Spyderco Forums

Fanch_Man wrote:
I guess I should clarify what I mean by "quintessential" as that may not have been the best choice of words. While I'm certainly interested in Spydies that are tried-and-true - even historic - designs, if there are new ones that you guys think especially excel in form and function while keeping the Spyderco ethos, I'm very interested in those, as well. The Firefly and Mantra have come up, I think those pretty well embody kind of what I'm looking for.

In that case get a Mantra. It is essentially a titanium Delica with a flipper and m4 steel. I don't have one yet but I've handled the knife extensively and I actually prefer the ergonomics to the Delica (which is one of my all time favorites). It hasn't been around long enough to get the love it deserves but it is an awesome design.

I love small Spyderco knives. I also have several of the ones mentioned in this thread, and I love all of them. If I had to pick just one, I'd have a stroke. Barring the stroke, I would probably pick one of my Dragonfly 2s, although it really is a tossup between them for me.

Surfingringo wrote:

Fanch_Man wrote:
I guess I should clarify what I mean by "quintessential" as that may not have been the best choice of words. While I'm certainly interested in Spydies that are tried-and-true - even historic - designs, if there are new ones that you guys think especially excel in form and function while keeping the Spyderco ethos, I'm very interested in those, as well. The Firefly and Mantra have come up, I think those pretty well embody kind of what I'm looking for.

In that case get a Mantra. It is essentially a titanium Delica with a flipper and m4 steel. I don't have one yet but I've handled the knife extensively and I actually prefer the ergonomics to the Delica (which is one of my all time favorites). It hasn't been around long enough to get the love it deserves but it is an awesome design.

Having said that, this right here is very true. I'd pick my Mantra over my Delica any day. It's absolutely spectacular. If you let me have two knives, it would be the Mantra and a Dragonfly.

Fanch_Man wrote:Hello all,

Welcome to the Forum.
Enjoy your stay or run, if you can :D Spending time here will not ends well for your valet.

Fanch_Man wrote: I currently have a Bradley Air and a carbon fiber Kopa, and they are perfect.

congrats on Kopa. It is good find and great knife. I carried Kopa Cocobolo for years.

Fanch_Man wrote: I'm really wanting to limit my collection to 5 Spydies that I REALLY love to both fondle AND use.

We all did. Please update us how does it work for you in 6 month

Fanch_Man wrote: SO, to the question: what Spydie folders should I get to round out my "collection?" What knives do you think represent Spyderco form and function the best? My preferences are for smaller knives, 3.25" up to maybe 4.25" handle length. I think the Mantra (which I'm really wanting to check out) is as big as I'd consider. I'm hoping the Para 3/Para Mini comes inside that range. I'm currently considering Native 5 Ti, Chap 1, Dragonfly G-10, Mantra, Positron, Dice, Mini Persian, and CF Kiwi.

1. Ti Fluted N5 will be a great choice. The knife has a great look and fantastic ergos. Countoured scales feels very nice in the hand. S35Vn is quite good and no hussle to sharpen. Probably it is currently my favorite out of entire Native family.
2. 75 mm Persian is a good knife. Make sure that you will get 75 mm Persian and not 75 mm Persian2. P2 is a good knife, but is not as special as original for me.
3. Do not forget Sharpmaker.
4. nobody mentioned Memory??????????? great looking knife and an exellent slicer.

Fanch_Man wrote: I've considered "little knives" like the Manbug and Jester, but since I usually only carry one folder with me on a given day (besides a SAK, usually Cadet), I'd rather have something a *little* more potent and...fulfilling?...to carry.

1. It cannot be any good reason to carry just one knife.
2. I am sure that Jester will outcut Cadet. ZDP189 FFG Ladybug is also sweet.
3. Nobody counts key-chain knife.

These are all great suggestions. I will add the Ladybug Hawkbill and one of the Sages as other great options.

G10 DF2 is a winner

Best small spyderco imo is the techno

Double post sorry

You have some great suggestions and I now have (and enjoy) many of the models mentioned. Haven't tried a Mantra yet but I think I will soon. I'll also add that you might want to look at something from the Sage series. The Sage 1, 2, 3, & 4 (if you can find one) are all great! Not too big & not too small. The new Sage 5 with compression lock should be out sometime in the near future. The Sage is about the size (I assume) as the Lil' Para should be but a little different handle & blade shape.

