Recommendation? Help Me Choose! Small folder, Spyderco or Benchmade?

D

Dr Tom

Joined
Feb 15, 2019
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I am trying to choose between four pocket knives. I currently own a Spyderco Cricket, but I leave that at work for box cutting duty. I am looking for a very small knife with a clip for my EDC & general purpose cutting. I think that I have narrowed it down to four options:

1. Spyderco Dragonfly ZDP-189.
2. Spyderco Dragonfly VG-10 with Spyderedge
3. Spyderco Lil Lum
4. Benchmade Impel 3150

any input is welcome!
-Tom
 
I find the Impel more comfortable than the Dragonfly, but finger choils on the blade don't settle well with me. Other people will differ with my opinion.
 
^Yes 99% of the time i want more blade or well executed sharpening choil over finger choil. PM2 comes to mind.
 
The Benchmade is an auto so really it's in it's own category. Sadly where I live even a tiny auto is not an option so my opinion on it is basically moot.
But I do own the ZDP Dragonfly and I love it. It's my most carried knife. For such a small knife its very comfortible and versatile, and I love the ZDP steel. In fact I would like to have another knife in the same steel.

The Lum looks like an awesome knife to. Another smaller Spyderco that im interested in would be the Cat.
 
Price range is a little wide there. My instinct would be the ZDP Dragonfly. If you don't end up liking it, for whatever reason, that will clearly indicate which way you should go, lum, or impell. Also the dragonfly is a great "stash kit" knife for first aid kits, or dayhike bags, a gift, or for the cost of membership here, you'll be able to pass it along pretty easily. All options are winners there.

In general though if you wanted to just try more small knives, there are plenty of cheaper spydercos that would be great for finding out what you really desire in a knife.

For my preference, I do like the way spyderco does the finger choils. So that is not as much a factor for me, it seems to be a polarizing feature.
 
Welcome to the forum......
Out of the four knives you offered I'd go with the dragonfly zdp 189 as long as you have a way to maintain that steel.

I love the chaparral carbon fiber cts-xhp. I have two, disappears in my pocket, great clip, great steel, thin, and a slicer.

Let us know how it goes.
 
In order to give you relevant input, could you tell us why you have narrowed your choices to those four? Pitch us each one.
 
None of them. They are all too small. Spyderco Delica 4 and Benchmade mini grip are the smallest that I am willing to spend money on, bar SAKs.

That said, I have had a zdp 189 DF2, which is what I would pivk among the four.
 
Krav said:
Welcome to the forum......
Out of the four knives you offered I'd go with the dragonfly zdp 189 as long as you have a way to maintain that steel.

I love the chaparral carbon fiber cts-xhp. I have two, disappears in my pocket, great clip, great steel, thin, and a slicer.

Let us know how it goes.
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I agree. Of the given choices, the DF2 in ZDP-189 is nice, provided there’s a plan for the eventual sharpening.

I also love the CF/G-10 Chaparral. It’s got more usable blade length than the Dragonfly, fits even large hands well, and it’s attractive, though more expensive. On the other hand, the FRN is roughly the same price as the DF2 in ZDP, and it’s a great alternative.
 
Japacheze said:
In order to give you relevant input, could you tell us why you have narrowed your choices to those four? Pitch us each one.
Click to expand...
I am really looking for a general use knife for everyday use that is extremely unobtrusive in my pocket. The reason for my choices... the Dragonfly 2 gets very high marks all across the board from virtually every review. I am not sure if I have the right tool to keep it sharp (I have a Spyderco Sharpmaker). I have only ever used plain edge pocket knives (in the past I have had Opinels and SAKs. I have a few Opinels around the house, but I find them too cumbersome for my pocket). I stumbled across the Lil Lum online and I find it extremely attractive. I also really like the leaf shaped blade because I think it would work well as a small picnic knife. However I am unsure about the ergonomics of the Lil Lum. The Benchmade was recommended by a friend who is a Benchmade fanatic. I really like how dressy the Benchmade is. It looks like a real gentleman’s knife to me. But I am certainly open to other possibilities. Price isn’t really an issue. Key issues for me are size (I really don’t want anything bulky), and usability for general utility knife work and occasional picnic abilities. I love my cricket for cutting boxes and removing staples, but it is not great for food slicing or pencil sharpening. I would stick with my Opinels, but they take up too much pocket space.
 
dsalazar said:
What are you going to be doing with tjese knives.
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Just general day to day use. Opening packages, cutting up cheese for crackers, sharpening pencils, breaking down boxes, trimming loose threads, pruning the butterfly bush next to my driveway, anything that anyone might use a pocket knife for.
 
I would try to go out and find a nice Spyderco Air over the 4. An overall better edc carry blade to me.
 
Spyderco Chaparral.

Want fancy - get the Raffir or Stepped Titanium scales
Want lightweight & inexpensive get the FRN scales.
 
drtom said:
Just general day to day use. Opening packages, cutting up cheese for crackers, sharpening pencils, breaking down boxes, trimming loose threads, pruning the butterfly bush next to my driveway, anything that anyone might use a pocket knife for.
Click to expand...
The spydie edge may not be best blade edge for those tasks. Spyderco blades are nice for cutting cheese.
 
ZT 0450 or Benchmade 940, small as I would consider and I dont have any knives with holes in the blades so cant recommend Spyderco.
 
Second on Chaparral.
Just got a FRN version.
Very light, thin and small but big enough, and very very slicey.
Love it so far.
 
I carry small folders too, and the DF2 in ZDP-189 is a great design and would be a very good choice, but I agree w/others suggestions in going with (or at least researching) the XHP Chaparral instead, in CF or FRN for a truly overall exellent small EDC folder. It's my most carried knife.

Tremendously underrated steel for edge holding and ease of sharpening, and may just be the sliciest little knife I've ever used.
 
Of the 4 listed, I'd go Dragonfly ZDP.

Since autos are seemingly allowed and you're worried you can't sharpen ZDP, get a VG10 Dragonfly + Kershaw Launch 4 auto. About $130 total and you get two great knives.
 
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