- Joined
- Nov 27, 2002
- Messages
- 2,145
Title says it all.
I can get one, not both at this time. Which would you choose and why?
I can get one, not both at this time. Which would you choose and why?
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Native 5 or Dialex Junior?
- Thread starter Jenner 515
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 8, 1999
- Messages
- 5,094
I just picked a Dialex Junior over a Native 5 today. The Native 5 is an incredibly well made lockback, but the Junior is a remarkable design. I love the super stout choil, and I think it is the best engineered Compression Lock Spyderco has yet to make. I think it totally smokes the Paramilitary.
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2003
- Messages
- 5,738
Not a fan of wrong handed locks, so the Junior was of no interest to me. I did get a Native V because, aside from the G-10 scales, it pushes all the right buttons for me, a midlock with no dent, comfortable looking handle, 50/50 choil, and great build quality.
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2010
- Messages
- 707
I know this thread is old but I just pulled the trigger on a Junior over the Native - so that makes this thread all square.
Reasons, VG10 is tried and tested and I like it. There are clearly still some questions about the S35V and I too like the broader blade and distinct lack of hump on the Junior. Will let you know what I think once I get it in my hands...
...as to whether it smokes my Para 2 as Anthony Cheeseboro suggests, I'm not so sure. The Para 2 is my most regularly carried folder. I love it!
Other thoughts on the Junior welcome whilst I wait for the postman to do his stuff...
Ben
Reasons, VG10 is tried and tested and I like it. There are clearly still some questions about the S35V and I too like the broader blade and distinct lack of hump on the Junior. Will let you know what I think once I get it in my hands...
...as to whether it smokes my Para 2 as Anthony Cheeseboro suggests, I'm not so sure. The Para 2 is my most regularly carried folder. I love it!
Other thoughts on the Junior welcome whilst I wait for the postman to do his stuff...
Ben
For my EDC purposes, the Junior replaced my Para2. I've been carrying it since September and absolutely love it. This is not a knock against the Para2, it is a great knife, but the Junior just feels "right" for me and performs everything for me the para2 did in the process. I guess that is a nod to the ergos of the knife.
I'd like to get a Native 5 in the future for my collection, but it will have a hard time replacing my junior for EDC.
I'd like to get a Native 5 in the future for my collection, but it will have a hard time replacing my junior for EDC.
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2010
- Messages
- 707
Cool! Thanks for posting your perspectives Urza...
Ben
Ben
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2010
- Messages
- 707
Well, I only received my Junior today but of course I've hardly been able to keep my hands off it.
What follows are just my initial impressions but I have used it for a variety of tasks today...
Firstly, I love the blade shape - a real departure from the norm for Spyderco. Don't get me wrong, I love my leaf-shaped Spydies but losing the 'hump' on this knife makes if feel different (in a good way). Hopefully this picture will help explain what I mean (forgive the basic photographs - it is dark outside right now);
[/URL][/IMG]
Note that I have medium/large hands and I use whole length of the handle. If you've got larger hands I think you might want to consider the additional real estate on the Para 2. The actual cutting edges are very close in length but the Junior is a much smaller package, of course with that very different blade profile and huge belly;
[/URL][/IMG]
[/URL][/IMG]
[/URL][/IMG]
[/URL][/IMG]
Speaking of small - it is also incredibly light. Be warned - I know some of us (myself included) often subconsciously associate heft with quality. The Junior is noticably lighter that my S30V UKPK. This is obviously due to the significant 'cut-out' in the handle to allow the prominent guard which acts like a choil. However it should also be noted that the G10 scales are significantly thinner than on the other two Spydies shown.
If I had one criticism this would be it - given the shape change, I'm not sure that there was a need to use thinner scales even for Junior/little hands. That said it does feel perfectly comfortable in the hand and is still clearly a high quality folder. I will work with it but may add some custom scales which I may work up from some Green Linen Micata that I have - I may even 3D profile them a bit too. It kind of feels like the blade deserves a slightly meatier handle (for me...)
I love VG10 as a steel - it is a solid performer as far as I am concerned and takes a great edge. Needless to say my Junior came shaving sharp. I'll polish up the edge but there really is no need to. It has cut everything I have thrown at it today with aplomb from fuzz sticks to push cuts of green wood branches. The Junior is a cracking slicer and that belly will be very useful for me. I'd urge Sal and his team to consider applying a similar blade shape elsewhere in the Spydie range.
I like the size of the knife for EDC, I like the wire clip, I like the jimping on top of the blade toward the handle, I love how it already flicks open readily with absolutely zero blade-play, feel similar to the way the Para 2 flies out...
...all in all I'm very, very happy with this knife. If you're considering it, I'd encourage you to pull the trigger. It is a great EDC option.
Ben
What follows are just my initial impressions but I have used it for a variety of tasks today...
Firstly, I love the blade shape - a real departure from the norm for Spyderco. Don't get me wrong, I love my leaf-shaped Spydies but losing the 'hump' on this knife makes if feel different (in a good way). Hopefully this picture will help explain what I mean (forgive the basic photographs - it is dark outside right now);
Note that I have medium/large hands and I use whole length of the handle. If you've got larger hands I think you might want to consider the additional real estate on the Para 2. The actual cutting edges are very close in length but the Junior is a much smaller package, of course with that very different blade profile and huge belly;
Speaking of small - it is also incredibly light. Be warned - I know some of us (myself included) often subconsciously associate heft with quality. The Junior is noticably lighter that my S30V UKPK. This is obviously due to the significant 'cut-out' in the handle to allow the prominent guard which acts like a choil. However it should also be noted that the G10 scales are significantly thinner than on the other two Spydies shown.
If I had one criticism this would be it - given the shape change, I'm not sure that there was a need to use thinner scales even for Junior/little hands. That said it does feel perfectly comfortable in the hand and is still clearly a high quality folder. I will work with it but may add some custom scales which I may work up from some Green Linen Micata that I have - I may even 3D profile them a bit too. It kind of feels like the blade deserves a slightly meatier handle (for me...)
I love VG10 as a steel - it is a solid performer as far as I am concerned and takes a great edge. Needless to say my Junior came shaving sharp. I'll polish up the edge but there really is no need to. It has cut everything I have thrown at it today with aplomb from fuzz sticks to push cuts of green wood branches. The Junior is a cracking slicer and that belly will be very useful for me. I'd urge Sal and his team to consider applying a similar blade shape elsewhere in the Spydie range.
I like the size of the knife for EDC, I like the wire clip, I like the jimping on top of the blade toward the handle, I love how it already flicks open readily with absolutely zero blade-play, feel similar to the way the Para 2 flies out...
...all in all I'm very, very happy with this knife. If you're considering it, I'd encourage you to pull the trigger. It is a great EDC option.
Ben
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2010
- Messages
- 707
I just wanted to update:
The more I use this knife, the more I like it! The thin scales do mean that it carries really well in mt pocket.
Highly recommended!
Ben
The more I use this knife, the more I like it! The thin scales do mean that it carries really well in mt pocket.
Highly recommended!
Ben