Native question

BOILER

BOILER

Joined
Feb 2, 2002
Messages
352
Hi! This is my first post in the Spyderco forum, but I have been a fan of these knives since I got my first Delica 10-12 years ago.

SMKW is selling Natives marked "1st Generation BRK" and the ad reads "pilot test run, made in the u.s.a." They are 440A and come PE or SE. The price is right and I am thinking about one for EDC.

I'm looking for opinions on the quality of this knife and the usefulness of this blade size/shape and handle feel for everyday use. I have ordered Spydercos from SMKW before. I had a great Goddard ltwt PE that I sold to a buddy (gotta find another one!). BTW, what does "BRK" on the Native mean? Thanks for the help!
 
This should answer most of your questions.
BTW you could always use the search function if you believe that your question is likely posted before.
 
calyth,

I am currently waiting delivery (hopefully today) of one of these Natives I picked up off of Ebay for $20 bucks. I wanted one as a beater knife and since I don't own any Natives yet, what the heck.

On a slightly different note, is it possible to take a Dremel tool with a wire brush and follow up with some Flitz to take that "1st Generation BRK" designation off. I've had success stripping down some of Spyderco's clips after they've been thoroughly scratched up, giving them a new look and new life, but I'm not sure if it will be possible if the marking is laser etched in. Any thoughts?
 
It is not laser engraved.They are made by Camillus for Spyderco.IMO very low quality.Please don't judge the good Natives by these.I have already noticed that the value of the good Nativs have decreased because of them.I tried to trade a LIKE NEW Gin 1 Native at a gun show today and the dealer told me he would only put about 20.00 in it because he could get the BRKs for 18.00 wholesale.:mad: :barf:
 
u812: how urgent are you going to sell it? I'm interested but I'm trying to stem my illness ;) so... I don't mind getting the Gin 1 Native off you.
 
I love my GIN-1 Native.
I plan to get a 440V Native and then the rumored BIG Native when it come out (soon, I hope).

My question has to do with my GIN-1 Native.
It seems I got this one very close to when they first came out.
So, how long have I carried this Native?
It sure has held up well.
 
Well guys, I just recieved my Native "1st Generation BRK" knife that I wrote about in an earlier post. All I can say is... Wow, what a dissapointment.

I have been an avid collector of Spyderco's for some 11 years now and carry a Spyderco daily. So this is not really meant to pick on Spyderco, but more of an educational experience that I thought I would share with you guys.

I am really dissapointed in this knife. To cut to the skinny:

1) The Spyderco hole, as one other member mentioned, is obviously stamped out rather than machined. Very sloppy.
2) The clipit seems a few steps from being finished. It has a dull, unpolished look and texture with sharp edges.
3) The blade is uncharacteristically dull right out of the lack of packaging.
4) Opening is someone stiff, if not sticky and lockup is almost crunchy.
5) Finally, the overall feel of the blade and handle while open is almost flimsy to the point of being unconfident.

Well, now that I got that out of my system, now the good news. I think that it is a true credit to Spyderco that this knife, obviously manufactured in part and assembled by an outside firm shows how truely dedicate to quality Spyderco has been over the years. The later model Native and Native II really exemplify the dedication to quality Spyderco has demonstrated over the years. They have abandonded these obvioulsy cheaper manufacturing techniques to bring us the quality products we've become accustomed to. The Police, Military, Bob Lum Chinese, Salsa, Endura, Native, Cricket, Calypso and Jr., Dragonfly, Howard Viele, Lil Temperance etc. etc. etc. all demonstrate the quality and craftsmanship we've come to expect and appreciate Spyderco. And I'm truely glad they decided to produce quality products rather than the mass marketed junk that this Native "1st Generation BRK".

Sorry this is so long, but in closing, I have both the Native and a Calpyso Jr. Lightweight sitting side by side. I spent $25 dollars each on these knives, and the difference is truely remarkable. If the market value of the Calypso Jr. is $25 then this particular Native should be in the 5 for a $1 bin at a flea market.

If your looking for a historical perspective on what Spyderco could have been, save your money, take my advice and by the Calypso Jr.

If your looking to diversify your collection of Spydies and ad a Native to the collection... spend the extra couple of bucks and get Native II.

