Spyderco turns 50 this year, and the brand built that half-century on a simple idea: a knife is a tool first. Plastic scales, that signature round hole, function over flash – that’s what makes a Spyderco, well, a Spyderco. However, the brand took a bit of a different approach to this pretty wild limited release to celebrate their birthday.
The Native 5 50th Anniversary Amber Bone takes one of the most sensible everyday folders on the market and turns it into something that might make you think twice about actually putting the blade to work.
Why the Native 5
The Native 5 is about as no-drama as EDC gets, which leaves plenty of room for a wild reinterpretation. The fundamentals stay faithful too: a 2.98-inch full-flat-ground drop point, the Round Hole opener, a back lock, and a tip-up clip set for right-handed carry.
1,200 Hours in a Pocket Knife
The details are where this thing really impresses. The mosaic Damascus bolsters were hand-forged by Ed Schempp and his son Martin across a year-long process that ran north of 1,200 hours.
Starting from billets of 1084 and 15N20 tool steel, the pair forged, welded, and water-jet cut their way to a checkerboard of 36 squares, each holding Spyderco’s signature bug logo. The result is dovetailed for fit and acid-etched for contrast. Spyderco is calling it the most distinctive production knife it has ever made, and that’s certainly a tough claim to argue with.
Bone, Steel, and a Padauk Box
The blade swaps the standard Native 5’s steel for polished CPM S90V, Crucible’s high-vanadium powder steel that holds an edge for ages (and asks for a bit of patience when it’s finally time to sharpen).
The amber bone scales are an unusual look (albeit welcomed) for a brand that mostly lives in G-10 and FRN, here riding on filework-machined steel liners. It all ships in a solid African Padauk display box, and Spyderco plants a tree for every one made.
Spec Sheet
Brand: Spyderco
Model: Native 5 50th Anniversary Amber Bone Sprint Run
Model Number: C41BA50TH
Overall Length: 6.95″
Blade Length: 2.98″
Blade Thickness: 0.125″
Blade Steel: CPM S90V
Blade Grind: Full-Flat
Handle Material: Amber Bone with Mosaic Damascus Bolsters
Liners: Stainless Steel
Locking Mechanism: Back Lock
Carry: Tip-Up, Right-Hand
Weight: 4.6 oz
Manufacturing Origin: USA
Pricing & Availability
The Native 5 50th Anniversary Amber Bone is a Sprint Run, so we expect this thing to fly, even at the price point. It carries a $1,200 MSRP, though Blade HQ has it listed slightly lower at $900. Both are taking stock notifications now ahead of its “coming soon” drop.
Recap
Spyderco Native 5 50th Anniversary Amber Bone CPM S90V Sprint Run
Spyderco celebrates 50 years by turning its everyday workhorse Native 5 into a 1,200-hour Damascus showpiece dressed in amber bone and S90V.
