Need smaller knife - ideas?

ozspyder · #21

Bltkmt,

As you will hear from Roman (bh49) and others that collect and use Kopas (and Kiwis for that matter), once you pop you can't stop !!! :D

For those who are not 100% certain on the Kopa it is a great introduction to the little terror :p

For beginner Kopaholics I would recommend Jigged Bone, Black Quince, and maybe even Giraffe Bone or Pacific Blue Bone. The CF I think will look quite nice, but I would dare say it'd be a bit more expensive.

ozspyder · #22

PS: Are my photos really that evil ? :p

I love the Kopa... carry them on a daily basis and they do a fantastic job in appeasing the Sheeple God :D

amen74 · #23

datan wrote:PS: Are my photos really that evil ? :p

I love the Kopa... carry them on a daily basis and they do a fantastic job in appeasing the Sheeple God :D

Evil enough that they got me to buy a turquoise Kopa last year. Remember? It was my first and is still my only. Love the fit, finish, feel, and overall operation of the knife. I would own many more if I could afford them. :)

Doc Pyres · #24

Hello bltkmt, welcome to the forums. :)

If you're looking for a nice smaller knife, could I interest you in a Pink Dragonfly? :o :D :o :D

See this poll:

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37157

vampyrewolf · #25

redyps04 wrote:Are you by any chance sitting in the middle of war zone right now?

no, I just don't like walking or reaching for my tools. I grab a knife with whichever hand is free or whatever is the easiest to get at. A couple weeks ago I was working up in the mezzanine at the office recabling, bending and twisting as needed. Both the neck carry (was the spur then) and moran got used heavily as I couldn't reach either of my other ones.

Should see the pile of gear I have with me between my backpack, vest and belt.

vampyrewolf · #26

Don Ellis wrote:I decided on the Kopa... after buying a SS Ladybug for my keyring, I thought I would buy something else a little larger. Purchased an Etched Dragonfly and a Black Quince Kopa... the Kopa is by far the better knife. Feels better, looks better, and is simply better made in the sense that if I press the back lock, the blade falls, so the tolerances are excellent. Press the Dragonfly lock and you'll be snapping your wrist to get the blade to close (at least on mine).

The ss 'fly loosens up after a few hundred cycles. Just get some lube and go at at.
My kiwi took about a year to break in because I wasn't using it a lot.

I had a cocobolo kopa when they first came out, one of the many models I'm sorry I got rid of.

Don Ellis · #27

vampyrewolf wrote:The ss 'fly loosens up after a few hundred cycles. Just get some lube and go at at. My kiwi took about a year to break in because I wasn't using it a lot.

I'm sure it would loosen up... if I kept it. But I like the idea of a knife being pretty great right from the first opening. And for me the Kopa is just a better knife in so many ways: steel thickness, looks, curves, clip, handle materials, tolerances, etc.

The Dragonfly was put right back in the box and will be traded away before it has a chance to loosen up. :)

Don

MCM · #28

The Meerkat is another nifty little knife......
Easily found on the bay.

P.S I don't think the CF Kopa will be one of the more expensive Kopa's.
Some of the other materials are much more expensive to produce / machine.

Just a guess.

Also think it will be a very popular model. :D

Netsquash · #29

Don Ellis wrote:The Dragonfly was put right back in the box and will be traded away before it has a chance to loosen up. :)

Don

I find the Dragonfly is one you have to form a relationship with before you can really pass judgment on it. I've had mine for about a year now and I wouldn't know what to do without it. It's my beater knife but it can take the beating, no real damage has been suffered onto it. It just has some scratches on the handle and a mediocre attempt at sharpening it from a friend.

It's not as refined as the kopa in its polish but still worthy of the classification as a gentleman's knife. The ergs seem to be about the same. I personally think it should be a required purchase for any Spyderco fan. Give it two weeks in your pocket and you will feel naked without it.

The SS Dragonfly is a classic Spyderco in my eyes and worth of many generations of life. (with jimping :p )

Jay_Ev · #30

You can't go wrong with any of these 3:

Jay

Pneumothorax · #31

Don Ellis wrote:I'm sure it would loosen up... if I kept it. But I like the idea of a knife being pretty great right from the first opening. And for me the Kopa is just a better knife in so many ways: steel thickness, looks, curves, clip, handle materials, tolerances, etc.

