Dragonfly vs. Mouse

[Andkatz]

I was considering getting a Mouse but am curious as to how it compares to the Dragonfly. I live in an urban environment (NYC) where metal detectors and searches have almost become a way of life. A Delica which is considered socially acceptable in most areas used to be what I carried but raises too many eybrows these days.

[DAYWALKER]

Aloha Andkatz!

I can only give my opinion on the Dragonfly as I have never owned a Mouse...Hang on a bit...The Deacon who also lives in NY will be here shortly!

God bless and I say C29! :cool:

[pjrocco]

Yes, Cricket sounds about right.

Tough little knife, could even uses it as a money clip.

Rock

[Simon G]

Andkatz,

I'm fortunate enough to own two versions of the Dragonfly, FRN and SS, as well as a Mouse. :cool:

The Mouse is one solid little knife. It has the "attitude" that it should be twice the size! Great spine thickness and locks like a vault. But, I find in the hand the Mouse sits "proud". By this I mean that there feels there is more out of the hand than in and so control of the blade can be lacking.

The 50/50 choil on the Dragonfly takes care of the above as far as I'm concerned. The other fingers fold nicely around the handle naturally. There is even a "shelf" for the pinky! I much prefer the SS version as it has more heft. Nor do I like the molded clip of the FRN version. As I have said here many times before, the SS Dragonfly punches well above it's weight!

Looking for a more socially acceptable size in todays "age of the wimp" and "supression by stealth", have you considered the Cricket, again in SS? Or in fact the Toad? A tool long overlooked for "gentleman's" carry!

God bless,

Simon.

[Andkatz]

Thought about the Cricket but im a lefty. I carried a righty Delica ( tip up) in my left pocket and opened it to a reverse grip with a wrist flick. I think the cricket is tip down which only works righty any way you want to open it.

[DAYWALKER]

Thought about the Cricket but im a lefty. I carried a righty Delica ( tip up) in my left pocket and opened it to a reverse grip with a wrist flick. I think the cricket is tip down which only works righty any way you want to open it.

Aloha Andkatz!!!

I don't believe it! FINALLY someone else who does this! See, I sometimes carry my Endura the same way and do the same thing as you, only I am right handed, but the method of carry and presentation are EXACT! :D Right on man!!!

Okay...uh, The Deacon should be here soon, and he's a southpaw also. SimonG provided some valuable info. Sorry, i didn't know you were a lefty...had I known, I would not have suggested the C29. You *COULD* manage the same method with the Dragonfly as it is righty tip up, but you gotta really emphasize that flick!

How about a Meerkat? Rides LOW in pocket, "sheeple friendly"..? Or how about a Dodo? Too vicious lookin' for NYC?

God bless :cool:

[ghostrider]

How about a Calypso Jr.? Its smaller than the Delica and not as scary looking. It also has a grey handle, which IMHO makes it more sheeple friendly.

[dialex]

Dragonfly all the way. It is lightweight (even the SS version), comfortable and the full flat grind blade makes for a great slicer. It comes in SS, FRN and even CF :D

[The Deacon]

The Mouse is the most ambidextrous of the lot, but, as Simon pointed out, not the easiest knife to control. It is cute, certainly about as "socially acceptable" a knife as you'll ever find, but so short bladed as to be almost more suited to the key ring than the pocket. The Dragonfly has just enough more blade to become a really usable little knife. Quite controllable, and the flat ground blade makes it a great slicer, but the FRN version feels odd in the left hand due to the molded on clip being on the wrong side and the clip on the stainless version is not reversible. I'm a southpaw, and my favorite "PC" carry is a Kiwi. The size, coupled with the bolster and scales construction, make it quite non-threatening to the terminally timid, and the overall design, with full 50/50 choil makes it work well in the grips I use most often with a small knife. However,t you seem to like clips and it does not have one.

[Andkatz]

The Calypso Jr. looks interesting but I have by doubts about the forward finger choil on it and the Native as being too close to the blade. Maybe I am paranoid without reason about my finger sllipping onto the blade.

[Andkatz]

The Calypso Jr. looks interesting but I have by doubts about the forward finger choil on it and the Native as being too close to the blade. Maybe I am paranoid without reason about my finger sllipping onto the blade.

Not sure about the Meerkat either. I wonder about a lock that was only used on one knife and then discontinued. I also work around a lot of dirt and dust and am concerned about ease of cleaning of the Meer as well as steel quality

[The Deacon]

The Calypso Jr. looks interesting but I have by doubts about the forward finger choil on it and the Native as being too close to the blade. Maybe I am paranoid without reason about my finger sllipping onto the blade.

Andkatz, to me, the 50/50 choil is one of the strong points of the Calypso Jr. and Native, as well as the Dragonfly and Kiwi. The Calypso Jr. is a great knife, fully ambi, light as a feather, sharp as a razor, big enough to divide up an industrial stregth sub, yet fairly non-threatening to "non-knife people". The 50/50 does take a bit of getting use to at first, and is best used only for those operations based more on finesse than brute force, but does add versatility to those knives that have it. I, quite frankly, have reached the point where a knife that lacks it has to have some other very strong attraction for me to consider it. Unlike the Dragonfly, the Calypso has a large enough handle that use of the "choked up" forward grip that utilizes the 50/50 is an option. The Native is also a great, fully ambi design and highly ergonomic. The only caveat with it is that the "dagger" shaped blade and "double edge" look created by the swedge grind appear to inspire fear in a fair amount of people.

[Andkatz]

So now I'm leaning to the dragonfly but since Im a lefty and the clip is stationary it needs to open fairly easily with a wrist flick to a reverse hold as mentioned ealier. Daywalker mentioned the need to really "emphasize the flick" Should I stick with a Delica and forget about what people think, after all it is well within the legal 4" limit.

[silverback]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

Of the knives mentioned I own the Dragonfly SS, Caly Jr. and the Meerkat. I find them all to be great. :)
But if you are worried about dirt, maybe the Meerkat is not for you. Other than that, it's great, though, especially at the current price range. But you can get one for weekend use or because it's a novelty? The lock is so much fun! If someone borrows it, the puzzled looks when it comes to closing it are great ...

To make matters worse, there's a new/old sheeple-friendly knife, the almite Walker. It's a beautiful gentleman folder that you'll just fall in love with. Funny no one mentioned it yet.

Can't decide? I couldn't either. You'll probably get them all in the end. :D

[Andkatz]

I ordered a new Delica to replace my old one with a broken clip. as far as the Mouse or the Dragonfly as a PC city carry i will have to wait to try and hold both of them before I can make up my mind. The D'Fly needs to come out with a reversable clip and there would probably be no question. Anyone know of a good Spyder dealer in the NYC area?