Which spyderco?

gajinoz

gajinoz

Joined
Sep 2, 2003
Messages
11,650
My wife needs a new keychain knife and, since it's her birthday soon, I figured I'd drop one in the present package.

I'm thinking either the Jester/photon or Ladybug/photon combination. I have a Ladybug/photon light combo on my keyring but I've never seen a Jester in the flesh. they seem pretty similar, what would be the main differences and which one would you choose and why?

Thanks.
 
Carol has 2 Spydercos the first a green Jester a present from me. It is a lovely little knife one you can put your finger right along the back of. The second is a Meerekat Reverse S which she was originally mine. She raved on about it that much that I ended up giving it to her. Maybe a little bit big for what you want but although we are not allowed to it would be useful in a SD role. Carol says she loves the feel about it.
 
What about a leatherman Squirt S, great on a keychain and has those other things like scissors and tweasers that a women might find handy.
 
The Jester and the Ladybug are similarly handeled, but the blades are different. The Ladybug seems like a micro Endura while the Jester has 'more belly' as mentioned above. Plus, it has the ridgesfor the thumb while using it. The hole on the Jester, to me anyway, seems to facilitate easier opening as compared to the Ladybug. I've seen this as a plus to at least one woman (my lady) who sees this as being easier on her nails :rolleyes: The Jester is a lot of knife for such a small package. I gave the honey one and she loved it while the photon light was a huge step up from the LED light she carried on her keychain. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for the replies guys, exactly the info I needed.

Unearth: Yes, I did. I just picked up a solid opal pendant. As we all know Oz produces most of, and the finest, opal on the planet. This piece is a two colour green/orange that's rather unusual.

JDBLADE: I have a standard blade Meerkat which I used often but has now been replaced by the Calypso Jnr. It was a nice little knife but not really keychain material.

Stockman: An excellent alternative possibility. I might just have a look at that.

Frank: Great reviews.
 
Both are great. I carried a Ladybug for several years, but after trying a Jester I switched. The Jester has slightly better grip ergonomics, I prefer the larger opening hole, and I find the blade shape more versatile.

--Bob Q
 
If you're buying a small knife, go with the CS Tuff Lite. Not available serrated, but tough as nails in my experience. And better steel, if that matters (probably not so much on a keychain knife).

I've seen Jesters, too. Very nice little knives.
Gerber LST Micro Lite is your third option. All are nice, I think it really just depends on your style preference.

Jesters are nice as they come in colors, which she might like.

_z
 
oh ok lol, I was going to say

All you get your wife is a knife. If I was a women and my husband came home to me with a Spydero ladybug. I would walk out.
 
the pink jester or any of the colors makes a nice handy little knife.I got one for my granddaughter and she carry's it on a neck lanyard but,only when I'm with her.
 
I am EDCing my Ladybug, found it after a hectic week of searching. I also have a Jester, and as soon as the Ladybug bites the dust, I am picking up the Jester. While I was looking for my Ladybug, I used my Jester for everything, and did not use my regular EDC, my SOG Blink. As said in this thread, the Ladybug looks like a miniature Delica or Endura. It's a little powerhouse, and does a lot, from opening letters to opening boxes, to the mundane taske of cleaning my fingernails. On the other hand, the Jester does everything, and I mean everything, that a full size folder can do, IMHO. The blade shape is different, it has grooves near the tip and base of the knife, and feels spectacular in the hand, just like my Native III.

Either knife is a great choice, and I would like to hear what she thinks.
 
If she ain't a knife user yet, get her a small SAK with the nail file, small blade, tweezers, toothpick, screwdriver and scissors. She'll use the other tools more than the blade.
 
I think the Jester is probably the best keychain knife out there. The hole is larger than the Ladybug and is easier to open one handed. I can even spydie-drop the Jester, even though that really serves no real purpose. I like the grooves on the upswept Jester blade, it really helps for controlling more detailed cuts. The handle is also more ergonomic I find, adding keys or a lanyard makes the grip very secure. I carry it loose and without anything dangling from the back I still find the grip secure enough for a small knife. grooves
 
I have both a Jester and Ladybug. I like the Ladybug more because it's similar to the Endura, but I readily admit that the Jester has better ergonomics. The hole is larger and the grooves on the blade and handles are just in the right place. Not to mention that Spyderco has a SS version and a burgundy micarta one, which is really beautiful (well, almost as beautiful as the CF Ladybug, but those are hard to find, so we don't count them here). Speaking of hard to find little Spydies, there would be also the Baby Wayne, which is as small as a Ladybug but bears Wayne Goddard's simple and elegant lines.
BTW, Spyderco has a mini Police necklace, with ATS-34 blade and Ti handles (one of their smallest folders). It comes with a silver chain, but it can be attached to the keyring as well.
 
Some good suggestions there guys. Let me tell you what I finally decided on.

I bought a Leatherman Squirt S4 and a small photon light.

The reason is that her birthday is soon and the only way I can get a Jester is online from overseas, wouldn't get here in time.

Soooo, here is my plan. She gets the Squirt and the light. I also order a Jester and when that gets here I'll give it to her as a sort of surprise supplimentary present, (that has to be good for something, right? ;) ), and she can then decide which one she prefers to have on her keychain.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top