You’ve heard of Spyderco, who hasn’t. That’s how you got here looking for the best Spyderco pocket knife.
But what will this post advise? Is it the Delica? The Paramilitary 3? The Tenacious? The Endura? The Manix 2?
All good knives, yes, but all wrong. The best Spyderco knife isn’t even a Spyderco. They’re too expensive. It’s a Byrd knife.
Byrd is basically an offshoot of Spyderco. They’re more or less indistinguishable to the untrained eye, sporting the same ergs and made with the same materials (give or take) as their cousins.
The difference is Byrd knives command far lower price points while delivering effectively the same quality.
So why a Byrd? Here are the best reasons.
Enter Byrd Knives
Byrd knives are manufactured in China under close supervision from Spyderco, and the thing about Byrd folders is that they sport the same looks and style of Spyderco knives.
Like Spyderco knives, Byrd knives are overwhelmingly made with humpbacked, leaf-shaped blades, although, as can be expected, there is some variance in their product portfolio.
Also, their knives are deployed via a method that is effectively identical to Spyderco except in one miniscule way. They utilize inherently ambidextrous thumb holes, but “Spydieholes” are round, whereas Byrd’s are more teardrop shaped.
Otherwise, they are the same, and Byrd knives utilize the same pivot hardware and locking mechanisms (again, generally) as their cousins.
So, if you’re into Spyderco for the handling, ergonomics, and overall design aesthetic, you’ll be getting effectively the exact same thing in a Byrd.
This similarity in terms of design, operation, and functionality makes Byrd knives are well suited to basically any task a Spyderco can accomplish as the latter would be itself. They are great for EDC, general utility, duty use, and much more.
As for the quality of the components, that’s another win. Like Spyderco, Byrd utilizes both budget, mid-range and high-performance steels in their knives.
The same goes for the handles. Many models are made with stainless steel handle scales, and there are others with G10 and FRN scales that are textured similarly to Spyderco knives, offering great traction in all conditions.
Overall, since Spyderco produces a far larger product line, there is greater variety in the types of steels and handle scale materials used, whereas Byrd utilizes more budget materials. But all in all, given the limited Byrd product scope, they’re comparable.
That is another thing, and probably the biggest selling point of Byrd knives – the price. They are much, much more competitively priced than Spyderco knives, which makes them more accessible to buyers from a wider range of backgrounds.
The low cost, compared to a Spyderco, also makes Byrd knives attractive as beaters. You wouldn’t want to buy a Spyderco only to abuse it, but for EDC, keeping one in a tool box or a truck, a Byrd will serve you well.
So, when the dust has settled, it makes perfect sense why the best Spyderco knife might be, in fact, no other than a Byrd.
Where to Get Byrd Knives?
Whether you’re here for a Byrd or a Spyderco, the answer as to where to get one is the same. You can find a broad catalog of each available online at White Mountain Knives.
Regardless of what brand or model you ultimately go for, check it out first at White Mountain Knives. They offer competitive prices, free shipping in the US, and have a large catalog. Their collection also contains a variety of exclusives, too.
Visit their website for more details and if you have specific questions or are looking for a certain model you don’t see listed contact them at WhiteMountainKnives@gmail.com.
