Sal, a handle forward Lil Native?

[Doc Dan]

Hey Sal, would a choiless, handle forward (like on the rockjumper) Lil Native be possible? Keeping the same blade length, this would give a lot more cutting edge to a small knife.

[Wartstein]

Really?

I figure it would be doable with a comp.lock,but then would offer way too little grip area, wouldn't it?

With a backlock I guess that instead of the choil there would be handle (so the choil area basically covered by handle), so cutting edge would remain pretty much the same...

Just my 2c of course, but I personally think the Lil Native, Dfly and up to Chap size is the one where a choil makes the most sense...

[benja-man]

I agree with @Wartstein

[nerdlock]

I have all locktypes of the `lil Native and I wouldn't mind if it's a backlock.

Please make it a wharnie though if possible like the Rockjumper and the LN wharnie.

[Mushroom]

It would be possible to create and there would be plenty of grip area but I personally think they make too many Lil Natives as is. Therefore, I would question if a choil-less version is really necessary. (I say this with the Lil Native being one of my top favorite models of all time too)

[Tristan_david2001]

Perhaps it would be better suited the name lil bodacious?

[Tristan_david2001]

It would be possible to create and there would be plenty of grip area but I personally think they make too many Lil Natives as is. Therefore, I would question if a choil-less version is really necessary. (I say this with the Lil Native being one of my top favorite models of all time too)

I agree, the lil native platform is also one that’s been taking up a lot of production space between different handle color and steel sprints, locks, and a blade variation. Not exactly a reason to not do a choil less native though. If enough people requested that feature change they’d probably cater to that market. But the choil version is sound and functional and deserves to stay the way it is imo

[TimButterfield]

Perhaps it would be better suited the name lil bodacious?

Could it still be bodacious if it is very small? Maybe the Lil' Spunky or Precocious would fit that size.

As for choils, I'm not sure it is a requirement, though it may be preferred by some. As an example, the McBee is much smaller than the Lil' Native and doesn't have a choil. The Manbug and Ladybug are a couple more examples, though with a tiny ricasso instead of choil. I could see using a handle forward design of this size.

[Tristan_david2001]

It’s definitely not a requirement of a folder that size. But part of the lil native design identity is you can get 4 fingers on the knife, and I think if you kept the same blade edge length but shortened the handle and ricasso it wouldn’t quite fit 4 fingers for a lot of people I imagine.
E.g’s like the mcbee and manbug are in a smaller size class and are only meant to fit 2 - 2 1/2 fingers

[TimButterfield]

If it is handle forward, it is no longer a Lil' Native, but something else even if the result is similarly sized. Being released from the naming constraint opens other possibilities. If the intent is a four finger grip combined with an overall blade length similar to that of the Lil' Native (including choil), by definition it is has a greater overall length when opened. That has me wondering if the goal for the handle is a 4 finger grip, 3 finger, or even less.

[Doc Dan]

The Lil Native is a three finger knife, three and a half if one squeezes in. The finger guard before the choil is in the way. If it were moved forward to the end of the scales, and the cutting edge lengthened, we'd have close to the same grip length and more cutting edge. This is actually such an obvious change, making it more like the Rock/Leaf Jumper, that I am sure there is at least a prototype or mock up already in existence. I could be wrong.

[wrdwrght]

Perhaps it would be better suited the name lil bodacious?

Could it still be bodacious if it is very small? Maybe the Lil' Spunky or Precocious would fit that size.

As for choils, I'm not sure it is a requirement, though it may be preferred by some. As an example, the McBee is much smaller than the Lil' Native and doesn't have a choil. The Manbug and Ladybug are a couple more examples, though with a tiny ricasso instead of choil. I could see using a handle forward design of this size.

Precocious! For that name alone, I’d take a smaller version of the still-to-be released handle-forward Bodacious.

[TimButterfield]

Perhaps it would be better suited the name lil bodacious?

Could it still be bodacious if it is very small? Maybe the Lil' Spunky or Precocious would fit that size.

As for choils, I'm not sure it is a requirement, though it may be preferred by some. As an example, the McBee is much smaller than the Lil' Native and doesn't have a choil. The Manbug and Ladybug are a couple more examples, though with a tiny ricasso instead of choil. I could see using a handle forward design of this size.

Precocious! For that name alone, I’d take a smaller version of the still-to-be released handle-forward Bodacious.

I'm partial to the Precocious name for the knife also. I do not yet have children, but can imagine telling a young daughter, 'This knife was named for you.' Might need one version with a pink handle.

[benja-man]

The Lil Native is a three finger knife, three and a half if one squeezes in. The finger guard before the choil is in the way. If it were moved forward to the end of the scales, and the cutting edge lengthened, we'd have close to the same grip length and more cutting edge. This is actually such an obvious change, making it more like the Rock/Leaf Jumper, that I am sure there is at least a prototype or mock up already in existence. I could be wrong.

I just tried to figure out what you mean. If I rest my thumb on the small jimped section of the liner, I too can only fit 2.5 fingers behind the choil. I rarely use this grip in favor of grips that fit all my fingers, but can understand that in this scenario your proposal does make sense. It wouldn't be knife I'd be interested in but I get it now.

[Tristan_david2001]

I don’t understand.

The lil native is a 4 finger grip using the choil, which I think is how you’re primarily going to grip and use the knife.

[TimButterfield]

It seems we are discussing removing the choil on the blade + handle and shifting the handle edge/nub forward and the blade edge backwards. If we kept the same handle length, it would give more edge on that blade length and a 3 - 3.5 finger grip on the handle. This would have the sharp edge of the blade just in front of the handle and (hopefully) have a slight nub on the handle to prevent the hand sliding forward. Take a look at the edge of the handle near the blade on both the Bodacious and Lil' Temp 3. I think that is what is proposed, but with the spine of the blade more flush with the handle as on the Lil' Native and Bodacious. I do like the edge being a little closer to the handle as on the Lil' Temp 3 if we're trying to maximize the edge length.

[ZrowsN1s]

Little knives are popular. It is what it is. I happen to like them, though I've come to appreciate and carry the XL knives a lot.

I'd be interested in this.

[Doc Dan]

It seems we are discussing removing the choil on the blade + handle and shifting the handle edge/nub forward and the blade edge backwards. If we kept the same handle length, it would give more edge on that blade length and a 3 - 3.5 finger grip on the handle. This would have the sharp edge of the blade just in front of the handle and (hopefully) have a slight nub on the handle to prevent the hand sliding forward. Take a look at the edge of the handle near the blade on both the Bodacious and Lil' Temp 3. I think that is what is proposed, but with the spine of the blade more flush with the handle as on the Lil' Native and Bodacious. I do like the edge being a little closer to the handle as on the Lil' Temp 3 if we're trying to maximize the edge length.

Now someone is getting it.

[Doc Dan]

Little knives are popular. It is what it is. I happen to like them, though I've come to appreciate and carry the XL knives a lot.

I'd be interested in this.

Yeah, we need a knife capable of eating an apple with slice by slice and small enough to drop in our pockets, despite what larger knife we might have.

One thing about the Lil Native is that it is a tank. If such a knife were in the pocket during an emergency and no other knife, it would do yeoman's service, for sure.

[Fastidiotus]

Please make it a wharnie though if possible like the Rockjumper and the LN wharnie.

Microjimbo has entered the chat.

Could a leaf/drop point blade be put on the more neutral handle shape of the microjimbo? Or is the microjimbo handle only capable of supporting the low tip placement of a wharncliffe?