Dialex Junior - anyone got one?

EZ Bake

EZ Bake

Joined
Mar 5, 2009
Messages
1,752
I'm on the fence with this one. I've almost bought it / traded for it several times, but just can't pull the trigger.

I've read about some QC complaints on the liners/scales, edge-grind, and general fit/finish. I'm hoping those were isolated incidents, but given that Japan has had their ups and downs in the past few years, it makes me wonder if they're more wide-spread.

I'm also not a fan of super-thin liners and G10 - I understand the the knife weighs under 3oz (and you've got to cut material to get weight down), but that's almost light enough that it scares me - especially with a big honking blade-to-handle ratio.

I also wish the wire pocket-clip was a low-rider and not the reverse-style. At the end of the day, I really want to like this knife (I've held one at a gun/knife show for just a few seconds and it surprised me how small/light it was, but I did like the feel).

There's also the cost - is it worth the price?

Anyone own one that cares to weigh in?
 
Hey, EZ. I've had the Junior since it came out and have really enjoyed it. The comp lock is nice and solid, but it doesn't click open authoritatively like the Para2 or SuperLeaf - it's not designed to. But it still feels rock solid in hand.

I love the ergonomics of this knife. It has become my go-to knife for Boy Scout hikes. The wide blade excels at prepping food and woodcraft. And it is lightweight and disappears into my cargo shorts.

As far as the clip goes - I swapped out a lowrider wire clip that I salvaged from a UKPK. It just pops right in - no fuss, no muss. It now carries a lot better in pocket. I also did this same swap with my orange Dodo.

The Spyderco quality really shines with this knife. They balanced the tolerances with the cost and really hit the sweet spot. I love it.

TedP
 
EZ Bake said:
Yeah, I read that - it's basically the most informative post on the Junior I could find (and I appreciate that).

Do you own a SuperLeaf or a Paramilitary2?
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I do own a PM2. Junior knocked it out of edc shortly after acquiring. :) For me, I didn't have any typical jobs that I felt the PM2 could handle that the Junior couldn't. I also have family members who look to me when they need to borrow a knife, and the guard of the Junior's handle makes it a good candidate for quick loans. Seriously, my mom found a way to gush blood with a butter knife, so the Junior adds a little extra protection and stability during use. Weight and bulk were another factor as I keep my edc most commonly in my back pocket. The junior's slimmer build and lighter heft worked better for this carry style.

As far as price... I'm surprised to see that this knife's asking price seems to be slowly creeping upward. I think I paid ~$110 when it first came out, then I saw them slowly drop to 90'ish I think, but they're now usually in the $130's. Hopefully this one turned out to be a sleeper hit and that explains the uptick in price. ;)

One thing that is solely a cosmetic personal preference for me: I love full liners in a handle. The nested liners of the PM2 and other spydies are great in terms of performance and shaving down weight on larger handles, but there is a certain look and style to having the steel exposed that I like.

Took some crappy pics trying to show the knife in comparison to a few other spydies, hope this helps:
IMG_20120601_144933.jpg

IMG_20120601_145429.jpg
 
It's a lot of knife for such a light folder.

The ergos are great, the Spydie hole is perfectly situated, the comp lock is smooth, lockup is tight, the large blade is well-centered, and the grip is just freakin awesome.
 
I bought one about a month ago. Fit and finish is on par with my other Spyderco knives. It certainly isn't Manix-class in terms of size 'n toughness but it is more than enough for my usual EDC tasks. In that respect it is in the same category as something like a delica (IMO). The lock bar on the compression lock does appear to be a bit on the slender side but it seems to be pretty sturdy. The lock on my Spyderco "S" is about as thin and it has held up well over the years. I like the wide, thin blade as well as the fact that it has a bit of a sweeping curve or "belly" to the edge. A nice departure from the typical leaf shaped blade.

The only thing that I would change is the shape of the handle near my third and little finger. If it were a little bigger or it didn't have that little concave contour it would fit my hand a lot better and allow for a better grip without compromising the compact profile of the handle too much.
 
