Byrd Raven 2 - The Spyderco I SHOULD Have Bought First

[@JM-sj4wj]

I just bought mine at the Spyderco retail store in Golden Colorado. Very knowledgeable staff. I’m very happy with my purchase so far.

[@sngx1304]

Kershaw Blur Tanto, Half Serrated was my first serious knife. I still stand by it, great EDC knife. I used it in a factory and in the woods, never let me down. It was a knife, screw driver and small limb saw for me. I abused that knife and still use it almost 10 years later.

[@joeymaxwell2179]

$35 in Amazon right now. Great knife, I had one and sold it to a friend and wish I hadn’t. Will probably get another soon.

[@victortan6378]

It's really sad that it's sgd 100 in my country. Around USD 60

[@rooster6271]

My raven two has had a home in my pocket for 3 months now and I couldn't be happier with the knife... also the raven is my favourite bird so thats awesome!

[@TrNdke]

I agree that the Byrd series is better than the Spyderco value folder series. I've had a few Meadowlarks and Hawkbills and they're great knives either as precise tools or hard use beaters. Never broke one, but I also never felt bad about losing a couple.

[@dantem5228]

This is the knife that got me into knives. My first modern folder. I now have a Paysan, multiple paras, skaha 2 and much much more. But I owe it all to this. I still have it and I still love it. Amazing ergos for my hands, better chamfering than most other Spydercos, and it's actually sooooo smooth considering the "plastic" washers.

[@jeinko2885]

Mine just came in! Thanks for the recommendation. I absolutely love this knife. My first spyderco ever and actually the first knife I’ve ever bought for myself.

[@matthewshat]

Never was a spyderco fan till late found the tenacious at Walmart for $37.77 and jumped on it then came across the Byrd raven 2 and ordered it from Amazon mine is dead centered, besides the steel difference there about the same maybe the tenacious is a tad smoother.Just saw your location got family up there and all around that area love letchworth!!!

[@carnivorussapiens2139]

Thanks for sharing! Interestingly, I've never actually considered the Byrd knives. Your review tells me that I should have. I really like this knife. Good price too. Cheers!

[@ShortcutReviews]

I found the lock bar to be a pretty big pokey hotspot. I prefer the Tenacious, except the steel of course, but it’s because I can take or leave forward choils. Great Review as always. 👍

[@BigRed334]

Great knife one of my most carried

[@barrylevitt1170]

Pete"s rope cut test, cedric and ada, results: cts-bd1 had 112 cuts; real steel 14c28n had 71 cuts. Keep up the informative videos.

[@SliceyDicey]

Oh yeah! I’d forgotten it did that well!

[@Outpost_76]

BD1 is an under rated steel. I did my own edge tests and it easily beats 14c28 and VG-10. So much false information out about this steel.

[@barrylevitt1170]

Thanks for the information.

[@charlespangilinan6351]

What I want to see is the Emerson-Kershaw CQC-7K vs the Spyderco Byrd Raven 2. I'm actually debating myself on these two lol

[@abnergaldos8695]

I personally like the Byrd series. Great job on the vid

[@DDDDDDDD203]

I've bought it because this video🤙 Good info

[@GeneralKahne9]

Byrd is the wyrd...🤷‍♂️ Diggin' deep into your archives now Slicey Dicey and I dare say this video seems like it slashes to the bone or more accurately, cuts right to the core of your "knife guy" journey down the collector's rabbit hole 😂🤓

[@victortan6378]

How would it compare with the Baklash? I ordered the Baklash and its on the way. However I'm tempted to get Byrd as well since its cool looking

[@TheKnifeBeater]

Thanks for the video Bryan. Yeah, I've never really been a fan of the Tenacious either. Not that it's a bad knife, just not for me.

[@mt_baldwin]

Yes to the byrd vs CIVIVI, even tho this is an easy choice for me, I ordered a baklash as soon as I could and never got a raven 2 (or the polestar, which looks like the same knife without a finger choil for $20+ more).

[@BornIn1500]

The Polestar shows that a finger choil is entirely unnecessary. You're right at the edge with the Polestar's regular grip. It's well worth the extra $20 and you gain the extra cutting edge that they took away on the Raven.

[@wagstaff6135]

Kevin also said that he preferred this one outright to the (more expensive) Spyderco Polestar, which was Spyderco's improvement. Of course, he didn't say it until WAAAY after he sold me his Polestar! (I never handled the Raven 2; I think given the ergos, I prefer not to have the finger choil; I prefer the Spydie hole; I prefer the phosphor-bronze washers, and I prefer the look of the scales. I do not prefer the prince difference at all).

