Newbie: Bitten already.!

[kai-wun]

Hi All!

My friend carries a tiny little folder in his back jean pocket and I always thought it was nifty. I don't think it's a Spydie, maybe a Kershaw or Buck. Didn't really think much other than it was cool...

I started talking to another friend and he EDC's a little boker, and started explaining once you carry a knife, you'll find a million things to use it for.

So.. on the same day I impulse bought a G-10 Byrd Robin (in the mail soon), and reading more and more about this I already want a FRN Delica 4.

I'm hoping the Robin will be small enough to fit into my jeans. I have smallish hands and wear fitted (read: "tight") clothes... I've heard so much about the Robin and not much about the Finch, which *might be a better size for me. But the Finch doesn't have a clip, which would be useful.

Now a really newbie question would be this: What *do* you use your knife for? I'm a student that spends all day and night studying, I don't know what I'd use my Robin (or Delica for that matter) for, but I know it's nice to have for emergencies. The most obvious one would be cutting a seatbelt. I hope I'll never have to use it for that.

[yablanowitz]

Welcome to the forum!

Have you ever bought a CD or DVD? How did you get the shrink wrap off without a knife? For that matter, everything under the sun seems to come in plastic clam packs these days, and a good sharp knife is the fastest way to get into them. I clean my fingernails with a small knife, open my mail, open boxes, cut up snacks...

You get the idea.

[CTfam]

I thought "bite" meant you cut yourself with your new blade. :D But maybe that's just me...

I have a Byrd Robin as well and it's a fine knife. I love that size blade for my EDC knife. I keep it loose in the pocket when I carry in a suit and forget I have it. I also have a Dragonfly and a very special non- :spyder: I rotate as well.

yablanowitz pretty much hit it on the head. These small blades get used for more mundane tasks. If I go camping or fishing I'll reach for something else. However, these little knives will do a lot for their size. Including SD if your Glock gets away from you.... :p

Please don't forget about the COOL factor! I like to fondle my Spydercos. That's got to count for something.

[feeny]

I usually have a cricket on me. Today, before I rode my bike home, one of the lights wasn't working... out with the cricket.... opened it up, used the spine to jimmy open the light cover, fixed the battery and off I went.

Prior to that, I cleaned my fingernails (as previously mentioned), and also scored an edge off a brochure I printed out.

Prior to that, during a tense presentation to a number of europeans (over the web) .. I was absent mindedly flicking it open and shut - playing with it like one might with prayer beads I guess - before my business partner gave me a bewildered look ... at which point I tucked it back IWB.

Common office uses: Cutting stuff that needs to be cut! The cricket is awesome at all packaging - from clamshell to corrugated.... and for jimmying open bike lights in a pinch too :D

Oh - and most spydies do all the above!

[sixheads]

I have a Byrd robin (all three actually frn,g10 and ss) and use them when my Caly is to much. For example i am in Germany this week for training and the Robin is great for travel and carry in a forin country. Also they are inexspensive enough that if it is lost or stolen or i need to use it as a screwdriver in a pinch and it gets damaged i can replace it without much financial burden. And the cool factor rocks.

What one did you get ? What handel ? Blade type?

Sixheads

[Lord vader]

I use mine allot when i`m fishing,they make good fillet knifes of course there are a lot of different fillet knives out there suited for this purpose, but i use a pacific salt because of its great corrosion resistance and edge retention.I have also used it to open packages. Second thing don`t forget and leave the knife in your pocket when you go to school. :eek:

[rainbow stalker]

It really dosent matter what or if you use a Spyderco knife for. But you just have to have one in your pocket. Once bitten, you must have more. Then you will have to have clothes with more pockets. Before you know it, you will be at a twelve step meeting with us for your addiction to Spyderco knives. :D :D

[Lord vader]

It really dosent matter what or if you use a Spyderco knife for. But you just have to have one in your pocket. Once bitten, you must have more. Then you will have to have clothes with more pockets. Before you know it, you will be at a twelve step meeting with us for your addiction to Spyderco knives. :D :D

Amen to that brother. :)

[FLYBYU44]

The Delica 4 is a really nice little knife, and it carries well in the pocket, if I didn't have one already I would get one for sure. What do I use my knife for? Well sometimes I used it for stress relief, just opening and closing it. :D I use it for cutting evelopes open, boxes open, cutting packaging off things. At work I've used it for cutting branches off a tree so we could work under it, cutting rope up and cutting those pesky zip ties off things. Plus I drive a vac truck at work and during the winter especially I witness many accidents, so it's good to have in case I ever had to cut a seatbelt off someone or myself. And also there is the self defense aspect, although with no training I hesitate to even use it for that, but you could if you had experiance dealing with that type of thing. I think you will find many uses for a knife once you have one. I love that new people are getting into knives, because I'm a firm believer that everyone should carry one.

