Spyderco Dragonfly 2 ZDP or Spyderco Chapparal s30v

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peepskp

Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
9
Hello,

I bought a spyderco techno after some recommendations a few months ago and absolutely love it. I am now interested in getting something different and I am currently in between two knives.

What I'm thinking:
-I really like the wire clip on my techno and would prefer my new knife to have one as well, or something that is deep carry.
-Love the cts-xhp steel of my techno but want to try something new.
-Reservation with the dragonfly are the green scales it comes with, I personally don't like the look of FRN. Sorta cheap looking to me.
-Reservation with the chapparal is the steel, s30v doesn't excite me as much as the ZDP does.
-I like the size of the two knives, don't want anything larger since these will be for EDC.
-Want to stay around $100.
-I have an Edge Pro Professional so sharpening is not an issue at all.
-Like high f&f (I know a $100 knife might not blow my socks off like the techno)

I am up for other recommendations from the knife gods on the site as well. I have a slight interest in axis-locks....

Thanks!
 
Sounds like you should be shooting for the XHP Chapparral. I didn't even know they made a S30v one...!

http://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP1...1316-cts-xhp-plain-blade-carbon-fiber-handles

$120 from knifecenter. I'd put high odds on it being findable for cheaper elsewhere.

ZDP-189 is a great steel for light duty tasks, as it is so hard it tends to run a little brittle. I don't mean it'll chip if you look at it wrong, but I certainly wouldn't subject it to any impacts or lateral stresses. ZDP-189 is also a tool steel, and the dragonfly is not one of the 420j2/ZDP laminates like the CF Caly series. As such, ZDP is likely to develop oxidation (patina, pitting, rust) much more readily than the steels you may have encountered in the past. If you're a particularly sweaty person or live in a humid climate, I strongly advise against ZDP-189 unless you're down with putting a rust preventative (like marine tuff-glide) on the blade every couple weeks or so. You could also invest in a tuff-cloth and just wipe down the blade.

S30v isn't exciting anymore, and I feel like that's a sign of how spoiled we are. S30v used to be a supersteel - it was designed specifically for cutlery and has some of the best qualities of any steel. It's corrosion resistant, highly wear resistant, impact resistant (to a degree), and is relatively easy to maintain an edge on. It tends to take a pretty toothy edge due to the high carbide content, but, that's a nitcpicky little thing.

Honestly, I would suggest shopping around and being patient. Try to find them used or at a discount, see which one fits your hand better, and then sell the other. Believe me, when you're in that size range, ergos are everything. Blade steel doesn't matter if you don't want to use the knife...
 
I already have XHP so I am not too thrilled about getting another knife with the same steel. I am just starting a collection so I would like it to be a bit more diverse if possible.

Any other recommendations?
 
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