Camillus EDC or Spyderco Native?

Rival

Rival

Joined
Dec 29, 2001
Messages
101
I am thinking about getting one of these two. Maybe both, but which one do I get first? I have searched forums and both of these knives have a good reputation to say the least. Those of you that have used both of the knives, do you have a preference?
 
I like the EDC.I have had it with me since I purchased it.Happy:)
 
I have both the Native in 440V and an EDC in Talonite. Given the fact that i have large hands, i'd rather have the Native with me. It has a much broader handle that is very comfortable to hold. The EDC has a more useful blade shape, but has a small and narrow handle.
A (bad) picture just to compare sizes:

native_edc.jpg


Note the finger choil in the native's blade, effectively expanding the grip size. The cutting edge is significantly shorter than the EDC's, though.
As you can see the Native is tip-up carry, the EDC tip-down, if that makes a difference to you.

Both are very fine knives, you can't go wrong with either one.
 
as a Spydie fan, i'd go with the Native.

but there's no losing this one. if you can afford both you'll be twice as happy.

Metis
 
I'm a Spyderco fan but I prefer the EDC over the native. I just don't like this design (the Native) too much. I always felt the EDC cut a bit better. Just my $0.02.
 
Although the Native is a heck of a knife, I'd go with the EDC. 440V can be a real handful to sharpen, where the various EDC steels are a piece of cake. I also prefer a steel handled frame lock over a plastic handle and lockback.

But in the end, what feels most comfortable in your hand matters most. The EDC is great for a smaller to medium sized hand, but not great for somebody with large hands.
 
I have owned at least a couple of each, and I like the Native better, as it feels more secure in MY hand. I also like "the hole" alittle better than a thumb-stud for getting the blade open.:).
 
First you'd need to check your hand size. Both these knives are on the small side, but the curves on the EDC are fitted to a small hand because of that curve right at the handle end, whereas the Native can accomodate a larger hand though you might have a finger dangling off the handle.

The other thing to note is that the EDC in 420HC is just not as good at edge holding as the Native which comes as 440V. You'll need to compare either the EDC Talonite or 154CM to be fair.

Beyond that, both knives are very well made. Good fit and finish, sturdy feel, etc. Sorry that this is not much help, but as a user, these two knives are pretty much on par, and it boils down to which is more comfortable for you and which has a better price (of course comparing only the EDC 154CM or Talonite models. I still feel that the 420HC version was a waste of time).

For my own use, I really like the EDC Talonite over the Native. It just fits in my hand better.
 
Go to www.agrussell.com and get the EDC in D2 and you'll never look back. I have a couple of incarnations of the Native (GIN-1 and 440V) and a couple of the EDC's (Talonite and D2). I like the D2 EDC best of all, and it comes CLOSEST to being the one knife that goes with me EVERYWHERE I go. I just got back from a trip out to the 4 corners region for a week of camping and hiking. I had the BM 806D2, BM 720, Fallkniven A1, and the D2 EDC with me. The EDC was the one that got used the most. In fact, I think only one other knife got used at all; the 720. And that was because I had misplaced the EDC for a day (boy, was I distraught :eek: :mad: :( ). Get the EDC.
 
Hey Rockspyder, you have the Cam EDC in both D2 and Talonite? It seems evident that you prefer the D2 version. Can you explain why? Better edge-holding? Ease of sharpening? Just like the feel as it slices through everything?
 
Originally posted by Steelwolf
Hey Rockspyder, you have the Cam EDC in both D2 and Talonite? It seems evident that you prefer the D2 version. Can you explain why? Better edge-holding? Ease of sharpening? Just like the feel as it slices through everything?
Click to expand...

You know, I'm not quite sure I can say why I prefer the D2. :confused: I guess there are a couple of reasons, so I'll ramble a bit and try to explain. First, to be quite honest, in most media that I cut, there is precious little difference in how long the Talonite will hold a shaving edge vs. the D2. Subjectively. Another thing is, because of the relative softness (?) of the Talonite I believe, the edge on the Talonite EDC is thicker than on the D2. So, while it stays sharp for a long time, it still seems to have a higher cutting effort than the D2, from almost the start.

The Talonite seems to cut forever without sharpening, but long before forever it could really use a good sharpening. In other words, while it will make a clean cut long after the D2 has stopped clean cutting, it is taking a lot of effort to do it (well, relatively), and it seems like the curve on the amount of force needed rises much more sharply than on the D2.

