Spyderco Sage vs. Native vs. Sage3 vs. Native5 vs. Spyderco at Large

C

cm_bushman

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Oct 22, 2012
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As I've stated on a couple of other threads, I have always been hesitant to embrace Spyderco knives, based mostly on their looks. Recently, however, I've gotten to handle a few and I ended up a total convert. I've been looking for a ~7" EDC with a 3" blade for a while now, and after feeling a Native in s30v in-hand, I really dug it. The only thing I was mixed about was the choil. It gave a great alternate grip, but it really bit into the already short blade.

My question, after a little searching online, is: As far as Spydercos go in this size range (a Tenacious or maybe a Manix2 is as large as I would be willing to carry, and a Native is about perfect, nothing smaller), what are your guys' thoughts on the quality, FF, practicality, and general opinion on the contenders for under $200 (preferably under $150)? Steel is very important to me, so I would only go over $150 for a very nice blade.

I've been looking at the Sage series and at the Native5, are there other options in better steels out there in this price and size range? It seems that for premium steels, smaller knives always play second fiddle to larger knives like the PM2.

Also, after looking at the Sage models and the Native5, I'm not sure why they are so much more expensive than the Native (I figure S35vn as the biggest factor for the Native5). For the Sages, is it a difference based on Quality and FF, material, or just because they are more recent or popular models? I've always been a BM fan, so the Sage 3 with the Bolt-Action lock is especially intriguing to me. How does it compare the the Axis?
 
I used to have Sage, never was crazy about, mostly esthetics. I sold it shortly after I bought.
I like Natives. I love their ergos, cutting abilities and the look of FFG variants.
Original Native was my first Spyderco knife. I carried it for about six month. Now it is still in use as my car knife. Actually I used it on my yard last weekend and it was performing quite well. I carried Native4 for a while, but Caly3 kicked it out.
Native5 kicked everything out (except my Persian for a moment). I absolutely love N5. IMHO it is the best out of Native5 family. It fits into my hand like a glove. I love the steel. I love how it cuts. I have two of them and F&F is outstanding. I EDC Native5 and very impressed. I cannot leave it home even for a day. I feel shame, when I look on my faithful Caly3.5, which sitting lonely on the counter for about two month. It is more expensive than original Native for few reasons: improved lock, machined G10 scales much more expensive than FRN. Also you are getting full liners, screw construction and four way clip. Here is the knife.

N1.jpg


Nativeclipside.jpg


and the last, but not the least. Made in Golden, CO

Golden.jpg


steels on all these knives are about the same. I do not think that S35N is significant upgrade to compare with S30V. But if you want steel, I would wait a month or two. It sound that Spyderco will release 2012 Forum knife, which may have steel upgrade. Just check Spyderco factory forum couple times a week.
Good luck. Native is good stuff.
 
I've been extremely happy with Spyderco knives, and I've bounced up and down the price range a fair bit. I've gotten most of the 'Tenacious' style line up, and I have had no problems with fit and finish, hardware quality, steel quality, etc. My Caly 3.5 CF is certainly above and beyond most of my other knives, but that doesn't mean my Delica 4 is any less fantastic either.

My Native III has shown me that the VG-10 steel Spyderco uses is consistent across the board. Because of that, I'm looking forward to my incoming Endura... I guess what I'm getting at is that you should give VG-10 a try. From my experiences, it's nearly on par with Benchmade's S30V.
 
What about a Caly 3? Spyderco's leaf-shaped blade, carbon-fiber scales, ZDP-189 blade steel. 3" blade with 2 5/8" cutting edge. The Sage series are also good. I like the Sage2 the best of the series (titanium framelock).
 
I carry my Gayle Bradley more than any other of my Spydercos I think. It's just so...right. I used to think that it was one of the least visually appealing Spydercos, and still do, but its function as a knife trumps any aesthetic reservations I have. So much that I probably carry it more than most of my other knives that I consider really nice looking.
 
My friend recently created a few small rolls in the edge of my Native 5 when he used it to dig out a staple of all things. Hadn't had a chance to sharpen S35VN until now. It was noticeably easier to sharpen than S30V. I have the Sage 1 carbon and the S30V I believe is harder, which is why the factory edge was a lot smaller on the Sage.

Both knives are great but Native 5 gets my pick in this one. I like the swedge on the Native, the S35VN over S30V, and also backspacer is really nice looking...

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I would prefer the same black wire clip on the Native 5 but oh well.
 
The 2012 Forum knife sounds interesting, I'd never heard of anything like that. Does that mean a new Native or similar-size knife in a new steel?

As for the Gayle-Bradley, I did away with aesthetic concerns when I began looking into Spyerco. I think they're all bottom-barrel in the looks dept., but performance trumps this particular factor for me now. I disregarded the GB simply because a ~3" blade is what I feel most comfortable with, and anything much bigger is edging out of my comfort zone, and my experience with liner-locks has showed me so far that they are the most prone to wear over just a couple of years of moderate use, producing blade play that I just don't consider acceptable in a knife in this price-range. I'm an Axis baby, so I've been spoiled for great locks, and the Sage3 and Manix2 are looking good for me right now for this reason, though I also loved the Native lock-back after testing it out.

Right now, I consider the Native to be the hardest-working knife aroud, for the money. It looks like I'll grab one the next chance I get, though I'll probably still replace my mini-Grip soon after, it was a great knife.
 
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