spyderco knife

What do people think of the Spyderco Dragonfly? I couldn't find it referenced anywhere. It's 1.2 oz, has a 2 5/16" blade, and has a belt clip. I'm looking for something light, but not so small that it's uncomfortable to grip.

In my opinion, Spyderco's stainless steel blades are among the best and their knives stand up well in the field. They hold an edge.

I don't have a dragonfly, but I've owned a few of their larger folders.

I use the Spyderco Ladybug, the quality seems excellent, although I've only used it on a few trips. I only use a knive for first aid and gear repair though, so the diminutive size isn't an issue for me.

The Dragonfly has been around for a long time - one of their first "small" knives. You can generally pick one up on Ebay for @ $35 - stick with the PLAIN edge on these small knives unless you plan on cutting a lot of tough material like rope, heavy material, etc.

It sounds like people think they're good knives, which was what I was hoping for by avoiding the cheap stuff. I might use it to cut rope only a few times a year, so I'll go with the non-serrated version.

I was also reading about their "S" model, but it seems too untraditional.

The model I have is the Endura II with plain edge. I don't use it backpacking, though, I bought a Buck Revolution XT for that purpose. I like it a lot...

I used a Ladybug on my AT thru-hike. Loved that little thing, till I left it on a rock about 2 weeks from the end. ;(

I agree with getting a plain edge for the smaller knives. I use a serrated edge blade for my life jacket knife, but that's about it.

Here's a link to a set of newspaper articles I wrote while thru-hiking. I think I might have even mentioned losing that knife in there somewhere if memory serves correct!

http://sourcetosea.net/category/appalachian-trail-thru-hike-journals/

I own many Spyderco knives. For a small knife, the Ladybug is hard to beat. I started carrying a Delica many years ago, and have since downsized, with no regrets. The newest Ladybug (Ladybug 3, as well as the slightly larger Delica 3) have a larger thumb hole, and additional grip features that keep it firmly in hand even better than before. This newer generation also uses VG10 steel, with even better edge hold (doesn't dull as quickly) than before. The now discontinued Jester model is my personal favorite. It's the same size as the Ladybug, but with a slightly better blade for my uses. I prefer the ComboEdge version on my small knives (half-serrated, half-plain edge) as it greatly increases your cutting power, ideal for the smaller sized knives and makes them seem much larger than they really are. Serrated edges cut better and hold their edge longer, but most folks can't sharpen them without taking them to a qualified knife specialist. Seems that among knife afficinadoes, people feel a need to sharpen their own blade. But with the newer, harder steels used today, sharpening is becoming a very rare thing.

If you plan to use your knife backpacking, I suggest getting something other than black/green/camo/etc. Makes it much easier to find (both in your pack, and when you drop it in the bush). The LadyBug 3 is now available with a black, white, or orange handle. If you opt for a Ladybug 2, you can get them in black, blue, forrest green or red.