Native Chief Cruwear Micarta

[kennethsime]

Man, I bet this is my next Spyderco.

Almost bought the BHQ M4 a few years ago but couldn’t find any aftermarket micarta for it.

[Wallach]

Can confirm it's linerless. I handled it at shot show and loved it. No flex in the handle. I had this in my mind and didn't notice any additional handle flex.

I was going to get one before I found a Jade/Dlc/M4 version for a smoking good deal.

Well, at least I can confirm it exists on some level. Feels like I've been waiting on this model forever since the reveal.

[JoviAl]

Well good luck to Eric, hope this run works out well. Debating between the Manix XL, Chief or Millie for my first crucarta knife.

I’m in the same boat between the Manix XL and the Chief. I already have a Cruwear sprint Manix XL but what puts me off the chief is (ironically) its linerless micarta handles being linerless I’ve come to prefer a liner for the heft and implied strength. I’d be worried about damaging the micarta around the pivot and ending up with super rock lock.

[Wartstein]

Well good luck to Eric, hope this run works out well. Debating between the Manix XL, Chief or Millie for my first crucarta knife.

I like the idea of linerless Micarta, but I still wonder what has changed since they brought out the Cru-carta PM2:
With THAT one Spyderco even went from nested to "full"/exposed liners supposedly to guarantee enough structural integrity...and now they can get away with an (actually even longer) Micarta handle and NO liners at all?

Don't get me wrong, I think this is cool and am sure solid enough! It's just about technical and general interest in the processes at Spyderco.

[eventhorizon]

Well good luck to Eric, hope this run works out well. Debating between the Manix XL, Chief or Millie for my first crucarta knife.

I’m in the same boat between the Manix XL and the Chief. I already have a Cruwear sprint Manix XL but what puts me off the chief is (ironically) its linerless micarta handles being linerless I’ve come to prefer a liner for the heft and implied strength. I’d be worried about damaging the micarta around the pivot and ending up with super rock lock.

Yeah, me, too. Since lock rock in Spyderco backlock knives can be considered more of a design feature than a defect, I'm having a hard time not recognizing this as a future, at least somewhat annoying occurence of a linerless micarta Chief... but hey, if I get to be proven wrong on this, I'll take it.

If it came with liners, though, it would be an instant buy and I would greatly welcome the added weight.

[vivi]

Well good luck to Eric, hope this run works out well. Debating between the Manix XL, Chief or Millie for my first crucarta knife.

I like the idea of linerless Micarta, but I still wonder what has changed since they brought out the Cru-carta PM2:
With THAT one Spyderco even went from nested to "full"/exposed liners supposedly to guarantee enough structural integrity...and now they can get away with an (actually even longer) Micarta handle and NO liners at all?

Don't get me wrong, I think this is cool and am sure solid enough! It's just about technical and general interest in the processes at Spyderco.

One thing we all need to keep in mind is G10 Chiefs feature a filled in back. There's a thick steel backspacer between the scales, plus the lockbar. That gives the knife a much more rigid structure despite being linerless than something like a Pacific Salt or FRN Stretch XL.

[kobold]

I plan to get the 3" Native and its weight ( 3.10 oz. (88 g)) tells me it's linerless, therefore so will be the Chief I presume. Plus there are aftermarket micarta scales for the Native out there, so it should be fine. As noted above, the metal "spine" should keep things together. My 1st crucarta. Can't wait. :-)

[Manixguy@1994]

I plan to get the 3" Native and its weight ( 3.10 oz. (88 g)) tells me it's linerless, therefore so will be the Chief I presume. Plus there are aftermarket micarta scales for the Native out there, so it should be fine. As noted above, the metal "spine" should keep things together. My 1st crucarta. Can't wait. :-)

Kobold , probably a correct assumption, the G10 weighs 3.9 and the Micarta comes in at 3.7 . MG2

[xceptnl]

This is great to know. Definitely makes my decision about which Cru-carta model i want to buy. Linerless for the win. I love my all micarta pinned knives, don't see how I could love new versions any less.

[Naperville]

I'm in on a preorder.

[Wartstein]

One thing we all need to keep in mind is G10 Chiefs feature a filled in back. There's a thick steel backspacer between the scales, plus the lockbar. That gives the knife a much more rigid structure despite being linerless than something like a Pacific Salt or FRN Stretch XL.

Good point!

And with the Crucarta PM2 where as far as I understood they had to go from nested to "full" / exposed liners in order to guarantee structural integrity the situation is perhaps even "worse" since the PM2 has an open back, while Stretch XL and Pac Salt have at least FRN backspacers.

Though I think it could be the case that with possible slight changes in form (shrinking/warping...) of Micarta it is always better to have flat slaps of material (regardless if mounted on liners or without liners) than have the Micarta "hollowed out" for nested liners.

Just anectodally for the record: I have a Micarta scale Endura with also Micarta backspacer (and of course nested liners): No problems whatsoever at all, scales still fit perfectly and look good, even after a lot of use in changing climates.

[Kale]

Are these upcoming crucarta models going to be a regular production model or some sort of sprint? I’m just trying to figure out how much time I’ll have to grab the Native version

[Manixguy@1994]

Are these upcoming crucarta models going to be a regular production model or some sort of sprint? I’m just trying to figure out how much time I’ll have to grab the Native version

As far as I know regular production . MG2