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Small Spydies. Which one, and why?

M

manowar669

Joined
Oct 1, 2002
Messages
1,821
I'm looking for a small knife. It seems spyderco makes the best small knives. I had an older Dfly (AUS6 with plastic clip), but was stolen in a home burglary. I liked it, so I'm probably leaning towards the Dfly.
The wife is now using a pink ladybug I got her a few years ago (small hole, AUS steel) great knife. The newer models are better. Looking at the Dfly vs. Manbug and Ladybug, cutting edges are very close, so why the bigger Dfly if you get the same (almost) edge with the smaller/lighter lady/manbug (other than the clip).
Also a request, if someone might post a pic of the manbug or ladybug, edge-to-edge with the Dfly (maybe flip them, point to ricasso/choil), just to see the difference in cutting edge. I don't really need the choil myself. Another thought, are the holes the same size between new Dflys, and lady/manbugs? Thanks for any help.
 
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Good timing minus the opinion part (beer thirty) ; p



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Good lucking choosin, im not so good at that
 
Hi Manowar,

I'm going to try to steer your thinking. Blades are for cutting, handles are for holding. While the cutting edge between the man/Lady bugs and the D'fly might be similar, the purchase available with the D'fly is much more substantial. Lady/Man bugs are a way to carry a cutting edge in a very small package, but while a sturdy grip is possible on the smaller models, the larger handle of the D'fly is greater.

I carry a Manbug regularly, along with a larger knife for bigger tasks which are easier to perform with the larger handle. Just some thoughts to share.

sal
 
Small Spydercos don't stop with the flies and bugs! Techno - hugely powerful knife that fits in the palm of your hand. Titanium frame lock, CTS-XHP steel. Leafstorm - S30V blade and natural G10 liner opposite a Titanium frame lock. Both knives will blow your mind. Techno is like Kate Upton, hand filling, everything you ever wanted but still small; Leafstorm is like Audrey Tautou- tiny, slightly weird, and something you'd never ever let go of, ever.

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Between them, my pick would be the DFly. While the cutting edge is just a little bigger, it feels much nicer in hand and is easier to open/close. I am considering the G10 and Salt versions.
 
Dragonfly is the smallest I have owned that I can get a full grip on and still feels like a "real knife".
 
Surfingringo said exactly what I was thinking, so I'll just say "ditto." I sometimes carry only my Dragonfly. I never do that win my Manbug. I see it strictly as a backup to a bigger knife.
 
I just picked up an FRN Dfly for $48 delivered. I am on a G10 kick but I got cheap because I was afraid I might lose it since it is even smaller then my Chap. I have to say, I REALLY like it. I definitely wouldn't want to go any smaller personally for pocket carry. Any smaller and a keychain knife is all I would use it for. Go DFly, you won't regret it, VG10 is such a nice
user steel.
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Manowar,

I'm going to try to steer your thinking. Blades are for cutting, handles are for holding. While the cutting edge between the man/Lady bugs and the D'fly might be similar, the purchase available with the D'fly is much more substantial. Lady/Man bugs are a way to carry a cutting edge in a very small package, but while a sturdy grip is possible on the smaller models, the larger handle of the D'fly is greater.

I carry a Manbug regularly, along with a larger knife for bigger tasks which are easier to perform with the larger handle. Just some thoughts to share.

sal
Click to expand...

I added a SuperBlue ManBug to my keychain a few months ago and I love it.
For what's it's worth, if you add an extra ring, it allows for a bit more purchase on the grip, letting me wrap my pinky around the extra key ring.

Pics incoming...
 
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IMG_20140515_200822949_zpsttmao8wy.jpg
 
I'm at work and my SB Dragonfly is at home, but I'll try to remember to take some comparison pics when I get home later.
Hopefully the pics I have handy provided some help.
 
As you can see flanking my Manbug ZDP-189 are the Dragonfly ZDP-189 and the Ladybug VG-10. The Manbug is attached to my key chain by a lanyard which acts as an extension to the handle giving a more controlled grip, similar to what Rasco mentions above with the split rings. To me, the Manbug is a great key chain knife with the Ladybug taking second place.

 
Stand Straight said:
As you can see flanking my Manbug ZDP-189 are the Dragonfly ZDP-189 and the Ladybug VG-10. The Manbug is attached to my key chain by a lanyard which acts as an extension to the handle giving a more controlled grip, similar to what Rasco mentions above with the split rings. To me, the Manbug is a great key chain knife with the Ladybug taking second place.

Click to expand...

The lanyard looks like an even better way to get 4 fingers on there. I need to whip me up one of those when I'm not feeling lazy
But yeah, with a little extra somethin on the end, I feel like I get just as much real estate as my Dragonfly.
 
Right now I own three Dragonfly models. It's a great little knife made even better by the choil. Personally, I have big, clumsy hands and I cannot easily manipulate knives with short grip spaces. The Dragonfly choil solves that issue easily. If your main requirement is small size, the Ladybug/Manbug would be the best choice. The Dragonfly excels in handling and cutting tasks.
 
As much as I really like Dragon fly (my wife has it and she loves it!), it is a tad bit small for me. I bought Cat instead. Yes, yes, it only has 440C, but big enough for my hand to be comfortable and has liner lock.

I wish it can be "Bengal Cat" version with more wear resistant steel with compression lock, perhaps?

I too really like 50% choil that allow to hold the "edge" at your fingertip.
spyderco-cat-fallknivar.jpg


(Edit: Oh, BTW, Cat's blade is thicker than Chaparral and has liner lock rather than spine lock)
 
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I like Delica Sabre Grind and Ladybug the best out of ones i've tried for "small" spyderco's. The Ladybug feels more solid to me than the DF plus it's incredabley small size and still feeling solid is a win win. Will probably get a Cat soon one of these days. Just got custom CF scales for my Delica and boy oh boy does she look purty now. Will take some posing pics when i can.
 
What? No mention of the Jester? It's my favorite of the keychain sized Spydercos. Even though the Manbug is a bit bigger, I really like the way the Jester fits in my hand and gives a few more grip options than either Mbug or Lbug. Personal preference. That said, even with a micarta Jester on my keychain, I've been carrying a SuperBlue D-Fly in my pocket as an EDC instead of my CF Cat. I still think the CF Cat is the ultimate all-around small Spyderco EDC feature-wise (for those of us who live where there are 3" length restrictions on folders), but the D-Fly is so light it just disappears in your pocket and is pretty great in hand.
 
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