I grip this thing, it grips back. The jimping is placed just right. It's on the inner edge of the scale, closing towards the centerline. The jimping doesn't extend to the outer part of the handle, therefore avoiding any excessive pocket wear.

224477 · #7

Hello ghostrider,

congratulations to the byrd team! I got the same duo but without serrations, although now I thought I could have taken the crossbill in CE :rolleyes:
It is a nice custom touch. I am satisfied with my grip possibility, I managed to open both in woolen gloves, so I guess in winter there is no need to froze them in hand. Byrds are very cool ones, so again, enjoy!

ghostrider · #8

Thanks Jano,

Yeah, I knew that you had the same in PE. You posted your Crossbill review just after I ordered these.

I know what you mean about the grip being good enough for you. The byrd’s, so far, have such good ergonomics, you wouldn’t think the mods would be necessary, but when you compare them you notice. IMHO, the Cara Cara, and Meadowlark are very similar ergonomically to the Endura, and Delica, with the byrd line being slightly smaller in scale. It’s not surprising you think they are fine without the mods. The handles on the Crossbill are even better, just without the 50/50 choil. So far, everyone I’ve shown a byrd to has been impressed to the point of fascination. Even a friend who is a NKP spent about 10 minutes fondling my Cara Cara admiring the workmanship, and quality.

224477 · #9

ghostrider,

I had the same "impressions" with byrds and NKP, I even sold my 1st CC to a NKP, he was very happy with it. I think spyderco made a good deal with the byrds.

ghostrider · #10

224477 wrote:ghostrider,

I had the same "impressions" with byrds and NKP, I even sold my 1st CC to a NKP, he was very happy with it. I think spyderco made a good deal with the byrds.

Yeah, especially when you consider that the blade steel is “similar in properties to AUS-8”, and hardened to about Rc 61. They may not be quite the quality of Spyderco, but they offer different aspects such as, different ergos, size in scale, and something other than AUS-6.

Makes me wonder. If they can do this with the byrds, I am anxious to see the new versions of SS Endura, and Delica.