kershaw skyline vs. spyderco native

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preest

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May 4, 2009
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im getting one or the other, which one do you think will hold up and perform better for everyday carry/use?
 
Both are very good.

The Skyline blade has better overall profile. However, the edge bevel isn't as thin or acute as it should be. I find it's flipper a little quicker to deploy than the Native. It's smaller in the pocket, and will do tip up or tip down. Unfortunately, it won't do leftys. The thumb studs are really just blade stops, not thumb studs. For most, it will be a flipper-only folder. The flipper action may take a little getting used to. Don't flip hard enough, or squeeze the handles too hard, and the blade may not open fully and engage the lock.

The Colorado Native offers a larger grip. Fully ambidextrous, but only tip up carry. The blade is thicker, but this isn't any real advantage. Riveted construction. FRN has a nice texture.

No appreciable differences in lock quality. Just different styles.

I think I slightly prefer the skinnier blade, and longer cutting edge of the Skyline for all around use. To reach it's full potential, the edge bevel really wants to be thinned and made more acute.
 
Native is tougher, better ergos, shorter blade.
Skyline is more fun, longer edge, decent ergos but not quite as nice as the Native.

The Native has the better blade steel (whether VG-10 or S30V) though argurably it won't make much difference to the average user. It also costs about twice as much as the Skyline - personally, get both ;). The Native III was recently reviewed and seems an excellent choice.
 
Interesting comparison. I would think the Native (I'm assuming you're talking about the S30V model?) would be better, steelwise. The Native should be more comfortable, being wider (Top to bottom), but the flipper on the Skyline & its design "should" make it quicker to action & possibly tougher (Less likely to have blade-play).

I just picked up a PE Native S30V, so I plan on finding out how tough it is & if it'll develop blade play or not, but I love the feel of it in the hand. Not that the Skyline is bad, it's not.
 
I have a Native III and find it a very useful shape. The choil gives me great control.

I don't have a Skyline yet, but it's on my want list.

I think you could flip a coin and not go wrong no matter how it lands.
 
I have both, Native is a much better constructed knife - this is the S30V FRN version. The Native is a good 40 dollar knife, and the skyline is worth all $25 I paid for it.
 
The Native S30V is an outstanding value. Easy and light carry. Worth every penny. The Native III in VG-10 is only slightly different in a few areas. No better, no worse. Just as easy to use and carry. Both cost the same. But the Native in S30V for the price is a great chance to play with the GOOD STUFF. I have them both and carry the Native often.
 
Both would make a good EDC, but I'd take a Native. Prefer the opening hole, better blade steel, more comfortable and the tip up mounting isn't set so high that I feel like the knife is going to fall out of my pocket.
 
I have both and like the Skyline, but it seems (to me) almost like a toy compared to the beefier Native.
 
It is puzzling to me claiming the Skyline is a light duty knife. Or at least any more than the Native. Do they have a reputation for falling apart? I have noted that the blade of the Native is thicker. This may give the illusion of more durability. Unfortunately, the thickest folder blade is only as strong as it's pivot and the material surrounding the pivot. There is nothing to suggest that the Skyline pivot is any less durable than the Native. And thicker blades are not generally good at enhancing actual cutting ability.
 
One side has no liner. G10 is flexible compared to steel so if you torque heavily on the handle while prying, the handle could deform sufficiently for the lock to disangage.

I wouldn't call the Skyline a light duty knife, but it's not heavy duty either.
 
DocNightfall said:
One side has no liner. G10 is flexible compared to steel so if you torque heavily on the handle while prying, the handle could deform sufficiently for the lock to disangage.

I wouldn't call the Skyline a light duty knife, but it's not heavy duty either.
Click to expand...

Knives are for cutting...screwdrivers are for prying. :)

However... "For every job there is a suitable tool...and that tool is a hammer!"
 
DocNightfall said:
One side has no liner. G10 is flexible compared to steel so if you torque heavily on the handle while prying, the handle could deform sufficiently for the lock to disangage.