Lets just pretend that this knive never existed, I'm not even going to put it in with my other Spyderco collectables, I'm going to deligate this Native to the tool shed for cutting mulch bags and knife tossing.

Sal must be a marketing genious, because I have the distinct urge to go out and buy a Lil Temperance to prove to myself exactly why Spyderco is the first rate company it is!!!

Spyderco... Thank you for not making any more cheap knives.
 
There is no substitute for quality. Attmepts to bring costs down with cheap substitutes shows its ugly face. I hope Spyderco never attempts the path of subcontracting out its knives and parts again.
 
I included a "BRK Native" in PE with my last order from SMKW and was also unhappily surprised, especially by the poor action. But, mine came very sharp and there was no hint of flimsiness once locked up. I don't have a "real" Native to compare it to but I knew that I liked the feel of this knife and I'm a tinkerer and so I couldn't leave it alone.

I took some Flitz metal polish to the blade and removed that haze. I removed the clip and now I like it that way. Very flat in the pocket.
The parts making contact in the action, when viewed under a low power microscope, looked like they were machined with an axe. First I tried working the action with honing oil but got nowhere. Then I put some automotive valve grinding compound (abrasive in grease) in there and worked that puppy bout a hundred times, adding more abrasive when I felt the need. I rinsed evrything with copious amounts of WD-40 and immediately felt a big difference, but still no cigar.

I drive about an hour each way to work and made it my new hobby to flick that knife open and closed, one handed, for almost two full hours each day for two weeks, rinsing with more WD-40 ocassionally. That did it. It's now rather light and smooth and will snap shut on it's own when it gets to within about 2 inches from the closed position. Was it worth it? I don't know. This knife will probably see more use now because it won't be babied, thats for sure. And I still want a "Real" Native.
 
Tech a billy: I'm kind of interested at what that automotive valve grind compound... got any links about those?
 
Any auto parts store should have it, sorry, no links. Got mine at NAPA. A small (4 0z.) can was just a few bucks. They had water based and grease based and felt that the grease will help it stay put. It's feels very course when in use. Please note that I considered this to be a drastic measure designed to keep this POS from going straight from the Brown truck right into the salt water tackle box. I wouldn't recommend it as a tune up procedure on anything I cared about.
 
I just got my own BRK Native in, and I gotta agree with the previous posters. Here's my own quick recap:

1) The clip, while functional, looks like crap. Completely unfinished, with marks on it and an uneven color.

2) The lock up, while solid, is a bit odd in that the blade's spine does not make flush contact with the lock. Where the blade meets the lock it should be flush and smooth, but it's not. Actually, the lock is higher than the spine, making a rather sharp edge right where my thumb would slide on in a saber grip.

3) The serrations are not Spydie serrations. They have the same frequency (3 serrs to 1 space), but are only about half as deep.

4) Another issue with the lock bar is that it is completely unfinished. The bar's ends have jagged edges, both on the side that is enclosed by the FRN (which is far worse), as well as the side that locks up with the blade.

5) The opening mechanism is very stiff. It's very hard to open with your thumb in a slow fashion, but it does open fairly quick if you flick it with just your thumb.

6) The FRN handle came with scratches and some minor cuts on it, which can be explained because it came in a plastic baggie, which leads to a question on whether these were caused by their non-protected storage.

7) The pivot pin is odd in that it has a fairly large washer, about 1/4", on both sides of the pivot pin. On one side it looks like they were really bulldogging it down, and it really bit into the handle because the washer and pivot are canted a little bit.

To be quite frank, I consider this knife a $21 dollar lesson. I agree with MSaxatilus completely on his Calypso Jr analogy. I really feel sorry if this is anyone's first Spydie, because I just could not see this knife as being any indicator at all of a Spydie knife. Oh, and the fact that your warranty issues go through Camillus is simply icing on the cake.

AB
 
Oh, great....guess what I ordered two of a few days ago.:grumpy: Has anyone requested a refund or exchange directly from Spyderco?
 
You will notice when you get it that it has a paper in it saying that any warranty problems need to be fixed by Camilus.In my thinking this is a Camilus knife,Spyderco only made the scales for them and let them use the Spyderco name.
 
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