The Spyderco Native Chief Salt Lightweight CPM Magnacut C244PYL Yellow FRN is a robust pocket knife made for use in more humid environments, such as coastal use. The Native Chief is the longer version of the famous Native 5. At the request of fans Spyderco took the Native design and stretched it out about a third. The result is a substantial knife, made to be used. As mentioned, the Native Chief is no small pocket knife. This knife is even 2 cm longer than the Paramilitary 2. Despite its length the Native Chief can also easily be carried. The design is very slim and won't take up much room in your pocket.
The Spyderco Native Chief Salt Lightweight CPM Magnacut C244PYL Yellow FRN, pocket knife is a hefty EDC knife in the colour yellow. With its blade length of 10.3 cm, it's especially suited for demanding cutting tasks. This is not a compact knife! When closed, it measures 13.2 cm in length and it weighs 90 g.
Opening the Spyderco Native Chief Salt Lightweight CPM Magnacut C244PYL Yellow FRN, pocket knife with one hand is very easy thanks to the thumb hole. Once opened, the sturdy back lock ensures that the blade is locked and won't accidentally close during use. The back-lock mechanism is one of the oldest yet strongest locking mechanisms. The combination of thumb hole and back lock makes this knife easy to use by both left-handed and right-handed people.
Blade made of CPM Magnacut steel
The blade of this Spyderco Lightweight, Native, Salt is made of CPM Magnacut steel, possibly the most revolutionary steel of the 21st century. MagnaCut offers an unrivalled balance between sharpness retention, toughness, corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening. Since the release of CPM MagnaCut in 2021, it has become one of the most popular steels in the world of knives. The MagnaCut blade of this pocket knife measures 10.3 cm in length.
History of CPM Magnacut
This type of steel was developed by Dr Larrin Thomas, a metallurgist who has dedicated his career to improving knife steel. He is the son of Devin Thomas, a famous damascus smith who supplied Chris Reeve Knives with steel for many years. Dr Larrin Thomas works in the automotive industry but is passionate about knife steels. He thought it should be possible to do better, and together with Crucible Industries came up with CPM MagnaCut. Read more about MagnaCut here.
The blade of this knife is enhanced with a 'satin finish'. This is a chic and tasteful finish that is very popular.
Handle made of FRN
The handle of the Spyderco Native Chief Salt Lightweight CPM Magnacut C244PYL Yellow FRN, pocket knife is made of FRN and measures 13.2 cm in length. FRN stands for Fibre-Reinforced Nylon. That makes it a type of plastic made from nylon, and reinforced with glass fibres for additional strength and durability. FRN is also known as GFN.
Designer Eric Glesser
Eric Glesser is the son of Sal Glesser, founder of Spyderco. As a child, he used to sit in a box under the table while his parents sold knives at fairs. Today, Eric runs the day-to-day operations at Spyderco. Eric is an accomplished knife designer himself. Some of the most popular Spyderco knives were designed by Eric Glesser.
Spyderco: great pioneer in the world of knives
Spyderco is one of the world's leading knife companies. Many innovations were made by this brand, think of the pocket clip, the thumb hole, a large range of locking mechanisms, but also steel types. It's safe to say the knife world would have looked very different indeed without Spyderco.
Spyderco was founded in 1976 by Sal and Gail Glesser. Interestingly, they didn't start out selling knives. The first product Sal and Gail sold was a soldering tool, which they sold travelling around markets. Then came a sharpening system, causing Sal to start experimenting with pocket knives. In his quest for a knife that was easier to open with one hand, he came up with the idea for a round thumb hole while experimenting. A stroke of pure genius.
Today, the next generation is at the helm of Spyderco. Eric Glesser, the son of Sal and Gail, works hard every day to further establish Spyderco as a leading knife brand.