I wouldn't call the Skyline a light duty knife, but it's not heavy duty either.
Click to expand...

Compared to a Colorado Native, which is FRN with no liners at all, I'm not sure there is a disadvantage.

Thing is, even a steel handle is no guarantee of stability when prying. If you are going to do serious prying with a folder, it's strength is only as good as it's pivot. Generally, I would not characterize prying as heavy duty cutting. If prying is part of the criteria you set for a heavy duty knife, it's probably wiser to specify a fixed blade from the start.
 
I have both and they're both great knives but I'll go with the Native if I had to choose just one. Better ergos and blade steel with the Native IMHO. I'm still searching for the "perfect" edc but so far the Native is the one that rides in my pocket most of the time. The fun is in the search and both are pretty affordable so the clear answer is to get both if possible and draw your own conclusion, I mean isn't your opinion the only one that really matters?
 
Here is another choice - curtain #3 - the new Buck #347 Vantage Pro. This is the top of the line in the Vantage series and runs $75 MSRP (I paid $56 inc s/h to get mine a month or two back.). It's SS frame is covered by CNC contoured G10 scales and contains a liner-lock S30V blade the same size as in their Ti-framed #172 Mayo TNT, whose MSRP is $314. The #346 Vantage Avid is made of Dymondwood & 13C26 steel, but otherwise is similar in 4.38" OAL/3.25" blade and 4 oz weight - but MSRP of $50. Below are my Vantage Pro and Native for comparison:

IMG_3380.jpg


The Vantage Pro is decidedly larger than the Native - which 'seems' similar to my recent Kershaw purchase - a Zing!. The Vantage Pro and Zing! collect pocket change when left loose in my pocket (I don't like clips and remove them.), while the Native doesn't. I like the handhold of the Native, too. The Native has been an EDC for most of the last two years and has proven to be handy as can be - sharp - and fairly easy to resharpen with my Spyderco 'Sharpmaker'.
 
I don't own the Skyline (but have 3 Kershaws) And the Native I own is the SS model (I own 4 Spydies). IMHO Spydies' quality/build Blows Kershaws away!
 
I have both and favor the Skyline by a wide margin in the EDC role. I do like the Native though but the Skyline just hits the mark for my needs.

Why?
Slender G-10 scales offer better grip
I like the blade shape better
Deploys super fast and smooth thanks to the phosphor bronze bushings
Fits in pocket better due to slimmer design

Other thoughts: Both are really lightweight. The Native has better steel but pinned construction.

EDIT (UPDATE 7/15/09):
I still prefer the my Skyline over my Native 4. The Skyline gets the majority of the EDC carry with the Native coming in tied for 2nd with my Spyderco Tenacious followed by my Kershaw OD-1. Although the blade steel is better on the Native, The Sanvik steel on the Skyline is holding its own. Edge holding edge goes to Native. Every thing else, the Skyline gets the nod. I like the choke-up feature on the Native. It makes shaving/whittling sticks/wood a bit easier. Both are still great EDC choices but the Native's pinned construction loses unnecessary points. Spyderco should have opted not to pin it. I'd gladly pay extra for that. I've used them in the water and clipped to my swim shorts swimming, jetskiing and working on the boat in waist-deep water all day. No signs of rust yet. I expect the bead-blasted finish of the Skyline to show rust on the blade first but the pinned construction of the Native will rust in the pivot are. The Skyline has a more usable blade shape for me and deploys quicker and easier than the Native.
 
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I have both. I preferred the skyline even with the disadvantages. The native is a great knife but it just didn't work out well for my edc use. The deployment hole is somewhat obscured by the handle so it is not a quick deploying blade. The skyline has a flipper design, very fast. The Native is does not have and adjustable pivot screw, so you cant take it apart. The Native is a lockback and those tend to stay at home in my rotation due to being harder to clean! The skyline feels somewhat........flimsy to me. With that said I prefer it and carry it more often than my native!
 
You should consider a Kershaw OD1 :)

I like my NativeIII but prefer the OD1, and both cost about the same.
 
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