Spyderco Native 5 Salt Spec Breakdown and Features
Lightweight and small in size, the Spyderco Native 5 Salt is the perfect pocket knife that happens to be a great dive knife as well. Weighing under 2.5 ounces (71 g) and with a folded length of 4 inches (10 cm), the Native 5 Salt fits comfortably in your BCD pocket, clipped onto your belt, or in the palm of your hand.
The knife is made from CPM MagnaCut steel and is available in two blade styles—plain or serrated—or, as Spyderco calls it, the SpyderEdge. The nitrogen-based steel means the Native 5 Salt won’t corrode. It comes in two colors, yellow or green.
Spyderco Native 5 Salt Impressions
I know it seems like all I do is dive, as though I live on a boat and dive all day, and then spend the rest of my time writing about equipment. Honestly, that’s not far off, but I do have interests outside of blowing bubbles. I consider myself an outdoorsman. I spend a lot of time camping, hiking, and fishing. When I do these things I want a good solid knife in my pocket.
My first choice for knives is always Spyderco. I can’t think of a better brand when you need a knife, and I’m not just saying that as a guy who spent a lot of time in Colorado, where Spyderco knives are made.
In fact, I’m one of those folks that has a knife in their pocket every single day. And—you guessed it—it’s a Spyderco. What makes Spyderco so special though, is that the materials and manufacturing process that makes these great outdoor knives makes them great for diving as well.
During our testing phase there were no surprises. The Native 5 Salt was easy to open with all thicknesses of gloves. It was also easy to close in all except the thickest gloves. This is mainly due to the locking mechanism, as it may take you a while to get used to pushing the slide with extremely thick mittens.
It cut through both thin and thick rope. It sliced through the 550 paracord with ease. It cut the thicker ¼-inch braided dock rope with no problems. It seems like the SpyderEdge serrated edge has the tendency to catch on braided rope, but this is of small concern.
To see how all the knives we tested measure up, check our reviews here.
Do we recommend the Spyderco Native 5 Salt dive knife?
We certainly do recommend the Spyderco Native 5 Salt dive knife. Our recommendation is a little different for this specific knife, however. We are calling the Native 5 Salt the best everyday carry knife. Even if you don’t clip a knife in your own pocket everyday, you probably know someone who does. And, if you’re going to carry a knife, it might as well be the best.
The only difference between your normal pocket knife and the Native 5 Salt is that you can take it diving with you. The nitrogen-based steel ensures this knife won’t corrode and will stay sharp dive after dive.
Spyderco knives are a bit more expensive than other choices on the market, but you are definitely paying for quality. Spyderco is a known and trusted brand. The price you pay is well worth it. Spyderco will also sharpen your knives for life for free, minus a small shipping fee.
We also recommend other knives from the Spyderco line, particularly the Spyderco Salt 2. If you’re still searching, I’m also a big fan of Benchmade knives like the H2O.
Specs & Features
| Fixed or foldable | foldable |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 2.95 inches (7.5 cm.) |
| Handle length | 4 inches (10.16 cm.) |
| Weight | 2.4 oz. (68 g) |
| Blade type | straight or serrated (SpyderEdge) |
| Blade material | CPM MagnaCut steel |
| Handle material | fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) |
| Blade tip | pointed |
