Spyderco Native hollow ground versus flat ground (Blue G-10 Bladeforums.com limited edition)

[Flood]

The Native was always my favorite Spyderco model, and one of the first ones I bought. One of my first Spydercos was a first-generation with black FRN handle with a spiderweb texture. To date, it's the knife I carry the most, along with a small Sebenza 21, a first generation FRN Dragonfly with the black plastic clip, and a rare Blue Almite Spyderco Michael Walker. That last one is probably my favorite sub-3" model. I wish I bought one of the FRN ones when they were still being produced and sold cheap.

So, back to Natives. I am not particularly fond of the flat ground blades currently being sold. They might be a more useful blade profile, but it kinda looks less original and exciting when compared to the spear-like hollow ground special shape it originally had, which made it actually "look" like a Native spear.

I posted for sale about a week ago this very rare knife that I bought more than a decade and a half ago. I actually bought two at a time, and sold one of the years ago. It comes with a Mike Sastre neck sheath, an additional blue clip, and has that awesome first-generation hollow ground blade, with the old Bladeforums.com logo etched into the blade. You can see from the attached picture how much cooler a hollow ground blade looks for this particula model. I'm selling that knife but keeping the FRN version.

Do you guys know if Spyderco still releases Natives with a hollow ground blade? Also, do you own both types of models, and which do you prefer and why? Let me know your impressions!

 

[bh49]

So, back to Natives. I am not particularly fond of the flat ground blades currently being sold. They might be a more useful blade profile, but it kinda looks less original and exciting when compared to the spear-like hollow ground special shape it originally had, which made it actually "look" like a Native spear.

I feel totally different. I do not like a look of old Native. Totally hate the swedge. My first Spyderco was Native and in the past I owned quite a few of them including blue G10 and mosaic variants. Sold all, except my first.
I strongly prefer FFG Natives and have several. Carry three of them. I gifted two N5 to friends. They love them.

 

[blanex1]

wow!a man after my own hart,i have a first gen.native 1/gin 1 that i'm vary found of and probably will never sell,and still one of the only natives i can flick to date,because of it older back lock,but thats fine by me,as this knife reminds me of where spyderco came from/started with there native line,hang on to yours.

 

[Captain Howdy]

I used to share your opinion on the ffg native but time has changed that. The native was always my favorite spyderco I had an all stainless native 2 with aus-10 and a C41 in s30v. When the N5 came out I voiced my displeasure with the new grind and Mr Glesser suggested I stock up on the old ones because eventually all natives would sport the ffg. I decided to not do that because I was already sitting on a bunch of knives and didn't what to pile on more. When the frn N5 (my handle material of choice from spyderco) came out I ordered one out of curiosity and that was the beginning of the end for all my older hollow ground natives, they have since been sold off and I haven't looked back.

 

[DocT]

I love the color on that Native! I wish Spyderco would produce a LW in that color.

 

[palonej]

Love that one in the pic Flood!! Great looking knife!
I haven't seen anything but FFG on Natives for quite some time.
Joe