Native 5-FRN

28gauge

28gauge

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2005
Messages
226
Was interested in the Native 5 FRN but discovered it was without liners. Then I lost interest. Will stick with my Delica and maybe get and Endura. VG-10 and Seki City is not a problem and I prefer liners. Anyone feel the same?
 
meh ... I prefer style and fit. With brands like Spyderco, I'm assured of a quality knife and, if the designer deems liners are not required, fine by me.

I have 2 Natives - SE and a LW PE.
 
i have both versions of the native 5 and think its a grate little EDC folder,the carbon fiber has its liners but you can never use it as a pry-bar!
 
Not really. No version of the Native has ever been among my personal "top 10" Spyderco midlocks, but the unlined FRN Calypso Jr has always been. To me, liners on an FRN knife just add weight and cost without providing any real benefit and nested liners, like those on the FRN Delica, are the absolute worst since they bump up the weight and cost without facilitating easy replacement of the FRN scales with something more attractive the way full flush liners would.
 
My lightweight that I had was one of the most solid knives I have ever owned. If used for its intended purposes, light to medium tasks, it is hard to be beat. If you are looking for something you can put through the ringer in the same size range I would look into a Sage 1 or 2. I prefer the 2
 
I think you'd be hard pressed to snap the handle short of trying to pry boulders out of the ground. I've got one of those and I've never felt a hint of flex in the handle.
 
I honestly think you don't need liners with a strong FRN (or FRCP) handle. I have a Manix 2 and Native 5 light weight. I do feel that the sharper edges on the light weight scales make the Native 5 (and FRCP Manix 2) feel more like plastic - but I think that's just perception. The scales are strong and grippy. They clean up easily. They will not wear down like G10 will over time. A better utilitarian knife; but not as classy as G10 or carbon fiber. The Delica, Stretch, and Endura have a nicer feel because their handles are more rounded. My two cents.
 
wtlj said:
Get a Native 5 G10...problem solved!
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That's one solution. There is a carbon fiber sprint run version in S110V, but you can't get one for less than $215, if you can find it at all (Sooner State Knives has a few I think).
 
I don't feel the liner is needed on the FRN model. As is, it's plenty strong enough to handle daily needs quite easily. And, while perhaps not having quite the refined feel of the G10 model, it maintains its ease of grip when wet. But the G10 does too, but maybe not quite as much. I owned a carbon fiber knife from another maker and it just always felt too slick to me so I tend to shy away from CF scales.
 
The FRN native is one of the few knives I've ever returned. I love the bladeshape but the finish on mine was suspect and overall the knife felt cheap to me. I didn't click with it.
 
I have several N5 and love the knife. When Spyderco released LW model, I decided to pass (I really do not care about 1.2 oz weight difference), but recently couldn't pass a deal and grabbed one. I am impressed. It is really good knife. I certainly prefer N5 with liners, just for look, I love liners. But in my honest opinion, if somebody wants to save $30, I would advise to go with LW model.
 
I hAve beat the hell out of my Native5 FRN at work for the last I don't know how many months and I have had zero issue with functionality, let alone even having to sharpen the blade. I find myself carrying my FRN more than my G10. I was worried about the knife being weak at first (so I bought 2) and haven't even touched the second.
 
I've owned lots of delicas. Great little blade. But, IMO, the Native 5 LW is an all-around better knife in the category of light little knives.
 
The Salts are unlined FRN and are among the most abused folders Spyderco makes and yet there are no reports about them breaking. No liners saves weight and cost without any functional downsides for me. It feels cheaper than G10 etc, but it is plenty strong.
 
Welcome to the Forums
Sarge930 said:
I hAve beat the hell out of my Native5 FRN at work for the last I don't know how many months and I have had zero issue with functionality, let alone even having to sharpen the blade. I find myself carrying my FRN more than my G10. I was worried about the knife being weak at first (so I bought 2) and haven't even touched the second.
Click to expand...
BTW,
great first post
 
Shanks4300 said:
I think you'd be hard pressed to snap the handle short of trying to pry boulders out of the ground. I've got one of those and I've never felt a hint of flex in the handle.
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Yeah, ive played with a few natives and never felt any flex or thought the handle would break. If you think it might break with what you will be doing, maybe choose a different knife for that task. I would trust a native with atleast up to moderate usage.
 
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