Spyderco Native - First Impressions

D

David Reidling

Joined
Jul 7, 1999
Messages
112
I received today the plain edged Spyderco Native that I purchased from MJ&S. This is the first Spyderco knife I have purchased and I am very impressed with the overall quality. The handle contour fits my hand perfectly and the lock-up is solid and smooth with no sign of blade play. The 440V steel is very finely grained, razor sharp out of the box, and I'm looking forward to see if it holds an edge for eternity like everyone says it does. The only thing I would like to see changed is the false edge and the hollow grind. I tend to be more of a tradionalist, so I think this knife would be improved by eliminating the false edge and making it a flat grind. Conclusion: This is a well made knife with super steel that sells for much less than it should. If any of you are undecided about which Spyderco knife to purchase--you won't go wrong with this one.
 
I love the Native. Waiting to get the new lightweight From MJS myself. I differ in liking the Native's top swedge. Spyderco makes enough flat grinds like the calypso, Military, dragonfly and others. I think there's room for other grinds like the Native.

sing

AKTI #A000356
 
It really is a fine knife. Like Sing, I like the swedge. It gives the Native a distinctive look and balance. I only have one very minor dislike and that's the fact that "Spyderco" and the steel grade are not etched into the base of the blade on the version I have. (It's only printed? burnt? onto the blade.) I imagine this is one way Spyderco lessens production cost and manages to sell these great knives at a reasonable price.

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Guyon
New AKTI Member

"The hardest knife ill-used doth lose his edge"
-William Shakespeare, Sonnet 95
 
Guyon - the "printing" is etched with a lazer. More expensive but longer lasting. Not a good idea to stamp CPM blades.

sal
 
Thanks for clearing that up Sal (and for clearing up my terminology). I wondered how the info is put on the blade. My guess of "burning" was somewhat close to the truth of the laser etching, though I didn't realize you guys were playing with lasers over there in Golden.

Good to know it'll last at any rate. My comment was just an aesthetic quibble of little consequence. Name stamping doesn't matter so much on the Native anyway since the knife name and the Spyderco brand name are included on the handle.

In everything that actually matters (shape and steel especially), the Native is a fantastic, functional knife.

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Guyon
New AKTI Member

"The hardest knife ill-used doth lose his edge"
-William Shakespeare, Sonnet 95

[This message has been edited by Guyon (edited 04-08-2000).]
 
Guyon - That's how we learn...from others & experience.

some additional info;

The New Native is curently the only light-weight knife worldwide with CPM-440V

The Native is the only CPM knife available for under $100.

The Native name stands for "Native American" and a percentage of your purchase goes to a Native American Education organization in Denver.

Lock strength exceeds our "heavy Duty" standard (100 inch/lbs per inch of blade length).

Does yours say "Earth" on it? There were a few that got through without the "Earth" on them. Makes them purty rare. We don't screw up that often.

Enjoy. We believe that the Native is the "best" (Reliable high performance & quality) light-weight knife made in the US if not the world.

sal
 
I own a native and it is made out of gin-1 steel. is this an earlier version??

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"We are the musicmakers, and we are dreamers of dreams"
 
aramis,

Yes, that is the earlier version. Spyderco now makes them in 440V.

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Guyon
AKTI Member #A001044

"The hardest knife ill used doth lose his edge."
-William Shakespeare, Sonnet 95
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Sal Glesser:
Guyon - That's how we learn...from others & experience.

some additional info;

The New Native is curently the only light-weight knife worldwide with CPM-440V

The Native is the only CPM knife available for under $100.

The Native name stands for "Native American" and a percentage of your purchase goes to a Native American Education organization in Denver.

Lock strength exceeds our "heavy Duty" standard (100 inch/lbs per inch of blade length).

Does yours say "Earth" on it? There were a few that got through without the "Earth" on them. Makes them purty rare. We don't screw up that often.

Enjoy. We believe that the Native is the "best" (Reliable high performance & quality) light-weight knife made in the US if not the world.

sal</font>
Click to expand...
If not the galaxy !! Just had to bring this thread up again cause my native has "earth" on it. I tought it was a funny additon to an excellent knife, just in case it gets into outer space or something ?? Did'nt realise it was a screw up.
Just one question for Sal could you tell me wich tribes are benefitting from the percentage, have a friend who wants to know. Thanks, and thanks for making an excellent knife. Since this was my first "Real" knife I wont be needing any other huh ??...????
biggrin.gif


OOps you said the ones without the earth on them were rare. sorry....

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Words only go so far.
Experience is the true teacher.

[This message has been edited by DM (edited 06-28-2001).]

[This message has been edited by DM (edited 06-28-2001).]
 
We work with an office in Denver that uses the funds for education of children from most of the tribes.

sal
 
Well, now I'm celebrating too. Just got my GIN-1 Native from a private sale a few minutes ago! Nice and new, smooooove and tight! And I appreciate the swedge. Nice change, along with the handle texture.

I now have SIX members of my Spydie family: old Endura, blue and pink Delicas, little blue LadyBug, micarta Calypso Jr., and...would "original Native" be correct for my GIN-1 model, or was there a micarta or G-10 version beforehand?

I guess I'm hooked on Spydies!
smile.gif
And they're all clamoring for a "SpyderSAK" to hang out with.
biggrin.gif


Karl
 
The earth thing is rare? Mine said earth and I just got it. I thought it was cute...

------------------
William Callahan

"I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without
hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd
never expect it."
-Jack Handey

I'm one of those wierdos who likes Zytel.
 
Sory for the confusion: All of the Natives should have the "Earth" on them.

"Does yours say "Earth" on it? There were a few that got through without the "Earth" on them. Makes them purty rare. We don't screw up that often.

a few got through WITHOUT the "Earth" on them

sal
 
Took my Native to the health club this morning. Cuts bagels beautifully. People liked it. Now one of my friends wants one. This is a guy who has all but ignored my Sifu, blue Delica, Calypso Jr. and others when I showed him. He immediately loved my Native, and I'll be on the lookout for another. Maybe it will replace his small CS Voyagers!

BTW, this knife seems to be the easiest handling (one-handed) than any other I own. Opens and closes effortlessly!

Karl
 
I have 2 Natives, serratted and plain. I am saving the serratted and using the plain. getting the plain as sharp as the serratted is proving very difficult. I've been using a DMT stone, ceramic rods,benchstone and Ark stone, I just cant get a consistant process down. Suggestions?
 
The Native is my favorite Spydeco. A truly great knife.
Sal, do the newer Natives have the "David Boye dent"?

Paul
 
The Native is one of my favourites. Great for EDC and all-round utility. I like the grind it has now, with the swedge, but would also
buy one with a flat grind. That would probably make for a popular variant.
 
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