Carbon Fiber Native 4 Questions

[Hitthespot]

I just received a Carbon Fiber Native 4 with Carbon Fiber handles and a VG-10blade. I had purchased a Manix 2 a couple of weeks ago and was so impressed with it I went ahead and bought my second Spyderco. The Manix will be fine for more serious trips outdoors but I needed something smaller and lighter for EDC. The Native 4 looked perfect.

I like the knife overall. The blade and carbon fiber are great, however my questions are as follows:

Is it normal for the inside edges of the liner metal to be sharp? Especially at the ends of the knife. Also the top metal filler is sharp at the end. Normal?

After pushing the release, when closing the blade it just feels like it's grinding as you close it. Not smooth at all. If I hold the lock down all the time while closing the blade it is as smooth as silk. Is this Normal?

While I like this knife, I am a bit surprised at this price level the edges are not melted (rounded off). I had to wait for this knife so I assume it is the latest batch. I'm wondering if some corners were cut?

Input from anyone who has a Native 4 would be great.

Thank you

Bill

 

[The Deacon]

I just received a Carbon Fiber Native 4 with Carbon Fiber handles and a VG-10blade. I had purchased a Manix 2 a couple of weeks ago and was so impressed with it I went ahead and bought my second Spyderco. The Manix will be fine for more serious trips outdoors but I needed something smaller and lighter for EDC. The Native 4 looked perfect.

I like the knife overall. The blade and carbon fiber are great, however my questions are as follows:

Is it normal for the inside edges of the liner metal to be sharp? Especially at the ends of the knife. Also the top metal filler is sharp at the end. Normal?

I would describe the inside edge on mine as crisp, but smooth. The Native's liners definitely have a different feel from the tumbled liners of the Manix 2. As for the metal backspacer, yes, a crisp corner at the bottom edge is typical on midlocks.

After pushing the release, when closing the blade it just feels like it's grinding as you close it. Not smooth at all. If I hold the lock down all the time while closing the blade it is as smooth as silk. Is this Normal?

Depends on how it feels. Since the lockbar on a midlock rides against the cam portion of the tang, there will always be some sensation of metal against metal. But a good cleaning and relube can't hurt, and may help.

While I like this knife, I am a bit surprised at this price level the edges are not melted (rounded off). I had to wait for this knife so I assume it is the latest batch. I'm wondering if some corners were cut?

Again, it's a question of taste. Some folks feel a crisp edge is a sign of quality. It's also a question of how it would need to be done. The Manix 2 liners can be tumbled, since they do not need to have crisp edges at any point. Doing that on a midlock would create unsightly gaps between the liners and the backspacer and lockbar. Rounding part of the edge would create a transition some might find unsightly. It would also have to be done to each liner, individually, which would increase the cost. FWIW, I have some knives where the liners were a bit too crisp for my taste and found it fairly easy to correct with the corner of a fine stone.

Input from anyone who has a Native 4 would be great.

Thank you

Bill

Paul

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[notos&w]

I commented about "crisp" edges many years ago and was advised by Sal that the Japanese see them as a sign of quality since it shows very fine machining. Since then I have looked for them on all my knives. As Deacon said, it takes only a moment to remove them if you don't like it...but you can't add it back.

I have commented about the roughness in my lock surfaces on several occasions. I have never received a very good explanation. In any event, it is not a functional problem and the Native IV sees as much pocket time as any other knife I own (probably more). In my pocket right now. Really, really like this knife.

 

[Hitthespot]

Thanks guys for the answers. It's always nice to know that you probably don't have a defective product and that these features are just part of this products idosyncrasies.

I do like the knife and it will be my EDC. However, I disagree on the edges being sharp and especially the blade not being smooth. I have other lockbacks no where near this price point that are smoother.

Thanks Again,

Bill