FRN Dragonfly research - need input

Sal Glesser

Sal Glesser

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Hi All,

The long awaited G-10 Dragonfly is in house and going through QC. They look very nice and should be shipping shortly.

The G-10 version is a peel-ply foliage green (at least for now), has full skeletonized stainless liners, full flat grind with a swedge on the spine. It has screw construction and we've designed a shorter wire clip which is left/right tip up. It's a deep pocket clip, but the tip of the handle will stick out as we put the lanyard hole closer to the end of the handle because many like to fit the D'fly to a key ring. The clip is removable. I guess it is a Dragonfly2.

We're planning to begin the new mold for the FRN d'fly2. We're going to use the same pattern as the G-10 version, which is the same as the current model. We're planning to use the same shorter wire clip. We're planning to use the same bi-directional texturing that we're using on the newer FRN models.

We can make the model with a one piece FRN handle like the current model, or we can make the new model like the Delica with nested skeletonized stainless liners and screw construction.

I welcome, suggestions, debate, preferences and why?

thanx much.

sal
 
Oh man, I can't wait. I say 2 piece screw construction for the FRN model, for ease of cleaning.
 
While I know there are those who worship at the alter of screw construction, nested liners on a knife that size sounds like overkill to me. To me, a monocoque FRN handle is more than strong enough. I'd also imagine it would help keep the cost more reasonable. Is there any reason screw pivots could not be used with an unlined FRN handle? If so, that might be the best of all worlds.

As for texture, any chance of Calypso Jr style fish scale bi-directional?

And, since you've asked for preferences, I have to admit, I'm a bit disappointed the swedged spine is being retained, and that yet another small non-tactical folder has to be disfigured by the Boye dent. Was hoping perhaps both of those would have gone the way of the integral FRN clip.

Paul
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I'd like to see screw construction on the frn but i do think nested liners are overkill for a knife like the D'fly

Whatever you choose it will be good :D
 
I kind of want the screw construction with nested liners too, even though The Deacon has a really good point about it being overkill on such a small knife. I also assume it adds to the price.

Would it be possible to make a straight wide groove in the FRN from the pivot to the rear-most screw, that way the nested liner would just have to be a strip of metal with rounded ends (much cheaper, I assume)? This could possibly be a good compromise between weight/price/rigidity.
 
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DragonFly 2? As I recall, the FRN handle was changed to include a pinky rest as part of the one-piece molded clip design several years after the original was born. I guess that would make the current FRN model a DragonFly 1.5 ;)

As to your survey question, I would prefer to see a two-piece FRN molded handle with nested skeletonized stainless liners and screw construction. As the DragonFly 2 will have an ambidextrous wire clip, why not include all of the current ‘bells & whistles’ just as you have when you overhauled the Enduras and Delicas? Although the additional lock strength from nested skeletonized stainless liners is somewhat overkill for such a small knife and the screw construction (all important adjustable pivot bolt) will have some inept ELUs returning them after they reassembled them incorrectly, lost parts, or stripped threads, I believe our customers will perceive these ‘improvements’ as beneficial and will pay a slightly higher price (how much higher?) to get them.
 
Keep it simple, go with one piece FRN. I love how thin my Salts are without liners, if the Dragonfly could be that thin it would be great.
 
flatgrinder said:
1 piece handle with a screw pivot would be nice.
Click to expand...

+1 but also screw lock bar. No need for liners the larger Salts are great without them.

I'm with Deacon, no swedge, not for looks but I like to put my thumb and fore finger on the spine and like a flat platform.

I'd also like to see the thumb ramp with out the point, my thumb always manages to end up there at some stage, just smoothed over like the UKPK.

I would like to see the blade with a little more forward belly, I find the leaf shape blade always gets too much tip involved when cutting on something. I do love the look of it though.
 
Never thought I'd say this but:
One piece FRN construction.
Why? A knife this size doesn't need the screws. Keep this one simple.:)
 
Something this small is a true edc blade, and like most edcs, it's gonna be used to pry, twist, scrape and jimmy as well as slice.
It's small enough that liners and screws aren't going to weigh it down much. and for the abuse that regular users are likely to put it through, the tradeoff should be weighted for durability.

$0.02
 
It should be free to anyone named 65535. :p I'll trade you one for a chocolate spyder how about that?

It would make assembly quite a bit more difficult, but I would be interested to see a 1 piece WITH nested liners.
 
no liners, so very pointless for a small blade

sounds great otherwise. only complaint I had about the d-fly I used to own was the integral clip, that has been addressed.
 
As long as its not too much more expensive than the one piece version i would go for the version with the skeletonized liners and screws....I really like to be able to get into all the nooks and crannies when im cleaning...plus it just looks nicer
 
Sal,

I agree with many others. For the Dragonfly, keep it screwless.

Add the bi-directional texturing and wire clip, even a screw pivot, but keep the FRN to one piece. This will keep it light and affordable, while still adding tons of performance.

Also, let's see it in light grey!!
 
I would like to have a wire clip or standard clip on the FRN rather than the thick integrated clip like on the current FRN version.. it's too bulky. It would nice to be able to completely remove the clip if you would want to just carry in the bottom of your pocket like a slipjoint instead of "on" your pocket with a clip.
 
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