Native preferences

GundaManiac

GundaManiac

Joined
Apr 18, 2011
Messages
487
Hi Spyderco subforum! I purchased my first Spyderco today, a Native. Well, that's not entirely true...I bought a Tenacious a couple months back as a gift, but my friend didn't really like the knife and the store didn't accept returns on knives so it's been in my possession waiting to be regifted or sold. So I never really considered the Tenacious to be mine. So again, I purchased my first Spyderco.

I had been looking forward to the Native V for quite some time because I really liked the ergonomics of the Native FRN when I handled one previously and I like the humpless look. I loved the idea of the Native V (a knife pattern I like with even better materials and construction? hell yea!) and was looking forward to it eagerly. I stopped by the local surplus store today and surprise - they carried both the Native FRN and the Native V!

The Native V is a really nice knife. I like the G10 scales with the steel liners and the pb bushings, which make the V feel much sturdier and higher quality than the FRN version. I like the idea of the S35VN steel upgrade (though I admit I haven't read up much on how it actually performs relative to S30V). I assume the full flat grind will slice better than the FRN version's funky giant swedge blade. I like the enlarged opening hole. I like the enlarged finger choil and the jimping. I like the revised jimping on the H on the spine. I like that the Native now has screw-together construction, allowing for disassembly for cleaning and maintenance.

Still....it felt like it lacked the character of the FRN version of the Native. The original funky spear point grind, though it may not slice as well as the FFG on the Native V, just has this cool factor about it (aesthetics are a personal thing, your views may vary). Although the handle and blade profiles are nearly identical between the two knives, the Native FRN somehow looks sleeker (again, your views may vary). The FRN version is also thinner and quite a bit lighter.

I ended up walking out of the store with a Native FRN. Despite having been looking forward to the release of the V and all the logical reasons why the V is better, for some reason I couldn't warm up to it as much as the FRN version when I compared them side by side in person. Is there anyone else who, for some reason (other than price), prefers the Native FRN? And does anybody know if the Native FRN will be discontinued due to the release of the Native V, or whether Spyderco intends to offer both models in the future?
 
I prefer the FRN because I just dislike G10. When I get my Endura, I won't even look at a G10 model. FRN is more affordable, to my experience more durable, and a far less aggressive grip (but still textured enough to keep grip). The FRN version is so much lighter because it has no liners (or at least everything I have read says it doesn't). I don't see the FRN being discontinued, though, with them still having the FRN and G10 versions of... well, everything else (pretty much).
 
Yeah, I heard that an FRN version of the Native V was in the works. I guess my question is more, will the current version of the Native FRN still be around when the FRN version of the Native V comes out.
 
If they do release an FRN Native V, then I would see them discontinuing the older model (with the V being an upgrade in every manner but weight).
 
I like every improvement from the 5 except the FFG with the mini-swedge. I prefer the huge honking swedge from the original Native. Though I suppose that by enlarging the thumbhole to make it easier to access, it would no longer fit purely on the unground portion of the blade like the hole in the Native FRN, so they had to do something....like make the blade FFG

If the current FRN version gets discontinued when the FRN version of 5 comes out, I guess I'll just have to buy a couple more current-gen Native FRNs for what I perceive to be an aesthetic cool factor and then pick up a Native V for the nice redone ergonomics and lock.
 
The Native V screams quality and strength. The price for that is weight and it's a price I'm, at least occasionally, willing to pay. I do wish they'd gone the whole nine yards and omitted the swedge completely, as on the 2009 Forum Native, but that's a fairly minor quibble. Also wish they'd gone with CF like that on the models from Taichung, rather than G-10, but that just gives me more incentive to have someone make me some nice looking wood scales for mine.
 
You can ding FRN with a fingernail. Try that with G10. Whatever experience you have had with FRN that would make it more durable than G10 is almost certainly unique to you. Scientifically, G10 is way more durable. The big thing that attracted me to the V is the hardware. It's screw construction, not pin. I like having the ability to adjust my pivot. Also, the V has the PM2 screws, at least from the looks of it.
 
