To me, this is the second biggest reason I prefer the chief to the endura (the biggest is handle ergos). The lack of hump makes for much better pocket carry. Takes up less space and doesn't snag on the corner of my pocket when I pull it out.
As far as dimensions, I compared one of my chiefs to my endura and eyeballing it, it looks like the chief has about 5-6mm more blade but at least half of that is choil, probably only 2-3mm more edge. The chief also looked 2-3mm longer closed. Close enough that it would be difficult for me to tell the difference without having them both in hand. Definitely seems more than the 1mm difference on the official specs though. The most relevant size difference to me by fast is that closed height due to that hump.
As far as dimensions, I compared one of my chiefs to my endura and eyeballing it, it looks like the chief has about 5-6mm more blade but at least half of that is choil, probably only 2-3mm more edge. The chief also looked 2-3mm longer closed. Close enough that it would be difficult for me to tell the difference without having them both in hand. Definitely seems more than the 1mm difference on the official specs though. The most relevant size difference to me by fast is that closed height due to that hump.
If you consider just sharpened edge without choil or ricasso, the Chief seems a fraction longer than the Endura 4.
As far as dimensions, I compared one of my chiefs to my endura and eyeballing it, it looks like the chief has about 5-6mm more blade but at least half of that is choil, probably only 2-3mm more edge. The chief also looked 2-3mm longer closed. Close enough that it would be difficult for me to tell the difference without having them both in hand. Definitely seems more than the 1mm difference on the official specs though. The most relevant size difference to me by fast is that closed height due to that hump.
If you consider just sharpened edge without choil or ricasso, the Chief seems a fraction longer than the Endura 4.
Yup, that looks like 2mm, maybe a tenth of an inch, which is pretty minimal on a 3.75-4in blade. It definitely wouldn't be a deciding factor for me unless I felt exactly the same about the knives in every other way. Thanks for posting the pic, I'm far too lazy to upload and figure out how to post it.
i prefer the hump, thinner blade, and larger hole of the endura, but the choil and ergos of the native. looks like the stretch and military 2 will be the winners for me over the chief and endura.
Last edited by ladybug93 on Sat Dec 16, 2023 2:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
That’s all I was saying. A few mm different in the handle or blade ratio means practically nothing. It’s the general design features you prefer that should be the Main deciding factors when picking a knife out.
i prefer the hump, thinner blade, and larger hole of the endura, but the choil and ergos of the native. looks like the stretch and military 2 will be the winners for me over the chief and endura.
I believe the Chief and Endura are both 3mm stock, are they not?
You sound like you'd really dig a C54. Ever try one? It's a lot like the Native Chief but with a hump. Very similar ergos.
The Endura (and even more so the pacific salt) definitely have an edge when it comes to ease of opening. That seems to be the sacrifice when there's no hump and a slim folded up size.
In fact the first time I handled a Chief in person I passed on it in favor of the new Police LW. Funny how my preferences changed over the years to where the Chief dominates the Police when it comes to pocket time.
Really looking forward to the salt version. Hope they can release it in time for spring & summer!
i prefer the hump, thinner blade, and larger hole of the endura, but the choil and ergos of the native. looks like the stretch and military 2 will be the winners for me over the chief and endura.
I believe the Chief and Endura are both 3mm stock, are they not?
You sound like you'd really dig a C54. Ever try one? It's a lot like the Native Chief but with a hump. Very similar ergos.
The Endura (and even more so the pacific salt) definitely have an edge when it comes to ease of opening. That seems to be the sacrifice when there's no hump and a slim folded up size.
In fact the first time I handled a Chief in person I passed on it in favor of the new Police LW. Funny how my preferences changed over the years to where the Chief dominates the Police when it comes to pocket time.
Really looking forward to the salt version. Hope they can release it in time for spring & summer!
I think the chief, like the rest of the native line and the manix 2 is 3.2mm. So it's thicker, but by less than 10% or about .007 of an inch. I think it's a matter of US vs metic units. 3.2mm is .125 or 1/8in.
i prefer the hump, thinner blade, and larger hole of the endura, but the choil and ergos of the native. looks like the stretch and military 2 will be the winners for me over the chief and endura.
I believe the Chief and Endura are both 3mm stock, are they not?
You sound like you'd really dig a C54. Ever try one? It's a lot like the Native Chief but with a hump. Very similar ergos.
The Endura (and even more so the pacific salt) definitely have an edge when it comes to ease of opening. That seems to be the sacrifice when there's no hump and a slim folded up size.
In fact the first time I handled a Chief in person I passed on it in favor of the new Police LW. Funny how my preferences changed over the years to where the Chief dominates the Police when it comes to pocket time.
Really looking forward to the salt version. Hope they can release it in time for spring & summer!
they're all pretty close in thickness, but they don't feel the same in use.
the calypso/caly family are very attractive to me, but they are notorious for bad lock rock. i know there's talk of a resurrection of the line. maybe i'll get one if they sort out the issues, but my hopes aren't going to be too high for that happening if it's done at the same factory.
i will definitely be getting the manix salt because it's my favorite model, but i've been wanting a 4" blade too. i'll probably end up with the military 2 (been wanting to try one anyway), a stretch 2 xl salt, and a chief salt eventually. they are different enough and similar enough that it's hard to say which i'd prefer of those three.
Anyone gotten a Lightweight Chief in hand yet? I’m curious what the handles feel like. I ditched the Native 5 LW due to sharp edges on the handle.
I am afraid the Chief LW will be the same in that regard (just a strong assumption, don´t have one (yet)).
When it comes to ergos of the FRN models, at least in tasks where one has to "squeeze" the handle hard over a longer period of time, the Seki FRNs are better in my opinion than the Goldens (including the Manix 2 LW btw., which has perfect ergos for 99 % of typical EDC tasks, but in super "hard" use the handle is also "sharp" indeed).
To me the Endura/Pac Salt ergos are generally even better than the Chiefs, especially in regard how "stable" the knife sits in hand.
But I figure i rather fall into a minority there, and how the knives will feel mostly depends on personal "hand geometry", how one grips a knife exactly, tasks one does and so on anyway.
Top three going by pocket-time (update March 24):
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
Anyone gotten a Lightweight Chief in hand yet? I’m curious what the handles feel like. I ditched the Native 5 LW due to sharp edges on the handle.
I have been curious myself , especially the balance . MG2
MNOSD 0002 / Do more than is required of you . Patton
Nothing makes earth so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau
Anyone gotten a Lightweight Chief in hand yet? I’m curious what the handles feel like. I ditched the Native 5 LW due to sharp edges on the handle.
I have been curious myself , especially the balance . MG2
Saw a Shot Show video the other day where they showed this knife off a little. The corners look so sharp. I don’t know why Spyderco did that on this generation Native. Sadly I think I will pass on this knife. Maybe I’ll find one used, but I’m not paying $150 for a knife that doesn’t feel good in the hand.
I'm still patiently awaiting the spy27, but the full SE is intriguing.
Quick question for those that have a standard chief and the uncoated bd1n lw:
The chief salt lw pictures look like the standard(s30v/g10) satin finish, but the bd1n and the spy27 pics look different, more stonewashed. Not quite like the shaman, but in that direction. Knife Center says the finish is satin on the bd1n just like the standard. It it just a funny/prototype pic or is the finish really different on the non-salt lightweights?
