Customer Reviews

Spyderco Native Lightweight Plain Edge Knife, Black

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm somewhat of a knife guy and I've owned a few Spyderco knives over the years. The Spyderco Native is a great knife for the price. It is very well designed and has a great blade - like most Spyderco knives. The blade is fairly beefy - stout would be a good term for it.

Due to the thickness of the blade, it feels like a heavy-duty knife and I could see how it would make the user want to use it for rougher work than it was designed for (prying, etc.) Liners would be a big improvement for heavy duty use. Also, the texture of the handle was a bit smoother than I like. If I were to buy again, I'd probably go with the Native III because I like the handle better. These "complaints" are really a bit nit-picky, because all-in-all this is a very good knife and a great value.

the spyderco native (not the native III) is my favorite sub-$50 knife. it fits perfectly in the hand and allows you to choke up on the blade for better precision. the ergonomics combined with superior cpm-s30v steel create an awesome little knife. ive looked and i cannot find a knife with this awesome steel in this price range, other knives with cpm-s30v start about $30 more than the native. the cpm-s30v steel holds a sharper edge, and for a longer time than some of my knives that cost twice as much. it comes razor sharp out of the box, my only crticism of the knife is that it is riveted together instead of made with screws which makes cleaning difficult and adjusting impossible (but it came from the factory perfectly adjusted, so no biggie). all in all steel quality 10/10 weight 10/10 construction 7/10 price 10/10 handle 8/10 lockup 10/10 ergonomics 10/10 buy as many as you can now, no other knife for less than $75 compares.

I first purchased the Native about a year ago when they were on a on a sale at Wally for ~45 bucks. Since then, I have used it both as my EDC and as a light duty knife for EMS work. I love many things about it, including how it feels in my hand (I have a very secure grip around the blade, and it would be hard to get it out of my hand because of how the blade has a finger choil in it) and the blade profile is very effective for many different tasks, unlike some of the beefier americanized tanto blades. Also, the steel in this knife is CPMS30V, which is usually found in much more expensive knives, making this knife a steal at this pricepoint. The only real thing I would change is that I really wish it had steel liners and a more secure pivot. If I flexed the blade a little, I could feel the strain and it felt like it would break under extensive stress. The blade pivot was a little loose as well, but not really a big deal. Overall it is a great design which stood up to all of the use I put on it (but I was careful), but construction with those changes I mentioned would make it absolutely outstanding. I do believe there is a version of this knife with steel handles and AUS 10 steel, but I haven't tried it....yet.

I bought my Spyderco Native at a gun show years ago when I was looking for a tough, well made knife to use at work (I'm an electrician). I had every intention of abusing this knife; not for the sake of abuse but because I thought a strong knife would be the most direct way to perform many of my tasks throughout the day. What sold me on this knife was the tip-up carry and ease of opening and closing. The whole out, open, work, close, back in pocket operation can be done one-handed, without looking and in a very easy and natural feeling way. That's the way electricians typically use their tools, pulling them from their tool pouches when needed. Like it says in the title, this was the perfect knife for me since it fit so well with my basic habits. It performed beautifully for years needing only sharpening and the occasional clip change (clips are not very expensive and are easily purchased by mail). I've seen in some reviews where people have wondered about the hinge strength and I can tell you it holds up much better than you would expect. I finally broke the tip using it to pry something but found it perfectly fit a phillips-head screw now. I continued to use and abuse this poor workhorse of a knife until I managed to break a good half inch off the end (again prying) and I decided to finally retire it. It still opens and closes just fine, and the handle is still in good shape. Eventually I might reshape the blade to put it back in service but for now I'm just looking to buy another one. Bottom line for me: this is a strong bladed, quality knife that's very easy to use, is very comfortable and secure for me to hold even when using extreme force, and is easily and discreetly carried most anywhere.

