Stoked with the dragonfly. Need help choosing my next spyderco.

Surfingringo

Surfingringo

Joined
May 25, 2013
Messages
3,700
Hey all, I've only had my new dragonfly salt a couple of days, but It's really growing on me! So of course, I've already decided I need another! Hehehe. Seriously, I would like to get one more knife thats a bit more of a "full size" edc. Here's what's important to me...

1. Light weight. Even with larger folders I like to have the ability to wear around my neck.

2. Ffg blade. Never liked the looks of them but I've had the chance to use some lately and I'm really sold. Like the way they cut! Good grind for my uses.

3. Leaf shaped blade. Somewhere in the 3 1/2 inch range.

4. Choil (is that what it's called?) The little finger groove in the top and bottom of the blade like the dragonfly has. I really like that!

I guess in some ways I'm kind of looking for a dragonfly xl.

So, I've halfway made up my mind already. I'm thinking to get the manix 2 lightweight. It seems to fit all my criteria. Plus, apparently it's blade steel is highly corrosion resistant. I'm not planning to make this my dedicated fishing knife, but im sure it will end up in the boat with me plenty. Everything I own ends up with saltwater on it eventually. Speaking of that, another big plus for the manix is its pretty darned cheap! I dont want a $200 knife on the bottom of the ocean! And before someone mentions it, yes, I like the handle and liners of the regular manix better, but the ffg, weight and corrosion resistance tip the scales for the lightweight.

So that's where I'm at right now, but my spyderco knowledge is pretty limited. I will happily entertain any suggestions you guys have. Fire away!

Oh, almost forgot to mention...I'm quickly becoming a spyderco fan, but I love the axis lock. Is the lock on the manix similar? Is a a good system?
 
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I agree and think the Lightweight Manix should probably be your next purchase. I cannot comment too much on the lock as the only Manix I had was sold shortly thereafter. Many Manix owners love the CBBL and the wider handle on the knife. I couldn't stand the raised, steel jimping on the liners but the Lightweight model has much softer jimping on the FRCP handles. It should be much easier on your hands if you have to apply pressure to the knife.
 
IDK about the Manix lock. I would recommend either an Endura or the Pacific Salt. The Pacific Salt is touted as rustless like the rest of the Salt series. It is available in plain or fully serrated edge with black or yellow handles. http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=170

But since you mentioned Benchmade, they have a couple of diving knives.

Griptilian H2O
http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/BM...earch-as-you-type&utm_campaign=Griptilian H2o

The aptly named Benchmade Folding Dive Knife
http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/BM...earch-as-you-type&utm_campaign=Benchmade dive

Yes, knifecenter is a dealer.
 
Thanks squashfan. I have checked out all three of those knives. I definitely gave the pacific salt some consideration but I'm just really into the ffg right now. The two benchmades (aside from not having the grind) just don't have the blade shape I'm looking for. I like the accurate "penetration" I can get with the tip of the dragonfly. I'm thinking the manix tip looks pretty similar. I own the mini grip and it is one of my favorite pocket knives (in large part because it belonged to my father) but I am finding the dragonfly to have a much more functional blade for my uses. I just want a bigger version. Anti corrosion is a plus, but in this knife, it's secondary to blade design and function. Thanks for the suggestions though. I think those are all great knives!
 
I recently got an endura 4. At first I thought it was pretty cool but not totally sold. After about a week, I'm thinking I won't need any other knives (Haha of course I love knives so ill definitely be getting more) But you get the point. The only thing I could find is when stropping or sharpening, it seems to "flex" or bend. So not a totally solid knife, but still very strong. So I would recommend it.
 
If you're willing to consider a different lock, I find the Caly to feel most like a bigger Dragonfly.
 
Surfingringo said:
Thanks squashfan. I have checked out all three of those knives. I definitely gave the pacific salt some consideration but I'm just really into the ffg right now. The two benchmades (aside from not having the grind) just don't have the blade shape I'm looking for. I like the accurate "penetration" I can get with the tip of the dragonfly. I'm thinking the manix tip looks pretty similar. I own the mini grip and it is one of my favorite pocket knives (in large part because it belonged to my father) but I am finding the dragonfly to have a much more functional blade for my uses. I just want a bigger version. Anti corrosion is a plus, but in this knife, it's secondary to blade design and function. Thanks for the suggestions though. I think those are all great knives!
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I understand the love of FFG but I, personally, am funny about rust. But I think you have found the knife you are looking for in the Manix. If that is the knife that tickle your fancy, then get it.
 
