• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

Spyderco folder on the keychain

RamZar

RamZar

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2013
Messages
11,630
I've been trying various Spyderco folders on my keychain.

The first one was ManBug ZDP-189 but had to stop carrying it due to rust issues around the pivot. It was exposed to sweat, humidity and salty water. The size and light weight were great and it feels good in the hand.

Next one was LadyBug SS which is great but too heavy and a little too small.

Now, I have the DragonFly Salt SpyderEdge which is fairly light and immune to the elements but a little too large. I like the full serrations for cutting seat belts and the tip us great for opening packages.

I'm going to get the LadyBug Salt and see. Haven't decided on which one.

I'm thinking my ideal one would be ManBug Salt but it doesn't exist.

May end up with ManBug VG-10.
 
G10 Manbug may be your ticket for sure. I'm personally partial to the G10 Jester, though my SuperBlue Ladybug has also seen a fair degree of keychain duty. My third oldest Spyderco is a H1 Ladybug plain edge, and I* abused and beat the crap out of that little knife. It's pinned and has play in every direction so it doesn't really see use any longer, but for well over half a decade it was my go to keychain kinfe and did things no keychain knife should realistically be capable of. If I get another Ladybug it will be an H1 Hawkbill SE, but the Jester definitely remains my favourite keychain knife.

 
Gotta agree with 3rdGenRigger on this, the G-10 Jester is my keychain knife and it is amazing. Nice and solid with full liners. I've had mine on my keychain for about two years and it hasn't failed me yet.
 
Thank you 3rdGenRigger and Invective.

I'm leaning towards medium size, best possible corrosion resistance and lowest weight. Of course, it's a compromise based on what's available.

ManBug G-10 is very nice but weighs even more than my LadyBug SS VG-10. I may still try it out.

Additionally, I may try out ManBug LW VG-10. I'm beginning to think that it may be the best compromise.

ManBug G-10/VG-10 is 1.5 ounces versus ManBug LW/VG-10 at 0.65 ounces! Every gram counts even though I much prefer G-10 or SS over FRN.

I'll definitely try out all three LadyBug Salt ones.

A ManBug Salt would be ideal.

More VG-10 or even better H-1 than ZDP-189 and SuperBlue.

So, the discontinued hollow-grind Jester is not the current FFG ManBug G-10! Anyone know how much it weighs?
 
Last edited:
The G10 Jester is 1.1 ounces according to Spyderco's website. I don't find it exceptionally heavy, and it's definitely more sturdy than the H1 or SuperBlue Ladybug.
 
Sometimes I tie my truck and house key onto a paracord connected to a regular sized folder like a pm2. So instead of carrying a knife connected to my keys, I'll carry my keys connected to my knife. Works good for me if it's only one or two keys.
 
I'm carrying a ZDP Ladybug as a keychain knife and in my circumstances it does fine. No rust. I think the VG-10 Manbug is likely to be a good choice. VG-10 is highly resistant to corrosion.
 
I carry my dragonfly with my car key and house key.
Get a lanyard attached, clip it on your pants, and then you'll have keys inside your pocket with the knife. It's convenient
 
I think I'd really like ManBug Salt SpyderEdge on my keychain.

In the meantime, I'm back to LadyBug SS Tattoo on my keychain. I'll try ManBug VG-10 in both G-10 and FRN plus LadyBug Salt in all 3 varieties.

The DragonFly Salt SpyderEdge (1.21 ounces) may kick out my CRKT Eros (1.59 ounces) for when exercising and at the beach. Both are very corrossion resistant but I like the SpyderEdge and you can't beat H-1! Reminds me of my old ATR VG-10 all SS SpyderEdge from 2005 which I still have but rarely use.
 
IMG_20140813_192421325_zpshuptezuy.jpg


Don't leave home without a Sprint Run :P
 
I ordered a LadyBug3 Salt H-1 SpyderEdge & a ManBug LW VG-10 SpyderEdge to try on my keychain.
 
I used to carry Ladybug, but G10 Jester kicked it out years ago. And it is there to stay, until better will come out, which is unlikely.
 
The G10 Manbug is the best looking of the group, I think the bolster with the gray G10 looks great. But if you've had issues with rust where you're at(even though it was zdp-189), your best bet may be a salt ladybug just to play it safe. Still a fantastic little knife, plus great corrosion resistance.
 
Last edited:
Recently, I've been carrying the Manbug VG-10/SpyderEdge/FRN with no rust issues so far. It's very light and packs a lot of utility. Manbug VG-10/G-10 would be nicer but I'm getting used to the SpyderEdge and lightweight of the FRN. Eventually, if a Manbug Salt comes out I'll try it out.
 
A Manbug Salt would be awesome, I just don't see it happening, partially because Spyderco doesn't make flat ground blades in work hardened H1 steel, and partially because I just don't think there is enough market for a second keychain knife in H1 to warrant Spyderco producing it.
 
zkiller195 said:
A Manbug Salt would be awesome, I just don't see it happening, partially because Spyderco doesn't make flat ground blades in work hardened H1 steel, and partially because I just don't think there is enough market for a second keychain knife in H1 to warrant Spyderco producing it.
Click to expand...

I'm hopeful that eventually it'll happen based on what Sal said on August 17th:

Sal Glesser said:
It's certainly possible. I did have thoughts of a Manbug Salt with a serrated sheepfoot blade.

sal
Click to expand...
 
That sounds great. If they do, you can bet I'll be getting one. It would be really sweet if they gave it the same treatment as the G10 Manbug, with G10 scales and titanium bolsters. Not traditional Salt, but it would be doable and it would be nice to have a small gentleman's knife in H1.
Spyderco already has several great concepts in the pipeline that I'm very interested in.
 
I just got a few of the CountyComm's Ladybug H1 in tan. Love the size of these small folders. I have a Jester in black FRN from years ago why was the Jester dropped? I would really like to get a G-10 Jester.
That H1 Hawkbill looks tempting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top