Benchmade Mini Bugout vs Spyderco Dragonfly in VG-10

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webb44

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Jun 18, 2024
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Hey everyone, first post here. I'm driving myself a little nuts with the decision between these 2 knives. The Mini Bugout seems to be the better steel with more of a fun factor, but costs a full $100 more than the Dragonfly. I like the made in America factor too, but is it crazy to spend that much more? For persepctive, this will be my only knife for now and I work in an office and really prefer the knife to be as discreet in my pocket as possible. I mostly carry in my fifth pocket and prefer not to use the clip when I can avoid it. I'm a little worried the Mini Bugout might be a little long for that pocket.

Also, side note, anyone else wish the S30V version of the Dragonly wasn't pink? That might be the obvious choice if it were a different color.
 
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Dragonflys have been made in steels besides S30v and VG10. You'll need to hunt around for them, but they are out there.

I consider the two knives you mention to be vastly different. The Bugout is bigger and much more hand filling. It also has a larger aftermarket for parts/upgrades if you want to do that in the future. The Dragonfly is pretty tiny, but cuts above its weight and has smaller aftermarket. Both are excellent in their class, but they are in different classes. The Dragonfly is perfect for fifth pocket carry. The Bugout and mini Bugout, not so much. However some fifth pockets can be significantly deeper than most.
 
SharpBits said:
Dragonflys have been made in steels besides S30v and VG10. You'll need to hunt around for them, but they are out there.

I consider the two knives you mention to be vastly different. The Bugout is bigger and much more hand filling. It also has a larger aftermarket for parts/upgrades if you want to do that in the future. The Dragonfly is pretty tiny, but cuts above its weight and has smaller aftermarket. Both are excellent in their class, but they are in different classes. The Dragonfly is perfect for fifth pocket carry. The Bugout and mini Bugout, not so much. However some fifth pockets can be significantly deeper than most.
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Thanks for the reply. I was referring to the mini bugout rather than the regular bugout, just to be clear. I mistakenly just said Bugout in my initial post, but corrected it.
 
I like the Bugout better. Be sure and check out the Chaparral also.
 
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I have Dragonfly 2 in VG10 and and one in H2, if you are considering a Mini Bugout I would tell you to look at the Chaparral LW closer in size and price point with a better blade steel than the DF2 in VG10. I have owned a Chaparral LW as well but sold it after picking up a Mini Bugout, wife uses the DF2 VG10 to open packages, the DF2 Salt stays in my beach backpack and I carry the Mini BG a lot more than I thought I would. I did get the Mini Bugout for $99 at Army & Air Force Exchange so decided to take flyer on it and glad I did and I have seen some Mini Bugouts in mint condition sold on the Blade Forums Exchange for prices south of $100.
 
I've owned both knives, and though I don't own either of them anymore, I am more fond of the Dragonfly. I DID carry it often in my jeans' fifth pocket and it disappeared completely. The Bugout Mini is a different knife altogether, I think.
 
Mini Bug out fits the hand better than the Dragonfly. Dragonfly just a bit small. I have had both and the Mini Bugout is just better .
 
I have both, and for fifth pocket, Dragonfly is the choice. Unless you have a very large fifth pocket, the mini bugout is too long. The Dragonfly is smaller so it won't get as much attention in an office environment. I frequently used a Dragonfly at work and no one made any comment about it, and I'm in Kommiefornia.

If you can work with non stainless steel, the Dragonfly in K390 is a very good option. Outstanding edge retention. Dragonfly is also available in a number of other steel options besides VG10. And if you want S30V, you can get the pink one and then dye the scales to any color you want. There are threads on dyeing the FRN scales using RIT dye.

If fifth pocket fit is not a requirement, the mini bugout has a larger handle and fits the hand better. As mentioned above, the Spyderco Chaparral lightweight is also a good option. Almost exactly the same length as the mini bugout, but wider handle and fills the hand better than the mini bugout. In my use, the XHP Chaparral has performed better than S30V, it's good stuff.
 
I have a Mini Bugout and I love it but I agree that it’s too long for most fifth pockets.

I’ve been looking at the Dragonfly but one thing that holds me back is that I also like to remove the pocket clip from my knives.

The pocket clip screw on the Dragonfly looks like it serves double duty as the fastener for the butt end of the handle scale. In other words, if the pocket clip is removed, that screw might need to be put back on to hold the handle slab in place. My concern is whether or not that screw will be too long to seat properly without the thickness of the pocket clip.

This isn’t an issue with the Mini Bugout because the clip screws don’t serve double duty as the handle fasteners.
 
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I love the dragonfly 2. There is a sprint run coming soon in pd#1 but .. that could be tomorrow or 6 months from now.

Bugout seems cheap and rattles around.
 
Railsplitter said:
The pocket clip screw on the Dragonfly looks like it serves double duty as the fastener for the butt end of the handle scale. In other words, if the pocket clip is removed, that screw might need to be put back on to hold the handle slab in place. My concern is whether or not that screw will be too long to seat properly without the thickness of the pocket clip.

This isn’t an issue with the Mini Bugout because the clip screws don’t serve double duty as the handle fasteners.
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It's actually just one piece of FRN (or maybe it's two pieces fused together because there is a line). The screws aren't holding the handle together at all though. You could ditch the clip and screw entirely no problemo 👍
 
Knives&Lint said:
It's actually just one piece of FRN (or maybe it's two pieces fused together because there is a line). The screws aren't holding the handle together at all though. You could ditch the clip and screw entirely no problemo 👍
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Thanks for that info. Very much appreciated!
 
The mini-bugout is nice. It feels more like a knife. The dragonfly is the minimalist knife and there are other steels. If you can find a zdp-189 version, they are a subtle dark green. And they were made in other steels. But I enjoy vg-10.

I also would look at the Lil native and Chappelle LW.

I am now considering the bugout full-size. I wanted to hate the bugout, but for suburban carry, it is nice and light.
 
The Dragonfly is barely a knife, it feels like a backup to your real knife. The mini Bugout will do real knife stuff.
 
Going back to your original issue.

Mini-bugout:
Won't fit in the fifth pocket,
has a more traditional blade shape,
Is more fidgety, I get funny looks when I one-hand close it, but it is much more enjoyable.
Is over priced unless it is a perfect knife for you.
Is extraordinary light and drops into dress pant front pockets and drops to the bottom without weighing it down.

Dragonfly 2
Has a really small cutting blade. The finger choil takes up a bunch of the blade length.
Has the Spyderco blade shape, which is a bit more noticable, not as nice for slicing apples or cheese, but it is great in most ways.
Is really affordable.
Has a back lock, which is less fidgety, and a bit less threatening.

But in general, these two lives aren't that comparable. Spyderco has much nicer, under 3" models. You should check those out. Chappelle LW, Para-3 LW and native 5 come to mind. And as you hit the mini-bugout price, there are so many options that are more elegant and just as robust, but not lighter.

My most carried knives are the Chappelle, followed by mini-bugout, but I often rotate in a Kizer feist or mini-Begleighter, and in addition to the modern knife, I carry a traditional as well. And at work, the traditional is what comes out.
 
Mini Bugout and some of my 5th pocket pants which I wear several of each brand, I will admit I don't wear Blue Jeans much and when I do I usually pocket my Gayle Bradley 2 in the front right pocket. In the Levi's it does bottom out but the other 2 I could carry a full size Bugout no problem, so depending what you like to wear YMMV.

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I rec the Dragonfly - it's great for work tasks and food. Really like the Wharncliffe. Also, the Chaparral is a great, very gentlemanly, very thin blade with good steel, I like Spyderco XHP a lot.
 
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