Native Chief XL - FOLDER!

[ladybug93]

if i want a backlock that's laughably large, i go with cold steel. the triad lock is better and the company rep better fits that type of unnecessary silliness.

don't get me wrong... i own several of them. recon 1 xl, voyager tanto xl, and rajah ii.

[Naperville]

The backlock designed by Spyderco on the Native Chief is very good.

Glad that you think knives are silly. I don't have any silly knives.

[vivi]

To be honest, no. The Chief os already very long in hand while having handle that borders too thin. and the only purpose of the finger choil is to protect you from cutting yourself when closing the knife. The XL version should really find a way to drop the finger choil and gain that 1/2” of cutting edge. Just my personal opinion.

what makes you think that?

i find the choil more useful on the chief than most other spydercos, because with no thumb ramp I can use it with more comfort than models that have a ramp.

[Zive]

what makes you think that?

i find the choil more useful on the chief than most other spydercos, because with no thumb ramp I can use it with more comfort than models that have a ramp.

I tend to agree. The choil allows for more precision which is critical when handling a blade of such length. It is not simply a safety feature built into a design that already uses Spyderco’s strongest lock.

Looking at Spyderco’s other popular large knives like the Police or Military the choil is a key feature. I would like to see it included if an XL model sees daylight.

As a matter of personal preference the thickness of the handle in the current format carries well for me in hand and in pocket. This is a linerless design and I believe the scales are only as thick as they need to be to offer sufficient rigidity. Thinning the handle further would likely require liners that would increase the weight and make maintenance more of a PITA.

[ZrowsN1s]

sign me up

[+1]

+[+1]

Heck ya sign me up. That would be a slicing machine.

To the nay sayers I would say that I was anti-large folder until I tried the Shaman. Then the Police4. After that I was a convert. What's the longest you've ever EDC'd a 4" or 4"+ blade? Maybe try it out. I found the P4 comically large when I first tried it. But it didn't take long for it to feel normal, in hand, in pocket, and in use.

[Matus]

To be honest, no. The Chief os already very long in hand while having handle that borders too thin. and the only purpose of the finger choil is to protect you from cutting yourself when closing the knife. The XL version should really find a way to drop the finger choil and gain that 1/2” of cutting edge. Just my personal opinion.

what makes you think that?

i find the choil more useful on the chief than most other spydercos, because with no thumb ramp I can use it with more comfort than models that have a ramp.

I agree that the lack of thumb ramp can be an advantage as it allows for different grips. But ramp is a different topic.

For me Chief is a really interesting knife because of the blade shape, but given its size - I don't see the point of the choil. Look at a knife like Caribbean. It has no choil, but yet you can grip very close to the blade. I would like to see Spyderco using this design feature a little more often.

I am not saying that finger choil on large knives is 'wrong', but it does not really serves much practical purpose for me. On small knives it allows for a safer grip on a knife that is small when folded, but on a knife this is not necessary. And I would apply this argument to more knives, not just the Chief. Interesting variation is the Kapara, where there is a choil, but it costs less cutting edge. I am looking forward to more knives with this feature.

And yes - ricasso like on Delica/Endela/Endura makes even less sense to me than a choil. I guess that is simply a part of Spyderco history and evolution and Endela was made to fit the same design style.

[Manixguy@1994]

I have been carrying the Native Chief quite a lot since getting it recently . As much As I like large folders this is about at the end of the spectrum for me . There is nothing I dislike , for me it is a very well designed knife , I just don’t see how a bigger one would make it better . MG2

[vivi]

To be honest, no. The Chief os already very long in hand while having handle that borders too thin. and the only purpose of the finger choil is to protect you from cutting yourself when closing the knife. The XL version should really find a way to drop the finger choil and gain that 1/2” of cutting edge. Just my personal opinion.

what makes you think that?

i find the choil more useful on the chief than most other spydercos, because with no thumb ramp I can use it with more comfort than models that have a ramp.

I agree that the lack of thumb ramp can be an advantage as it allows for different grips. But ramp is a different topic.

For me Chief is a really interesting knife because of the blade shape, but given its size - I don't see the point of the choil. Look at a knife like Caribbean. It has no choil, but yet you can grip very close to the blade. I would like to see Spyderco using this design feature a little more often.

I am not saying that finger choil on large knives is 'wrong', but it does not really serves much practical purpose for me. On small knives it allows for a safer grip on a knife that is small when folded, but on a knife this is not necessary. And I would apply this argument to more knives, not just the Chief. Interesting variation is the Kapara, where there is a choil, but it costs less cutting edge. I am looking forward to more knives with this feature.

And yes - ricasso like on Delica/Endela/Endura makes even less sense to me than a choil. I guess that is simply a part of Spyderco history and evolution and Endela was made to fit the same design style.

I supoose we have different perspectives on choils on larger knives then.

I like using them when doing fine tip work, using a grip like this. This is how I use my larger knives when slicing the tape on a package, etc.



I like using them when whittling or otherwise putting large amounts of pressure on the cutting edge near the handle:



And they can be nice for a general purpose grip to achieve superior leverage compared to gripping further back on the handle.



To me choils make the most sense on tiny knives and knives around the Chief size or larger.

On tiny knives they can help make a three finger sized handle a four finger sized grip, like a Dragonfly.