Yeah, I think I'm about 90% on the manix. I guess I'm just looking for confirmation from some owners and making sure there wasn't something I was missing. I looked at some similar stuff like the sage and caly, but man, they are almost twice the price. I like quality, but I like value too! ;-). I think if the manix lightweight is a solid knife, it's probably the right call for me.
 
There are several cool versions of the Dragonfly 2. I used to have the foliage green G10, which was very nice. They also have a Nishijin glass fiber version now that's pretty cool, albeit pricey.

It's all downhill after that. There are so many good knives just within the Spyderco brand. If you diversify beyond that, sky's the limit.

My collection has grown and shrunk, mostly due to not being much of a collector. Once I found what I liked, I stuck with it.

For me, it was a great journey that spanned a number of brands. To borrow some Spyderspeak, I got my edgeucation in knives that way.

Enjoy the journey.
 
The Caly 3.5 is a supersized Dfly. Not exactly a leaf shaped blade, but the Stretch should be considered imo.
 
I hardly carry anything other than a manix 2 light (work, gym, light pants), or standard manix 2 (church, jeans, fancier occasions). If you want to spend a bunch of money, buy 2 lightweights and a blacked-out regular, crack open one of the lights and replace the blade on the blacked-out version with that ffg blade which has (in my experience) extremely high rust resistance.
I'd trust the CBBL with my life btw. I've never been able to spine whack it closed. Ever. Other people have, but I can't get it to fail.
I don't recommend Spyderco's back-locks (endura, delica) because the surface engagement of the blade with the lock bar is not sufficient in my opinion--also, I only buy American. That's my 2 cents. Whatever you decide, Spyderco is a good route. I loved my little Dragonfly before it got lost. I bought it when I was younger, before I cared where my knives were made--I have to admit, it was a good little blade, but it was unevenly ground when I got it, and had some handle imperfections. Continued experience with these foreign-made blades being out of spec coupled with a renewed sense of duty to keep jobs on native soil any way I could eventually caused my money to migrate to its birthplace.
Your choice, but I'd get one of the Golden Colorado, USA, Earth Spydies if I were you--i.e.: Manix or PM2.
 
Surfingringo said:
Yeah, I think I'm about 90% on the manix. ... I think if the manix lightweight is a solid knife, it's probably the right call for me.
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go for it - it is a great and solid knife and looks good and weights alomos nothing for its size!

spyderco_manix_lw_MG_1427.jpg
 
Uggh! I'm still researching and I'm probably just confusing myself at this point. I keep looking at the regular manix 2 with the liners and g10! I like liners and g10! I'm thinking maybe it would hold up to harder use. Problem is, it doesn't come with ffg (except in the xl which I am also considering, hehe) and steel is less corrosion resistant than bd1. There is no "perfect" knife, but I'm trying to get the one that is closest to filling all my requirements. That's probably still the lightweight, I'm just a little worried about durability.

Eventually I might get both, or maybe the lightweight and the xl, but I need to start with the more practical choice.
 
Manix Translucent would be my first choice for hanging from your neck, all of the others are way to heavy to be hanging on your neck and would get very old fast IMHO

I have owned multiples in orange, blue & black including the XL, the Translucent is still my favorite ..........

Here are a few cell phone pictures I ran outside and shot




 
Ooh, I like the look of that g10 native! How is that steel as far as hardness, toughness, edge, corrosion resistance?
 
+1 on Manix lightweight. The lock is similar to the axis but its not as easy to actuate (as in you cant really flick the knife open by actuating the lock, like youd be able to on a benchmade). However the knife opens fast via the oversized hole and its easy enough to close. Additionally the tried and true tenacious for a more affordable option, virtually the same blade shape.
 
thomasvsgodzilla said:
+1 on Manix lightweight. The lock is similar to the axis but its not as easy to actuate (as in you cant really flick the knife open by actuating the lock, like youd be able to on a benchmade). However the knife opens fast via the oversized hole and its easy enough to close. Additionally the tried and true tenacious for a more affordable option, virtually the same blade shape.
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Mine flips open like a dream as soon as you pull the slightest amount on the ball-lock
It flips as good if not better than any griptilian I have ever owned......
 
RICKSTER said:
Mine flips open like a dream as soon as you pull the slightest amount on the ball-lock
It flips as good if not better than any griptilian I have ever owned......
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Hmm...strange. Do you have the lightweight blue model? Thats the one I have and the knife will not budge by actuating the lock.

EDIT: tried again, it does open. Although I think the lighter blade makes it "harder" (at least for me) to flick open using the lock (I'm comparing to the weighty blade on a 950 rift). And I find the ball lock stiffer. However, I think theyre both equally good since I open via thumb stud anyways.
 
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