Would it Work? Native 5 Titanium/Lightweight s110v Blade Swap

[B.F.U]

I recently had the idea to swap the blade from a dark blue Native 5 Lightweight s110v into my Native 5 Fluted Titanium.

I figure as far as I know the handle shapes, lock bars, springs, and screw placements are all the same. Am I correct in this assumption? If so, it seems switching both the blades and lockbars as pairs would work best.

If anyone has any experience, thoughts, or suggestions on this I'd be grateful to hear them! I couldn't find any instances of this being done, so I figured I'd ask here.

I will probably either give the s35vn/blue frn Native away or sell it, depending on circumstances.

 

[wiredbeans]

Isn't the lock bar on the FRN Native rivet pinned? I have the dark blue FRN With S110V and it is pinned

 

[blades&wrenches]

Not sure on that one. Seems they're cut pretty similarly but there may be some differences. Maybe just wait for the blurple G-10 model to come out. I'd be more willing to try with that one.
I've thought about a G-10 Spyderedge merge myself, but I have reservations.

 

[The Deacon]

Isn't the lock bar on the FRN Native rivet pinned? I have the dark blue FRN With S110V and it is pinned

Assuming all Native V Lightweights are built the same, it's not riveted, just a stepped pin that's captive between the scales. I also suspect all the Native V blades are cut using a single pattern. That's still no guarantee of perfect interchangeability where both knives still have good lockup and lockbars that sit level with their frames.

 

[winnerone23]

I know it's a different animal..

I did Hap40 blade swaps on my Foliage Green G10 Delica and Endura.
While the blades/lock bars maybe cut from the pattern, they are finished different.
I had to swap the blade and lock bar, on both, for it to work.
The lock bar sticks out of the back of the G10 handles, just ever so slightly.
But I can live with it.

Lock up is solid on both and no blade play.

 

[Jack3dBrett]

Well if you do it and decide to give the S35VN w/ blue scales away, id gladley take it off your hands :]

 

[B.F.U]

Isn't the lock bar on the FRN Native rivet pinned? I have the dark blue FRN With S110V and it is pinned

I thought they were as described below.

Assuming all Native V Lightweights are built the same, it's not riveted, just a stepped pin that's captive between the scales. I also suspect all the Native V blades are cut using a single pattern. That's still no guarantee of perfect interchangeability where both knives still have good lockup and lockbars that sit level with their frames.

Yeah, I would keep the blade and lock bar pairs together. I just am not sure of the pin and handle fit.

I know it's a different animal..

I did Hap40 blade swaps on my Foliage Green G10 Delica and Endura.
While the blades/lock bars maybe cut from the pattern, they are finished different.
I had to swap the blade and lock bar, on both, for it to work.
The lock bar sticks out of the back of the G10 handles, just ever so slightly.
But I can live with it.

Lock up is solid on both and no blade play.

Sounds like it's a "you won't know till you try" situation

 

[NG VI]

If something were to happen to Jack Brett then I'd be interested in a blue S35VN frankenknife too

 

[SpeedHoles]

lockbars that sit level with their frames.

This is the most difficult thing, in my experience with blade/handle swaps with lockbacks.
I actually have a couple of G10 Native 5's that I did blade swaps with, and they just aren't "right". It bugs me too much and I will be swapping them back.


Only LW I have is the 2015 Forum knife, and I won't be taking that one apart.

 

[DNAIrradiator]

YES, this works just fine. I recently swapped my lightweight S110V blade into my fluted Ti. I have also swapped many N5 blades easily between lightweight and G10/Ti frames. I have several threads on doing this very swap on the Spyderco forum. Google "DIY Serrated Native 5" and you'll find my main one. Cheers, DI/Radioactive

 

[B.F.U]

Well if you do it and decide to give the S35VN w/ blue scales away, id gladley take it off your hands :]

If I gave it away I'd likely do a giveaway thread, so keep a look out.

If something were to happen to Jack Brett then I'd be interested in a blue S35VN frankenknife too

I'll keep it in mind.

