Mid-sized Native?

[Catamount123]

Has there been any talk about a mid-sized Native, along the lines of the Endela? I love my Native Chief, but the blade is a little long for many tasks. A blade length between the original and Chief could be a real EDC sweet spot.

[Wartstein]

Yes!
In a way the Shaman is what you propose but.. not.
I'd also like to see kind of a "Lil Chief" but "Native XL":
Compared to the Shaman the thinner bladestock, slimmer size and backlock instead of comp.lock.
So Shaman length-, but otherwise (thickness, tallness...) Native dimensions and proportions.

[Woodpuppy]

You know that might be a great thing. I have a Shaman but it’s still on probation. Love the handle, but the blade height and thickness are too great for me as an EDC.

[Evil D]

I thought there was talk of a FRN Shaman?

[Wartstein]

I thought there was talk of a FRN Shaman?

Yes, but this would/will not really be a "Lil Chief":
- Not the great Native backlock but a comp.lock.
- thicker, taller blade
- wider in (carry-) profile

[Mushroom]

The Native 5 is the mid-sized Native. :)

At what point does adding half an inch to a model get redundant? In my unpopular opinion, I do not think the Native needs a variant in every size range from 2.5" up to 4".

I would rather see Spyderco invest their time and money into something else than yet another size variation of the Native. Spyderco offers plenty of alternatives as is.

[Wartstein]

The Native 5 is the mid-sized Native. :)

At what point does adding half an inch to a model get redundant? In my unpopular opinion, I do not think the Native needs a variant in every size range from 2.5" up to 4".

I would rather see Spyderco invest their time and money into something else than yet another size variation of the Native. Spyderco offers plenty of alternatives as is.

For me the Native 5 is a really small knife. Actually in my use smaller than Para 3 or Delica, since the Native has less cutting edge.

Actually for me PM2 / Endela sized folders are still rather small (an Endura would be "regular"), but for many people this is the goldilock midsize. And that's imo part of why PM2, Manix, Endela... are rather popular.

The Native platforn with its great backlock, rampless spine, rather slim and light carry... does not offer a model in this particular size range (the Shaman is cool, but a different type of knife imo)

Is it a "must" for me to bring out such a model?
No, not at all.
Would it be cool enough to support the ops proposal? Sure. :)

[bearfacedkiller]

I love the shaman and it is supposed to be the 3.5 inch native. In truth it deviates from the native pretty significantly.

I would be interested in an actual 3.5 inch native but I don’t know if there is room in the lineup for it or not.

[Mushroom]

The Native 5 is the mid-sized Native. :)

At what point does adding half an inch to a model get redundant? In my unpopular opinion, I do not think the Native needs a variant in every size range from 2.5" up to 4".

I would rather see Spyderco invest their time and money into something else than yet another size variation of the Native. Spyderco offers plenty of alternatives as is.

For me the Native 5 is a really small knife. Actually in my use smaller than Para 3 or Delica, since the Native has less cutting edge.

Actually for me PM2 / Endela sized folders are still rather small (an Endura would be "regular"), but for many people this is the goldilock midsize. And that's imo part of why PM2, Manix, Endela... are rather popular.

The Native platforn with its great backlock, rampless spine, rather slim and light carry... does not offer a model in this particular size range (the Shaman is cool, but a different type of knife imo)

Is it a "must" for me to bring out such a model?
No, not at all.
Would it be cool enough to support the ops proposal? Sure. :)

This has not convinced me that adding yet another model to the Native family with only a half inch difference is not redundant.

OP, buy a Chief and grind half an inch off the blade. Problem solved.

[kodai78]

The Native 5 is the mid-sized Native. :)

At what point does adding half an inch to a model get redundant? In my unpopular opinion, I do not think the Native needs a variant in every size range from 2.5" up to 4".

I would rather see Spyderco invest their time and money into something else than yet another size variation of the Native. Spyderco offers plenty of alternatives as is.

Agreed, I Have a Native 5 and a Shaman already, small variations on those sizes/lock are less interesting than a new design or even a return of an older model, such as the Ayoob or (pick your own here). I also see lobbying for a choil or removing the choil from a model in the same light. Spyderco provides lots of choices and blade shapes and weights and steels in similar models already. New designs are much more interesting than the variants.

[Wartstein]

...

For me the Native 5 is a really small knife. Actually in my use smaller than Para 3 or Delica, since the Native has less cutting edge.

Actually for me PM2 / Endela sized folders are still rather small (an Endura would be "regular"), but for many people this is the goldilock midsize. And that's imo part of why PM2, Manix, Endela... are rather popular.

The Native platforn with its great backlock, rampless spine, rather slim and light carry... does not offer a model in this particular size range (the Shaman is cool, but a different type of knife imo)

Is it a "must" for me to bring out such a model?
No, not at all.
Would it be cool enough to support the ops proposal? Sure. :)

This has not convinced me that adding yet another model to the Native family with only a half inch difference is not redundant.

OP, buy a Chief and grind half an inch off the blade. Problem solved.

I am not intending to convince you at all! :)

Still, I think it is pretty obvious that many people find an Endura / Chief sized knife to large and long for an EDC (not me though), while the Native 5 actually is too short (especially in cutting edge) to serve as a real, versatile all purpose carry.

