Today I'm reviewing two versions of the same knife: the Spyderco Dragonfly. One has a black FRN handle and AUS-8 blade steel; the other has acid-etched stainless steel handles and a blade of VG-10. Both knives are the same size, but it ends there.
First, here's the AUS-8 version, model number 28PE. It weighs 1.2 ounce...
The blade is made of AUS-8 stainless steel, and it's 2-5/16" long with an edge of 1-7/8". It's 3/32" thick, and flat ground. The opening hole is 7/16" in diameter. Spyderco's AUS-8 is probably the best I've seen in a production folder. It takes a wicked edge and holds it for a pretty long time compared to other companies' AUS-8. The left side of the blade says SPYDERCO above AUS-8 STAINLESS on the tang, while the right side says SEKI-CITY above JAPAN on the tang. There's a nice cusp right behind the opening hole that gives your thumb a nice place to sit while cutting, and a choil for your index finger to get closer to the blade while not going on it. It's a small choil, and neither the choil or the cusp is jimped, but they work very nicely without it.
The FRN Dragonfly's handles are made of black FRN (plastic) and have no liners. The knife is 3-7/32" when closed. It locks open via lockback, which is positioned in the middle of the handle. The left side handle has Spyderco's Volcano Grip, while the right side has no texturing. Instead, the right side has an integral (non-removable) pocket clip molded to the handle. The clip allows the knife to be carried tip-up. A lanyard hole is provided, and allows easier drawing. Lock-up is solid as expected, with no blade play in any direction. The Dragonfly is very easy to open one-handed despite its size, and yes, it's Spyder-droppable.
The etched version (model number 28PET) has all of the same specs, except the blade is made of VG-10 and the handles are acid-etched stainless steel instead of FRN. The pocket clip is removable, but is still right-hand tip-up only. Weight is 2.6 ounces. All of the acid-etched handles are the same from what I've seen, although I've only had the chance to look at four of them. The ones I saw were all the same acid pattern and size.
First, here's the AUS-8 version, model number 28PE. It weighs 1.2 ounce...
The blade is made of AUS-8 stainless steel, and it's 2-5/16" long with an edge of 1-7/8". It's 3/32" thick, and flat ground. The opening hole is 7/16" in diameter. Spyderco's AUS-8 is probably the best I've seen in a production folder. It takes a wicked edge and holds it for a pretty long time compared to other companies' AUS-8. The left side of the blade says SPYDERCO above AUS-8 STAINLESS on the tang, while the right side says SEKI-CITY above JAPAN on the tang. There's a nice cusp right behind the opening hole that gives your thumb a nice place to sit while cutting, and a choil for your index finger to get closer to the blade while not going on it. It's a small choil, and neither the choil or the cusp is jimped, but they work very nicely without it.
The FRN Dragonfly's handles are made of black FRN (plastic) and have no liners. The knife is 3-7/32" when closed. It locks open via lockback, which is positioned in the middle of the handle. The left side handle has Spyderco's Volcano Grip, while the right side has no texturing. Instead, the right side has an integral (non-removable) pocket clip molded to the handle. The clip allows the knife to be carried tip-up. A lanyard hole is provided, and allows easier drawing. Lock-up is solid as expected, with no blade play in any direction. The Dragonfly is very easy to open one-handed despite its size, and yes, it's Spyder-droppable.
The etched version (model number 28PET) has all of the same specs, except the blade is made of VG-10 and the handles are acid-etched stainless steel instead of FRN. The pocket clip is removable, but is still right-hand tip-up only. Weight is 2.6 ounces. All of the acid-etched handles are the same from what I've seen, although I've only had the chance to look at four of them. The ones I saw were all the same acid pattern and size.
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