YES, this works just fine. I recently swapped my lightweight S110V blade into my fluted Ti. I have also swapped many N5 blades easily between lightweight and G10/Ti frames. I have several threads on doing this very swap on the Spyderco forum. Google "DIY Serrated Native 5" and you'll find my main one. Cheers, DI/Radioactive

Awesome, great news! I only searched here, guess it would have made sense to check on the Spyderco forum (Im a member but never post).

 

[DNAIrradiator]

Awesome, great news! I only searched here, guess it would have made sense to check on the Spyderco forum (Im a member but never post).

You're welcome, the Native 5 in all forms are real wonders of engineering, the FRN ones especially. I've never had the need to swap the lockbars during any swap, which was great and a testament to the precision of the blade blank cutting lasers. Here's a pic of recent swaps, all with lightweight blades in them (the customs are by Cuscadi and spketch). My dark blue lightweight frame now sports a SE blade and I'm also running a give-away for two of the remaining black lightweight swaps on the Spyderco forum right now. Good luck!

 

[B.F.U]

You're welcome, the Native 5 in all forms are real wonders of engineering, the FRN ones especially. I've never had the need to swap the lockbars during any swap, which was great and a testament to the precision of the blade blank cutting lasers. Here's a pic of recent swaps, all with lightweight blades in them (the customs are by Cuscadi and spketch). My dark blue lightweight frame now sports a SE blade and I'm also running a give-away for two of the remaining black lightweight swaps on the Spyderco forum right now. Good luck!

Awesome looking knives! I love the Native platform, and the lock improvements on the 5 are really noticeable. Spketch does stellar work with burl wood.

 

[SpeedHoles]

You're welcome, the Native 5 in all forms are real wonders of engineering, the FRN ones especially. I've never had the need to swap the lockbars during any swap, which was great and a testament to the precision of the blade blank cutting lasers. Here's a pic of recent swaps, all with lightweight blades in them (the customs are by Cuscadi and spketch). My dark blue lightweight frame now sports a SE blade and I'm also running a give-away for two of the remaining black lightweight swaps on the Spyderco forum right now. Good luck!

Are all of the lockbars completely flush while opened and closed?
Mine are not.

 

[B.F.U]

Are all of the lockbars completely flush while opened and closed?
Mine are not.

The lock bar on my Native 5 Fluted Titanium isn't flush when open.

I recall several of the lock backs I've had being proud when open. It doesn't bother me to a noticeable degree.

 

[blanex1]

wow,i never new you could swap out the blades on the N5 FRN modals !i would have thought the peviot pin hole was not the same size!and you would have to scrap the FRN native to find out! oh well its vary nice to no it can be done,thanks.

 

[DNAIrradiator]

Are all of the lockbars completely flush while opened and closed?
Mine are not.

Yes, all my N5's have nearly flush lockbars (+/- 1 mm or so), nothing like what I'm seeing here. The lines on all of them (liner/scale-wise) are tight and flush.

Thanks for the comments on the scales ALLHSS ! Cuscadi made the ironwood burl ones but Steve later brought them to a fantastic new level. I asked for no lanyard hole from Cuscadi and was really sad to see the set arrive with one (same thing happened on a Southard scale set from them). The orange Anso one is Steve's creation also, he told me this one was his first foray into sculpting a scale like this (came out great as always with Steve!). Love me some Native 5's!

 

[B.F.U]

Yes, all my N5's have nearly flush lockbars (+/- 1 mm or so), nothing like what I'm seeing here. The lines on all of them (liner/scale-wise) are tight and flush.

Thanks for the comments on the scales ALLHSS ! Cuscadi made the ironwood burl ones but Steve later brought them to a fantastic new level. I asked for no lanyard hole from Cuscadi and was really sad to see the set arrive with one (same thing happened on a Southard scale set from them). The orange Anso one is Steve's creation also, he told me this one was his first foray into sculpting a scale like this (came out great as always with Steve!). Love me some Native 5's!

Oh wow, cool! I assumed the orange was the Cuscadi because of the pattern, I don't recall seeing sculpted scales by Steve. Thanks for all the inspiration!