Two years have gone by since my first Native arrived here. My wife found the last WallyWorld Native around here last July and gave it to me as a birthday gift that month. Still new, I know I have a spare for when that cheesy riveted FRN handled Native I EDC gives up the ghost. After two years of EDC, and lots of appliance boxes, material, blister packs, etc, it is still as tight as the unused one. Last August did find me touching up the edge with a Spydie Sharpmaker after noting how warm the blade got while dissecting a cardboard box. They were a steal at the Wally World $39.48 price.
I have a Kershaw Zing! I bought there early in this year. I looked over the OD-1, Skyline, etc and was more impressed with the Zing!, so it came home with me. Part of it's back is open and will allow pocket change to stick there, if carried clipless as I do. It resides mostly in a display case. My new favorite Kershaw, although it is larger by far, is the composite bladed 'Junk Yard Dog II', #1725CB, which runs ~$70-$75 delivered via Evil-Bay dealers. It is enclosed - and has a D2 edge married to the Finnish steel flipper-deployed blade, with it's thick G10 scales attached to the substantial SS liner. It is a substantial knife - especially for the price. It displaced my old Blurs from back pocket carry.
I still carry the Buck #347 Vantage Pro more than the other smaller Kershaws and about as often as the Native. That Buck has a great S30V blade, too. Not as short and stout as the Native, but quite a slicer. None are even poor excuses for prybars, as others have said. I guess I'd still lean towards the Native, after all of the attempts to depose it. That Buck would be second, however. I have spent a bundle for proper EDC knives over the years - and the Native may just be the best knife. Of course, for years - decades, actually, I was happy with a Buck 110, or 301 Stockman - or my ancient Vic SAK... but what did I know?
Stainz
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