Got a new Native; Disappointed w/ Factory Edge

S

sharkattacksw

Joined
Aug 4, 2008
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I got a new Native 5 G-10 S35VN the other day and am disappointed with the sharpness of the knife out of the box. I also ordered an S110V version and had to send it back. The blade was off center and loose. the S35VN version is solid and sharp, but not near the level of sharpness of the S30V Para 3's that I've purchased. It still cuts ok, but it won't push cut phone book paper.

Oh well, looks like I'll have to either sharpen it myself or send it off to someone much more talented than me. It's not the end of the world, but for $135, I expected more.
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Sharpmaker + strop = problem solved

I'd also add that in my experience, S35VN is fairly receptive to a good strop by itself as someone mentioned earlier.
 
Dam man sorry you got a few knives you didn't love. It really does suck when something brand new isn't where you thought it should be. I got to say I haven't heard many issues with Spyderco, especially the blade sharpness. Usually have sweet edges out of the box. I bought the Native 5 knife center S90 a few weeks ago and it has a great edge. Just a thought but the S90 is only 5 bucks more than S35 G10 and I've really been blown away by it. Either way hope you get it fixed to where you're happy
 
115Italian, I agree 100%! Often a so-so factory edge can be taken to the next level by a few minutes of using a strop. The 3 Chris Reeve Knives I have arrived painfully dull and stropping solved the problem quickly.

I received my Shaman yesterday and it came perfectly sharpened but I still put a little time in with green compound and that knife cuts like a laser.
 
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willywall said:
I got to say I haven't heard many issues with Spyderco, especially the blade sharpness.
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Every company has a few that get through with issues. Some like benchmade have alot that leak through qc. Spyderco are among one of the best. I haven't had a Spyderco without being razer sharp in fact more sharp than most of my knives. That being said not everyone is going to be lucky. It's just a fact of mass production. Some companies like spydercos, zt and benchmade will sharpen them for you for free. Tho I'd prefer spyderco over the other two just because they do a great job at it. While the other two "can" do a great job, often they are not. Burnt edges, uneven edges etc. Depends who's on the grinder at the time I guess.
 
BilboBaggins said:
Sharpmaker + strop = problem solved

I'd also add that in my experience, S35VN is fairly receptive to a good strop by itself as someone mentioned earlier.
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While this will certainly get your edges sharp, the abrasives will not cut vanadium in s35vn and other high vanadium steel. They do have diamond and cbn rods and third party SiC stones can be used. It's still a great system and of course gets the metal around the vanadium plenty sharp. It may also make little difference but that's still debatable thus far. But microscope has shown some carbide tear out. Consider diamond and cbn for super steels with high amounts of vanadium and other hard carbides. But in the end, if your satisfied with your results that's all that really matters.
 
Mo2 said:
While this will certainly get your edges sharp, the abrasives will not cut vanadium in s35vn and other high vanadium steel. They do have diamond and cbn rods and third party SiC stones can be used. It's still a great system and of course gets the metal around the vanadium plenty sharp. It may also make little difference but that's still debatable thus far. But microscope has shown some carbide tear out. Consider diamond and cbn for super steels with high amounts of vanadium and other hard carbides. But in the end, if your satisfied with your results that's all that really matters.
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Interesting Mo. I've had good results on S35VN on the ceramics. I'm aware of the vanadium issue, but thought it mattered more on stuff like 3V. Of course, you could fill a library with what I don't know about sharpening. I've used the diamonds on my KME to reprofile the S35VN, but have not needed it (so far) to keep a hair popping edge. I have 4 knives in it. I like S35VN very much for the ease with which it takes an edge.
 
BilboBaggins said:
Interesting Mo. I've had good results on S35VN on the ceramics. I'm aware of the vanadium issue, but thought it mattered more on stuff like 3V. Of course, you could fill a library with what I don't know about sharpening. I've used the diamonds on my KME to reprofile the S35VN, but have not needed it (so far) to keep a hair popping edge. I have 4 knives in it. I like S35VN very much for the ease with which it takes an edge.
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Yea I mean I've used ceramic to sharpen s90v... Just not going to sharpen the carbides in the substrate of metal around them. It will either pull them out or round them off or burnish. They will certainly load the ceramic rods or stones much faster having to clean the stones more often. So I can see why everyone doesn't think there is any issues. I've learned alot on bladeforums and I'm thankful for that!
 
Mo2 said:
Yea I mean I've used ceramic to sharpen s90v... Just not going to sharpen the carbides in the substrate of metal around them. It will either pull them out or round them off or burnish. They will certainly load the ceramic rods or stones much faster having to clean the stones more often. So I can see why everyone doesn't think there is any issues. I've learned alot on bladeforums and I'm thankful for that!
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No doubt. I'm consistently astounded by the depth and breadth of knowledge here. As I said in another thread, it helps me appreciate that there really is no bottom to the rabbit hole we've all fallen into!
 
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Sharpness can be pretty subjective. Any knife you use will eventually need to be sharpened. Unless it comes from the factory totally unusable as in they didn't even put a bevel on it I don't see any issue at all with touching up the edge of a brand new knife.

If one is unable or unwilling to sharpen their own knives then that's a different issue entirely.
 
I'm always happy when I get a sharp knife, but I'm no longer surprised if it comes a little marginal on the sharpness. It seems sometimes there's an edge there but just at a little different angle than what I hold the knife at, if that makes any sense. Sharpening fixes all.
 
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