On larger knives like the Chief they enable me to get better precision with the tip etc.

On something sized around a Sage they don't make sense to me, because it can offer a four finger grip without one, and the knife is so small I don't need a choil to get my finger right behind the tip.

I have a few Resilience folders and other knives with no choil and a grip close to the cutting edge. Those designs do a good job of facilitating the second pictures purpose, but they are worse at giving me grip options similar to the first photo. It's a trade-off - more cutting edge but not as good for precision tip work.

Of course a knife sized like the rock jumper wouldn't have any issues giving me a good precision grip.

[Matus]

I supoose we have different perspectives on choils on larger knives then.
...

I definitely agree and there is nothing wrong with that.

What makes Native Chief unique among Spyderco knives is that it has a relatively narrow blade (especially for its length). The 'price' Sypderco pays for the hole opening is, that it most of the time forces the creation of a hump, or just blows up the blade width (like on Shaman).

However with a knife like a Caribbean all 3 grip positions as you shown above are possible (and I would argue that the position No.2 is more comfortable with the Caribbean), jut not quite as comfortable as the knife is of different design (wider, more comfortable handle) what together with the need to keep the hole accessible yields a wider blade - which does not feel quite as precise or comfortable in the 1st of the positions you posted.

But some of the Spydercos with the hump do allow to put comfortably index finger om the spine. I find that kind of grip quite comfortable with the PM2.

Yes, Caribbean is more of an exception for Spyderco when it comes this this part of the knife. But they did it really well. Maybe I will get it again if it comes out in Magnacut :p (however unlikely that is)

[vivi]

Yep, two different approaches to using the same tools.

I suspectas blade length increases past about 3.75" my methods may work better, while the way you work with your knives is probably better when working with knives under that length.

I'd love to try a caribbean but I'm leary of the weak detent I've heard about. Maybe if I find one for a good price I'll check it out and try to mod a deeper detent hole on it. It seems like a home run design aside from my one little nitpick, and I can see why you and others are so enthusiastic about it.

[JRinFL]

Yep, two different approaches to using the same tools.

I suspectas blade length increases past about 3.75" my methods may work better, while the way you work with your knives is probably better when working with knives under that length.

I'd love to try a caribbean but I'm leary of the weak detent I've heard about. Maybe if I find one for a good price I'll check it out and try to mod a deeper detent hole on it. It seems like a home run design aside from my one little nitpick, and I can see why you and others are so enthusiastic about it.

The mod is very easy to do. However, I read somewhere that they were improving detents across the board. No idea if it happened, or if it is yet to be determined.

Did your YoJumbo have a good detent?

[vivi]

Yep, two different approaches to using the same tools.

I suspectas blade length increases past about 3.75" my methods may work better, while the way you work with your knives is probably better when working with knives under that length.

I'd love to try a caribbean but I'm leary of the weak detent I've heard about. Maybe if I find one for a good price I'll check it out and try to mod a deeper detent hole on it. It seems like a home run design aside from my one little nitpick, and I can see why you and others are so enthusiastic about it.

The mod is very easy to do. However, I read somewhere that they were improving detents across the board. No idea if it happened, or if it is yet to be determined.

Did your YoJumbo have a good detent?

Yes, it's perfect for my tastes. Fairly stiff to break it past the detent cavity, but pure butter past that point. My Yojumbo is such a good example that I haven't had to make a single adjustment since I bought it. It really impressed me in that respect.

Hope the rumors about the caribbean detent prove true. Shame the XL version got nixed, but the regular size is still big enough.

[Naperville]

I learned a new word today, so I'm going to try and use it.

Maybe we can continue this thread without people exhibiting "dickishness."

Oh, and martial arts abilities are real. I've used them a few times and the only thing that kept them from an embalmer was that I was a nice guy.

[Naperville]

When released, the Spyderco Native Chief XL will be the best folder available anywhere.

[Steeltoez83]

Id rather put my money towards an xl stretch. Ive used the chief alot and for me im content with the 2 that i have.

[Steeltoez83]

Id rather put my money towards an xl stretch. Ive used the chief alot and for me im content with the 2 that i have.

Plus i also have a hundred pacer.

[PocketShredder]

I wouldn’t be opposed to a Native Chief XL, but I’d sooner like to see a mid-size (3.5”) Native or a SE Native Chief.

[Naperville]

They called off most of the NHL games until December 27th due to COVID Protocols and many teams not being able to put teams on the ice.

Now if you had a Spyderco Native Chief XL or two, it would not matter as much, but being without both NHL games and the Native Chief XL you are just going to have to slog through the best that you can. Keep your chin up!

2022 is the year if we can build a groundswell for the Native Chief XL, probably the most important folder to take shape at Spyderco in years.

[Enactive]

I like the Chief a lot as it is. As for "next in the family" I would also prefer a 3.5 inch Native with a mid lockback and same build as the N5 and Chief. I like the Shaman a lot, but it is bulky and the outlier of the family.

[Naperville]

I like the Chief a lot as it is. As for "next in the family" I would also prefer a 3.5 inch Native with a mid lockback and same build as the N5 and Chief. I like the Shaman a lot, but it is bulky and the outlier of the family.

Look just above your post and see Vivi demonstrating the Native Chief grips. 4 inches is a mid sized blade. A 5 inch blade is barely larger, but its an inch we would love to have.