[kai-wun]

Thanks for the warm welcomes, it does feel like a great crowd!

I purchased a Robin with G10 handle and Plain Edge. I was really stuck on deciding between the FRN and G10, but I decided on the G10 eventually. I figure my next blade would be an FRN, they are both such cool materials.

My next blade will definitely be partially serrated, but this EDC Robin seems more practical with the plain edge - because at school it will mostly be paper, fruit, and other "urban" things to cut. The serrated Robin doesn't seem to have much usable plain edge space.

Thinking about it more, I definitely will find things to play with it. I just really hope I made the right decision with the Robin vs the Finch... I really like small blades.

As for SD: I am really against carrying a knife for SD. It propagates the notion of having a knife as a weapon, first and foremost, rather than a tool - which I believe almost all of the knife community would agree. I don't think I would ever pull out my EDC to confront an assailant because of my lack of training, and in the shock/excitement, the knife would very likely end up in the assailant's hands, which would make my situation far worse. After all, in situations like those, tension does *not* need to be escalated.

Maybe I'm just a pacifist at heart. Hahaha.

Can't wait to chat more with you guys, and can't wait till my Robin comes in! As for the FRN Delica4 ... I want it because of the VG-10 steel in an inexpensive package. I would probably clip it to my bag instead of my jeans though, and a partially serrated blade would be sooo useful!

[vampyrewolf]

Welcome aboard,

2 down, and they certainly won't be the last

If you're working with the small blades, you are better off going PE or SE as compared to combo.

You'll want to find somewhere secure in your bag to clip to so someone can't just walk by and relieve you of your toy in the hallway.

[spydutch]

Very welcome to the forums and enjoy your stay :cool:

[mrappraisit]

Welcome to the forum, the Robin is a very good size for unobtrusive pocket carry. Soon you will probably want something bigger, but it is a really good little knife for the money, and a handy knife to have. Enjoy your new knife :D

Edit: I didn't read all of your second post. The D4 is a good knife as well. If you're are happy with the Robin you will be overjoyed with the D4, it is a very evolved EDC/utility knife.

[CTfam]

I agree that the D4 is a must have. It's the Spyderco that started my love for the brand. I would say get the plain edge FRN. Great bang for your buck.

[kai-wun]

My next blade will have a combo edge! I want utility of the serrated in case of emergency, cutting rope/clothing/seatbelts =)

Delica 4 with VG-10 or ZDP-189? Hmmm.

There is also the Crossbill, Crow or Meadowlark... So many blades, I don't know which to pick!!

[wertyu2007]

sound like your learning your knifes.
soon youll be lost without one ,thats when you know how useful a knife is when your used to carrying one ,then leave it at home.

[ChapmanPreferred]

In place of a second knife being your second purchase, I would suggest you invest in a Sharpmaker prior to expanding your knife selection. You will need to sharpen eventually.

Take care,

Doug

[dangerouscold]

I sure wish I had been introduced to spyderco via byrds and delicas... I jumped right into the hard stuff: Give me manix, military and ATR - the black tar heroin of spydercos.

DC

[Netsquash]

Now a really newbie question would be this: What *do* you use your knife for? I'm a student that spends all day and night studying, I don't know what I'd use my Robin (or Delica for that matter) for, but I know it's nice to have for emergencies. The most obvious one would be cutting a seatbelt. I hope I'll never have to use it for that.

Hi, I'm a newbie too and a university student. I carry a stainless steel Dragonfly and feel naked if I every forget it. I use mine to cut practically anything. I open a lot of food packages, DVDs, cut rope, cardboard, garbage, stray clothing fibers, practically anything. I find new uses for it every day.

[kai-wun]

*sigh... the wait is killing me! i can't wait to have the little Robin in my hands. i think i've decided on a VG-10 combo edged FRN delica4 as my next blade. black.

i also want to pick up a finch for keychain duty for my ladyfriend. =)

a question though... Crossbill, Crow or Meadowlark... what are the purposes of the respective blade designs?

ps: sharpmaker is on it's way.... =)