G10 Meadowlark Review

ghostrider · #1

Last Friday I received a G10 Meadowlark PE and though I would post some thoughts on it. I have already review the Meadowlark last year: http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13932

What I’ll do here is list some of the differences on the newer model.

When I first received it, I didn’t so much look at the more obvious changes, as look for subtle ones. One thing I noticed is that the etching is deeper on this one than the other byrds I own. I don’t know if this it something new with this model, or if it is just peculiar to my particular piece not being consistent with other models.

Since I already wrote a review, I’ll just list some of my observations.

I weighed it at just a hair under 3.5 oz. That is just one-half-ounce less than the SS Meadowlark and the SS Delica, and .25oz less than the harpy.

NEW FEATURES:

Jimping along the length of the 50/50 choil. The handle part of the choil has the jimping on the SS liners only, not the G10.

Milled out sections in the back spacer are a little less than 1/8” deep, while being a little less than ¼” long. There are six of them.

Ambidextrous: The G10 Meadowlark traded in it’s option of tip-up/tip-down for the option of right-hand/left-hand carry. It is now designated tip-up only. I suspect that this could be due to the fact that the pivot pin is no longer flush with the handle scale.

OBSERVATIONS:

Not very many sharp edges. About the only edge that would even come close to counting as sharp was the Boye dent, and it really wasn’t that bad. I pressed my finger hard against the liners and ran them the length with no problems. The G10 is radius well near the liners.
For those who find such things of importance, the blade center perfectly when closed.
The only G10 Spyderco I own is the Yojimbo. Comparing the two, the pattern of the Chinese G10 is wider spread, but I can’t tell if it is shallower, or deeper. It does feel like it provides a better grip IMHO, while the Spyderco G10 is more refined. I imaging the byrd G10 will wear on the pocket more, however this is just mere speculation.
Looking at the structure through the cross section of the material, it would be interesting to see how contouring would look on it, especially after seeing some of the work done by potterma, the Subcom F molester.
The lanyard hole appears to be some sort of metal that is black in color. Can’t say if it is anodizing or some other sort of coating. It doesn’t sit quite flush with the handle scales.

The fit and finish on this knife is about what I would expect for $30 USD shipped. The worst offenders were a few spots on the G10 where it’s beveled down to the liner, and a spot in one of the liners. This is being very nitpicky IMHO since the knife is so inexpensive. If Spyderco were to make a knife with these features, I imagine it would be one of the more expensive of the line. This is what many people are going to refer to as a “beater knife”, so I see no relevance to the F & F issues. It’s still a great knife for a great price.
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Here are some comparison shots with the Delica 3 and Raven.

smcfalls13 · #2

Awesome review :cool:

Now you've got me wanting one :p

ghostrider · #3

Thanks for reading Scott. TBH, the main reason I bought one is because I said I would last year when I bought my first SS one, but also because I want it to be a sucess so I can get a G10 or FRN Crossbill. One other improvement I like about the G10 Meadowlark is that the handle is also thicker. It's thicker than the Delica FRN, and fills the hand much better than the SS version did. Great little blade shape. Truthfully, if Spyderco made some of these byrd designs as Spydercos with VG10, instead of byrds with "8etc...", I'd like them even better.

smcfalls13 · #4

ghostrider wrote:I want it to be a sucess so I can get a G10 or FRN Crossbill.

That's the ultimate goal :cool:

I'll buy several G-10 meadowlarks, if it means we've got a chance of seeing the G-10 Crossbill. :D

ghostrider · #5

smcfalls13 wrote:That's the ultimate goal :cool:

I'll buy several G-10 meadowlarks, if it means we've got a chance of seeing the G-10 Crossbill. :D

TBH, if they'd come out with a :spyder: hawkbill in that size with those ergonomics and a VG-10 blade, I'd love that FRN and I'd probably buy two.

smcfalls13 · #6

ghostrider wrote:TBH, if they'd come out with a :spyder: hawkbill in that size with those ergonomics and a VG-10 blade, I'd love that FRN and I'd probably buy two.

You and me both :D

ghostrider · #7

smcfalls13 wrote:You and me both :D

We can dream. :D

jaislandboy · #8

Excellent review/pics (as usual) Ghostrider! I "missed out" on the G10 PE Meadowlark at Our Favorite Pharmacy's website....so i'll have to wait.....but Awesome detailed photos.....I think they'll help others to "pull the trigger" on the byrd!

:cool:

ghostrider · #9

[quote="jaislandboy"]Excellent review/pics (as usual) Ghostrider! I "missed out" on the G10 PE Meadowlark at Our Favorite Pharmacy's website....so i'll have to wait.....but Awesome detailed photos.....I think they'll help others to "pull the trigger" on the byrd! ]
Thanks Brian. When I ordered mine, Mike from NKG told me that they had ordered quite a few, but that they were going very fast.

