Is the Dragonfly Obsolete?

[Evil D]

I do think we need a Dragonfly wharnie. The standard blade is pretty close but let's take it all the way :D

[legOFwhat?]

Don't wanna live in a world without this little fella! Not obsolete :D

[vivi]

For me, yes. If I ever want a tiny folder from Spyderco that still offers a four finger grip, I'd go with a UKPK, Caly 3 or Chap.

I tried the Dragonfly twice. I don't understand the part of the handle where the middle and ring fingers go. It feels like someone cut off a big chunk of the handle right there. It's way too narrow there to offer me a comfortable grip. That issue has kept me away from this design ever since.

I even find my Spin much more ergonomic, or any of the other knives I mentioned.

But, I feel the same way as the Delica, another extremely popular model. The handle never worked for me for different reasons, and if I want a knife in that size range I'd go with the Native.

[Daveho]

Mmm I see where you are coming from and to the casual user they could fill the same space, to us nerds however...
It’s my opinion that the FRN Chappy supersedes the standard FRN d’Fly in that the steels better and the construction is better HOWEVER the G10 d’fly Is the exception.

[tonijedi]

The Dragonfly offers one of the best tip control in all folders I've tried. It is pointy and being short gives it a great advantage for some tasks like piercing chestnuts :D
Like many before already stated there's a salt version of the dragonfly and none in the chaparral, this is also another advantage for many of us.

[Woodpuppy]

The chap doesn’t do anything for me. In fact the whole nativesque line is not for me. I need my bumps.

[Jazz]

I have 2 Chaps, and still haven’t really warmed up to them. I have 10 or so Dflies, and just got another in SE. That’s all I have to say. :cool:

[kodai78]

If you like the hump, the Dragonfly is for you. If you prefer humpless the Chapparal is for you. My first Dragonfly 2 has ZDP 189 steel, certainly competitive with CTS XHP. Quality of fit and finish of both my Dfly and Chap is excellent. Every one needs one of each!

[Eli Chaps]

I own both a D'fly 2 and a Chap LW and I say no. As similar as they are, for me, they fill different roles. The Chap is often my EDC. It's a little bigger in overall size and blade so I find it a little more versatile for carry than the D'fly. But, the D'fly is lives in the bowl-o-junk beside my chair and gets used almost daily for general cuttin'-stuff duties. It's like a utility knife for me. The orange handle means I can find it pretty easily amongst the eyglass-cloth, dog's toenail snips, pens, candy, etc...



I love the Dragonfly!

I like the Chap too but if this knife was redesigned to not have a finger choil (move the handle forward), then it would be truly amazing and the Dragonfly might just then become obsolete for me.

But, as it is, even though I carry the Chap more, I would give it up before the Dragonfly.

[Holland]

I have 2 Chaps, and still haven’t really warmed up to them. I have 10 or so Dflies, and just got another in SE. That’s all I have to say. :cool:

I have the same amount of chaparrals and dragonflies as you haha :D

[Jazz]

I have the same amount of chaparrals and dragonflies as you haha :D

Right on. I know that you actually use your Chaps. I’ve seen pics.

[Holland]

I have the same amount of chaparrals and dragonflies as you haha :D

Right on. I know that you actually use your Chaps. I’ve seen pics.

I like the chaparral a lot, and I begged for an frn chaparral years ago as I wanted a dragonfly with an internal stop pin. But I got over the lock rock concept and I like the dragonfly better than the chaparral. It helps that the dragonfly comes in a variety of different steels :D

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=59968

[likethevegetable]

To me, it is. I started out with a DF2, then got a Ladybug, then the Chap. I sold the DF2 because when I wanted to carry a mini-knife, the LB3 was better. When I wanted to carry a normal-sized knife, the Chap was superior. It just didn't really have a place for me once I had the Chap and LB, it was stuck in between. Plus the ergos were never as natural as the other two. I still highly respect the design of the knife and think it was the perfect first Spyderco for me.

[Ngati Pom]

I have one of each. I purchased the Chappie before the D'fly and never considered them as competition for each other. I see them as complementary to one another.

[Doc Dan]

I do still like the Dragonfly very much. I have 6! There are times when it is a better choice. However, the Chaparral LW, being basically the same closed size, with a better lock, and a longer blade gets more pocket time, these days. The wider and longer blade make my daily apple eating a lot easier, for certain. Now, if Spyderco would condescend to give us a Salt version, that would be pretty sweet, as well.

[cwp]

The Chaparral won't make the Dragonfly obsolete until the blade length limit for government facilities rises to 2.8". It might not even then, but as of now there is a not-insignificant number of people for whom the Chaparral isn't an option for EDC.

Even with the 2.5" blade length limit the Dragonfly isn't my favorite choice, but I'd say it continues to enjoy a niche due to its high performance at a low price. For instance, I think the Rhino is a really sweet knife, but it's twice the cost of a basic Dragonfly. Same thing with the L'il Native -- it's great, but it's twice the price. I like the Meerkat, but even when people were blowing out the HAP40 sprint run at fire-sale prices the Dragonfly was still cheaper (and offered a bigger blade). The One-Eyed Jack is stunning, but it's a $250 knife. I'm not sure there's any sub-2.5" blade in the FRN Dragonfly price range that's nearly as good a knife.

[MichaelScott]

The Chaparral won't make the Dragonfly obsolete until the blade length limit for government facilities rises to 2.8". It might not even then, but as of now there is a not-insignificant number of people for whom the Chaparral isn't an option for EDC.

Even with the 2.5" blade length limit the Dragonfly isn't my favorite choice, but I'd say it continues to enjoy a niche due to its high performance at a low price. For instance, I think the Rhino is a really sweet knife, but it's twice the cost of a basic Dragonfly. Same thing with the L'il Native -- it's great, but it's twice the price. I like the Meerkat, but even when people were blowing out the HAP40 sprint run at fire-sale prices the Dragonfly was still cheaper (and offered a bigger blade). The One-Eyed Jack is stunning, but it's a $250 knife. I'm not sure there's any sub-2.5" blade in the FRN Dragonfly price range that's nearly as good a knife.

I’m not picking on you. Everyone has their reasons for the knives they prefer, but for me at least, judging knives primarily on comparative price is limiting and discounts factors like design, construction and materials.

I think the Dragonfly is a superbly designed knife maximizing the uses and ergonomics of a small knife. I also think it’s design has been surpassed in many ways by both the Rhino and the Chaparral for reasons previously discussed here. Improved design, materials and construction will cost more. You can get a Tenacious or a Polestar for considerably less than a Para Military 2 but they are not equivalent knives and people demonstrably pay more for higher quality things.

[ChrisinHove]

I only have the Ti chaparral so my Hap40 Dragonfly feels significantly different and sufficiently distinct. I would probably feel the same with a frn Chaparral and G10 Dragonfly combination, but frn versions of them both, I don’t know.

[The Deacon]

To be honest, I think if other Spyderco knife was going to negatively impact Dragonfly sales, it would be the Robin II.

[SG89]

The df2 hawkbill is so wonderful. Punches wayyyy above its weight