Spyderco Native 5 Folding Knife 3" S30V Satin

Anyone familiar with Spyderco knows that one of the primary driving forces of their knifemaking philosophy is C.Q.I.—Constant Quality Improvement. Inspired by the Japanese concept of kaizen ("continuous improvement"), C.Q.I. is the relentless process of evaluating every aspect of every product and meticulously reviewing all customer feedback to find ways of making even their best knives, sharpeners, and accessories better. In some cases, the changes are subtle tweaks to internal parts, finishes, and processes that, in form, only we would notice. In performance, however, they pay off in some tangible way. Whether it's increased precision, enhanced reliability, reduced weight, or something else, every C.Q.I. process takes Spyderco one step closer to perfection.

One of the latest benefactors of Spyderco's C.Q.I. process has been the venerable Native 5 model. As a fifth-generation design and a state-of-the-art expression of the lockback folding knife, the Native 5 is no stranger to improvement. However, its latest refinements take that process even further.

Based on the inspiration of the groundbreaking 40th Anniversary Native 5, which showcased a linerless fluted carbon fiber handle, most G10-handled versions of the Native 5 will now also feature linerless construction. Eliminating the liner reduces the weight of the knife from 3.7 to 3.0 ounces—nearly 20 percent—without any substantial change to the knife's thickness or structural strength. To maintain the versatility of its four-position pocket clip, the G10 scales of this version will include four sets of threaded inserts to support left or right-side, tip-up or tip-down carry.

After Spyderco's exhaustive in-house performance testing and tons of end-user feedback, they have also decided to change the blade steel of the Native 5 from CPM-S35VN to CPM-S30V. This rolling change will be implemented as they exhaust their current inventory of parts, so some versions of the Native 5 will complete the switch sooner than others. However, the change will ultimately affect all standard G10 and FRN-handled versions of this popular model.

In many ways, C.Q.I. is what defines Spyderco and their products—and always has. Spyderco takes pride in their stubbornness and promises to never let "great" be "good enough" to stop evolving.