Who Wants The "native Chief?"

Should Spyderco Make the "Native Chief?"

  • Yes--it's the design that counts! FRN and Endura spec quality is fine.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Yes, but I'm a steel snob and a handle junkie--make it $$$$ or not at all.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No, and Karl, please do not share any more of your wet knife dreams with us again!

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
I don't know how much the cost of steel enters into the final price of a knife.
It seems to me the upgrade from Gin-1 to CPM 440V had little impact on the price of the current Native.

I have some G10 material for a knife in progress, and it comes in slabs.
What would it take to put a texture on this material and could one feasibly do it a mass production scenario?
I understand the present Native to have either a molded Fiberglass Reinforced Resin handle or a molded Nylon handle, and that the present surface texture occurs as part of the molding process.

G10 has a very finished and professional appearance.
Micarta can look very organic (whatever that means).
The present Native handle material will accept a molded texture, and I like the present texture pattern.
What other virtues and vices do the various materials have?

As far as color, several people have mentioned blue.
I assume they mean a deep, bright blue, such as Cadet Blue, French or Royal Blue, as opposed to Powder Blue.
If Blue and not Black (I vote for Black), then what about Navy Blue or Midnight Blue, or even Gun Blue?
I like black because to the extent that the knife shows, Black goes with everything and it tends to disappear.
Sometimes I like my knife to disappear.
 
The BF Blue Natives are kind of a dark royal blue. Darker than the blue Delicas and Ladybugs, but not by too much.

I'd love a deep, dark navy blue G10 color, but then I'd love this larger Native in blue FRN, too.

I wonder how all this breaks down into production costs?

Bean counting! :D

Karl
 
Hope the scale is about right.

__hr_Natives.jpg
 
"Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon Resin (FRN)
A nylon polymer mixed with glass fiber which can be injection molded into a handle."

As quoted from the Spyderco website. I can't remember at the moment the company that Spyderco purchases thier material from.
 
I can see this one's gonna be pricy ;)

I wanna restate that I think this knife is a great candidate for an Endura-spec version. It'd probably sell like crazy. I mean, the Endura's popularity proves that there's a hell of a market for four-inch FRN-handled lockbacks, right? And who <i>doesn't</i> like the Native? :D

Aaaaaaanyhoo, there's no way I'm letting this one slip by, even if it does come with a hefty price tag. I'm gonna start saving <i>now</i>.

Anybody else already setting aside the cash for if/when this'n gets made?
 
I have the cash right now.
How often does that happen?
I wish I could prorder/prepay now.
 
I don't care for 440V.VG-10 works for me, S30V would be nice too. G-10, Medical/Police Blue &/or FD Red.
 
I notice Chris Reeve has switched from BG42 to SV30.

Further, I understand the Japanese invented VG10 for their horticulture industry: they wanted a steel that would cut grafts without crushing the capillaries of either the donor or the host plant.
Apparently, VG10 has some micro-saw qualities to it such as some people call "grabbiness."

I know nothing about the final using-qualties of 440V.
It looks very impressive on paper, whatever that means.
In what ways do SV30 and/or VG10 out-perform 440V?
 
BTTT

I don't mean to be a pest, but I can't let this languish past page four! (Okay, so I DO mean to be a PEST!)

I wish Sal would estimate a timeline for when this may happen--or not.

Thanks,

Karl

PS-Waiting on my Glasshartt engraved Native. It should arrive sometime this week. :)
 
Sal,
How long would this take to get into production? Would it be a special run only, or join the line-up?

-SB
 
Yes, what SharpBits and Karl said: I must think about this knife about every other day and wonder if I'll have the spare cash when it "happens."

How about some prototypes?
I'd gladly buy a prototype; especially if it had prototype engraved on it.
I think 20 or 30 prototypes would take care of the people on this thread.
 
Native Son

-----

I almost bought a new Native with the 440V blade today and then I remembered I needed to save my money for the NEW Native.

I like the name Native Talent but Native Son just popped into my head.
Has someone else suggested Native Son already?
 
I would definitely be in the market for an upsize native. I currently have a FRN 440V native 35/65 PE/SE. I use it constantly. I would probably go for the PE on a larger native. I like the combo edge on my native II, but I'd like more PE on it. Black FRN would be nice and inexpensive for the larger native. I would also want the blade to be tip UP (personal preference, I know), w/ the reversible ambidextrous clip.

BTW any info or pictures on the knife w/ a marlin spike? Blade design, lock on both blade and spike, if it were produced when would we see it? I've been looking for a good blade w/ marlin spike for years.
 
Ya'll know beyond ANY DOUBT that Ken Cox and I REALLY WANT THIS KNIFE!

Just waiting on the WORD...

(and my soon to arrive Glasshartt Native)

Karl

440A "First Gen" Native SE
GIN-1 Native SE
440V FRN Native PE
440V Blue Native PE
AUS-10 All Stainless Native II PE
soon to arrive engraved Native II PE

Large MBC Native???? AHHHHHHH!!!! :eek: :confused: :p
 
I like the idea of a large native SV-30, steel liners, but, to see if this flies, would it be possible for Spyderco to sanction a good knifemaker to make prototypes of this and those who are interested in the design get first dibs on the prototypes? I wouldn't mind spending the bucks for one.
 
SV-30 and steel liners.
Yes.

The trick here involves not losing the original Native that everyone loves.
If Spyderco changes too many things it becomes a different design.

I remember the first time I picked up a Native in my local knife shop.
I have never had a knife make such a good first impression.
Everything seemed right.

Now after having lived with mine for I don't know how many years, I find myself thinking I would like a tiny bit more size and a better edge-holding steel than GIN-1 (don't know why though because it pops right back into razor sharp with a few passess on the steel).

Then, when I get to thinking of the Native as the one knife for all purposes, I think that steel liners and a super-sophisticated steel might make it one step better as a survival/defense knife.
It already meets every other need and I would feel very well equipped in a survival/defense situation with my present Native.
So why do I think the Native needs "improvement?"

Nonetheless, I will buy a Native Son when it comes out and I expect it to replace my current Native as my EDC.
I've told my wife to budget the money (I promised no more knives for awhile but you know).

-----

I think Spyderco must have some pretty good prototype makers already.
I would like a prototype but I don't know if I could afford a prototype made by a big-name maker.
In fact, if made by a big-name maker, it might detract from the knife's value because it could fall under the heading of custom made.
An in-house prototype would have a lot of bragging and historical value.

I have a hunch about this knife.
I believe in lockbacks, I believe in Spyderco's design and production philosophy, and I think this knife could steal a lot of sales away from another maker who has a very high opinion of his ambidextrous lock.

Some forumites here might not remember when Buck 110's ruled.
At one time, a Buck 110 had the same status amongst knifemen in the know as did the Colt 1911 amongst handgunners.
(Hard to imagine?)
The Native Son could replace the 110 as the legendary man's knife.
 
I would definitely buy a larger native. I like mine, but the handles are a little small for my tastes.
-Blair
 
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