Spyderco Dragonfly Review

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Draft Spyderco Dragonfly Review - Part 1

Introduction

I received a Spyderco Dragonfly as part of a pass around here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=719946. The Dragonfly is a Spyderco classic design from 1994 that has been in production ever since. The pass around version is the new “Tattoo” design with a stainless steel handle and colorful etching on one side. The etching is quite nice and reminds me of what you see on some Chris Reeve knives. The Reeve knives are anodized titanium. I’m not sure how the coloring on the Dragonfly is applied or how durable it might be. The MSRP on the Dragonly Tattoo is $99 and our favorite online retailers sell it for about $65. FRN-handled versions retail for $45 or so.

Fit & Finish

The Dragonfly is a small knife, 5 1/2” open, with a 2 5/16” blade, and is 3 3/16” closed. The knife is made in Seki, Japan and the fit and finish is excellent. The leaf-shaped blade is flat ground from VG-10 steel and came typically Spyderco sharp. A choil on the blade provides more precision control, but takes away a little of the cutting edge. As with a other stainless steel handed Spydies, it is held together by rivets with the surface of the scales ground flush to hide them. The handle edges are smooth and bevelled, the knife opens smoothly, and the centered blade snaps closed like a slip-joint. The lockback is secure, the clip is removable but limited to tip-up right-side carry only, and a hole above the clip allows for lanyard or keychain carry.

Size & Weight

In evaluating the Dragonfly, the key question for me was: “Is the knife too small to be useful?”

I have owned the Spyderco Bug, Cricket, Jester, Ladybug, Lava, and Spin (plus competitive offerings) and gave them up because they tradeoff in utility for the reduced size and weight didn’t seem worth it to me. When it comes to smaller knives, I carry the Buck Mayo TNT, Chris Reeve Small Sebenza, Spyderco Native and Sage, Strider PT, and Wenger Clipper (similar to the Victorinox Classic w/ nail clippers). Most of them take up a little more length in the pocket than the smallest Spydies, but give you more blade length without necessarily adding any width or much weight.

The comparative dimensions and weight are:

• Buck Mayo TNT - 7 1/2” open, 4 1/8” closed, 2.7 oz.
• Chris Reeve Small Sebenza - 6 7/8” open, 3 7/8” closed, 3 oz.
• Spyderco Dragonfly - 5 1/2” open, 3 3/16” closed, 2.6 oz.
• Spyderco Native (FRN) - 7” open, 3 15/15” closed, 2.65 oz
• Spyderco Sage (CF) - 7 1/8” open, 4 1/8” closed, 3.2 oz.
• Strider PT - 5 11/16” open, 3 3/4” closed, 2.2 oz.
• Wenger Clipper - 4.25” open, 2.5” closed, 1.3 oz.

If you compare the Small Sebenza to the Dragonfly, for example, you add .4 ounces to your pocket and less than 1/2" in length in a slightly narrower package. You gain about 1/2" in cutting edge and in gripping are as shown here:

 

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Spyderco Dragonfly Review - Part 2

Ergonomics & Performance

After carrying the Dragonfly for a week, my impression is that it is a little too small for me to use effectively. It is at home with office tasks like tackling the mail, but a little too small to use comfortably for other tasks. Using the handle only, I can get two fingers and a thumb on the knife. The stainless steel is a little slick and the two-finger grip doesn't feel that solid. The curved handle helps a little, but some jimping on top or thumb ramp might help even more. There is a shallow choil that allows for a three finger grip, but I still prefer the feel of a bigger knife.

Who is it for?

All things being equal, I'd rather carry a bigger knife than the Dragonfly. If I were in a legal environment that requires a smaller blade, had small hands, or was looking for something to go on a keychain, the Dragonfly might be a good choice. It's a much more capable knife than something like a Victorinox Classic or even a Spyderco Ladybug.

Thank You

Thanks to Spyderco, Frank K., and BladeForums for letting me handle a great little knife.

 

[shangchi108]

The Dragonfly is a great size for most of my cutting needs. I never leave home without mine.

 

[Andrew Colglazier]

I have gifted a Dragonfly to my daughter and my mother. The knife is too small for me, but seems to be a good fit for smaller hands.

Thanks for the review!

Andy

 

[knarfeng]

Nice review.
I've not tried the Dragonfly, but with my other knives I've found that I am happier with a bit bigger blade. 3" or 3 1/4" seems optimal for my usage. But I recognize that there are places where it is necessary to stay under 2 1/2" to stay legal.

 

[1234]

Good review and pic´s .


1234,,,,,

 

[frank k]

Thank you very much for the review!

I was blown away by the colored etching on the handle. I wonder if Spyderco could do this with the blades as well? It might make for some cool sprint runs on different knives (not just the ones with steel handles).


Frank