Got this sooner than expected, so have been carrying for over a month now. Before knife arrived, I checked out reviews on YouTube and was a bit apprehensive with some of them. They claimed new frn handle was too boxy, contrasting the well-rounded earlier model Native. I have Byrd Meadowlark 2 and Cara-Cara models with lightweight frn handles, and they were way too boxy and uncomfortable for me, so I considered cancelling my order for this Native 5 Lightweight. It's a good thing I didn't, since I was able to see that the handle on this is way better than the Byrd handles. Those handles have a really boxy edged frn, made worse by a slightly sharp inner edge (between the lip of the handle and the inner texturing), making them feel very angular and uncomfortable. on the Native 5, the outer edges are slightly more rounded, and the inner edge blends slightly into the bi-directional inner texture. You can feel this by running your thumb accross the handle surface - the native 5 only grips or catches when you go against the grain of the bi-directional texture, but side-to-side is fine.
Blade is of thick stock, about 3.5mm thick. Lock bar is even thicker, a full 4mm thick. So this knife is definitely no Delica. But weight is definitely low, because of two things - the full flat ground blade, with small swedges on top, and the lack of any metal liners. The frn scales look sturdy enough for any task this knife might be used for, as in spite of the thick blade stock, it's not a heavy use knife. These scales are actually milled out inside, to make them even lighter. Although it has a lightweight handle and a thick blade, it's not blade-heavy - balance point when open is about at the lockbar pivot - quite ideal actually. The handles also have a big, circular Spyderco logo in the center, rather than the old oval logo with the knife name and the Spyderco name. Pocket clip actually rests on this smooth circle, so clipping and pulling out the knife is smoother than earlier models. Pocket clip is also unpainted stainless, which I prefer since the painted clip has a tendency to scratch up and look less than perfect after awhile.
As mentioned, the lockbar is very thick, and lockup is very good. The notch in the blade where the lockbar catches has a deep semicircular cut, which holds any dirt or crud that would prevent perfect lockup, so it's quite secure. Not found on other Spydercos is a bit of jimping on the lockbar itself, which blends smoothly into the jimping on the blade. Quite a nice touch, actually.
The s35vn blade came very sharp, and has an unusual finish. It's a satin finish that is not shiny - quite unlike the CTS BD-1 steel finish on my Manix Blue lightweight, which has a similar looking satin finish but is very shiny, so much so you don't want to handle the blade and mess it up with fingerprints. The Native 5 finish is smooth and cleans up well, but really does not have any sheen to it. Some may like it and some may not.
Overall, I'm really happy with this knife - I wanted to get a Native 5 G10 earlier but was unable to because they ran out. Maybe the G10 model is more robust but I think this FRN model is better for EDC because of lighter weight. Really good addition to any collection.
| Recommended Uses For Product | Everyday Carry |
|---|---|
| Brand | Spyderco |
| Model Name | SC41PBK5 |
| Special Feature | Lightweight |
| Age Range (Description) | Adult |
| Included Components | Native 5 Lightweight |
| Handle Material | Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon |
| Color | Black - CPM S30V Stainless Steel Blade |
| Blade Material | Stainless Steel |
| Style | Native 5 Lightweight |
| Blade Length | 2.95 Inches |
| Product Care Instructions | Hand Wash Only |
| Item Weight | 2.72 ounces |
| Blade Shape | Spear Point |
| Blade Edge | Flat |
| Item Length | 6.95 Inches |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 9.61 x 2.56 x 1.02 inches |
| Package Weight | 0.1 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 5 x 5 x 5 inches |
| Brand Name | Spyderco |
| Material | Other |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Spyderco |
| Part Number | SC41PBK5-BRK |
| Model Year | 2014 |
| Size | PlainEdge |
| Sport Type | Hunting |
