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Help me decide....

M

mjdubs

Joined
Apr 8, 2014
Messages
55
So I'm looking for a small knife/backup knife. Don't think I need a back up knife but feel a smaller blade can handle the Daly requirements I use my etc for. So I've narrowed it down to 3.
TECHNO-
bit heavy compared to the other 2 contenders but the fit and finish are superb. I can Spydie flick it easy with my left hand which is important as it's not lefty friendly for thump deployment. Love the stonewash. Seems like it could handle quite a bit of work. Blade is crazy thick. Love/hate there
DRAGONFLY NISHIJIN ZDP189-
Glass looks really cool but would be a backup knife. Blade once choils factored in is quite small. Don't think I'd EDC this one much but might be surprised. Blade looks thick enough. The swedge is deceiving and makes it look thinner than it really is.
CHAPARRAL CF-
Looks amazing. Very thin blade. Light. Find it the medium of all 3. Maybe too small and maybe just right for EDC. I'm used to 3.3 to 3.8 inch blades. Like the steel. Same as Techo just a third as thin.

I left with one in hand and am having remorse. Might return on Monday.

So.....which of the 3 would you get and why....please help a blade lover out.
 
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I would get the chaparral for sure! I tend to like larger folders, but I recently bought a chaparral for my father and fell in love with the design! Perfect size for a true edc pocket knife and amazing ergonomics. Much more comfortable and practical than the Techno IMHO.

So which did you get??
 
I have the Chapparal in hand. But feel like it's not the right one. But it's only cuz I really want all three. I liked it enough to leave with it. For the price of Techno I could get a Domino which is also high on my list of future purchase. The Techno is funky looking but I guess me likes it. Handled it every time in the shop. It grows each time. Maybe it's the price to size ratio I'm struggling with.
Decisions.....thanks surf for helping me feel like I didn't make a terrible decision. Hate it when you aren't in love with it, but like it enough still.
 
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Chaparral is a keeper for sure. Greats size for EDC. And it's a great package.
 
Hard to go wrong with any of those three. What's important to you? Go Techno if you want something heavier, Dragonfly if you want something smaller. The Chap is a great blade and one of my favorites.
 
ChrisB507
They all seem small to me. Dragonflys are so popular here. I feel umdergunned with one for no reason. Average use is food prep. Cutting paper. Slicing paper and boxes. Cleaning fingernail cuticles. Laughable I know. Hard work would be yard work. Cutting shrubs and roots. I wish I knew what I wanted.
 
Chap for sure for me. The Dragonfly is okay, but its ergos are not quite right. The deep under curve is too much. I do like how light it is, and mine is the only SE and only H1 steel I have so it has a unique role to fill. The Techno, while I have only handled once was not for me either. Too small a handle with too thick a blade. Go to the other extreme with the little Chap, and that is a slicing machine. I had the little Chap for a week in a passaround and liked it, but will never own one. I simply prefer a 3.5" blade. I just picked up a Squeak for my wife and that is the best little big knife I have handled yet. To the Chap, I agree with XHP also. I find it to give me the extra edge stability that S30V has lacked at times.
 
Nccole....that's what I'm thinking. Maybe these little big knives aren't my thing. I'm leaning a return for the Domino. Same XhP steel that I want to try. But don't know if I need to give the chap a better chance. I could also try the Caly 3 CF ZDP.
 
mjdubs said:
Nccole....that's what I'm thinking. Maybe these little big knives aren't my thing. I'm leaning a return for the Domino. Same XhP steel that I want to try. But don't know if I need to give the chap a better chance. I could also try the Caly 3 CF ZDP.
Click to expand...

Dubs, the day I bought the chaparral for my father, I also bought him a caly 3 ZDP!! I was blown away by both knives and would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. I would love to own either one myself, but keep in mind, I already have a drawer full of 3.5"+ folders, so these smaller edc blades have a novel appeal to me.

If you feel the chap is just to small then I would not exchange for a techno. You will be getting another "too small" knife that lacks the ergos and performance (for your tasks) of the chaparral.
 
mjdubs said:
Nccole....that's what I'm thinking. Maybe these little big knives aren't my thing. I'm leaning a return for the Domino. Same XhP steel that I want to try. But don't know if I need to give the chap a better chance. I could also try the Caly 3 CF ZDP.
Click to expand...

I have a Caly 3 ZDP-189. It has just enough handle to be comfortable, and the choked up choil grip is fantastic. It is a great knife right on the line of just big enough. It is reserved for special occasion carries due to the high rate of scratching on the 420 clad steel though.
 
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