Benchmade 530 vs. Spyderco FRN Native?

knife2Agunfight

knife2Agunfight

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Jan 11, 2012
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Which knife would you recommend? The 530 or the Native? I want a lightweight and cheap knife that is just for EDC, and I have always liked these two designs. I know the 530 is really slim, about half the weight of the Native, but has "inferior" steel when compared to the Native. They are both about the same price, give or take $5, and both about the same size.

Is there anyone who owns these knives who could recommend one or the other?
 
I don´t have one of those, but if you consider weight, than go with the ligther one. If you consider things like bottle opening, take the more solid.
 
The 530 is an awesome knife, but the thin blade scares me. The tip is extremely thin, and it isn't going to be up to the harder tasks.

Assuming you are talking about the FRN Native, the Native is quite a bit tougher and you will likely never have to be worried about it. You are paying for the steel here, and it is a great steel. I am however not a fan of all rivet construction and for that reason I wouldn't buy this knife.

That said I think the build quality of the Benchmade is better, as I am not a fan of rivets in place of screws, and overall it just feels like a more expensive knife.

It comes down to what you want out of the knife. A very slim, lightweight, lighter use knife, in the Benchmade, or a tougher, more economical, knife that will be up to any task, in the Native.

Personally I would look at a Delica or Endura if you want something that is thin and light, yet still very tough. VG10 isn't quite as good as the S30v for edge retention but it takes a scary sharp edge very easily, and holds it well. There is a reason the Delica is one of the most popular EDC's out there. ;)
 
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I have both.
The 530 is a super light slender blade. Much more so then I anticipated. Really nice & light but Of all the benchmades I own its the one Id bet my life on last mainly because its just not very solid. I can imagine it being a good user for light cutting chores (have barely used mine) but the native is a proven workhouse that fits the hand like a glove, takes a licken and keeps on ticken.
 
Just busted both out. Yeah, the BM's action is far from my fav of the axis BMs Ive used. I dont much care for the plastic thumb lug and when I do use it it feels like the blade is rubbing the insides of the handle. When I try and disengage it using the axis like I do on my others its a bit more stubborn/not as buttery that I assume is due to the blade being so light. I much prefer the hole and action of the native. I dont so much like the hole placement as much as I do on the delica and endura though (easier to manipulate IMO when opening and closing)
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I had Native and could not understand the blade and handle proportions: it just felt nearly as wide as long and wrong altogether. I ended up selling it. I did not have BM 530 though so can not really compare. So I say why would not consider Delica, Endura, Stretch or Mini-Griptilian as well: I like any of those over Native.
 
I've had both and would say go for a Delica or Mini-Griptilian instead. The FRN Native and 530 aren't bad knives, but they just didn't do it for me. Poez says it well about the Native's proportions. It's not uncomfortable to handle, but just felt a little off. The 530 is virtually unnoticeable in your pocket (thin & lightweight), but I just didn't care for the dagger-like design.

The ergos on the Delica are great, and it actually carries more comfortably in the pocket than the Native (it's both thinner and lighter, if I remember right). The Mini-Griptilian is thicker and heavier than the 530, but it is also shorter, so it still makes for a comfortable carry in pocket. The handle on the Mini-Grip is also a lot more comfortable than the 530. 154CM and VG-10 might not be S30V, but they are still both very good blade steels.
 
I've always been a BM fan, and the mini-Grip has always been my favorite knife. When I lost my mini-Grip, I went to a local sportsman's store to handle some Spydercos. Despite hating the looks of them, (IMO the only real slight against them), handling a few really showed me how everyone that says they're "form over function" was exactly right. I walked out having my mind completely changed on the matter, and the Native was by far my favorite model.

For a 3" blade from Spyderco, the Native is a great buy if you're in the market for s30v and don't mind doing without the AXIS lock. I think it's one of the highest-value folders out there. The ergos in my medium-sized hands were outstanding, especially the choil thumb-well that allows a great grip for more precise control. The lockback mechanism also surprised me with how smooth and easy it was to operate, the best I've ever felt. The Native is very light, and as a direct comparison my 556 Mini-Grip did feel like a more solid and well-built knife, though that's more of a mark in BM's favor than against the Native. FF is just something BM puts more into, whereas Spyderco burns the midnight oil on excellence in design and finding the best materials without as many "bells and whistles". A mini-Grip will give you more blade, a thicker more substantial grip, and the superb AXIS lock, but at the price of edge retention and a hair more weight. The gap for both of these is small, however, as the 154CM is excellent from BM, and easier to sharpen than the Spydie s30v, and the difference of weight is only a few grams.

In the end, I say you couldn't go wrong with a BM mini-grip or a Native FRN. They're both great knives, and if you can't handle them yourself before buying, I say simply pick whichever one you prefer the looks of. I have no experience with the 530, though it doesn't look as functional as an EDC.

If you can up the price-range to ~$125, consider a mini-RSK in s30v, modeled after the mini-grip, or a Sage3 or Native5 from Spyderco. The first because it is basically an optimized version of a mini-Grip, the second for the Axis-like lock in a small Spyderco in s30v, and the third for the updated design and the slightly easier to sharpen and tougher s35vn steel.
 
I have the Native, was my first Spydie so I'll never give it up. But, it's my least carried folder. Just a bit small for me.
 
Thanks for the input guys! I was going to go with the FRN Native, but then I found a website that had a Benchmade 913D2 in stock :D. A knife that I have wanted for a long time, but never could find. I did find a few 912's and 906's on a website, I'll have to get the 912 later, definitely one of my favorite Benchmade series.

I got a chance to hold the BM 530 in a store the other day, and it is really thin, too thin for me. I think the CS Counterpoint I/II will be a good substitute for the 530, but I will go with the Native instead when I go to buy my next knife. Thanks guys!
 
Just wanted to throw in my 2cents as well even though it sounds like you have found what you have been looking for.
I love my Native as it is so light and love the blade steel! It is amazing how long it stays sharp even when it is used on hard wood! There in no knife that will be right for every single person, but myself as well as many others just love the feel of the knife in hand! Feels just like an extension of my hand!
Also for the price you can't go wrong!
This is a very tough knife, and I use it for hard use and it had never come close to letting me down. The only thing I wouldn't recommend it for is slicing. The blade is quite thick with a shallow hollow grind. If I need to slice up tomatoes than I just reach for one of my thinner blades such as the Centofante3!
 
I love my 530 in S30V, but most of the posters here are right. It's blade is extremely slender and I'm afraid of damaging it.
 
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