Another vote for the Dragonfly 2 here. Also, if you were to go for the Firefly I can tell you that it is really close to the Dragonfly's size. When closed, both knives have virtually the same length and overall size. When open, the Firefly has more blade length. The dragonfly is a much more ergonomic design though, but the choil does 'eat up' some blade length. Have fun deciding; to me, the hunt always provides the most fun in this hobby.

Mr Blonde wrote:Another vote for the Dragonfly 2 here. Also, if you were to go for the Firefly I can tell you that it is really close to the Dragonfly's size. When closed, both knives have virtually the same length and overall size. When open, the Firefly has more blade length. The dragonfly is a much more ergonomic design though, but the choil does 'eat up' some blade length. Have fun deciding; to me, the hunt always provides the most fun in this hobby.

One thing to consider is that the most expensive DF2s retail for around half of what the Firefly retails, and is, to me, a functionally better design. Aesthetics and cost concerns are personal preference.

Leeroy37 wrote:G10 DF2 is a winner

Yes it is! A very solid little knife!

dplafoll wrote:

Mr Blonde wrote:Another vote for the Dragonfly 2 here. Also, if you were to go for the Firefly I can tell you that it is really close to the Dragonfly's size. When closed, both knives have virtually the same length and overall size. When open, the Firefly has more blade length. The dragonfly is a much more ergonomic design though, but the choil does 'eat up' some blade length. Have fun deciding; to me, the hunt always provides the most fun in this hobby.

One thing to consider is that the most expensive DF2s retail for around half of what the Firefly retails, and is, to me, a functionally better design. Aesthetics and cost concerns are personal preference.

Oh yes, absolutely. The DF2 is cheaper and a much nicer/better user EDC. Still, that Firefly brings -to me- a sense of enjoyment as a collector that is tough for 'simple' FRN/G-10 to match

Mr Blonde wrote:

dplafoll wrote:

Mr Blonde wrote:Another vote for the Dragonfly 2 here. Also, if you were to go for the Firefly I can tell you that it is really close to the Dragonfly's size. When closed, both knives have virtually the same length and overall size. When open, the Firefly has more blade length. The dragonfly is a much more ergonomic design though, but the choil does 'eat up' some blade length. Have fun deciding; to me, the hunt always provides the most fun in this hobby.

One thing to consider is that the most expensive DF2s retail for around half of what the Firefly retails, and is, to me, a functionally better design. Aesthetics and cost concerns are personal preference.

Oh yes, absolutely. The DF2 is cheaper and a much nicer/better user EDC. Still, that Firefly brings -to me- a sense of enjoyment as a collector that is
tough for 'simple' FRN/G-10 to match

Oh yeah, certainly. If I were going on price alone, I wouldn't have a Techno or Mantra, or even the non-VG10 DF2s. :D

You need a D'fly, I recommend you try FRN. The delica is a staple for a reason too. Welcome aboard.

Recycled pic, but these are a few of my favorite little big knives:



The Caly 3 also belongs here, but the profile is about the same as the UKPK anyway.

Welcome to the addiction, now go and hide your wallet. IF you can keep it to 5 knives, very good. If not, and IF you are going to carry and use them as well as collect, you need a Dragonfly, Delica and Endura. Manix, Paramillie and Millie are "the norm" too.

Also, you need to check out Spyderco's excellent hawkbills and Reverse-S knives. Ladybug hawkbill,Cricket,Meerkat reverse S, Dodo, Tasman Salt, Harpy,Lil Matriarch, Matriarch2,Karahawk, Civilian etc.. :D

One on your first post I haven't seen mentioned much is the positron....really love this knive, been with a PM2 main and Positron backup for months now...I love Ti and thought the Mantra would get a ton of pocket time..it just can't bump the positron..the 2 are very similar size flippers..lucky for you, all great knives, no bad choices and I'm sure you'll love whatever you decide on.

Sure, the Dragonfly is a decent knife, but I prefer the Copilot to it. Just feels up the hand better for me. The Navigator is also an interesting small knife.

DFly2 is worth every penny but the small knife sector is flooded with much cheaper options. On a budget the Ambitious is an oft-overlooked small tank of a knife that is every bit as good as its more famous big brother.

zhyla wrote:DFly2 is worth every penny but the small knife sector is flooded with much cheaper options.

cheaper doesn't mean better