Both are relative easy to sharpen, for me. Talonite is corrosion proof, but the lack of that hasn't meant much to me for the D2. I have cut citrus fruit many, MANY times with it. I used it all during that camping trip with nothing more than wiping it off, occassionally rinsing off the blade (but not much; camping in the high plains/desert areas of UT doesn't lend itself to using much water for little stuff like that). I had it stuck in my pocket for the two day trip down the Colorado, where it got plenty wet and didn't get wiped off for hours. At the end of the vacation, when I got home (actually, it was a day or so after I got home), I pulled it out and took a look at it. There was a little spot of brown on the edge bevel at the belly of the blade. Nowhere else. And I wiped 90% of that off with just my finger, gave it a few swipes on a strop, and that spot was gone. About ten swipes per side on the brown stones of the Spyderco 203, and it was shaving sharp again. So.... for the difference in price, it is pretty much no contest.

Another thing that makes me like the D2 EDC better is the finish on the blades. You do NOT get much of a finish on Talonite other than the final blade grind. Not that I've seen, but that is only on Camillus. EDC and Talon. The D2 EDC came with a nice stonewashed finish on the blade. I proceeded to take about 15 minutes with a Dremel polishing wheel and take it to a high polish, which looks much better, cuts slicker even than the Talonite EDC, and I believe makes the D2 even more resistant to rust. So what's not to like, eh? ;)

Finally, there is a little nit-noid thing with the Talonite EDC that bothers me that I haven't taken the time to get straightened out. It seems that the blade wants to be... loose... for lack of a better word, when the blade is closed. It can be fairly easily pushed over against one scale of the handle. I have tightened the pivot a couple of times, and it came back. Tightened it again after putting more loc-tite in the threads, and it has held better this time. But, I have not carried it that much since the last tightening.

I would trust the Talonite EDC pretty much just as much as the D2 version; it is a great knife, and I don't for a minute regret spending the money on it. In fact, I bought it AFTER I bought the D2 EDC, and after I had bought the CUDA Talon (Talonite). But the D2 has pretty much become my favorite.... unless I'm breaking down boxes for recycling. When it comes to cutting cardboard or other highly abrasive and/or fibrous materials, I grab one of my Talonite knives first. Not that the others can't do it; the Talonite just does it better, and you don't have to stop and sharpen before you're finished. :D

Hope that long ramble helps.... :rolleyes: I got even a little more long-winded than I anticipated.
 
Tough call. I have both, but the nod goes to the EDC in terms of which one gets carried more often, typically because the profile is thinner for "dress" slacks.

You won't go wrong with either. Just get both :)
 
I own both and am extraordinarily pleased with both.

In fact I highly recommend you get both! :)

Blade steels are both premium (154CM and CPM440V), clips are both excellent, locks are both super-strong, blades are both hair shavin' sharp from the factory. The EDC takes a slim but secure steel-handled approach (which can be more comfortable in thinner pants), while the Native takes a very large-feeling ergonomic approach. Overall I think I feel more comfortable and secure with a Native in the hand vs. an EDC, but the Native is a little bit more noticeable (in feel) while residing in one's pocket during carry. Simply put, I often find myself forgetting i'm carrying the EDC in my jeans, while the Native I almost never forget about, but they are both great knives!
 
For a handy cutter, the EDC will work fine if your hands are medium to small size.

For any tougher jobs, the Native is the choice for all of the reasons stated above. The grip available on the Native is far superior to the grip on the EDC.
 
I am another one that owns both the EDC and the Native. I also love the both of them. Either knife will serve you well. That said, I prefer to carry and use the EDC. I have large hands and do find the EDC is a little hard to open in one smooth fast motion. I however do not carry it as a defensive tool as much as a utility type of user. I like its small size for its ease of carry and its all metal construction and great materials is hard to beat for the price. Once the knife is open, I feel that its small size is not as evident. It cuts well with that sweet recurve blade and thin edge profile. Get it, you will not regret it. Then, of course you would not regret either one really. Have fun deciding.
 
I have a Native FRN. Great knife. One thing I like about the Native versus the EDC is that the EDC is recurve, and I don't like recurve.
 
Originally posted by marty123
One thing I like about the Native versus the EDC is that the EDC is recurve, and I don't like recurve.
Click to expand...

Yep, I was saying the same thing after trying a couple of recurves.... until I bought the EDC. ;)

Also, I used to sing the praises of the Native, until it was only available in 440V.... and before I got the D2 EDC. ;)

If Spyderco sees fit to make the Native in VG-10, or even S30V, then I'll buy another one so fast it will make your head spin. I love the design. I just like the steel (well, and the shape) of the EDC better. The D2 version, that is. It is definitely worth the extra money.
 
I have to agree with Rock. The EDC in D2 has to be the best knife for the $ available right now. I also like it more than Talonite, and I do like talonite.
 
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