If others "pull the trigger" I don't think too many will be disappointed. The original Meadowlark was a great little knife in it's own right, and the G10 makes it even that much better IMHO. One of the things I didn't like about the original was that the combination of it's small size and SS handles made it less secure in my hand than I prefer. The G10 totally changes that for my hand.

Some people want the same treatment for the Crossbill, and I can understand, but if they gave it FRN scales with skelotonized, nested SS liners, I think it would be even better because of the weight loss. Just my $.02.

Thanks for reading.

DamnYank! · #10

i love the G10 meadowlark! if they did a hawkbill smaller than the crossbill, say something in between the meadowlark and cara cara i think it'd be awesome.

ghostrider · #11

DamnYank! wrote:i love the G10 meadowlark! if they did a hawkbill smaller than the crossbill, say something in between the meadowlark and cara cara i think it'd be awesome.

Thanks for reading **** Yank!. It really is a nice little knife. The ergonomics make it a downright pleasure to hold in the hand.

I also think you are onto something with the idea of a hawkbill between the size of the Cara Cara and the Meadowlark. However, I am quiet satisfied with the size of the Crossbill. If they came out with a Spyderco hawkbill in that size range with VG-10 steel, nested liners and a FRN handle it would be awesome. For now the Crossbill will have to do.

What you suggest wouldn’t be a bad size if they did it right. I do hope they come out with something in VG-10 since it is my favorite steel. Something along the line of a 3 ¼ inch hawkbill blade in VG-10 would be nice, but the handle would have to lean more toward the Cara Cara size for me. TBH, the Cara Cara fits my hand like a glove. One of these days I’m going to have to break down and get a Tasman. I just keep thinking that I’d still prefer the Crossbill once I get it.

dialex · #12

Thanks for the great review and for the pics.

ghostrider · #13

dialex wrote:Thanks for the great review and for the pics.

Hello dialex. Thanks for reading.

Don't think I forgot that you were one of the first ones calling for a G10 Meadowlark (at least the first one that I know of). I don't think you will be disappointed. The jimping along the 50/50 choil is a great improvement over the original design, and the while the G10 provides a better grip, it also fills out the hand better. Very nicely done IMHO. The millwork on the back spacer I think is a matter of taste. I suppose some will not like it because it’s just one more thing to keep clean. Personally I like the look it provides.

224477 · #14

Thanks for the review David! :) :) :)
I seem to like it, but I will probably wait for the G10 CaraCara, as thats more "my size" LOL!

ghostrider · #15

224477 wrote:Thanks for the review David! :) :) :)
I seem to like it, but I will probably wait for the G10 CaraCara, as thats more "my size" LOL!

Hello Jano,
If a G10 Cara Cara is anything like the Meadowlark G10, then I think you'll be pleased. It will be interesting to see how the added thickness of the G10 effects the larger handle of the Cara Cara.

Thanks for reading.

dialex · #16

ghostrider wrote:Hello dialex. Thanks for reading.

Don't think I forgot that you were one of the first ones calling for a G10 Meadowlark (at least the first one that I know of). I don't think you will be disappointed. The jimping along the 50/50 choil is a great improvement over the original design, and the while the G10 provides a better grip, it also fills out the hand better. Very nicely done IMHO. The millwork on the back spacer I think is a matter of taste. I suppose some will not like it because it’s just one more thing to keep clean. Personally I like the look it provides.

Hi Ghostrider. I think some of the models in the Byrd line are so good looking and well thought that they deserve a round hole.

ghostrider · #17

[quote="dialex"]Hi Ghostrider. I think some of the models in the Byrd line are so good looking and well thought that they deserve a round hole. ]
I agree, and if that were enough to give them VG-10, it would be great. I could do without the round hole as I personally don't think the comet is too bad. But I really like the :spyder: VG-10 and realize that the round hole is pretty much a pre-requisite (sp?).

dialex · #18

He, he, Sal was mentioning the (albeit merely theoretical) possibility of making a finger choiled Delica for the afficionados, so we can still have the chance to get what we want

ghostrider · #19

[quote="dialex"]He, he, Sal was mentioning the (albeit merely theoretical) possibility of making a finger choiled Delica for the afficionados, so we can still have the chance to get what we want ]
While I am not nearly as big a Delica fan as you are, I would probably need to get a Delica with a choil solely because I do not yet have one. I would be more interested in something in a 3.5 inch hawkbill with lined FRN, and VG-10, But a choiled Delica... I always figure that the Meadowlark was close to it without the flat grind (too bad they didn't put that on the G10 Meadowlark

).

smcfalls13 · #20

ghostrider wrote:I would be more interested in something in a 3.5 inch hawkbill with lined FRN, and VG-10

I'll sign up for one of those