Background: I own five Native 5's. I recently picked up a brown G10 / M390 Native Chief because I was wanting something a bit longer. The Chief is great, but it's a bit too long, and by not adding height to scales and blade the proportions are thrown off. I strongly prefer the bias toward closure of a back lock, and I strongly prefer the more secure clip mounting of thread inserts that liner-less handles provide. I think the Native family needs a roughly 3.5" blade just right, in the middle, size.
So, I'd love it if Spyderco made what would be essentially a liner-less, back lock, G10 slab scaled Shaman. I'm probably in the minority, but would anyone else be interested in something like this?
Re: Native Scout?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 1:15 pm
by JayHenMac
Not alone. I'd love something in that size. A "Native Scout" would be an awesome addition. I'd grab a lightweight version without much hesitation.
Background: I own five Native 5's. I recently picked up a brown G10 / M390 Native Chief because I was wanting something a bit longer. The Chief is great, but it's a bit too long, and by not adding height to scales and blade the proportions are thrown off. I strongly prefer the bias toward closure of a back lock, and I strongly prefer the more secure clip mounting of thread inserts that liner-less handles provide. I think the Native family needs a roughly 3.5" blade just right, in the middle, size.
So, I'd love it if Spyderco made what would be essentially a liner-less, back lock, G10 slab scaled Shaman. I'm probably in the minority, but would anyone else be interested in something like this?
Interesting concept. I like the blade on my Native 5 and for my use the Chief is a bit too long. A salt version with a 3.5 inch blade sounds good to me!
Re: Native Scout?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 3:58 pm
by vivi
Pass for me. I'd love to see an XXL version around 4.5" though! There's so little options in the over 4" blade length category.
Background: I own five Native 5's. I recently picked up a brown G10 / M390 Native Chief because I was wanting something a bit longer. The Chief is great, but it's a bit too long, and by not adding height to scales and blade the proportions are thrown off. I strongly prefer the bias toward closure of a back lock, and I strongly prefer the more secure clip mounting of thread inserts that liner-less handles provide. I think the Native family needs a roughly 3.5" blade just right, in the middle, size.
So, I'd love it if Spyderco made what would be essentially a liner-less, back lock, G10 slab scaled Shaman. I'm probably in the minority, but would anyone else be interested in something like this?
I always like when this topic comes up again, since I´d also like to see that Native sized between "5" and Chief.
Has been discussed a lot in the thread Robin already linked above, I may post Kobolds "mock up" pic of that "in between" model here since imo it looks really cool.
I also prefer a backlock over a comp.lock - not only cause of the closing bias, but also the for me better ergos (no comp.lock cutout) and more secure operation in not ideal conditions.
I think though a "liner-less, back lock, G10 slab scaled Shaman" would not really be that in between Native - especially the thinner blade and less tall built differentiates the Native from the Shaman for me.
Anyway :The Native with its great backlock and distinct features should absolutely get a model in the very popular Manix / PM2 / Stretch size if you ask me.
Re: Native Scout?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 4:50 pm
by Scandi Grind
This seems like pretty logical idea to me. I think a middle ground size of the Native would make more sense than a modification of the Shaman though. I'd like this size range as a lightweight most I think.
Pass for me. I'd love to see an XXL version around 4.5" though! There's so little options in the over 4" blade length category.
I'm with Vivi on this.
I'd like to see a few 4.5 inch bladed Spyderco knives. I'll take a 4.5 inch Native Chief!
Re: Native Scout?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:40 pm
by cjk
I'm sure I posted similar in the thread linked above.
A just under 3.5" bladed Native 5 variant is honestly the thing I that I most wish that Spyderco would offer.
I bought a 4v Native Chief. I do like it, but I choose to use the Cruwear Stretch 2 XL or an Endura instead when I want a knife that big.
If they don't offer a 3.5 inch Native, I'll be perfectly happy with the more than two dozen Native 5s already in my collection. The Native 5 has become my default daily cutting tool.
In pursuit of a 3.5 inch Native, I did locate a smooth unlined G-10 Manix lock back. It's my 3.5 inch "Native" for now.
I hope everyone has a great day!
