My opinion of the Native 5

salmonkiller

salmonkiller

Joined
Dec 9, 2006
Messages
1,389
My opinion of the Native 5
(my current EDC)

The native 5 is a great rock solid smaller/medium sized folder that looks and feels like it will last a lifetime.It has zero blade play and the fit and finish are excellent.It came sharp as a razor from Spyderco. S35 VN reviews anyone? The G10 is grippy,but not grippy enough to wear a hole in my jeans.The G10 roughness is perfect.The stainless hourglass clip is a big improvement as the older painted/ blued clips that show wear when used for EDC.This knife is the perfect size for someone that likes a smaller/medium folder for EDC that's built like a tank. The jimping makes me wish all my folders were jimped like the Native 5.The knife seems like a smaller lighter version of a Manix 1, but with modern refinements and some legacy Native DNA thrown in...So far I can't see and I don't feel how a pivot bushing makes the blade action smoother on this wonderfull lockback.I hope other versions of this knife are released with steels like M390 and other scale options besides G10.The Native 5 is a far cry from the original Native which was my first Spyderco years ago.The CPM s35v steel seems to me to be a little step up from standard Golden production CPM S30V, but time will tell and I plan an giving this jewel of a knife a long ride in my pocket......I rate this knife a must have if you like Spyderco's other Golden Colorado USA Earth products.......................................... .................................
Best regards,
Josh
 
Thank you for your thoughts on the Native 5. I have one on the way and can't wait to use it. I had heard that the pivot busing system allows the knife to drop with gravity when you depress the back lock. Was this the case with yours or did you have to flick the knife forward to get the blade to start to close?
 
.I rate this knife a must have if you like Spyderco's other Golden Colorado USA Earth products.......
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I'd agree with that.


Taonari said:
Thank you for your thoughts on the Native 5. I have one on the way and can't wait to use it. I had heard that the pivot busing system allows the knife to drop with gravity when you depress the back lock. Was this the case with yours or did you have to flick the knife forward to get the blade to start to close?
Click to expand...
Mine does not drop from gravity.
 
Hi Salmonkiller,

Welcome to the Spyderco forum and thanx much for the kind review.

sal
 
Wow Salmonkiller you weren't kidding. Just got my Native 5 in the mail. Wow! This knife is amazing!!! It is much smaller than I had imagined, but it is the perfect size for EDC. Here it is pictured with my sidekick, an Endura 4 FFG.

Thanks Sal and co. for such a great knife!
IMG_0559.jpg
 
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knarfeng said:
Mine does not drop from gravity.
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When I press the release on my new Native 5 the blade drops down like my Paramilitary 2. I like that. I don't have to flick it forward and can close it one handed.
 
Taonari said:
When I press the release on my new Native 5 the blade drops down like my Paramilitary 2. I like that. I don't have to flick it forward and can close it one handed.
Click to expand...

That's what the bushing pivot is all about. It's fitted so that the point where you tighten the pivot down all the way is, in fact, the perfect setting. You can open and close the knife very smoothly, yet there is no play in any direction.
 
It sounds like the pivot bushing is made with a touch of awesome sauce because I like it. It sure opens smooth. :D
 
Might have to pick one of these up. I have a Native IV, but I really like the refinements added to this version. IMO, the liner/scale series of Natives are the perfect size and weight for an EDC. The only gripe I have with this version is it's G-10 and not peel-ply or corrugated carbon fiber. :D
 
Hi Yo Mama,

We were able to shrink up the lock well enough, and make the lock bar release depth enough to pretty much eliminate an accidental unlocking by palm flesh. We snuck up on it little by little until we were satisfied.

sal
 
I got mine Today, and will ship it back to KW Tomorrow. Sorry, but I do not like it at all - blade proportions too much flat on up and too much round on edge, edge tip looks too much down, G10 is too thin and too rough, handle is not ergonomic /even for my small hand/.
Will be looking for Native 4 CF.
 
Wow. The size is REALLY similar to that Delica 3 there. A little surprising to me.

I like it. I can see how it's a perfect EDC size. But it's also a little too similar to what I have already right now. I may get one, but I'll wait on this one.
 
Thanks for the reply Sal. You guys and gals make one heck of a blade. I'm salavating over the new Manix 2 I should have in my hands by the 17th.

OP, enjoy your Native.
 
Great review,The Native 5 is next on my list.I have 2 Natives that I purchased from Walmart a few years back and always wished they had liners to make them feel sturdier.
 
I don't own a Native 5 just yet, but I do have a $550+ custom that has s35vn that I've yet to put it through hard use..

At any rate, here's a little insight, I find it to be very interesting:

[video=youtube;q3nfCJtAcLI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3nfCJtAcLI[/video][/QUOTE]
 
knarfeng said:
knarfeng said:
The recommended hardness for M390 is ~59-62 if cryo-treated. Its vastly superior edge retention is not due to higher hardness. I've compared the edge retention of an M390 blade vs. a harder D2 blade. The M390 was far superior in edge retention. (And the D2 blade had better edge retention than an S30V blade.)

edited to add: all that being said, I am quite satisfied with the S35VN so far. Seems to take a finer edge than S30V.
Click to expand...

Gents, I did the tests, haven't written them up. I may later. But I will say I was unable to differentiate between S30V and S35VN when it came to edge retention cutting manila rope. I am reasonably certain that in real world use, no one can tell the difference in edge retention between those two alloys. My opinion regarding the performance of S35VN vs. M390 remain as above.
Frank R.
Click to expand...

These were my results.
 
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