Dragonfly vs. Lil' Native

[benja-man]

I think the mechanical goodness of this design in such a small package is very cool!
IMG_3488.pngIMG_3604.jpeg

Great picture to illustrate you point!

[chronovore]

There are a couple Ti dragonfly kits both of which come with washers.

I picked one up but haven't had a chance to set it up. I'll post about it when I do.

[kobold]

For a tiny three-finger knife, the Dragonfly ergonomics line up a lot better for my hand. So it does end up being my most-carried knife, often as a secondary in a shirt or jacket pocket, etc..

What I'd really like to see is improvements on the Dragonfly LW. The big one is just offering it (especially the Wharncliffe) in premium stainless. Another could be other scale options. I'd been exploring aftermarket scales and the blade running directly against the scale can be less optimal there. I'd be way into a linerless CF Dragonfly on washers (or even caged bearings against steel washers).

There are a couple Ti dragonfly kits both of which come with washers.

Are those kits for FRN and Salt models?

[Flash]

Been carrying my Lil native in rex45 a lot lately. Cracking knife, brilliant steel. Dare I say I may even prefer it to my beloved Chaparral.

But what happened to the jimping? The jimping fairies no visit this knife, why? Could the boys at Golden please add jimping to the CQI version.

[Wartstein]

... Dare I say I may even prefer it to my beloved Chaparral.
...

Heresy... ...

[cjk]

For a tiny three-finger knife, the Dragonfly ergonomics line up a lot better for my hand. So it does end up being my most-carried knife, often as a secondary in a shirt or jacket pocket, etc..

What I'd really like to see is improvements on the Dragonfly LW. The big one is just offering it (especially the Wharncliffe) in premium stainless. Another could be other scale options. I'd been exploring aftermarket scales and the blade running directly against the scale can be less optimal there. I'd be way into a linerless CF Dragonfly on washers (or even caged bearings against steel washers).

There are a couple Ti dragonfly kits both of which come with washers.

Are those kits for FRN and Salt models?

yes. Flytanium makes one and there's one for sale on ebay. I have both. They both work. The ebay one was designed to be used without washers, but includes them and they do work. The Flytanium one is more expensive and has more parts. They both work.

[kobold]

For a tiny three-finger knife, the Dragonfly ergonomics line up a lot better for my hand. So it does end up being my most-carried knife, often as a secondary in a shirt or jacket pocket, etc..

What I'd really like to see is improvements on the Dragonfly LW. The big one is just offering it (especially the Wharncliffe) in premium stainless. Another could be other scale options. I'd been exploring aftermarket scales and the blade running directly against the scale can be less optimal there. I'd be way into a linerless CF Dragonfly on washers (or even caged bearings against steel washers).

There are a couple Ti dragonfly kits both of which come with washers.

Are those kits for FRN and Salt models?

yes. Flytanium makes one and there's one for sale on ebay. I have both. They both work. The ebay one was designed to be used without washers, but includes them and they do work. The Flytanium one is more expensive and has more parts. They both work.

Thank you. Interesting.

[chronovore]

There are a couple Ti dragonfly kits both of which come with washers.

Are those kits for FRN and Salt models?

yes. Flytanium makes one and there's one for sale on ebay. I have both. They both work. The ebay one was designed to be used without washers, but includes them and they do work. The Flytanium one is more expensive and has more parts. They both work.

Thank you. Interesting.

BTW, got the Flytanium. It came with washers. Makes the LW Dragonfly feel extremely sturdy in hand. Disassembly and reassembly are easy with the solid titanium spacer.

[Ryder]

Are those kits for FRN and Salt models?

yes. Flytanium makes one and there's one for sale on ebay. I have both. They both work. The ebay one was designed to be used without washers, but includes them and they do work. The Flytanium one is more expensive and has more parts. They both work.

Thank you. Interesting.

BTW, got the Flytanium. It came with washers. Makes the LW Dragonfly feel extremely sturdy in hand. Disassembly and reassembly are easy with the solid titanium spacer.