This is the best knife I've ever owned. The s30v steel holds an incredibly sharp edge better than any other blade I've had and touches up easily. Mine is always shaving sharp and I probably only touch it up once every 3-4 weeks with everyday use. High quality. I use mine every single day and i feel naked without it. I use it for everything from opening mail to cleaning game. The knife still opens smooth and the blade and lock are still solid after over a year of hard use with no hint of loosening. The size is perfect for everything short of chopping down trees. Buy one, you won't be disappointed.

I've used Spyderco's daily for 15+ years. A few I've worn out or broken, but I keep different ones for different purposes because once you are used to their carry/open style, no other knife will work for you! This model looks and feels very sturdy. The slightly wider shape seems to help make it the quickest-opening Spyderco I own. The grip up closer to the blade allows for better precision. I keep it shaving-sharp with the Spyderco sharpening stones. It does not keep the shaving edge too long, so I assume that means the steel is not super-hard but it does keep a very sharp edge for a long time.

I got it as a present from a friend, he bought it from amazon, the knife itself is very well made, opening and closing is super smooth, I was surprised when I 1st handel it, usually lockbacks are not so smooth, this one just feels so good. I'm not gonna talk about other specs since there are already so many good reviews on youtube, here I'll only point out some of the problems I have on mine, 1st is the grinding is not perfect, the lines where the upper and lower bevels meet are not symmetry and it cannot be fixed by sharpening, it's kinda unusual for a usa made spyderco, another complaint is the pin construction, if it gets loose on the pivot, there's no way to adjust it. Hope this will help.

I'm convinced that Spyderco make some of the finest knives around. This is not my first Spyderco and certainly will not be my last.

This is the fourth version of the Native. It uses CPM-S30V blade steel and FRN scales. For those unfamiliar with steel, CPM-S30V is of very high quality. Its relatively high carbon content allows it to hold an edge very well and it contains enough chromium to keep it from rusting under normal conditions. The FRN scales are nothing special, but they are strong (they do have steel liners), provide a good grip and weigh next to nothing.

The blade is perfectly centered and shaving sharp. It's swedged to reduce weight, yet the point is still thick enough not to be damaged unless it's abused.

The double choil allows for two different grips. The one between the blade and handle is great for precise "pull" cutting while the rear choil is positioned for "push" and "stab" cuts. There is also some nice jimping on the top of the blade which provides even more grip. In other words, it would be very odd for someone not to find this knife comfortable to use for long periods and for multiple purposes.

I don't own many lockbacks but it's one of the oldest lock styles and Spyderco has executed it very well. Lockup is very tight with no blade play whatsoever. Yet, it's easy to release and close with only one hand. Speaking of one hand, the "Spydie hole" is something you either love or hate. It took me a while to adjust when I bought my first Spyderco, but now it's my preferred opening method. With a little practice, one-handed opening is fast and simple.

There is a newer version of the Native which is built using CPM-S35V steel with G10 scales. It sells for well over twice the price but, unless you like to chase after the latest and greatest, the fourth version is the better buy.

The newer steel is said to be easier to sharpen and easier for the manufacturers to work with. However, the jury is still out as to whether or not it is any better than CPM-S30V. G10 is a much heavier scale material than FRN and you will feel the difference in weight.

Why no fifth star? One reason and one reason only. I prefer knives to be assembled with screws instead of rivets. Not only does this allow for easier cleaning, it also allows the user to adjust the blade pivot bolt to the looseness/tightness desired. That's really the only "fault" that I can find with the Native and it's not a big one. I would like to be able to deduct only 1/2 star for this, but that's not possible.

Got this knife to replace an older one, it's perfect. Very sharp out of the box, great clip design and placement, and solid grip.

This is basically the same review for this knife I posted for the pink version since I bought that for my wife. This appears to be an excellent quality product, good grip and lightweight. The blade is bigger than you might first expect and is quite sharp and full. It is easy open and closes with a back lock.

I love Spyderco knives and have a few of them in my collection of over 150 knives. They are well styled and contemporary. The only negative I have for these lower end Spyderco products (I have two higher end knives that are put together with screws) is that they are pinned together rather than screwed together, so you can't take them apart for cleaning or make adjustments to the tightness of the blade opening. However, for the price and overall quality, this is an excellent knife.