any blade smaller than a cat or 2.5" range blade useful?

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
jhb
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any blade smaller than a cat or 2.5" range blade useful?

#1

Post by jhb »

i've always liked bigger folders and where i am, laws aren't an issue with 4," or bigger if you have a ccw. of course i get some big city laws telling you no blade over 1" or 2" deal, but laws aside from this discussion.... are smaller blades than the cat type size...really useful?

i just got a dragonfly 2 h1 and a cat and a delica wave, and i've never had smaller blades, so it was a shock to see how tiny that dragonfly really is even knowing the specs before i bought it. it was a bit of effort to retrain myself to be able to open quickly, and i don't have super big hands.

i love that dragonfly design, looks wise, and for how tiny it is it does handle quite well.....but wish there was a larger version like a 3-3.5" or bigger blade and larger handle to balance it out. yeah i know spyderco makes lots of 3" and bigger blades that are close, but it's the details i like on the dragonfly. the blade shape and grinds, and handle shape, etc. i also know i'm probably the only person who would like a larger dragonfly, so it will never happen. back on topic.....at the size it is, i see no advantage to the cat, other than jimping and features.

so i bought these little knives because i like small blades just to open boxes with tape. easier to control and such but for everything else i am not seeing much if any advantage....and it got me wondering wouldn't something the size of a delica accomplish all that a smaller blade can do and be a nice tradeoff in weight and size to a bigger folder?

i am sure there is good reasons i haven't thought of yet, so educate me and show me what i am missing in little blades. other than the law says this is all i can carry. thanks!
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Blerv
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#2

Post by Blerv »

I used a Bug frequently at my second job. It did great at tape, bags, and even once a zip tie. For all duties it performed at least as well as the work scissors and much better than my teeth. :)

A Delica-sized pocket knife probably can handle 99% of the tasks at hand. It's good for the office, field, and everywhere between. The Dragonfly is a serious cutter which even has a smaller footprint in your pocket.

I would actually argue that a smaller blade makes more sense for most people than a large one. They also carry well in the archaic watch pocket for the bulk of us that wear watches on our wrist or not at all. Serrations and a lack of belly make for a more aggressive cutters (hawkbills, reverse S, wharnies) which can rival some large knives.

If you want a bigger Dragonfly you might check out the Lum Chinese and Lum Chinese XL. Not the same knife but the handle is reminiscent to a degree.

PS: CCW in many states doesn't do anything for knife laws. In some open carrying a pistol is far more legal than opening carrying a fixed blade or even conceal carrying a folder that is 1/8th an inch too long. If that's all it took I would get my CCW this weekend. :)
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gunnut35
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#3

Post by gunnut35 »

The ladybug is the knife i use the most. I carry 4 spydercos on me just about every day and 2 of them are ladybugs and the get the most use. The spin, and kiwis are two small knives that get rotated with the ladybugs and are excelent knives as well. Try a kiwi and you will love it.
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DMgangl
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#4

Post by DMgangl »

Short answer, only carry a SE Cricket and a PE Ladybug for a week and you'll understand.

Long answer, I used to be just like you. I carried a Police 3 everywhere. The smallest knife I carried on a regular basis was an Endura. I owned a Jester as well. It was my around the house knife. Save my Jester the smallest knife I owned was a Harpy. Then after reading a lot on the forums about the Cricket and how its a great knife I finally got one. It was an eye opener. The Cricket handled many jobs that 3" knives struggled with. IMO it is the best LBK there is. After that I ended up with a Meerkat sprint. This was another surprising knife. The knife was laser sharp and handled many every day jobs very well. The thicker handle is very comfortable in my hand.

So to answer your question. Yes there are a good bit of 2" Spydercos out there that are extremely useful. I for one cant wait for the Squeak to arrive.

