• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

Office Knife

S

SpydrMan

Joined
Jul 20, 2014
Messages
302
Hello all. I'm looking at getting a small knife for use in an office. Blade around 2" or less that carries easily in the pocket of dress pants. I won't be clipping it so a pocket clip isn't necessary. I've got it narrowed down to the Ladybug, Cricket, and Spin. Right now I'm leaning towards the Ladybug. I have Delicas and a DFly, and the Ladybug just seems like a smaller version of that line. Can anyone with experience with any of these knives offer their opinion, or suggest something that I may have missed? I did consider the Manbug, but it doesn't seem like it's that much different than a Ladybug to justify the extra cost. Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Gayle Bradley Air. It is more expensive than the options you mentioned but I really like it as a small light "dress" knife.
 
For blade lengths of 2 inches or less:

  • ManBug
  • LadyBug
  • Chicago

Try the ManBug G-10 with a 1.96" blade of VG-10, G-10 handles with bolsters and weighing just 1.5 ounces.

MGGY_L.jpg
 
The Cricket and Spin for me are difficult to open one-handed without the clip to give you something to hold onto. Have you considered the Kiwi (original clipless lockback and/or slippie)? I think the Balance and Equilibrium rate a look at too. Bout the same size blade as the Spin but a lot more handle (close to the Cricket). The Des Horn is also an option of you like very pointy wharncliffe blades.
 
senoBDEC said:
The Cricket and Spin for me are difficult to open one-handed without the clip to give you something to hold onto. Have you considered the Kiwi (original clipless lockback and/or slippie)? I think the Balance and Equilibrium rate a look at too. Bout the same size blade as the Spin but a lot more handle (close to the Cricket). The Des Horn is also an option of you like very pointy wharncliffe blades.
Click to expand...

Des Horn has a blade length of 3.11".

There's a Spin Sprint Run right now with a 1.86" blade of VG-10.

C86GFBL_L.jpg


Cricket has a blade length of 1.89" with various handle materials.

C29GFBL_L.jpg


Balance & Equilibrium by Ed Schempp are also under 2 inches.

C141_L.jpg

C166_L.jpg
 
The Cricket does intrigue me, especially the blue Nishijin. It's the blade shape that I have some reservations with. Not so much it's ability to cut, but the difficulty to resharpen a reverse S blade. When I get home tonight I'll look at the other suggestions as well.
 
GB Air and Chicago...as previously mentioned. Yes, the GB Air is longer than 2", but the knife is so small anyway that you wouldn't be bothered by it,.. IMO.
 
This would my first choice, but the Jester/Ladybug/Manbug would also be good choices. The spin is awesome clipped to a shirt pocket, and if my next job requires me to wear a tie I'm going to try it out as a tie clip.

 
out of current production I would go with Dragonfly Tatoo or hunt down Kopa
 
If it's going to be for light-use and one-handed opening isn't a must, it might be worthwhile to track down a Micro Dyad.
 
Thanks for all the input. I spent the better part of the last two hours evaluating every model suggested. As a matter of fact I evaluated every Spyderco with a blade around 2" or less. Based on price, size, weight, ease of sharpening, and a blade lock, I went with the Ladybug 3 in Foliage Green. If I don't like it it's not a big deal at around $30. It was close between the Ladybug, the blue Nishijin Cricket and the Squeak. Considering I just picked up two Manix 2's, a Sage 1, and a Tenacious in the past three weeks I wanted to keep the cost down. And even though a slip joint is completely safe, I still like a lock. I appreciate the input guys.
 
Good choice, Spydrman!
I haven't handled the other knives that were recommended but I would have said get a ladybug. I have three in the ladybug handle format: an H1 hawkbill ladybug, a grey g10 Jester and a stainless version (a selfless gift from a Spyderco.com forum member.) They're all great but I'll probably still buy the normal plain edge FRN ladybug like the one you picked.

For some reason that's the one I always wanted but never bought. I read about it on an ultralight camping blog and years later when I wanted a good simple $50 knife, I googled and the name Spyderco (Delica) stood out. The FRN ladybug seems perfect and it's light enough to carry in a shirt pocket. I hope you like it, you should come back and revive this thread when you get it.

I've seen photos the cricket and the spin so many times and I always thought they were bigger...very interesting, always saw them as oddballs. I like the looks of the balance and equilibrium and they seem to have very dedicated fans, well at least one I've read praise the Balance over and over. That's one I'll buy to try it...how I wish I could hold all these knives to make my mind up on a favorite.

So many good options, and I'm feeling spendy right now...I've got to get offline.
 
A slipjoint can close accidentally...especially if what you're cutting shifts awkwardly...I think locking knives are safer.
 
RamZar said:
For blade lengths of 2 inches or less:

  • ManBug
  • LadyBug
  • Chicago

Try the ManBug G-10 with a 1.96" blade of VG-10, G-10 handles with bolsters and weighing just 1.5 ounces.

MGGY_L.jpg
Click to expand...

Ditto! I have the Manbug G10 and it is a fantastic little knife. It looks good, classic even, but is a stout little fellow and cuts better than a lot of larger knives. Ergonomics are superior on this knife. The other good choice would be the Chicago, but even though the blade is the same length, the handle is much larger overall. I vote for the Manbug.

P.S. The scales are much lighter than in this photo. They are a very nice light grey.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top