Can you tell us how much it weighs with the titanium scales? Thanks

[Bolster]

Thanks for all the feedback. @prndltech, @aicolainen, and @SaltyCaribbeanDfly (among others) had big influence on me and I now possess the K390 D'fly. It got put straight to work doing a house rebuild, with no honeymoon phase. Have been using the factory edge which is good, and a half hour of opening and closing it broke it in nicely. I had not anticipated how much more difficult it would be to thumb open such a small knife, but am getting better at it. Perfectly centered. Lock rock below my noticeable threshold, seems to be zero when opened with authority. A very nice knife. Mine came with the K390 blade a little "pre-toned," which is A-OK with me, looking forward to seeing it tone more with use. Really like the extensive thumb jimping molded into the FRN. So light at 1.2 oz, it just disappears in pocket or band. Interestingly it has one of the most extreme ("efficient") blade:weight ratios of Spyderco knives, a slightly better ratio than even the UK Penknife, another blade-for-the-weight champion (but trailing the Bradley Air by a good margin). Have been using it during a lawn irrigation overhaul--trimming lots of PVC in a muddy environment--and it's functioning brilliantly.

I haven't closed the door on getting a Lil' Native too; I'm sure it would be easier to manipulate during work activities. But that's for another time. Not sure I'll be able to give up a 3" blade (my fave size) but I'm going to give this little 2-incher a try for several weeks.

Thanks again all for the input, and thanks Spyderco for making this little jewel.

[Doc Dan]

I think you made a great choice! I have around ten of these little critters. My wife and I both love them. I have just one Lil Native. That says what I think of them as a comparison. Not that the LN is a bad knife, because it's not. I just think that over all the DF is better.

[Ryder]

Bolster that’s a good little initial review. It is kind of shocking how such a small folder can perform so well. The K390 is off the charts amazing.

[chronovore]

yes. Flytanium makes one and there's one for sale on ebay. I have both. They both work. The ebay one was designed to be used without washers, but includes them and they do work. The Flytanium one is more expensive and has more parts. They both work.

Thank you. Interesting.

BTW, got the Flytanium. It came with washers. Makes the LW Dragonfly feel extremely sturdy in hand. Disassembly and reassembly are easy with the solid titanium spacer.

Can you tell us how much it weighs with the titanium scales? Thanks

Hey. Sorry for the delay in noticing this. My scale says 2.13 ounces with the flytanium scales and back spacer, BTW, carrying it again today.

[Ryder]

Thanks, that does look very classy

[Bolster]

The D'fly has gone from Try-It-Out-Carry to Almost-Every-Day-Carry because I often use a running belt to hold phone, credit cards, and cash under my shirt. The D'fly fits in the cash pocket with clip removed, weighing only 1.0 ounce! Now I've no excuse not to have K390 slicing power at all times...!

The D'fly has made me join the ranks of those who carry TWO Spydercos. Usually have a larger knife in RFP, too.

[Ryder]

That’s a slick lightweight kit for moving through the urban landscape, a device for communication, navigation, reference and photography with some currency and a very capable blade that will draw no attention. I like it. Every place I go takes Apple Pay so I haven’t had to carry actual cash for years now so it’s usually just the phone and the Dragonfly, but some cash sure can’t hurt.

[Mrj]

I have to say I like the dragonfly blade and the lil native handle. I used my cruwear lil native today and really enjoyed it, but nothing like a SE dragonfly salt.

[Darklight111]

I own several DFs and a LN with compression lock. The LN seems to be a sturdier knife, but I find that the compression lock system is an ergonomic aberration that doesn't make it very secure to close. I think the main reason for carrying a sub-compact knife is weight. In this respect, the DF is ideal, in addition to being pleasant in the hand and available in a wide variety of colors, making it a little more sheeple-friendly too. The SS and green g10 scales/VG10 versions also offer a more robust iteration of the DF.

[RyanY]

I agree with your points and I also just had to comment on this photo! The composition, color, and lighting are all awesome! Well done!

[Evil D]

I've developed a very strong preference for no thumb ramp designs, so at the least I think I'd check out a Lil Native if I wanted to keep size to a minimum, but I really like the Native 5 as a small knife (small to me anyway).