Furthermore, there are these many places with their stupid blade length restrictions

There´s a reason why the PM2 (mid sized) is selling better than the Millie (large)

So: For me in the perhaps most popular size class when it comes to real useful all purpose folders, there is no Native offering - despite this platform has some distinct differences to (and potentially advantages over) most other Spyderco designs
There´s a reason why the "mid sized" PM2 is selling better than the Millie.

/ It think shortening the blade of a Chief is something totally different: Compact carry and lighter weight (one fully and one partly due to a shorter handle) are not unimportant features in an EDC folder. Otherwise Spyderco could produce just the Police handle an give it blades ranging from 1 to 4.5 "...

[kobold]

Absolutely, I would like to see one. For me (and I am sure there are others) the Shaman is not doing the trick. I don't even consider the Shaman to be a member of the Native family, it is just such a big departure..

The size difference is big enough to accommodate a humpless, back-lock 'tweener':

[JMM]

The Native 5 is the mid-sized Native. :)

At what point does adding half an inch to a model get redundant? In my unpopular opinion, I do not think the Native needs a variant in every size range from 2.5" up to 4".

I would rather see Spyderco invest their time and money into something else than yet another size variation of the Native. Spyderco offers plenty of alternatives as is.

THANK YOU!

I was waiting & hoping someone would come along and say it.

[Matus]

To me a midsize Native would make sense under the condition, that it looses the finger choil and the whole knife is sized in a way, that the handle offers just enough grip. Now whether such a design could still fit within the family is a different question.

[Naperville]

Has there been any talk about a mid-sized Native, along the lines of the Endela? I love my Native Chief, but the blade is a little long for many tasks. A blade length between the original and Chief could be a real EDC sweet spot.

Native Chief is too long? Poor kiddo.....

I'm holding out hope for a Native Chief XL with a 5 inch blade!

[Mushroom]

...

For me the Native 5 is a really small knife. Actually in my use smaller than Para 3 or Delica, since the Native has less cutting edge.

Actually for me PM2 / Endela sized folders are still rather small (an Endura would be "regular"), but for many people this is the goldilock midsize. And that's imo part of why PM2, Manix, Endela... are rather popular.

The Native platforn with its great backlock, rampless spine, rather slim and light carry... does not offer a model in this particular size range (the Shaman is cool, but a different type of knife imo)

Is it a "must" for me to bring out such a model?
No, not at all.
Would it be cool enough to support the ops proposal? Sure. :)

This has not convinced me that adding yet another model to the Native family with only a half inch difference is not redundant.

OP, buy a Chief and grind half an inch off the blade. Problem solved.

I am not intending to convince you at all! :)

Still, I think it is pretty obvious that many people find an Endura / Chief sized knife to large and long for an EDC (not me though), while the Native 5 actually is too short (especially in cutting edge) to serve as a real, versatile all purpose carry.

Furthermore, there are these many places with their stupid blade length restrictions

There´s a reason why the PM2 (mid sized) is selling better than the Millie (large)

So: For me in the perhaps most popular size class when it comes to real useful all purpose folders, there is no Native offering - despite this platform has some distinct differences to (and potentially advantages over) most other Spyderco designs
There´s a reason why the "mid sized" PM2 is selling better than the Millie.

/ It think shortening the blade of a Chief is something totally different: Compact carry and lighter weight (one fully and one partly due to a shorter handle) are not unimportant features in an EDC folder. Otherwise Spyderco could produce just the Police handle an give it blades ranging from 1 to 4.5 "...

I can certainly understand the desire to have a knife in a specific size range. Whether it be personal preference or for legal reasons. I live in a place with one of those stupid blade length restrictions and we couldn't agree more about it being stupid!

I don't want to sound like I'm saying the OP should not express his preferences, as that can be valuable information for Spyderco. Spyderco seems like an outlier when it comes to genuinely listening to the customer, because they do it better than anyone!

I just think there are so many alternatives in that size range from Spyderco that are worth looking into currently, that it might be worth it to accept what is available and choose from there.

(Also, the thought of a full scale Police handle with a proportional 1" blade is very funny :D)

[aaronkb]

Recently got my first native and found myself in wanting a PM2-size version…. Then I realized this was pretty much the same as what I wanted back when I used to carry my shaman more - a thin Shaman! I was very gratified to know I’m consistent

[archangel]

The Native 5 is the mid-sized Native. :)

At what point does adding half an inch to a model get redundant? In my unpopular opinion, I do not think the Native needs a variant in every size range from 2.5" up to 4".

I would rather see Spyderco invest their time and money into something else than yet another size variation of the Native. Spyderco offers plenty of alternatives as is.

Exactly. I agree to every point.

[archangel]

Has there been any talk about a mid-sized Native, along the lines of the Endela? I love my Native Chief, but the blade is a little long for many tasks. A blade length between the original and Chief could be a real EDC sweet spot.

Native Chief is too long? Poor kiddo.....

I'm holding out hope for a Native Chief XL with a 5 inch blade!

Or a SuperSizedShaman! Boy would that be great!!

[Naperville]

Has there been any talk about a mid-sized Native, along the lines of the Endela? I love my Native Chief, but the blade is a little long for many tasks. A blade length between the original and Chief could be a real EDC sweet spot.

Native Chief is too long? Poor kiddo.....

I'm holding out hope for a Native Chief XL with a 5 inch blade!

Or a SuperSizedShaman! Boy would that be great!!

Let's have both!!!