For me the only advantage FRN Native is price, everything else Native5 is equal or better. Handle material is more durable, lock is better, screw construction is a plus, I strongly prefer FFG, I do not like the swedge, and I love liners. IMHO Native5 is one of the nicest knives Spyderco ever made.
 
With the handle shape on the FRN Native, the second peak in the handle always hit me mid-finger and was uncomfortable. So I grind it down somewhat and basically end up with the handle shape on the Native V. Never particularly liked the look of the swedge but appreciated the fine tip.
I am interested in the Native V but only as a lighter FRN model.
 
I was very impressed with the Native V, but I just did not think it was worth the price. A regular Native with a CPMS35 blade would be just fine for me.:thumbup:
 
So I noticed a day after I bought the Native that it was opening and closing roughly. I had been opening the blade and closing it quickly, so I hadn't noticed it before, but after I started rotating the blade open and closed more slowly I was able to feel a definite rough spot. I thought maybe it needed some break-in, but after opening and closing it multiple times (I pretty much just worked the pivot while watching TV) it wasn't getting better at all. When I checked the blade tang where the spine lock rubs when the blade opens and closed, there appeared to be two tiny tiny little divots in the blade tang. I didn't think such a minor thing would bother me, but it kinda is. I swing the blade open and it's like smoooooth-oh wait it suddenly feels like sandpaper-oh now it's smooth again. It's really quite jarring.

Is this something I could send to Spyderco to fix? If it's not covered by warranty, is it something Spyderco would fix for a fee, or is this considered acceptable?
 
Murdamook said:
You can ding FRN with a fingernail. Try that with G10. Whatever experience you have had with FRN that would make it more durable than G10 is almost certainly unique to you. Scientifically, G10 is way more durable. The big thing that attracted me to the V is the hardware. It's screw construction, not pin. I like having the ability to adjust my pivot. Also, the V has the PM2 screws, at least from the looks of it.
Click to expand...

Wow, and your so called experience with FRN is wildly inaccurate
As well. Frn is extremely tough, not as tough on paper as g10 of course, but tough enough to handle any knife task I can think of. Or maybe you have adamantium finger nails?? I'm looking at my native now that has been my workhorse for years, and I can only see two scratches in the Frn. This has been dropped off ladders, kicked across concrete, used as a hammer, etc....

I like the balance and solid feel of g10, but I like the light weight and thin Frn profile in my pocket. I do lean towards g10 nowadays though.

I also gotta say that original hollow grind and swedge really make the Frn native so much more attractive, I really want to handle the V in person, though.
 
I have no real preference for handle materials in terms of their usefulness. I like the feel of G10 more as it doesn't feel as "cheap" as FRN does, but in my experience FRN handles drops better than G10, possibly due to lower force on impact due to the lower weight of FRN. When I dropped a G10 handled knife on concrete before, it came away with several gouges in the material. However, when I dropped an FRN knife on the same surface (curse my clumsiness), the FRN knife didn't show a single scratch or deformation.

That said, I will reiterate that I think the Native V feels much higher quality and much more solid than the current Native FRN...but I irrationally prefer the FRN version at the moment. I don't understand why myself.
 
I put off buying a Native throughout it's inception until the Native 5 came out. I handled a few earlier models and I bought my GF the Pink Native but the Native 5 finally put me over the edge and I got one for myself. Today is my second day in a row carrying it. I think this knife is well worth the street price. Obviously I didn't know that until I received it since I got it without handling it first.

IMHO, this thing bleeds quality and value and in the case of the one I got, everything is perfect. No gaps anywhere, dead centered blade, super even edge grinds, rock solid lockup and outstanding action and a nice size for general EDC.

I might have to make this one a keeper. In fact, I haven't carried the Dialex Junior yet because of the Native 5. I got both the same day too. (Last Monday)
 
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