Dragonfly - - Handle Question

Pointshoot777

Pointshoot777

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2001
Messages
748
Hi guys. I'm looking for a nice small knife - plain edge -that'll do light duty jobs in office or around town. I currently use various knives including a small Camillus lockback, but would like something with a clip. The Dragonfly looks to be about the right size. Now my question comes down to the handles. I wear size XL gloves. Knives too short (such as the Ladybug) don't work well for me. Also, I've found that really thin knives are a real challenge - uncomfortable in my hand and hard to control. One thing about my little Camillus is that it has black delrin handles that make the knife about 3/8" thick. This gives me enough grip for controlling this small knife (3 1/8" closed, 2 1/4" drop point blade). - - I think the FRN Ladybug might work well, though I would prefer if it were in VG-10 like some of the other models. - - So for you who own or have tried various models of the Dragonfly, how do the handles compare between them ? Is there a big difference in thickness and in 'grippiness' ? How comfortable were they to use, (and what sized gloves do you wear ?) Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. All the best, - - -
 
All the Dragonflies are now being produced in VG10, so check with whatever place you might order it from to see if they have any of those available.

Regarding the handles, I asked a little while ago over the Spyderco fourm about the handle thicknesses of the FRN version versus the SS and was given the following measurements...

SS handle: 6mm thick (0.234"), 11mm (0.429") if you include the clip

FRN handle: 0.387" at the reinforced pivot, 0.310" between pivot swell and clip, 0.513" at the thickest point of the clip

Perhaps you can compare that to knives you own and see if it's similar. I've always found the Dragonfly comfy to hold and use.
 
Thanks much - - that's exactly the info I was looking for. Good to know about them going with VG-10 now on all the models. That makes the FRN look like the one for me. I've only seen it listed in AUS-8, so will ask around. All the best, - -
 
I haven't found a VG-10 FRN Dragonfly yet, but I will snap up a couple when I do. I find the Ladybug too small to use, and the Spin difficult to open because my thumb barely bends far enough to catch the hole. (My thumbs are longer than the handle of the Spin.) I dislike SS handles in general, but the FRN Dragonfly is my most carried little big knife. Using the choil, I can get all four fingers on the knife, making it feel very secure in hand.

My glove size? I don't know, I usually buy extra-large. My pinkies are size twelve, and my handspan is ten inches. ;)
 
yablanowitz said:
I haven't found a VG-10 FRN Dragonfly yet, but I will snap up a couple when I do. I find the Ladybug too small to use, and the Spin difficult to open because my thumb barely bends far enough to catch the hole. (My thumbs are longer than the handle of the Spin.) I dislike SS handles in general, but the FRN Dragonfly is my most carried little big knife. Using the choil, I can get all four fingers on the knife, making it feel very secure in hand.

My glove size? I don't know, I usually buy extra-large. My pinkies are size twelve, and my handspan is ten inches. ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info - - I don't know my actual glove size either, just that grabbing XL seems to work best while L is too tight. And, I'm like you on steel handles. Have a steel Buck that is extremly slick handled which I hardly use. - - -Think I'll wait till I run across a Dragonfly FRN in VG-10 also. Got other knives that'll do the job until then. Regards, - -
 
Spyderco's website only lists the FRN as AUS-8. I guess (based on a forum post at the Spyderco.com website) that the 2008 printed catalog lists VG-10.

If anyone confirms finding a dealer with the VG-10 FRN version (I prefer plain edge myself) please let us know. Thanks, - - -
 
New Graham tells me that they have had the VG-10 Dragonflys, but that they sell out quickly. They also said that they still receive Aus-8 versions, with no particular rhyme or reason.

Good luck............Frank
 
Frank_Zuccarini said:
New Graham tells me that they have had the VG-10 Dragonflys, but that they sell out quickly. They also said that they still receive Aus-8 versions, with no particular rhyme or reason.

Good luck............Frank
Click to expand...

Thanks, - - I emailed New Graham earlier but didn't hear back from them. Guess I'll have to call them. If it takes a little while for the VG-10 to fill the pipeline I can wait since I have other small knives that fit the role. (Then why do I want another ? Guess I'm a 'knife knut' ! ) Best regards, - -
 
I use ''L/size 10'' gloves and the Dragonfly is very comfortable in my hand, great ergonomics for such a small knife.

Dragonfly FRN AUS-8.
Dragonfly_closed.jpg


Dragonfly_open.jpg
 
That looks like my hand when I was thirty years younger and fifty pounds lighter ;) :D
 
The Dragonfly is a great knife. It will fit my XXL Large hand very comfortable with two last fingers on handle one finger on choil and index finger on top of the blade and thumb on the hole of blade. Turn it over and with mt thumb on the choil it will cut upward. This knife always feels like it is under my control.This knife a wonderful design and it carries so well and cuts way out of proportion to it's size. I recommend it highly.
RKH
 
yablanowitz said:
I haven't found a VG-10 FRN Dragonfly yet, but I will snap up a couple when I do. I find the Ladybug too small to use, and the Spin difficult to open because my thumb barely bends far enough to catch the hole. (My thumbs are longer than the handle of the Spin.) I dislike SS handles in general, but the FRN Dragonfly is my most carried little big knife. Using the choil, I can get all four fingers on the knife, making it feel very secure in hand.

My glove size? I don't know, I usually buy extra-large. My pinkies are size twelve, and my handspan is ten inches. ;)
Click to expand...

I had a SS Dragonfly and it fit my hand very nicely once open, but I found that it seemed too small for me to open one-handed comfortably/safely/reliably. I could do it, but it was something I had to do rather deliberately/consciously/carefully, whereas my Delica requires no thought or concern. I have wondered if FRN would work better for me.

Glove size depends... I like a men's small golf glove, but have large ski gloves that fit very well... so let's call it medium!?!
 
I've never handled the SS version to compare, but I know the FRN handle is a bit thicker, and the molded clip provides a bit of extra grip when opening the knife. I find it easier to open and close my FRN D'flies than the SS Lava and Mouse, just because of the extra grip combined with lighter weight. I tend to drop small, heavy knives when I try to manipulate them. My fingers aren't quite as nimble as they once were.
 
yeah I prefer the FRN one too from a hand comfort standpoint; the molded clip really adds to the handle purchase when opening it w/thumb in spyderhole and becomes somewhat of a "palm swell" in the forward grip....super lightweight and easy to hold... but only righty friendly...
My ats55 SS Dragonfly i usually spyderdrop to open coz the thumb-in-hole way kinda flares up the arthritis in my thumb....holding the SS one opened is more difficult for me than w/the FRN one.....i haven't gotten to try the laser-etched ones yet...
but I bought a couple "backups" of the FRN one ;)
 
Yes its amazing how a very small bit of difference in measurements make a huge difference in comfort & ease of use. I think the FRN should work for me. I like the finger choil on my Mini-Manix and that's another big factor that got me to look at the Dragon fly - -
 
knifecenter.com usually has a nice choice of Spydercos and updates stock often, currently zytel only in aus8 but keep checking...nice prices also.

Although they have an advance sale on one with a white handle...interesting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top