C41NSPSRD5 - Native 5 Never Summer Exclusive - Available NOW

[Oogie]

What a great thread revival. Looks like I missed this boat by a solid year from when I joined the forum. As a fan of the Native, this version is simply blowing my mind. Such a cool release (love the blade etching), and for a good cause. Congrats to all that have one!

[Sharp Guy]

I sold mine about week after I received it because I knew I would never carry a knife with a combo edge. I'm kind of regretting that decision now even though I still wouldn't carry it.

[Surfingringo]

.........Color: I'll be honest I am not a big fan of the satin blade with the black hardware but assumed that it was a function over fashion decision. If Seki can run satin "treated" hardware and Ti clips on their salts surely Golden can. In my experience Golden uses a quality stainless steel for their hardware and liners. I will get very minimal hardware corrosion on my most carried satin blade which usually can just be rubbed off with a fingernail and I have yet to have that issue on any of my coated knives so generally consider it "corrosion resistant." Granted most of that carry is in very dry environment. Have you taken out any coated non-salts on the ocean? Rust on the hardware?

Price: Amazingly the N5 Salt is only $9 more than the N5LW DLC. My thought is this increase was due to the much lower volume of LC200N compared to S30V they are moving, possibly a Ti clip like ABX mentioned, and not in upgraded guts. The edge Seki has over Golden in regards to salt costs, is that their screws and most lock bars springs are interchangeable between 10 or so models, so the cost to "treat" is lower than Goldens 1 model.

My thoughts are in no way to contradict your conversations with the men themselves, and I am fully aware of your connection to the salt line (Still patiently waiting for the WaterWay :0) Just wanted to share my thoughts. I hope I am wrong in this matter though. Either way very excited for the release.

Hi KnickKnack, you make good points but you have to remember that the Seki salts are using H1 instead of lc200n. Both of these steels are EXTREMELY corrosion resistant, but lc200n has proven to be ever so slightly more reactive when exposed to dissimilar metals. So I would guess that the differences in hardware choice has less to do with the hardware and more to do with the steel. I have tested lc200n extensively with regular uncoated hardware and I believe those knives are "salt" worthy but not quite on the level with the seki salts. (because of the contact between lc200n and hardware). The difference is not huge but it exists. If an H1 seki salt is a 10 on the corrosion proof scale then a lc200n/stainless hardware salt is a 9.8. Most users and most companies would be fine with those numbers. It wold seem though that Spyderco is making every effort to make all of their salts 10's. :spyder:

For the record, I don't have any inside info on the how and why of what they are doing with the Native. Those are merely my opinions and best guesses based on my own use and observations.

Oh, and also, I have never tested any coated hardware on the ocean, but I am very eager to do some extreme corrosion testing to see if it shows an advantage over regular stainless hardware.

[KnickKnackCity]

So I would guess that the differences in hardware choice has less to do with the hardware and more to do with the steel. I have tested lc200n extensively with regular uncoated hardware and I believe those knives are "salt" worthy but not quite on the level with the seki salts. (because of the contact between lc200n and hardware).

Hey Surfingringo. Unfortunately I didn't have a lot of time to spend browsing the forum when you first started reporting back on your findings on LC200N, so thank you for sharing this tidbit. I am going to go back to those threads to learn more about your testing and results.

Sal confirming that the hardware in the new Native Salt is the same used in this Never Summer version is a testimony of the quality of every single component of the Golden models, down to the clip screw. To your point of the dedication of R&D, I'm guessing that they have had these Never Summer's in fish tanks at the testing lab ever since produced to start observing corrosion, tolerances, etc... I think its pretty cool that at the end of it, the same "plain jane" coated hardware found in the everyday C41PBBK5, can hold its own against Seki's alloys and titanium clips.

It's true this combo edge Never Summer Native wasn't designed or marketed as a salt, but unintentionally will be at the same standards as first Goldens official Salt offering, and thus unofficially holding that title. Another fun page to be added to the Native/Golden/Spyderco history books.

This one is the quintessential snowboarders knife. Snowboarding gear is mostly water-resistant as opposed to waterproof. We all always knew it was water-resistant. Its nice to have conformation if someone loses it in deep snow all winter, they have hope of finding a perfectly good knife after the melt in the spring.

Your study on LC200N only strengthens the plea for DLC bladed versions of the N5 Salt (PE and SE please.) If both components are coated I am guessing its even superior to Seki's satin on satin setup in regards to rust resistance. I would prefer the same yellow FRN"s used in the satin version. That way I can rit dye to match the Never Summer. Blacked out would look good too though.

Looking forward to the outcome of the coated stuff ran through the Surfingringo gauntlet! :D