DM
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gus88
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#5

Post by gus88 »

i love my spyderco poliwog

the thing probably has a cutting edge of 1.5" (someone correct me) but the handle adds so much leverage in your grip and you can get your thumb out on the spine of the blade very comfortably.

i find small blade best for cutting down cardboard or opening packages. sometimes with a big knife i have actually cut what is inside the package im opening...not good!

also the dfly rocks...and i use the bug on my keys all the time to open sauce packets at a restaurant, cut tape at the post office, stuff like that
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Evil D
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#6

Post by Evil D »

I've always felt there is a huge potential for a Dragonfly sized waved knife. I have huge hands, and fumbling around with tiny knives can be tricky sometimes. If i could clip it and pull it out open with a wave hook, i carry them a lot more.
~David
ousanas
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#7

Post by ousanas »

completely, in fact for the past 4 or 5 months I've been wondering the opposite. In normal every day life, why do I need a knife bigger than my leafstorm?

I have carried 4 inchers, mostly 3ish, and lately it's just the LS and a se ladybug on my keychains. I have no issues with anything I do using a smaller knife. I am a cable installer, so lots of boxes/bags/etc get cut open, as well as trimming up the outer layers of coaxial cable. The LS handles it all perfectly. usually I have a SE Salt I for work, but the LS gets probably about 35-40% of the duty and handles it perfectly. I have done the same with the Ladybug, and my Lava.

I carry the 4 inch blades and they are just a tad TOO big for me, and I have big hands (XXL gloves are about perfect). That much blade makes it a bit unwieldy, my sage 2 fits my hand like a glove and I love the blade length, but it almost always gets left behind (at least in summer) in favor of smaller, lighter blades.

NOW, Were I doing more heavy outdoorsy/camping type living, I would definitely carry a bigger folder, but also a fixed blade a hatchet as well, I usually brign all those when I'm camping.

But for every day small city use, what do I need a 4 or even 3 inch knife for? :)
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#8

Post by Evil D »

ousanas wrote: But for every day small city use, what do I need a 4 or even 3 inch knife for? :)
Cutting sandwiches :D

Lets see you slice up a nice big club sandwich with a Ladybug lol
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ousanas
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#9

Post by ousanas »

Evil D wrote:Cutting sandwiches :D

Lets see you slice up a nice big club sandwich with a Ladybug lol
LOL, just gotta be creative.
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dbcad
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#10

Post by dbcad »

I'm a fan of the Urban. Delica is also a terrific choice. There's a reason it's been around for so long :)
Charlie

" Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler."

[CENTER]"Integrity is being good even if no one is watching"[/CENTER]
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Blerv
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#11

Post by Blerv »

I think this forum represents a very civic-minded group of knife owners. Generally lacking the bravado that sees the news and local papers.

Frankly I carry smaller knives when possible because they are also easier to use w/o the drama. I can explain to anyone that my Manix2 is legal but if you are used to pen knives it's a very large tool. The same response isn't shown with the Spin.

Having the right tool for the job is important. Making sure people around you are comfortable I feel is as well.

Who knows? If we all carried big blades and used them in public places the rights to carry small ones might disappear quicker than we like.
jhb
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#12

Post by jhb »

Blerv wrote:I used a Bug frequently at my second job. It did great at tape, bags, and even once a zip tie. For all duties it performed at least as well as the work scissors and much better than my teeth. :)

A Delica-sized pocket knife probably can handle 99% of the tasks at hand. It's good for the office, field, and everywhere between. The Dragonfly is a serious cutter which even has a smaller footprint in your pocket.

I would actually argue that a smaller blade makes more sense for most people than a large one. They also carry well in the archaic watch pocket for the bulk of us that wear watches on our wrist or not at all. Serrations and a lack of belly make for a more aggressive cutters (hawkbills, reverse S, wharnies) which can rival some large knives.

If you want a bigger Dragonfly you might check out the Lum Chinese and Lum Chinese XL. Not the same knife but the handle is reminiscent to a degree.

PS: CCW in many states doesn't do anything for knife laws. In some open carrying a pistol is far more legal than opening carrying a fixed blade or even conceal carrying a folder that is 1/8th an inch too long. If that's all it took I would get my CCW this weekend. :)
in florida knives,clubs,sharp sticks,etc are covered umder ccw. One of the few states that honor more than firearms. Good info,thanks for your input.
jhb
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#13

Post by jhb »

ousanas wrote:completely, in fact for the past 4 or 5 months I've been wondering the opposite. In normal every day life, why do I need a knife bigger than my leafstorm?

