Gads... I thought it's hold was secure. Ever since 6/07, a Spyderco Native in S30V, the then infamous $40 deal from a large local discount store, had displaced Bucks and Kershaws alike from my front pocket carry. Admittedly, a 110 often found itself in my back pocket, but that's another story. The Native was artificially low in price - like the 110 there, as well. It is a great grab - well made - delivered sharp - and stayed that way a long time with that S30V blade. A covered lockback, change can't get caught in it - and the clip was easily removed. I love it!
Last summer, I searched - in vain - for a backup Native, but the local stores were out. My wife had already bought me another one - and gave it to me last summer on my birthday. I still have it - unused - as a backup. I have re-edged the original - with the standard Sharpmaker files - a straight forward job, if a bit tedious. I missed my Buck front pocket carry - and thought about a 172 TNT. Then... along came the 347 Vantage Pro in S30V.
Here they are:
The Native is a lockback - and deployed via that thumbhole - an acquired skill. It has a false swedge - and is not hollow ground like the Pro. The Pro also has a fast 'flipper' to deploy it - or the oval thumbhole, and it is a liner lock. Both came equally razor sharp, substituting the unused Native now for these comparisons, with similar grinds, the Spyderco perhaps having a finer grind. The more hollow grind of the Pro will help in many cutting excercises. In fact, the original Native gets warm cutting up appliance cardboard boxes - yet the edge is still razor sharp - the cut cardboard drags on the knife sides. The apparent 'toss up' falls to the Pro for it's slightly longer blade edge. They are the same thickness at the spine. The notches on the Native give good traction for the thumb during cutting - and a convenient and effective striker for a firesteel.
Closed, the Native is definitely smaller - and cannot catch pocket change... not so sure about the Pro so far on the change. Construction wise, the Buck is substantial SS liners with G10 scales. The Spyderco Native is all FRN construction. Both are, as delivered. still well centered, blade-wise. Neither would make a good prybar.
That Native is still a favorite... but I do believe the Vantage Pro is a 'contender'. They should run about the same discount price from decent mail order dealers.
Stainz
PS I carried both today...
Last summer, I searched - in vain - for a backup Native, but the local stores were out. My wife had already bought me another one - and gave it to me last summer on my birthday. I still have it - unused - as a backup. I have re-edged the original - with the standard Sharpmaker files - a straight forward job, if a bit tedious. I missed my Buck front pocket carry - and thought about a 172 TNT. Then... along came the 347 Vantage Pro in S30V.
Here they are:
The Native is a lockback - and deployed via that thumbhole - an acquired skill. It has a false swedge - and is not hollow ground like the Pro. The Pro also has a fast 'flipper' to deploy it - or the oval thumbhole, and it is a liner lock. Both came equally razor sharp, substituting the unused Native now for these comparisons, with similar grinds, the Spyderco perhaps having a finer grind. The more hollow grind of the Pro will help in many cutting excercises. In fact, the original Native gets warm cutting up appliance cardboard boxes - yet the edge is still razor sharp - the cut cardboard drags on the knife sides. The apparent 'toss up' falls to the Pro for it's slightly longer blade edge. They are the same thickness at the spine. The notches on the Native give good traction for the thumb during cutting - and a convenient and effective striker for a firesteel.
Closed, the Native is definitely smaller - and cannot catch pocket change... not so sure about the Pro so far on the change. Construction wise, the Buck is substantial SS liners with G10 scales. The Spyderco Native is all FRN construction. Both are, as delivered. still well centered, blade-wise. Neither would make a good prybar.
That Native is still a favorite... but I do believe the Vantage Pro is a 'contender'. They should run about the same discount price from decent mail order dealers.
Stainz
PS I carried both today...