Re: Native Scout?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:50 pm
by SaltyCaribbeanDfly
Yes please, a Goldilocks Native
Re: Native Scout?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:21 pm
by Enactive
As with all previous discussions of such a model, I'd be all in for G10 and maybe FRN too. MC /LC, CruWear, Rex45 plz.
Re: Native Scout?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 8:22 pm
by mikey177
Next to the Native 5, the Manix 2 is my favorite platform, though I wish it was less of a pocket hog. So yeah, I'd be in for a 3.5 inch Native.
So, I'd love it if Spyderco made what would be essentially a liner-less, back lock, G10 slab scaled Shaman.
Have you considered a Manix 2 backlock? I'm sure you can find a used one. Seems like what you want (they were linerless). IMO the Manix 2 is at least a Native cousin.
would anyone else be interested in something like this?
I'd rather see the return of rounded ergonomic handles to the Native family. Spyderco rarely misses on ergos and I know I'm in the minority, but I've been a Native diehard since they've been making Natives up until the Native 5 LW and just don't find it to be a good knife in hand.
Personally, I don't want a middle ground knife. I like ~2.5" blades for general EDC. I like 4" blades for situations where I'm less worried about size/weight/optics and more about how the knife will perform in hand.
Re: Native Scout?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 11:02 pm
by Fastidiotus
Include me in the camp of enjoying my Native 5's, but thinking the Native Chief isn't my ideal bigger version.
Re: Native Scout?
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 11:19 pm
by Doc Dan
If they moved that finger spike to the end of the scales and had the cutting edge come nearly to the scales I could be happy with a back lock version. It could be my one knife...but the Manix 2 back lock with linerless G10 is already in that spot.
If they moved that finger spike to the end of the scales and had the cutting edge come nearly to the scales I could be happy with a back lock version. It could be my one knife...but the Manix 2 back lock with linerless G10 is already in that spot.
As we discussed in another thread: Just for me this is what I´d like to see especially in the existing Native 5.
The Native 5s overall handle length would be long enough for a good four finger grip if it had no choil, but giving it a choil makes the grip area too short behind that choil AND costs cutting egde length on the blade side...
In a Native sized between the "5" and the Chief though, both choil or no choil would be fine to me, since in that bigger size one could get a good finger grip behind the choil and a second grip option when choking up.
OR, as you suggest, one long grip area on the handle plus more edge if an "in between Native" had no choil. Not bad either!! (So kind of a "bodacioused" Native )
Next to the Native 5, the Manix 2 is my favorite platform, though I wish it was less of a pocket hog. So yeah, I'd be in for a 3.5 inch Native.
native5_manix2_nativechief_01.jpg
Honestly when I look at that picture I wonder why people don't just buy a Native Chief and grind the blade down a bit if they want a shorter version.
The size difference between the two isn't really that big. Take a Chief to a belt sander and drop 1/4 to 1/2 an inch and there you go.
Next to the Native 5, the Manix 2 is my favorite platform, though I wish it was less of a pocket hog. So yeah, I'd be in for a 3.5 inch Native.
native5_manix2_nativechief_01.jpg
Honestly when I look at that picture I wonder why people don't just buy a Native Chief and grind the blade down a bit if they want a shorter version.
The size difference between the two isn't really that big. Take a Chief to a belt sander and drop 1/4 to 1/2 an inch and there you go.
I have considered doing this very thing. One would ideally want to shorten the handle too. When you open one up, you find a big lightening hole in the backspacer right where one would want to lop off the butt end of the knife. That limits the shape and where you could re-tap the back screws. It would end up looking like a hack job. I've seen a couple shortened before and they look pretty terrible to my eye.
I located an unlined G-10 Manix 2 lockback which I'm happy enough with. Mini Manix to you :) . It's really wide in the pocket, but side by side, it does feel pretty much like an unlined G-10 Native 5's big brother.
Here's a video showing the disassembly of a Native Chief. about 2:46 in is a good shot of it open where you can see the big squarish lightening hole in the backspacer.
Re: Native Scout?
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 4:39 pm
by vivi
Why shorten the handle too? You could do just the blade and make it look factory pretty easily in comparison.
