Native: the poor man's Manix?

fedaykincmndr

fedaykincmndr

Joined
Aug 3, 2004
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Would anyone say that the Native could be a poor man's Manix? Obviously not looks but construction wise, but the only real difference seems to be FRN instead of G10 and no steel liners. I hope I'm not setting myself up for a flame I just had a kind passing notion that it could be so.

Be gentle...
 
I edc my native for 3 years. Fine cutting tool she was, but for sure it's no manix. Not even close. Yesterday I pryed open 3 crates at work (I know you're no suppose to, but i didn't feel like walking 3 floors down to the carpenters to get a crowbar) with the manix, held up much better than my native did. Even though the native had been at it for a few years.

The two just doesn't compare at all in my books. Different grind, blade style, blade length, handle shape. As a cutting tool, the dragonfly or caly would be mcuh closer with the full flat than a native.
 
I'm scared as shit to pry so much as a staple with my S30V Native... Such a thin blade, especially with that swedge!
 
Yeah, prying is definatly not recommended. Besides breaking the blade, you also risk the knife slipping and cutting yourself. I just used it to illastrate what I use them for.
 
I have a widgy from countycomm on my SAK so I'm not worried about prying with the blade but I see your point. Like I said it was just a tying together in my mind of the same steel, different handle materials and blade shape.
 
I have been thinking of replacing my Native III with a mini Manix, but thats about as far as I'd go with comparisons.
 
I have a Mini Manix and a bunch of Natives. The Manix is definitely beefier and will perform some heavier duty work. But there's something about the Native that I like better. It is lighter, I love the blade shape and the size. I consider this my favorite edc knife. Although I carry other knives as well, the Native III in particular is my favorite.
 
they look somewhat similar in shape. but i too fear putting my native to heavy use due to the thin blade. i think the native makes a better knife for self defense than a utility knife since it has that false edge and its small and compact.

inmop the g10 byrd cara cara kind of struck me as the poor mans manix, not so much because of its shape but because its a strong, hefty knive with g10.
 
I think the native is a great knife but it is not in the same class as the manix. You do definitely get what you pay for and then some. There is something to be said for the light weight of the native. Sometimes the native almost feels TOO light for what it is. the handle is lighter than the blade, by feel anyway.
 
Poor man alternatives. I have a few, IMO, examples.

Centofante III--Poor man's Impala
D'Allara--Poor man's Manix
Native--Poor man's Best choice :)

Can't think of anymore.
 
I have 2 Natives and they are by far my favorite edc choice, but I dont like the side-to-side blade play when the lock bar is pressed down. Its rock solid when locked but still it somehow bothers me a little. I doubt it would ever fail unless I abused it, but my waved Endura 4 feels like it's in a whole other class of smoothness and a lock like a bank vault.

The CPMS30V steel is awesome and razor sharp, my first Native is the only knife I have cut myself with when shaving arm hair. I didn't even feel it until a minute or so after and I saw blood.
 
I agree that native is a great knife, BUT nothing about it compares to the manix besides using the same steel which lots of spydercos knife uses anyways.
 
I fell in love with the Native when I saw the pictures in ads before it was ever released. The Native has been my favorite Spyderco ever since. I know that the Calypso is a superior cutter, and the Delica is thinner, but I just love the look and feel of the Native. Also, with an S30V blade, it is no slouch as an actualy cutting tool either. Given the blade material, and the fact they can be had for under $40, the Native has got to be the best knife out there for a poor man. That said, I don't see it as a Manix alternative given its distinctive blade grind.
 
Can one reshape the finger groove/choil on the Native?

I love the native except the finger/choil is too small. Then I thought I could dremmel it out.

Any thoughts?
 
I like to think of the G-10 Cara Cara as the poor mans Manix. It's nearly as stout and definately has similar ability as a folder.

Dremel might work but if I were doing it I would disassemble the knife first so you could have a little more control over the blade.
 
The D`allara DP is the best "cheap" manix option. It's the toughest folder Spyderco makes at its price range (55ish). Also has a superior lock in my opinion. The FRN is very grippy too (it has the Native III pattern). The Native is a good knife, but just not in that category of toughness.
 
Artfully Martial said:
The D`allara DP is the best "cheap" manix option. It's the toughest folder Spyderco makes at its price range (55ish). Also has a superior lock in my opinion. The FRN is very grippy too (it has the Native III pattern). The Native is a good knife, but just not in that category of toughness.
Click to expand...

I agree with the DP D'allara being closer to the poor man's Manix. It is not really a poor man's anything to be honest but at about half the street price, it is a great knife for the money. In fact, every D'allara I have owned has locked up like a vise and every Manix I have owned has had blade play. The Manix has one of the best blades I have ever seen however.
 
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