EDC choice

[CopilotATS-55]

couuuuuldnt pass a deal like this one up a native for 35 bucks :eek: :eek: :D :spyder:

[Dr. Snubnose]

NICE! Which one Co-Pilot...Enjoy..Doc

[Vincent]

really great deal.

awsome

[dialex]

Is it a real Native or a BRK one? If it's a BRK, I wish you luck, I heard people have the chance to get a good one now and then. :(

[The Deacon]

Does depend on the model. That would be an extremely good deal on an S30V C41 Native or one in GIN-1 and NIB condition. It would be a good deal on a VG10 C78 Native III, or on a C41 in 440V. On the other hand, it would be well over "top dollar" for a 440A BRK.

[CopilotATS-55]

it has a gin-1 blade and frn handle mint and the guy said never used! :eek: :spyder:

[skcusloa]

Good deal, I just got an FRN endura VG 10 boye detent 50/50 NIB for $35 shipped....

[CopilotATS-55]

nice :D :D :spyder:

[CopilotATS-55]

Is it a real Native or a BRK one? If it's a BRK, I wish you luck, I heard people have the chance to get a good one now and then. :(
what is a brk knife? :confused: :confused: :confused:

[The Deacon]

what is a brk knife? :confused: :confused: :confused:Am WAY too lazy to retype all this, so lifted it verbatim from my webpage. If you want to see pictures of the BRK, and all other versions of the Native, just click on the link in my signature line.

No discussion of the Native family is complete without mention of its "red-headed stepchild", the infamous "BRK" Native. These sport a laser etched "1st Generation BRK" marking in black on the blade (which takes about two minutes work each with 200 and 400 grit to remove). The more definitive methods of identifying them are the nine thumb grooves (as opposed to six on other US made Natives, and the 440A steel designation stamped below the Spyderco name on the left side of the blade tang. Although the blades are stamped Spyderco Golden Colorado USA, they were actually manufactured for Spyderco by Camillus, in New York. Another thing to look for, but somewhat harder to notice, is the chamfered edge on the thumb hole. Finally, at least on the ones I have handled, the blade also sits at a different angle in relation to the handle than on other Natives, as can be easily seen in the photos above and below.

At the very least, the BRK Natives are the product of an extremely interesting series of decisions. Sal first conceived the Native as an inexpensive alternative to the Delica. Thus the decision to use 440A, a steel generally considered inferior to those used in all other Spyderco knives. They contracted with Camillus to produce the handle molds and make the 440A blades and FRN handles, which were then to be sent to Golden for assembly and finish. For whatever reason, this arrangement did not work out, but Spyderco did receive a batch of the 440A blades, but for whatever reason elected to shelve them, purchase the handle molds from Camillus, and build the entire knife themselves. Rather than making it a low end model, as originally planned, they upgraded the steel to GIN-1 and refined the design of the blade tang with a larger cam and deeper lock notch. These changes resulted, IMHO, in the smoothest, strongest, most ergonomic FRN lockback of its size.

Sometime later, Blue Ridge Knives, a large knife distributor, purchased the Camillus made 440A blades, and handles for them, from Spyderco. I suspect they purchased the clips and barrel bolts from them as well. Blue Ridge then contracted with Camillus to supply the lockbars, lock springs, and other necessary parts, and to assemble the knives for them. Compared with the "real" Natives the kindest thing one can say is that, aside from the handle and clip, they are inferior in every way. The acronym "POS" is often used when describing them.

Honorable dealers, both on the internet and off, make customers aware that despite all the things that make these knives appear to be Spydercos, they are actually warranted by Camillus. Less than honorable ones simply say nothing and let the fact that these knives are marked "SPYDERCO: and "Golden Colorado" on their blades, are marked "SPYDERCO NATIVE" and carry the Spyderco "bug" logo on the handle, and carry the "bug" logo on their clip mislead customers. Truly unscrupulous eBay sellers go so far as to put a picture of a Spyderco warranty in their listings.

On the other hand, I'm amused by the contention of some of my fellow collectors that the BRK Native does not deserve a place in a collection of Natives. Consider this - the original catalog illustration for the Native shows a knife with a 440A blade with 9 thumb grooves. Now granted, that picture could be nothing more than an "artists conception" but, if one ever turned up with solid provenance, they'd be fighting one another (and me) tooth and nail for it.

[CopilotATS-55]

i learned something new :eek: thanks for understanding

[CopilotATS-55]

the BRK blade is pionted down more. i have the GIN-1 version SE :spyder: :)