Byrd BY18P CatByrd 3.5" Plain Edge by Spyderco

Here kitty. From first glance, the Catbyrd fits its name. It looks feline - sleek, clean-lined and sharp clawed. The blade is 8Cr13MoV stainless steel: a recent knife industry creation of high carbon stainless steel similar in performance to AUS-8. It contains molybdenum, vanadium and near 1% carbon for enhancement of the steel’s durability and edge retention. Catbyrd’s blade is flat-ground, sweeping slightly upward to a Clip-Point tip.

In keeping with the rest of the byrd Line, is the Comet Shaped blade hole for one hand opening and a pocket clip. The clip is positioned for right-handers and carries the knife in pocket with the tip facing upward. The handle is also stainless steel with the backside scale doubling as the liner in an Integral LinerLock. Custom knifemaker Chris Reeve invented this lock design that’s brilliant in its simplicity. Using the back steel-side of the handle as the LinerLock’s liner not only makes the lock have great strength but limits the number of parts (moving and stationary) needed to build the lock.

On the front of the handle are two pieces of grip tape. Each piece is shaped like the Comet Hole and they spoon each other Yin & Yang-style laying down a gritty sandpapery surface for better grip. An adjustable pivot and jimping (texturing) where blade and handle meet high are attention-to-performance extras normally found only on pricier folders. Right-hand, tip up pocket clip available in plain edge and combination edge pictured below.