There seems to be a buttload of Spyderco "Native" models for sale on ebay with "1st Generation BRK" printed on the blade.
Does anyone know the history of this model? There must gave been a gazillion of them made.
"1st Generation BRK" ? huh
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caught_napping
- Member
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- Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am
Thanks for the link:
Sal Glasser, the bladeforums moderator, states the following:
"When the Native was first designed, oit was scheduled to be made by Camillus in New York as a subcontractor. The plan was for 440A. The Native was to be a less expensive offering than the Delica at the same size.
Camillus made a large number of blades out of 440A. They were very nicely made blades. For a variety of reasons, Camillus could not produce for us at the time, so we brought the mold (that Camillus made) into Golden and produced the GIN-1 version for years. Then we changed the blade steel to CPM-440V, the price jumped, and will probably stay with the exotic steels in the near future.
Blue Ridge Knives, a long time and very good distributor for Spyderco knives put together a plan to use the perfectly good
Camillus made blades, Camillus would make the locks and springs, Spyderco would provide the Native handles and Camillus would assemble them in New York. This made it possible to make the less expensive offering. All in all, it's a nicely made USA made piece, and as mentioned, for the price, its hard to beat."
Sal Glasser, the bladeforums moderator, states the following:
"When the Native was first designed, oit was scheduled to be made by Camillus in New York as a subcontractor. The plan was for 440A. The Native was to be a less expensive offering than the Delica at the same size.
Camillus made a large number of blades out of 440A. They were very nicely made blades. For a variety of reasons, Camillus could not produce for us at the time, so we brought the mold (that Camillus made) into Golden and produced the GIN-1 version for years. Then we changed the blade steel to CPM-440V, the price jumped, and will probably stay with the exotic steels in the near future.
Blue Ridge Knives, a long time and very good distributor for Spyderco knives put together a plan to use the perfectly good
Camillus made blades, Camillus would make the locks and springs, Spyderco would provide the Native handles and Camillus would assemble them in New York. This made it possible to make the less expensive offering. All in all, it's a nicely made USA made piece, and as mentioned, for the price, its hard to beat."
I just received a 1st Gen BRK FRN PE Native today in the post and I must admit I'm seriously disappointed. The blade fit up is poor with a pronounced step of ~1/16" up onto the lock spring from the blade when open. The blade also seems to be about 1/64" thinner than the spring and there is easily a 1/4"lateral tip play on the blade due to looseness at the pivot rivet (worsened by the thickness difference).
Translantic postage defeats the purpose of returning it to the seller (it cost me $31.45 + $6 for GPS, but would be $10 to return it for a refund) so I'll chalk it up to experience.
Beware....
"Why is this thus? What is the reason for this thusness?" Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar Browne)
Translantic postage defeats the purpose of returning it to the seller (it cost me $31.45 + $6 for GPS, but would be $10 to return it for a refund) so I'll chalk it up to experience.
Beware....
"Why is this thus? What is the reason for this thusness?" Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar Browne)
i refer often to the BRK native as being the redheaded stepchild of the spyderco line. i wouldn't call them spyders. i carry mine at work as a loaner. i don't really care what happens to the thing. i refuse ti sell/even give it to anyone because i think it owuld give <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>s a bad name. if i were you i'd avoid the thing. take care
grace and peace
sven
steel is unforgiving... sharp steel even more so
grace and peace
sven
steel is unforgiving... sharp steel even more so