Native III

gull wing

gull wing

Joined
May 4, 2002
Messages
2,536
Just got a Native III yesterday, wow is it ever tight. I can open it only with a great deal of effort (much much more than any Spyderco I have ever had...8 - Spydercos). The knife is perfect in all other areas and I like the new design. THERE ARE NO DEFECTS.
It came with plenty lube on the contact areas. I worked it a lot thinking it might ease up, but it appears the spring has too much power. I am not cutting anything with this knife till I decide what to do.
As is, the knife is not acceptable. It's a Spyderco I should be able to open it with my thumb.
What do you think I should do? I know that if I send it in and comes back with a little oil on it and the same stiff spring that will not be acceptable.
 
Call Customer Service and ask about it. Mine came fairly tight initially, but after about 500 opening cycles, it's doing just fine. It's still firm, just not tight. At first it was a little tough to thumb it open, now it's still tighter than others, but very managable.
 
I just had a Native Lightweight as a passaround and it did not have any problems.
Send it to Spyderco!! I'm sure they won't just oil it. :)
Tell them to replace it.
Quick opening, NO make that lightning fast opening is their stock in trade. I've never had any Spydie that was too tight.
Bad ones do happen
Tom
 
Hi Gull Wing. Sorry for our inconvenience. You might send it back for a looksee? Also thanx for the input. It is a brand new model that we've been woking on for a while. Refinements of one type or another are usually necessary on brand new designs.

If yo send it in, Ask Mike to make sure to let me see it.

sal
 
My Native 3 was stiff at first, but has loosened up fine. Nice strong snap-back lock, which I like in my pocket when working. Very nice EDC.
 
I just ordered one, and from checking the
UPS web site, it's now sitting on my
front porch, waiting for me to get home
and open it (!).

After I get a chance to play with it a
little, I'll log my impressions of how
tight the spring is.

This is going to be a long afternoon..;)
 
My lightweight FRN 440V Native is pretty darn tight, too.

Tight enough that a thumb-pad doesn't get enough traction to open it -- I have to use the stick-entire-thumb-in-hole technique.

Or am I doing it wrong? Are spydies even meant to be opened with just the thumbpad in the hole? (This is my first (of many future ones, I'm sure) spydie :) )

:confused:

-j
 
I opened the box that the nice UPS guy delivered this afternoon,
and I am in love :D

Sal, you have a real winner with this Native III (mine's PE)! I have a Delica PE FRN (which I really like, but no place to put my index
finger when bearing down), an Endura PE FRN (which I really like,
fixes the index finger problem, but is too long to carry EDC in my politically correct New England office environment), a Moran
(used when camping, hiking, etc.), and a Salsa (don't like the
blade shape - not pointy enough).

This Native III is *perfect*! :D . The finger choil fixes the problem I have with the Delica, the thicker handle is nicer to hold in my slightly larger than average hands, the ridges on the top of the blade are nice for thumb support, .... on and on...AND, I like the wire clip, which somehow seems far superior to the one on my Salsa, which I never warmed up to. VG10 ... on and on...

Finally, the EDC I've been looking for!

So, I mentioned that I would pass along my impressions of how
tight the blade-opening aspects of this new Native III are.

Perfect.

It does seem tighter than any other Spydies I own, even when
they were brand new. But I like that in a folder, because for 80%
of the time, I carry deep in the pocket (I only clip when
wearing shorts or sweats). It's a good thing that the knife doesn't
open by itself in my pocket.

The fact that it might take a second longer to open one handed isn't a problem to me; SD is hopefully something I'll never need to open it for. Besides, if that day ever comes, I suspect I'd sense it coming, and already have it in hand, open behind my back perhaps, in plenty of time.

Now, some questions that come to mind:

1. Is this Native III a flat grind?
2. If not, then do I need to modify my sharpening technique, if
for example, it's a hollow grind?

I think (?) that most of the knives I've sharpened on my Gatco
rig (mostly kitchen knifes, folders) have been flat ground. After
a fair amount of practice, I'm able to get most of them shaving
sharp. But, if everything I've sharpened so far has been flat
ground, and this Native III is (for example) hollow ground, does
that mean I should do something differently when the time comes
to sharpen it?

Thanks
 
I forgot to mention - I bought this Native III from
newgraham.com - excellent prices, excellent service/people skills,
I'd recommend them.

In the past, I always used KnifeCenter, for the same reasons
as above...but NewGraham is over 10% cheaper for the
knifes I looked at...
 
My Native III was tight at first but continues to loosen up (in a good way). Love the knife, recommend it to one and all.
 
Got mine in the mail yesterday. Bought a collector's numbered piece from the exchange forum here at a nice price.

Outstanding knife. I'm still a little ambivalent about the wire clip, but as for everything else, this one is a winner.

I'm a fan of VG-10 because of the very fine edge it will take. This knife, after two passes on the Sharpmaker, was making hair leap off my arm.

The FRN scales keep the knife lightweight, and I like the re-profiled shape of the scales. The finger grooves allow you to grasp the blade in two comfortable positions--one with the hand further back on the scales, the other with the hand almost on the blade itself.

Mine was a bit stiff, but just a few openings have made it loosen up already. I suspect a little Tuff-Glide won't hurt it either.

Great redesign!
 
Hi Gull. We received your knife. Actually it was as designed, so we returned it to you. The knife is stiffer than a linerlock but not back for a very strong lockback.

I'm going to look into modifying the scale a bit near the hole which might give better purchase for opening. I would rather not decrease spring tension s the knife is very secure in the closed postion.

Thanx for the input and for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate the involvement. I know that you sent it in "for nothing", but that was the only way I could inspect the piece myself. I owe you one.

sal
 
gull wing, Have patience. Mine was stiff about a month ago when I got it, but a regimen of Tuf-Glide and exercise have really loosened it up. It is my fav now and definitely my #1 edc.
 
Originally posted by edb
I forgot to mention - I bought this Native III from
newgraham.com - excellent prices, excellent service/people skills,
I'd recommend them.

In the past, I always used KnifeCenter, for the same reasons
as above...but NewGraham is over 10% cheaper for the
knifes I looked at...
Click to expand...

i know exactly what you mean, both places have great service but newgraham has slightly lower prices, but then knifecenter has a bigger selection so for certain stuff i still go to knifecenter.
 
I like the Native III I have but I have opened and closed mine approx. 2500x in the last 30 days and it's still tight as a drum head. My thumb is quite sore and I've gone back to my Calypso Jr. for edc. I have my Native filled with Militec-1
 
Y'all just need to take a trip out west. Fill that sucker full-o-grit and it'll open up like greased lightening in no time!!!

:D :eek: :rolleyes:
 
Hi Fudo. sorry 'bout the sore thumb. I do appreciate the input though. I'll be in Seki in a couple of weeks and I plan to discuss ways of reducing the force required to open.

sal
 
Originally posted by fudo
I thought I WAS out west!
Click to expand...

OOPS!! And it's not like you don't have any gritty dust blowing through. :footinmou

Maybe you should try the beach! :rolleyes:

(edited for smilie furst aid)
 
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