But for every day small city use, what do I need a 4 or even 3 inch knife for? :)
Excellent points. I can see in a city you'd have little need for a larger folder. Thanks for feedback.
jhb
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#14

Post by jhb »

gus88 wrote:i love my spyderco poliwog

the thing probably has a cutting edge of 1.5" (someone correct me) but the handle adds so much leverage in your grip and you can get your thumb out on the spine of the blade very comfortably.

i find small blade best for cutting down cardboard or opening packages. sometimes with a big knife i have actually cut what is inside the package im opening...not good!

also the dfly rocks...and i use the bug on my keys all the time to open sauce packets at a restaurant, cut tape at the post office, stuff like that
Exactly what made me want some smaller folders, opening boxes without having to be extra careful,and that catdoes it realy well,tomorrow ill try out my dragonfly. I expect it to do well also,but I like the cat size better.

Thanks to everyone else,lots of good points and info. Greatly appreciated.
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#15

Post by Sithus1966 »

This little blade and it's shape does not scare sheeple into a 911 panic when you use it in public.

Image
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jhb
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#16

Post by jhb »

Sithus1966 wrote:This little blade and it's shape does not scare sheeple into a 911 panic when you use it in public.

Image
very nice. thanks for sharing.

i am amazed anyone is afraid of a knife anywhere, unless being threatened or attacked with it of course. i also get why people would be afraid of a knife in some looneys hand, but where i am people walk around with 4"-8" bushcraft or hunting type knives in sheaths on their belt in the open (cause you can't conceal unless you have a ccw permit) and non one blinks or notices. when did this irrational fear of knives get into people? i read a report someone posted a link to about an fbi study where people were more afraid of a guy with a knife, and more willing to cooperate to demands from the knife weilder, than one with a gun.

if you think about it, no one fears a guy walking around with a cordless drill on his belt, and he could do some serious damage with that and a long drill bit. so a knife is really no different, just a tool that can cut stuff. last thing i am worried about is scaring people when i pick a knife to carry. if the knife is legal and all, i will use it and if they are scared, so be it. they can leave or get control of their irrational fears or if i can help them gain control over their fears..... i will be happy to show them the tool and how it works and why it shouldn't be feared except in the right situations. of course i say that thinking i do not look like a looney with a knife, but i guess it's possible someone could see me that way? :)
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gunnut35
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#17

Post by gunnut35 »

Some people have fear of what they dont understand. My wifes mothers side of her family are afraid of everything. They keep there knifes locked up in the pantry and freak out every time i pull out a chef knife wile cooking. There are no kids aroud there house to worry about, they are just scared of knives. When we go over there for get togethers they drive me crazy because they take forever doing prep work because they use butter knives to cut everything up, ( i am not joking ). I always take my knife roll over there and end up taking over the cutting chores.
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Blerv
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#18

Post by Blerv »

jhb wrote:in florida knives,clubs,sharp sticks,etc are covered umder ccw. One of the few states that honor more than firearms. Good info,thanks for your input.
That's very cool. Glad Florida is different! Just threw that out there for the people who didn't know. :)

Sigh, I need to move to Florida. I want to carry a Ronin BAD!
a deadly fart
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#19

Post by a deadly fart »

I too love the cricket and kiwi for a small blade knife but always wanted that size blade on a handle like say a delica or caly3 size for more leverage.
jhb
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#20

Post by jhb »

gunnut35 wrote:Some people have fear of what they dont understand. My wifes mothers side of her family are afraid of everything. They keep there knifes locked up in the pantry and freak out every time i pull out a chef knife wile cooking. There are no kids aroud there house to worry about, they are just scared of knives. When we go over there for get togethers they drive me crazy because they take forever doing prep work because they use butter knives to cut everything up, ( i am not joking ). I always take my knife roll over there and end up taking over the cutting chores.
interesting. the butter knife thing is pretty over the top. out of sheer curiousity did you ever get a chance to ask them what happened that got them in this line of thinking or fear of knives? thanks...
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