[@rafaelreig8246]

The moment you mentioned the price, I thought the Baklash is 2 dollars cheaper and it will kill it on a battle. No comparison needed. And moments later in the video the Mighty Baklash showed up!! 😄 Good one! I got it today. Same color. And after several hours of playing with it I think is fantastic. We both know which is gonna win. Hahaha

[@hardleydangerousmaun]

Recently bought a Polestar which is apparently a more refined Raven/ Tenacious hybrid. Apart from it being the only Chinese knife in my modest spyderco collection, it’s easily the best finished...steel isn’t the latest and greatest but I really really like it. Carries nicely and It’s also got a fair amount more cutting edge than my Stretch..with a smaller grip area. I feel like the design combined with VG10 and made anywhere else but China, it would have been far more popular. I looked hard at the Raven but ultimately the boring black G10 and the Byrd hole design meant I was happy to pay $15 more for the Spyderco version. Btw..bro? You turned into nutnfancy for a second! 😆

[@SliceyDicey]

I had the Alcyon (smaller Polestar) and I still think I’d like the Raven better but they are damn good looking. And the bro wasn’t me turning into Nutnfancy. It was me turning into my son lol. He’s 19.

[@williamjc7195]

I have the byrd cara cara 2. good slicer. $20 :) In my edc rotation.

[@kenturner3268]

He said Bro. I'm in for the Backlash for sure.

[@MJFallout]

The only thing that stopped me from getting one in the past is that the blade stock is sooo thick. Like, I can see how that fills out a niche in Spyderco's lineup actually, but for me personally, I find that highly unnecessary and in fact counter productive. Yet, in turn, the polestar is its little cousin... and that's just a tad flimsy and light IMO, ugh. It just never ends. On that note, can't wait for my discontinued Kershaw Random Task II to get here. yay.

[@BradGryphonn]

I like the Byrd Teardrop hole more than the standard Spydie hole. Oh, and the Raven is a really nice knife.

[@geoffwatson8007]

Hi Brian. I hope you start doing videos again soon.

[@knifeguy1387]

CTS-BD1 Steel for $35 is a great deal

[@SliceyDicey]

With the SDWMK discount code at White Mountain Knives, you’re almost there! #shamelessplug

[@johnscarborough4746]

This is on my short list of upcoming purchases, and my Tenacious was a POS with all the shortcomings that you hear people mention.

I think that if you want a PM2 or a Para 3, but think they cost too much (they do, IMO), get a Byrd Raven 2 or a Byrd Crow 2 instead. 90% as good, less than half the price.

[@edwardyork4321]

Great review as Usual 😉👍 Does Byrd have anything that compares to the Carribbean?

[@SliceyDicey]

Not that I can think of.

[@andrewhaley8992]

Hey bro, yes the Raven has better steel. I still like the tenacious, the spyderco 8cr13mov is the best treated on the market. I’m not saying it’s better, but I still prefer the tenacious. I like the CIVIVI more than both.

[@SteveL7874]

The Byrd Raven (not Raven 2).. Best "Bang-for-the-Buck" Spyderco. => Satin, Plain-Edge, G-10. PLENTY big. Blade Length: 3-1/2" (89mm). Kinda light-weight. is 8Cr13MoV steel. 3.3 ozs. Spine and choil jimping. Hollow-ground blade. It is Discontinued. Good knife. If you can find one... Buy it ! Model#: BY08G (or BY08GP). It is the "original". I bought mine almost 10 years ago and I just knew, then, one day it would be a discontinued model.

[@rickkerans8485]

Yes do the Byrd vrs Civivi.

[@dannyt6798]

Come on Dicey, Backlash all the way! That bird hole is so awkward. It looks like the poor knife is crying. I was deeply considering the Bestech Paladin before I saw your Backlash video. I am now torn... Btw, my first "real" knife was a Tenacious as well. Black on black with plain edge. Also gave it away. Wish I hadn't.

[@SliceyDicey]

The Paladin is great also. I have both the Paladin and a the two Civivis and I have no plans to get rid of either.

[@charlescollier7217]

Better design, better steel than a Tenacious. I'm not sure I could compare it to a Civivi, given the steel. Other budget knives in the $40 - $50 range that come in D2 or even 14C28N.

[@Outpost_76]

BD1 easily outperformed 9cr18 in my tests. I was curious about both. 9cr18 directly compares to VG-10 in edge retention.

[@rafaelreig8246]

Now we need Nick to send a Civivi to Pete for a test and we will know how it compares to BD1 and more interestingly to Acuto

[@Outpost_76]

9cr18 is directly comparable to VG-10 for edge retention. I was curious about it and did my own tests. I used 2 different brand VG-10 and 2 different brand 9cr18. All steels were run twice through the same media and came within 1% in every test. Nothing wrong with 9cr18 at all.

[@laserbrain7774]

wow, prices sure have inflated in the last few years.