Yeah, I would have already ordered one if the handle didn't curve so strongly. The grip to blade angle on many Spydercos is my sole major design disagreement with Sal & co.

John
 
I'm hoping that the Junior becomes popular enough Spyderco makes another similar model or a sprint run... Just can't justify that much money for VG10. But overall, I very much like the design philosophy and looking forward to the future of this knife, but I would have to hold one in real life to make a final decision.
 
I personally don't have an issue with VG10 - the ease of sharpening (easier than any other steel I've owned) more than makes up for any lack of edge-retention over "super steels".

I just don't know if this guy is in the cards for me (basically getting bumped for other Spydercos on the list).
 
EZ Bake said:
I personally don't have an issue with VG10 - the ease of sharpening (easier than any other steel I've owned) more than makes up for any lack of edge-retention over "super steels".

I just don't know if this guy is in the cards for me (basically getting bumped for other Spydercos on the list).
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VG10 is a good steel, even better than a lot of "super steels" in some POUs... But when Enduras are 60 dollars, its hard to pay over 100 for a knife with the same steel and around the same length... I guess what I meant was it feels like the Junior is at a premium for it's design and that it is a new knife with a small production, and with so many other good options, I'd rather pay a premium for blade steel and not design (even though I really do like the Junior's design).
 
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I've had one since January and I carry it nearly every day. It is a great knife. The blade is quite large for the handle size.
DSCN1249.jpg
 
Hightide said:
I'm hoping that the Junior becomes popular enough Spyderco makes another similar model or a sprint run... Just can't justify that much money for VG10. But overall, I very much like the design philosophy and looking forward to the future of this knife, but I would have to hold one in real life to make a final decision.
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EZ Bake said:
I personally don't have an issue with VG10 - the ease of sharpening (easier than any other steel I've owned) more than makes up for any lack of edge-retention over "super steels".

I just don't know if this guy is in the cards for me (basically getting bumped for other Spydercos on the list).
Click to expand...

I thought a lot about what I said trying to figure out what I really meant, and after ruminating on it I think I realized what I was trying to say...

Because the Junior isn't a "high value" knife, the main reasons people will buy it is because of the "cool" factor and pride of ownership, and that is where the Junior having VG-10 and made in Japan fails for me. Because the Junior has VG-10 and is normal a production model, it loses some "coolness" because VG-10 is a "boring steel" and unless it is discontinued it wouldn't be that rare. The design is makes it more than enough "cool" for some people, but for me it just isn't enough. The Junior being made in Japan is also a strike against it for me, however, for some people having a knife from Seki city gives them lots of pride of ownership, but I take more pride of a knife made in the USA. I don't mind foreign produced knives if they are high value, but if I'm buying a knife in part for pride of ownership, it is a strike against it. In closing, those are the reasons why the VG-10 bumps the Junior of my knives to buy list.
 
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I have had one for a few weeks and overall I think its a really good choice for EDC. The lock is not quite as robust as the Para 2 but I believe it can handle most EDC type tasks easily. The ergos are great to me and I absolutely love the blade design. Fit and finish were as good as any Spyderco I have.

dialex.jpg
 
Ugh, I hate this thread. I thought I put my want for a Junior to bed a few weeks ago, and now I want one again :/. I'm stuck between this Junior or a Sage 1/2 for my next Spyderco Purchase...

Anyway, I held a Junior at my local brick and mortar shop, and I absolutely love the handle choil. I agree with OP though, wish they did a deep carry wire clip instead of that backwards one. I'm also sick of black g10 so that's another hit on the Junior...
 
I don't know. When I saw the proto I thought that I had to have it, but I never picked one up. I am questioning if I should get one after this thread.
 
I wish they would make a senior version. My big hands are the only thing holding me back
 
I'm keeping my eyes fixed squarely on the Techno at this point and ignoring everything else (aside from possibly the Green PM2).
 
My Spydies came in...and the Junior ended up in my GF's pocket to replace the Dragonfly, which is just a little small for her. It's a neat knife, with a lot of blade for such a slender handle. The compression lock on this one does seem a bit delicate, though.
 
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