Where the Heck Are the Lil' Native Lightweights?

[weeping minora]

As the title questions, what happened to the model? I was just reminded of the model in the Upcoming/Release thread (huge thanks to Beau and RamZar!). I really wanted to wait out for the LNLW, but instead I've just bought my first Dragonfly to fill the role of such a small knife.

Coming up on two years since reveal, it feels like this model has completely fallen out of the production queue. I would have thought at least the Satin PE variant would have seen stock on the shelves by now. I really hope this doesn't see release after it's $125+, which I believe it was pre the 2025 price lowering? I think at $125 I had mentally written the model off my purchase list, but at $101 now, it's a bit more digestible and on my radar once again. Are the backlock variants really selling so poorly as to halt the production of this LW variant, or is it proving difficult to properly manufacture this model as a backlock in the LW platform?

[apollo]

I have seen a production sample at the Amsterdam meet this year and it seemed flawless so its indeed strange that it is still not released yet.

On the pricing however i guess you are from the US? I keep finding it very strange people saying price X in US dollars is way to high and there for the model is not interesting for them anymore all the while if i convert that price to € i would be glad that is all it is going to cost. Knowing a dragonfly here costs a 100-150€ depending on the model i see a 125€ lil native as a good deal. Heck even the Manbug generally costs around a 100€ here...

[weeping minora]

Yes, I am in the US. At the prices you've described being typical within the European market, that would nearly prohibit me from purchasing almost any Spyderco relative to the price increase. As it is, the SPY27 Dragonfly recently released nearly kisses $100 here, at ~$95, depending on the retailer. The Manbug in SPY27 is ~$80. Those prices are nearing the "no-go" purchase zone from my own personal perspective, and as it is, I wouldn't buy the Manbug for that price. Again, that's just me.

For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry to hear that the pricing is so much more brutal to our brothers and sisters in European countries.

[aicolainen]

This and the Charisma are two models I definitely want to try, but waiting time for both has been so long that I sometimes forget they’re even in the pipeline.

The Lil’native LW would fill a very similar role as my DF2, so it’s not really something I need, it’s more out of curiosity to see how it compares and if it’s able to improve upon the DF2 in any way. Though it wouldn’t really threaten the DF2’s position until it’s released in a wharncliffe version.

I have a regular Lil’native CL. The thickness and CL makes it a lot less appealing of a carry option than DF2, so the LW seems like a very interesting and sensible evolution of the platform.

[apollo]

Yes, I am in the US. At the prices you've described being typical within the European market, that would nearly prohibit me from purchasing almost any Spyderco relative to the price increase. As it is, the SPY27 Dragonfly recently released nearly kisses $100 here, at ~$95, depending on the retailer. The Manbug in SPY27 is ~$80. Those prices are nearing the "no-go" purchase zone from my own personal perspective, and as it is, I wouldn't buy the Manbug for that price. Again, that's just me.

For whatever it's worth, I'm sorry to hear that the pricing is so much more brutal to our brothers and sisters in European countries.

Dont worry about us we manage. Sure it would be fun if the prices were lower offcoarse but in the end i guess we are used to it for most models. Sometimes very rarely prices do increase in extreme levels with the highest difference i have seen going to about 200$ differance between US and EU. The upcoming Chaparral is also an example for 100$ difference. So models like that are the few i do complain about.

But i do hope news about the Lil native Lw comes soon for you.

[olywa]

The LNLW SE is the only Lil' Native variation I am interested in, primarily because of the thinner blade stock and backlock.

[sal]

I was playing with a finished production piece this weekend. Shouldn't be long.

sal.

[Wdr65]

Great to hear Sal, I got to handle them last year at Blade Show and was quite taken with the little guy.

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Definitely one that I’ve been waiting to get my hands on, it would be a perfect pairing with the Dfly

[RamZar]

I was playing with a finished production piece this weekend. Shouldn't be long.

sal.

Good to know that the Lil' Native Lightweights will arrive fairly soon:

1. Lil' Native Lightweight CTS-BD1N Satin Blade PlainEdge Black FRN C230PBK (USA) - Reveal 14 (OCT 2023)
2. Lil' Native Lightweight CTS-BD1N Satin Blade SpyderEdge Black FRN C230SBK (USA) - Reveal 14 (OCT 2023)
3. Lil' Native Lightweight CTS-BD1N Black DLC Blade PlainEdge Black FRN C230PBBK (USA) - Reveal 14 (OCT 2023)
4. Lil' Native Lightweight CTS-BD1N Black DLC Blade SpyderEdge Black FRN C230SBBK (USA) - Reveal 14 (OCT 2023)

[weeping minora]

I was playing with a finished production piece this weekend. Shouldn't be long.

sal.

Great to hear! Thanks sal.

[jwbnyc]

Good news that these are getting close!

[TkoK83Spy]

Too funny, this knife actually crossed my mind just yesterday. Very interested in the thinner stock on this compared to the wedge of the standard lil native blade. Eager to get this one in pocket as an around the house rotation knife.

Thanks for the update on it Sal!

[Rival22]

Great update.

This should be a great mesh shorts summer knife.

[abbazaba]

This one is an instabuy if it arrives with jimping. Along with the lockback and wireclip, it's exactly what I envisioned a Lil Native as being.

[RamZar]

This one is an instabuy if it arrives with jimping. Along with the lockback and wireclip, it's exactly what I envisioned a Lil Native as being.

Jimping included at no extra charge!
Street Price: $101.25
Blade Thickness: 0.098"
Weight: 1.5oz



https://spyderco.com/products/lil-x27-n ... ightweight

[Mushroom]

I’m definitely disappointed that they added jimping to the LW but it is what it is… At least the compression lock model will remain with no instant hot spot maker - I mean jimping.

[TimButterfield]

So far, only the Delica has two entries in my list. I do have the S30V wharnie Lil' Native already. This may be my second Lil' Native.

Some points I noted:

• deep carry clip - yay - I also like that it is near the end of the handle for a deeper carry.
• lanyard hole - yay - As with my dragonfly, a lanyard makes a nice handle for the deep carry.
• DLC - yay - It looks good in all black.
• SE - yay - My smaller spydies are all PE and the smallest SE is the Tasman. This will be a nice addition.
• BD1N - meh - I would have preferred an upgrade, but don't overly object to this given the price.

Now, I just need to wait for it to arrive at the stores.

[RamZar]

By the way, the Spyderco website only lists “Lil' Native Lightweight CTS-BD1N Satin Blade PlainEdge Black FRN” and not the other three!

1. Lil' Native Lightweight CTS-BD1N Satin Blade PlainEdge Black FRN C230PBK (USA) - Reveal 14 (OCT 2023)
2. Lil' Native Lightweight CTS-BD1N Satin Blade SpyderEdge Black FRN C230SBK (USA) - Reveal 14 (OCT 2023)
3. Lil' Native Lightweight CTS-BD1N Black DLC Blade PlainEdge Black FRN C230PBBK (USA) - Reveal 14 (OCT 2023)
4. Lil' Native Lightweight CTS-BD1N Black DLC Blade SpyderEdge Black FRN C230SBBK (USA) - Reveal 14 (OCT 2023)

[TimButterfield]

There are DLC/None and PE/SE options on this page:
https://spyderco.com/products/lil-x27-n ... ightweight