Native 4 CFP warranty report

Amnesiac

Amnesiac

Joined
Jan 15, 2009
Messages
60
I had an inauspicious start here a month ago in regards to a new Native 4 CFP I had just received. It was difficult to open and made some odd sounds. I called out Sal and received much justified scorn from the faithful. Sal, I apologize for that.

I also received some helpful advice which started my closer inspection of the knife. I discovered what looked like a crack on the edge of the liner. That crack was right where the kick passed the liner and I could hear a click every time I opened and closed the knife.

I sent the knife back to Colorado and today I received my replacement! They just did a swap for a new knife which is what I was hoping for. The bad news is this new knife has EXACTLY the same problem in the same place... plus it's on the other liner as well. That doesn't seem like a coincidence. I'm notasking for Spyderco to solve this here on this forum but I'm curious for other owners to look at theirs closely to see if they have the same issue or not.

The fact that it's in the same place on both liners (at the curve) makes me wonder if it's a manufacturing challenge.

Here's a pic of the first knife with on liner with the problem and other pics of the new knife with both liners cracked.
 

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Some of my pictures didn't appear to make it.

Here they are
 

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Amnesiac said:
It was difficult to open and made some odd sounds.
I discovered what looked like a crack on the edge of the liner. That crack was right where the kick passed the liner and I could hear a click every time I opened and closed the knife.
The bad news is this new knife has EXACTLY the same problem in the same place... plus it's on the other liner as well.
Click to expand...

I'm confused. Your first knife made odd sounds and was difficult to open. You saw what looked like a crack in the liner and surmised that the crack was causing those symptoms.
Now you have a new knife with cracks in the liners.
Is the new knife difficult to open and does it make odd sounds?
 
AF said:
I'm confused. Your first knife made odd sounds and was difficult to open. You saw what looked like a crack in the liner and surmised that the crack was causing those symptoms.
Now you have a new knife with cracks in the liners.
Is the new knife difficult to open and does it make odd sounds?
Click to expand...

That's a good question.

However, it does look odd. The mark follows the grain and straition pattern or the liner, rather then being blotchy like a mark would. Same spot on both liners though? That's weird.

I would call the SFO and possibly send the knife in again.
 
I just pulled out my Native 4 that sitting on my desk. One of the liners has pretty much the same mark. Quite honestly i would have never noticed it unless you had me look there. it's in the middle of the liner and doesn't contact an edge.

Having said that, the action on this knife is SO silky smooth that i just can't complain.
 
I'd guess the liners for the Native IV are punched out of a sheet of steel and that the striation is probably an artifact of that. Either that or they're an artifact of the finishing process. Mine has it on both liners in approximately the same location and the knife works fine. As alexcue mentioned, the marks don't reach the edge and there is certainly no indication on the flat surface of the inside of either liner of a crack at or near the mark. Bottom line, I'd call it a non-issue.
 
AF said:
I'm confused. Your first knife made odd sounds and was difficult to open. You saw what looked like a crack in the liner and surmised that the crack was causing those symptoms.
Now you have a new knife with cracks in the liners.
Is the new knife difficult to open and does it make odd sounds?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you're confused about. I think the issue was stated pretty clearly. I'm trying to see if others with the same knife see the same "issue". If so, I'm curious what it's about.
 
I have three of the CF Natives and all of them have cracks in the liners. I think this is a common quality problem. :(

Reason why I don't use warranty and repair is that I live in Europe and it's pretty expensive to send the knives to Spyderco. Worst case scenario would be a replacement with same defects and nobody can guarantee this will not happen.
 
I examined my Native (sorry, I am an old man and had to use 10x eye lope).
It has the same thing, but if I cannot see it with my eyes, than it is OK. By the way, I have an access to good microscope with 250X. Does anybody wants to send me their knives? We will be able to find a lot. :D
On serious note, I do not think that this imperfection will effect form, fit and function, so I going just use it. If I break (I seriously doubt), than Spyderco will fix it.

Peter1960 said:
I have three of the CF Natives
Click to expand...

Peter,
It looks like you really like this knife. :) I have only two. ;)
 
bh49 said:
I examined my Native (sorry, I am an old man and had to use 10x eye lope).
It has the same thing, but if I cannot see it with my eyes, than it is OK.
Click to expand...

Is it on both liners or just one?

I have to use glasses for reading but I saw the two cracks the minute I opened the knife... but I was already looking for it.
 
Amnesiac said:
Is it on both liners or just one?

I have to use glasses for reading but I saw the two cracks the minute I opened the knife... but I was already looking for it.
Click to expand...

This is on one liner. I can look only on one of my Natives. It is hard to see, but possible with reading glasses as well if you looking for this. Still, I do not think that this represent a problem for use and considering that Peter is keeping his Natives, this do not represent a problem for collector. :)
So do not worry about it, just enjoy this beauty. But if you can not return to the dealer or sell it. This is what I would do.
Good luck
 
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I wanted one of these pretty badly, but I may hold off for now. That looks like it could be problematic down the line. Hopefully the flaw is addressed.
 
Checked mine. Same marks or cracks in the same spot. They must be left from the manufacturing process.

Tom
 
My Native IV has the same marks. No problems opening and closing the knife. Had I not seen this thead, I would have never known. I'm not concerned at all and mine is a user. I believe it's part of the manufacturing process. Perhaps the knife is put in a jig during manufacturing and left the mark on each liner. I don't believe there's any issue with my knife. I'm keeping it. In fact, I'm going to buy another and could care less if it has the marks. As long as it functions properly, I don't see what the "issue" is.
 
Let's be clear here. These aren't "marks". They are cracks that run in the same direction as the grain of the liners. These aren't blurry shots of some UFO I posted... they show the cracks fairly clearly. And they show up sometimes on that exact spot and sometimes they don't. That would mean to me that something happens during the manufacturing process of the liner which causes theses cracks and sometimes liners make it through without these cracks.

All things considered I'd rather have my expensive Native 4 CF without cracks than with.
 
Geez Amnesiac, You've already had several owners say that they had the same "issue" with their knives and have either said that it is a non issue for them or that they would send their knives back to Spyderco if it did become a problem. Sal himself already suggested that you send this knife back to Spyderco. Why don't you take his advice and quit trying to get people all worked up over what appears to be nothing.

BTW, I followed the last thread http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=617208 on this subject where you belabored your point ad nauseam and where, once again, Sal suggested that you return the knife and where you were less than civil to him. :jerkit:

In response to your little pole, I also have a Native lV and one of the liners has the same mark. The action on my knife is butter smooth with no "scraping" and I'm not worried about it in the least.

In case you haven't figured it out by now, Spyderco has a sterling reputation for standing behind it's products.
 
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