The Dragonfly was put right back in the box and will be traded away before it has a chance to loosen up. :)

Don

I agree with the point of being right - right out of the box. But I had the exact opposite experience. My SS D'fly pivot tolerance is perfect. Depress the lock and the blade just falls. My Kopa pearl sticks about 45 degrees and I really have to snap my wrist to get it to go about 75 degrees. I dont have the time or the inclination to work the blade, so it will take some time for it to loosen up. I dont mind though - every knife can't have that tolerance level. To me its a bonus if the blade just falls. The other 99% of workmanship is what I buy.

Netsquash · #32

Jay_Ev wrote:You can't go wrong with any of these 3:

Jay

What is the middle one?

spydutch · #33

Netsquash wrote:What is the middle one?

That's the Navigator II/SE

Got one myself. Sturdy little bugger, feels more solid than the 'Fly.

The choils are just a bit too smal to fit my big chubby fingers :o comfortably

Sammax · #34

The DragonFly was my first and almost only Spyder. It's a great size for me in my office environment.

I just bought a Caly 3 (in transit) and I am worried that it will be a little much to carry in my office.

I really look forward to a newer version of the Dragonfly so I can justify buying it.

boboakalfb · #35

Sammax wrote:The DragonFly was my first and almost only Spyder. It's a great size for me in my office environment.

I just bought a Caly 3 (in transit) and I am worried that it will be a little much to carry in my office.

I really look forward to a newer version of the Dragonfly so I can justify buying it.

The Urban would be a nice compromise. :D

JJNH · #36

Is the Navigator similar to an Urban but with a lock? I realize the Navi is no longer produced, but I'm in a bit of a conundrum in that I want a leaf shaped, flat ground blade with a lock but the Caly3 is a bit too big for my EDC preferences, and I don't think we'll be seeing a locking Urban. The Dragonfly is close, but the handle is quite different, so I'm wondering if the Navi fit that niche..

telemeister · #37

I'd go for a Kopa, it is a fantastic looking knive (regardless of which one you get) with a nice FFG blade. Its a very classy looking knive, but it is also a fantastic cutter.

sixheads · #38

I might be mistake , but i rember sal saying that in the future there would be 2 to 2 and a half inch linerlocks like the sage. maybe wait for that.

Sixheads

Don Ellis · #39

Pneumothorax wrote:I agree with the point of being right - right out of the box. But I had the exact opposite experience. My SS D'fly pivot tolerance is perfect. Depress the lock and the blade just falls. My Kopa pearl sticks about 45 degrees and I really have to snap my wrist to get it to go about 75 degrees. I dont have the time or the inclination to work the blade, so it will take some time for it to loosen up. I dont mind though - every knife can't have that tolerance level. To me its a bonus if the blade just falls. The other 99% of workmanship is what I buy.

Thanks for the reminder that these knives are handmade in many ways... and that very little is perfect.

As for the Dragonfly, I'm torn. Because I don't love it, it's a knife I would bash about when I would think twice about using the Kopa. But considering how many knives I already carry, I think the Dragonfly would tip the balance into unbelievable. :p

So for that reason, I'm not sure where I would carry it... perhaps in my camera bag, which is with me every day, but I don't like fishing around for tools. If I want a knife, I want a knife NOW. :D

More thinking to do on this subject... always a challenge. Thinking, that is.

Thanks for the alternative viewpoint.
Don

Pneumothorax · #40

Couple thoughts on new knives and usage:
New knives - since we are sort of on topic of how a new knife opens. Sorry, this is off topic, but I've seen a fair amount of posts about people trying Spydies and experiencing the blade action being gritty while opening. Sounds like it turned a couple of folks off - I've had this and I think it' just polishing compound or something from the factory. I just put some oil on the pivot and worked the knife, wiped off excess, sprayed with compressed air and in about 10 minutes the action was smooth as should be. Any comments from the experts?
On your point of where to use knives/when? I'm in marketing, so I have to have a use/need for everything (it's how I think and rationalize...). My frn D'fly (which rides to high out of pocket) will go to my camera bag once the G10/wire clip comes out. G10 will be normal office EDC. Kopa is dress carry. Urban will be weekend/house project carry. Endura is camping/backpack carry. Remote release (when I get it) will be backpack access. I can make up a need for anything. One thing I need to figure out is what Golden knife to get - dont have one yet - a glaring hole in my small, but growing collection.