Spyderco Forums

hi folks. As you may know, I am a Hawkbill fan. The Tasman and Spyderhawk have been loyal friends and very useful carries to compliment a straight edged folder. I lost one of my 2 Tasman this August, and decided to give a shot to the not much talked about Spyderco (Byrd, in this case) hawk, the Crossbill
The knife is on its way to me.



I only have had a Cara Cara from the Byrd line and was highly impressed. In fact I often paired it with my Tasman. The question is, do you have a Crossbill or have had one, and how does it compare to other Byrds and other Spyderco hawkbills?



Thanks and I'll update when it gets here :spyder:

I used to own one and I liked it. The crossbill and tasman are responsible for me carrying hawkbills so frequently.

Weighs more than the Tasman, but offers a larger, more comfortable handle. More cutting edge too. The ergonomics are very nice, working better for me than Tasman Salts.

I think you'll be happy with it. It's a very good value.

thanks!
knowing you tastes and preferences, and being so similar in what we use and carry, I'm glad I got it! It was a very good deal too, so that'll be my second Byrd and new "Tasman" to replace the lost one

Thanks again :spyder:

Is the Crossbill the big one? I think I have one of those with a Stainless Steel handle. It's nice, but pretty big and heavy.

Donut wrote:Is the Crossbill the big one? I think I have one of those with a Stainless Steel handle. It's nice, but pretty big and heavy.

Yep. I think they may have run them in G10 at one point, those were lighter if so. Only seems available in SS these days, with FRN Meadowlarks being a smaller option.

I have a PE Crossbill and it is a solid knife. It is a little on the heavy side and the blade steel is not the best but it is descent. For the money you can't go wrong. I think you'll like it. :)

holeshot wrote:I have a PE Crossbill and it is a solid knife. It is a little on the heavy side and the blade steel is not the best but it is descent. For the money you can't go wrong. I think you'll like it. :)

thanbks! you say heavy because your is the SS handle version?
I've been lucky enough to find one of the rare G10 Crossbills, so I don't know if that is also true of that model. Hopefully it'll arrive this week :rolleyes:

it arrived! I really like how it fills the hand, feels so sturdy and well built for such a budget piece



of course I couldn't wait and had to cut something with it, Zucchinis didn't stand a chance :D

ThePeacent wrote:it arrived! I really like how it fills the hand, feels so sturdy and well built for such a budget piece



of course I couldn't wait and had to cut something with it, Zucchinis didn't stand a chance :D

Yeah, I have the SS version but I still like her. :)

ranking high among my Hawkbills in this "first impressions" light use and fondling of it

Nice photos. Which knife is more comfortable for you, the Pacific Salt or Crossbill? I always found both designs very ergonomic....same with the Cara Cara. If I could get those handles on any blade shape / grind / blade steel I want, I'd be set :D

Vivi wrote:Nice photos. Which knife is more comfortable for you, the Pacific Salt or Crossbill? I always found both designs very ergonomic....same with the Cara Cara. If I could get those handles on any blade shape / grind / blade steel I want, I'd be set :D

well truth is I have medium sized hands and the Crossbill is certainly filling and thick, maybe a bit too much for me. I've grown used to the thin Salt handles of the Pacific, Tasman and Spyderhawk.
I also prefer FRN to G10 to be honest, even though in the past I was in love with G10.

Thinner handles work for me most of the times.
The Cara Cara was a very nice one too. These two saw much pocket time together, this pic is already 3 years old

ThePeacent wrote:

Vivi wrote:Nice photos. Which knife is more comfortable for you, the Pacific Salt or Crossbill? I always found both designs very ergonomic....same with the Cara Cara. If I could get those handles on any blade shape / grind / blade steel I want, I'd be set :D

well truth is I have medium sized hands and the Crossbill is certainly filling and thick, maybe a bit too much for me. I've grown used to the thin Salt handles of the Pacific, Tasman and Spyderhawk.
I also prefer FRN to G10 to be honest, even though in the past I was in love with G10.

Thinner handles work for me most of the times.
The Cara Cara was a very nice one too. These two saw much pocket time together, this pic is already 3 years old

Thanks for the comparison info.

I just picked up a Cara Cara 2 and it is a great knife for the money. I think I prefer it over My Tenacious.

I think I would have to hold the crossbill before buying one. I am not a fan of my Meadowlark as an example, but it is just an ergonomic thing for me personally.

quickly replaced my Tasman for the simple gardening tasks at home and mundane plant maintenance. I still preferred the SE blade of the Tasman but the additional blade length compensates



very happy with it!!

the crossbill is basically a superhawk in terms of ergos by my understanding. Longer, less negative angle, but still a nice hawkbill curve. Mine is very nice. A little heavy maybe but it feel like I could take it to war if need be.