Spyderco Dragonfly2 hard to open?

kunoichi

kunoichi

Joined
May 3, 2015
Messages
21
This is my first meaningful post to the forums, so a cheerful hello to everyone. I recently purchased the Dragonfly2 and as a small EDC, I love it. The compact nature and size of the blade are perfect for me. However, I struggle to open it one handed. It tends to snap back before I can force it into the locked position.

I'm still learning how to open manual folders one handed, as I'm fairly new to modern knife collecting. I'm also a one of the few ladies haunting the forum so my hand strength isn't as much as a typical guy.

I'm wondering if there is any trick to opening a Sypderco that is that "stiff" or if any other women read this, if there is anything to overcome the hand strength handicap? Opening it two handed is fine, but the ability to deploy a blade one handed while I'm working or doing a project is pretty nice.
 
First off welcone to the forums. Loosening the pivot screw as eqlzr suggests should definitely help you loosen the action. Most modern folders including Spydercos, have torx or mini torx screws. The pivot should be a T8 size if I recall correctly.
 
Loosen the pivot off and run the pivot end of the knife under the hot tap for a minute .
Dry it off and put a couple of drops of oil on the pivot while its still loose . tighten it up until you have the least resistance , but the blade is solid with no play side to side .
I've also found that Spyderco lockbacks do take some time to smooth out and wear themselves in .
I love my Dragonfly , I'm sure you will to .

Ken
 
Thanks for the welcome and info! I have a little kit laying around that I use for computer repair that has a full torx set, I'll give the suggestions above a try.
 
Thanks guys, that seems to have done the trick! It is loose enough now that I can open it with out a struggle. I'll just have to use it until it breaks in, not a hardship, this is a great little knife.
 
As you use it, it'll loosen up and you'll also build muscle memory in your hand. I have two Spyderco lock-back knives, and while I can flick them open effortlessly, some people still struggle to open them with one hand. It's like anything else - just keep doing it! Welcome, neighbor.
 
Congrats on the new knife. It took me a long time to develop the "flick" required to get it to open. I watched a youtube video that was very instructional, and boom after months of trying I had it down to a science. I went from liking my spyderco to loving it.
 
A small simple lanyard can also be helpful in gaining more thumb leverage by holding the knife aft of the choil to open, relocating one's forefinger into the choil once open (Also provides pinky grip holding the knife aft of the choil when more leverage is desired, such as when cutting up large quantities of cardboard...I do have large hands though so this might not be as useful to you but could be worth consideration). A lot of it is muscle memory, and once broken it in should only get easier. A bit of oil in the pivot might help as well, but I've never oiled any of my knives and haven't had any issues thus far. Oil can increase the accumulation of dust and dirt, and I have yet to find need of it once my knives are properly broken in. Picture for example of a simple lanyard.

 
Thanks guys, all the feedback is very helpful. The lanyard is a good idea, I'll give that a try too.

It's funny, I'm finding there are actually quite a few new skills to learn to be proficient with operating and proper maintainence of a decently sized knife collection in rotation.

I started down this path as a martial artist in Iaito and Kenjutsu, so I have several Katanas that I am well versed in using and caring for. But the addition of mechanical movement adds new excitement and skills to learn.
 
If you can handle a 2.5 foot razor youll have no problems mastering your new friend :)
and you wont gets as weird of looks with it in your pocket lol
 
Teppojutsu said:
If you can handle a 2.5 foot razor youll have no problems mastering your new friend :)
and you wont gets as weird of looks with it in your pocket lol
Click to expand...

This made me chuckle pretty hard.

Also to the OP, I'd recommend a LadyBug for your keychain...you never know when you'll need a knife and it's one more option that can be very useful in a pinch, or in the presence of sheeple that are intimidated by even a Dragonfly. Also, the keychain itself acts as a lanyard and helps to provide a full 4 finger grip. A hawkbill Ladybug in H1 would provide a serrated edge to be used which can be quite useful for certain tasks, and the hawkbill shape provides more effective use for pull cuts such as cutting string or rope...basically anything that could slip off the edge of a PE knife due to the shape of the belly. For the last little while I've made a point of having both a plain and serrated edge on me for the extra versatility that it brings to the table...something to consider at any rate.
 
3rdGenRigger said:
This made me chuckle pretty hard.

Also to the OP, I'd recommend a LadyBug for your keychain...you never know when you'll need a knife and it's one more option that can be very useful in a pinch, or in the presence of sheeple that are intimidated by even a Dragonfly. Also, the keychain itself acts as a lanyard and helps to provide a full 4 finger grip. A hawkbill Ladybug in H1 would provide a serrated edge to be used which can be quite useful for certain tasks, and the hawkbill shape provides more effective use for pull cuts such as cutting string or rope...basically anything that could slip off the edge of a PE knife due to the shape of the belly. For the last little while I've made a point of having both a plain and serrated edge on me for the extra versatility that it brings to the table...something to consider at any rate.
Click to expand...

Ha, yeah there is quite a bit of validity to the fact that if I can use a 29 inch katana, I should be able to use a tiny (by comparison) folding knife. I've been using the Dragonfly extensively today and it's definitely loosening up.

Thanks for the suggestion on the LadyBug. I have looked at it a few times. I might end up pulling the trigger on one. I'd like to have a decent keychain knife and I am enjoying Sypdercos more and more. I have a strange aversion to serrated blades but they are useful and often needed in some situations. That would be a decent way to carry one.
 


Welcome Kunoichi!
These are my keychain knives. Go H1 if you want serrations, VG-10 for plain edge.:)
 
Just got mine, I open it a couple different ways, depending on what I'm doing at the time, one thing that seems easiest for me is to grip the blade with the pivot end near my hand, and push the handle away from me, which opens the blade out of the handle.

I made for mine, what I dubbed the Bobtail fob, a diamond knot near the end and also I used some heavy duty thread to whip the two paracords together so it can't move up and into the path of the blade. Here's some shots of mine.

DragonFly2_closed.jpg~original


DragonFly2.jpg~original


dragon_fly_open.jpg~original


G2
 
Welcome, Neighbor! The pivot is probably fine - the TRICK is to put pressure on your opening hand's pinky and ring fingers to hold the knife securely while rotating the blade open (no pressure is required from the other fingers!). It's pretty much the same technique you'll want to use for any super small "one-handed" folder.

Try it - you'll get it with a little practice...
 
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