[@Errcyco]

It’s ONLY downside is Teflon washers.. horrid. Used around heat or in a lot of situations you’d find yourself in.. they fail or melt. I heard they decided not to put phosphor bronze )like the cheaper FRN ones even have) is they thought it would canibalize sales on the Tenacious. That tells you how good it is. But.. those Teflon washers are like putting some Walmart brand cheap tires on a Ferrari.

[@abc456f]

C'mon bro 😉...you know the backlash will whoop the raven in a comparision!

[@SliceyDicey]

Yes. Yes it would.

[@chongrobertjones]

I want to see the battle to the death with the civivi

[@megadeth22885]

so you wouldnt buy a tenacious over the byrd... why would you buy a byrd over a rat 1 in D2?

[@SliceyDicey]

Totally different size categories to me. I have both.

[@megadeth22885]

@@SliceyDicey then the rat 2 in D2 for the same price range

[@SliceyDicey]

It's a bit bigger than the Rat 2 and is a lot more comfortable in my hand.

[@megadeth22885]

@@SliceyDicey that is my issue with the rat knives.. the rat 1 is too big, the rat 2 is too small.. they need a rat 1.5

[@BornIn1500]

I bought the Spyderco Polestar instead of the Raven. Similar design with more blade edge and without the unnecessary finger choil. The Polestar's design puts your hand right at the edge of the knife. With the proper design, there's no need to take away cutting edge so you can "choke up" because a regular grip is already choked up. So why do it? Makes no sense to me except to save Spyderco money by not having to grind as much metal. It's like Spyderco created a problem of a far back grip just so they can "solve" it with a choil. But the $35 price of the Raven on Amazon is very tempting. It makes the Polestar almost double the price. Similarly, you said an advantage of the Raven over the Tenacious is that you can choke up on the Raven. But the Tenacious' regular grip is already choked up as far as you can go to the edge. I really don't understand this new trend of wanting choils. It doesn't make sense to me. But I guess it sells knives cause it's new and different.

[@Outpost_76]

Spyderco has been doing forward choils for years, nothing new. Some of us like them for blade control and detail cutting.

[@BornIn1500]

I understand the blade control thing. My comment was saying that if they put the normal finger guard all the way at the end, and you sharpen the entire length of the blade, you're already as close to the blade edge as you can get and you can have all that blade control. In order for them to add that finger choil, they make room for it by intentionally moving back the regular grip. Look at the Polestar and the Raven side by side. The finger guard for the Raven is way back behind the pivot! I just measured the distance between the blade and my finger on the Polestar. 1/4 of an inch. I also measured my the distance between the blade and my finger using the finger choil of a PM2. 1/4 of an inch! There is zero difference. Spyderco has duped people into thinking a choil is necessary to "choke up" to get closer to the edge, when it's entirely possible to design a grip so you're already at the edge. A choil is simply used by Spyderco to differentiate their brand and sell more knives cause it fakes solving a problem that doesn't need to exist in the first place.

[@zero2three1]

Baklash vs Paladin.

[@SliceyDicey]

The Praxis is more similar in size and that's coming.

[@zero2three1]

Slicey Dicey It's just not as sexy. I'm shallow...

[@Outpost_76]

The sheer amount of misinformation about CTS-BD1 is crazy. It's a much better steel than internet posts or steel charts would lead you to believe.

[@wrjames38]

Nice knife..thanks for review. CTS-BD1 is ONLY slightly better then 8cr13mov because of the extra chromium! !! With proper HT and good edge geometry. ..both steels would be very close in edge retention!

[@BornIn1500]

Testing done by Cedric & Ada has BD1 holding an edge more than twice as long as 8cr

[@wrjames38]

BornIn1500 If you dig into more info (then youtube ) to enlighten the mind ..try reading cliffs stamp on this subject about edge retention(steel ,HT , geometry ). Way more to Petes ( basic citizen science at best) test...he's the first to say so!!!

[@Outpost_76]

I was curious about BD1 and did my own test, didn't take the word of KZbin. CTS-BD1 far out performs 8cr13 in real use. I used 2 different brands of BD1 and 3 different brands of 8cr13. Sure heat treat matters but the ones using it for production folders have it right. BD1 has more than 3 times the edge retention of 8cr13 when your really using it instead of theorizing about it in a video. People hate on BD1 but there is a reason Sal and Eric used it. Way too much misinformation out there about it

[@wrjames38]

Outpost 76 Appreciate your test...but still too many variables can "skew " results. ..Cognitive Bias!

[@BornIn1500]

wrjames38 True, but at some point you see a pattern of everyone showing 2x or 3x edge retention for BD1 compared to 8cr, yet nobody showing 8cr to be the same or better. Surely not everyone has a bias. Some of those people must have assumed they'd be similar, like you, right?

[@bp-hx9ts]

When brianspec was tacticool

[@SliceyDicey]

Hahaha

[@marunparthiban]

👍