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Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Weight
Cons: Pocket Clip
A great starting point
I was in need of a durable work knife. I had my eye on Spyderco for a bit and decided that the Native 5 was a safe choice. It has a long history and it inspired many other successful models. I chose pink for visibility and because some of the $ goes to support breast cancer research. I didn’t know much about steels but I’ve heard good things about s30v. In my experience it has performed very well. Once dull, it takes me about 15min to get a sharp edge back. Even though it’s a back lock - you can eventually do all the fancy tricks once it’s broken in. Aside from regular usage, this can be done by leaving it 1/2 open overnight and lubricating with food grade mineral oil. This knife feels great in the hand. The FRN texture & jimping really keeps it locked in too. This is a benefit during use but also during maintenance. Even when scrubbing with soap and water, it is unlikely to slip out. This knife is outstanding & the issues I have with it are due to personal preference. The stock clip functions well but it felt better in the pocket once I installed a deep carry clip. Lastly, it is too small for my hands. I would highly recommend the Native 5. If you have small/medium hands and need a lightweight tool, this will be perfect. For me, it helped me to understand my preferences so that I can make better purchases moving forward.