Dragonfly 2 vs Manbug

E

EagleIH

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Dec 5, 2009
Messages
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Just wanted some educated thoughts about the Dragonfly 2 vs Manbug. The blade size is pretty close. Any thoughts about the advantages/disadvantages of either would be helpful. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
 
EagleIH said:
Just wanted some educated thoughts about the Dragonfly 2 vs Manbug. The blade size is pretty close. Any thoughts about the advantages/disadvantages of either would be helpful. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Click to expand...

Pocket Clip vs Lanyard hole
 
I do not have experience of the Manbug, but the Dragonfly's choil and pinky-shelf gives you a 4-finger grip.

I prefer the looks over the Manbug, it flows better IMO. You can also get it in H1.
 
I have both the Manbug and Dragonfly. Love them both, but the Dragonfly is hands down the better knife.
 
Blade is about the same size but the handle is not. Technically, the Dragonfly is one form factor greater than the Manbug, so they are hard to compare. The Manbug favors ultra-compact where as the Dragonfly favors "little big knife" performance. The Dragonfly is right about at the size in which most people will find they prefer using a pocket clip instead of just setting the knife in the pocket.

Also, the Dragonfly opens up to form an additional finger coil, as noted. This really gives excellent control for precision cutting and it's much more leverage than the Manbug. The blade shape of the Dragonfly is arguably better-suited to harder work, and while I've not broken the tip on either, I think the Dragonfly will have a much stronger tip. The Dragonfly is also very easy to sharpen and I think the high profile of the blade helps better control precision cutting. It is a bit wider when closed versus the Manbug, but it's still pretty compact.

While I know the Dragonfly is available in SuperBlue and ZDP-189 super steels (the Manbug probably is too), I think the base VG-10 steel is excellent and an excellent choice for a daily use knife (it's also a lot less expensive than the models with the super steels.) IIRC the Manbug is also standard in VG-10.
 
I personally just cannot understand carrying and using a Ladybug/Manbug. I have tried and they are just too small. For me it is just easier to carry and use something like a Swiss Army Knife. I do have and carry a Dragonfly here and there. I carry it clipless in the pocket.

It's just like the Ladybug/Manbug is just hilariously small. It's like trying to use a Barbie sized phone or something. It would be OK if it was the only thing I had but I would not go out of my way to buy one especially when I can get a Dragonfly for such a close price.
 
OK I'll stand alone on this one. I have both and much prefer the manbug to the dragonfly. I dislike the thumb ramp that comes to a sharp point on the df2. It has a wide profile for as small of a blade as it is. Its a little to large to drop in my pocket for my taste. The clip despite being bent in deep carry fashion, is mounted low on the handle leaving a fairly large amount of the knife showing. If I were to carry the df2 as my only knife it would be because I'm in a less knife friendly place so more knife showing is not a good thing. As stated the blade lengths are very close but the dragonfly is a fair amount larger to carry. I don't see either knife as a "hard use" blade but if that is your intent I would opt for the df2.
To me a blade the size of these is for small detail work or for when you don't want people freaking out when you pull your Paramilitary out to cut a hang nail.
NOW for the real answer: if you decide your uses are in line with mine and you think you'll like a man bug, then take a hard look at the blade profiles between it and the ladybug. The LB has a nice pointy tip where as the MB has an upswept tip. Again the difference in blade length is negligible and the overall package is a tad smaller.
My PM2 is almost always accompanied by my zdp189 ladybug poked in the little watch pocket in my jeans. OK enough rambling...

 
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