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- Jun 29, 1999
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Picked up a Spyderco Native 5 Lightweight in CPM S35Vn this week and must say I am super impressed with this dandy little cutter. I’ve been eyeing the Native 5 for some time, both the G10 and the FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon) light weight versions. Might have gone for the CPM S110V light weight version if I could have found one, but that steel is a lot more challenging to sharpen (speaking of my Military in S110V). Of all the powder steels, I’d have to say S35Vn is my favorite – it seems like my favorite high carbon steel, 52100, in many ways: takes a very fine edge with little effort and holds it a long time; seems very fine grained. The Native family also comes in CPM S90V, CPM S110V, Maxamet (expensive!), DLC coated, plain, serrated or half serrated. Take your pick.
The Native 5 Lightweight is the latest version of the Native, which was originally introduced in 1997, and has gone through several evolutions since. It weighs 2.5 ounces, practically disappears in my pocket. Benchmade’s Bugout is even lighter, and I had a look at one of those, too, but I have several Axis lock knives (all great!) and haven’t bought a new lockback for some time. I doubt that the half an ounce or so will make much difference.
The FRN handle has what Spyderco calls Bi-Directional Texturing, and it does work well – I sliced up a soft peach, slippery stuff, when I got home with it and appreciated the good grip. Could have shaved that peach, too; the spear-point blade (full-flat grind, distal taper) came hair-pinging sharp. It is a superb slicer. Nice slight swedge, too.
The Native has Spyderco’s patented four-position adjustable clip, which I left as is for tip-up, right hand carry, my usual preference, and a nice lanyard hole. The lockback is very smooth and seems extremely strong; it closes easily. There’s a well-placed index finger choil that allows for four finger grip and some useful jimping on the back for your thumb.
Some people don’t care for so-called “plastic” handles, but FRN is anything but flimsy. If car bodies were made from this stuff a lot of auto body shops would go out of business. You could hammer on it all day and not make a dent. You can also get carbon fiber, G10, or FRN in pink – Spyderco donates part of the sales of its pink Native 5 models to Guardians of the Ribbon, a charity that provides direct support to women battling all forms of cancer.
Overall, the Native 5 is a highly developed, very utilitarian knife that’s large enough for most everyday cutting tasks, small enough as to be unintimidating even to most sheeple, and light enough to carry just about everywhere. I just may have to pick up a few of the pink ones for the women in my life. My granddaughter’s coming up to the age where she could use one of these. Ten thumbs up.
The Native 5 Lightweight is the latest version of the Native, which was originally introduced in 1997, and has gone through several evolutions since. It weighs 2.5 ounces, practically disappears in my pocket. Benchmade’s Bugout is even lighter, and I had a look at one of those, too, but I have several Axis lock knives (all great!) and haven’t bought a new lockback for some time. I doubt that the half an ounce or so will make much difference.
The FRN handle has what Spyderco calls Bi-Directional Texturing, and it does work well – I sliced up a soft peach, slippery stuff, when I got home with it and appreciated the good grip. Could have shaved that peach, too; the spear-point blade (full-flat grind, distal taper) came hair-pinging sharp. It is a superb slicer. Nice slight swedge, too.
The Native has Spyderco’s patented four-position adjustable clip, which I left as is for tip-up, right hand carry, my usual preference, and a nice lanyard hole. The lockback is very smooth and seems extremely strong; it closes easily. There’s a well-placed index finger choil that allows for four finger grip and some useful jimping on the back for your thumb.
Some people don’t care for so-called “plastic” handles, but FRN is anything but flimsy. If car bodies were made from this stuff a lot of auto body shops would go out of business. You could hammer on it all day and not make a dent. You can also get carbon fiber, G10, or FRN in pink – Spyderco donates part of the sales of its pink Native 5 models to Guardians of the Ribbon, a charity that provides direct support to women battling all forms of cancer.
Overall, the Native 5 is a highly developed, very utilitarian knife that’s large enough for most everyday cutting tasks, small enough as to be unintimidating even to most sheeple, and light enough to carry just about everywhere. I just may have to pick up a few of the pink ones for the women in my life. My granddaughter’s coming up to the age where she could use one of these. Ten thumbs up.
