Mini Barrage VS Native 5

miltmaldo

miltmaldo

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Feb 5, 2012
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I'm having a hard time deciding witch one I like more . The 585 or the Native . Usually these threads are about the mini grip vs the delica or the 710 vs the Milly . This time lets go with the Mini Barrage vs the Native .

So let's see wich one I like .

1) material = G10 ,s35v steel . Winner Native
2) blade shape = I like the choil on the native but the extra edge and the drop point 585 wins
3) ergos = they both fit my hand good but the slimness of the Native combine with choil make it a winner for me .
4) locks = 9 out of 10 I will pick the axis lock over a lock back but not this time . The 585 is very hard to close due to the fact that it's a spring assisted knife . Yes I can do it with one hand but it's not easy or fast .
The native for being a lock back closes very smooth and when you bush the lock it drops on it own . Native win
5) over all looks . The native looks great when close and the 585 looks awesome when open . Tie
6) other = speed , easy to sharpen , price , weight , cool factor etc . 585 wins
7) fit and finish = Tie .. I got both of the at the exchange LNIB . The both looked new to me . Out of the box both were sharp and the fit and finish is excellent .

I guess the winner is the Native . I can't really tell witch one I like better I like them both . I won't pick one over the other even if my test say the Native .

Witch one you like and why ?

Here are some pictures

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I have the mini barrage and have a native on the way (a friend of mine has one, though). I'd pick the native. The mini-barrage is too fat for its size and the novelty of the axis assist gets old quickly.
 
I had the 586
I'd take the 586 over a regular Native
But the s110v native over the 586
I do think the mini barrage is a better slicer though
 
The axis lock does not work as well with an assisted knife IMO . Just to hard go close but on mini grip is the best lock .
 
Yes between these two i would say the native. Hard to beat a full flat ground blade for cutting performance from my experience. I have an axis assist benchmade and i have held both the barrage and mini barrage and just didn't get the point of spring assissting an already fast opening mechanism.
 
I didn't realize the two were so close in size. Very good comparison man, two knives I've ways been interested in but not enough to purchase either. Your photos and general thoughts are very good and well collected.
 
Cereal_killer said:
I didn't realize the two were so close in size. Very good comparison man, two knives I've ways been interested in but not enough to purchase either. Your photos and general thoughts are very good and well collected.
Click to expand...

First time doing a comparison . Thanks
 
The 585 barrage uses valox for its handles, and 154cm steel (benchmade's base model steel). The upgraded 586 barraage is widely available and uses textured G10 and aluminum for handles and m390 (one of benchmade's more premium steels). The 586 and 585 are also the same size except that the grind on the 586 is different ( and superior for slicing). M390 tops s35v for edge retention and I would therefore get the 586. You can also easily remove and re-assemble the assisst mechanism. Why not get the best right...
 
Cereal_killer said:
I didn't realize the two were so close in size. Very good comparison man, two knives I've ways been interested in but not enough to purchase either. Your photos and general thoughts are very good and well collected.
Click to expand...

This was my first thought as well - I had never thought to compare the two knives.

Very nice comparison.
 
I have a Native 5 Moonglow coming. Never have seen one, so am anxious to see what it's like. I realize that it may be a gimmick, but seems to have been well received by owners. I am a big Spyderco freak.
 
I have both and prefer the 585/586 series. The Native has some definite strong points... S35V is a fav steel of mine, the new backlock is rock solid, and the F&F has been very high on all my N5s.

BUT... the N5 is a fairly thin knife compared to the 585 and for some of the tougher cuts I have to make in the warehouse, the 585 is more comfortable. Very thick nylon strapping and some computer cabling take a bit of pressure to cut. Around the house I do light trimming with whatever I'm carrying. Usually that's my FB carry's job (BRK Essential), but not always. I do really like 154CM for general cutting chores. It's easy to maintain a good edge, it's pretty tough, it's corrosion resistant, it's affordable if it has to be replaced, and BM does it right. I also like valox, FRN, Noryl, all those "cheap & plasticky" handle scales that don't impress people but perform very well. They're like kevlar for the chassis and blade. They do a great job of protecting the workin's and still providing good grip.

But the biggest downside to the N5 for me is the blade length to cutting edge ratio. There's just no way I'm gonna make peace with a 3" blade that has less than a 2.5" cutting edge. That's just... wrong. Wrong on a PT... wrong on a Native 5. Cutting edge is important to me when I have to draw cut through wide (or long or deep or...) material. With a short cutting edge I have to reinsert the knife and start drawing more than I would with a longer edge. With thin cardboard "slipsheets" between layers of product on pallets, that's a cut I have to make sometimes. To me, 1/4" more or less matters. It's not life or death... it's convenience. And I carry a knife for my convenience.

585 / 586 series for me.
 
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Native 5 all day. I prefer the design and while the axis lock is probably a stronger lock, the back lock on the native is more reliable IMO. It doesn't rely on thin omega springs to function properly. I'll take a more reliable lock over a stronger lock. Also I prefer the spyderhole and I really don't like assisted knives. Just my opinion. YMMV.
 
Have a 585 and no longer have a Native. Both a great slicing blades. The 585 is just a little on the chunky side compared to the Native. The 585 is a solid build and better after removing that spring assist. You can't go wrong with either one.
If I were choosing again between the two I would get the Native.
 
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Also owned both. Mini Barrage is better (for me).

Had to do with the width in the pocket and cutting edge length to handle ratio. Mini Barrage wins in both regards. Plus I have narrow fingers, so I don't NEED the choil to get a good grip. Native is a nice knife, and I do miss it at times though.

I do have a Sage 2 and Cally 3 both with choils, but the Native was (almost) redundant after those two, and had even less cutting edge.

Also have a Mini Grip, 707, and 586 which makes my comment about redundancy moot, however these all have more cutting edge and are narrower in the pocket. Not thinner, as the Sage and Cally are very thin, but the leaf blades are wide and makes it hard to get my hand in the pocket.
 
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