Knife selection-Ladybug Salt?

[Half Sack]

Hey all, my first post would have been this thread but I don't think I had posting abilities. Anyhow I've been lurking and learned a lot now I need some advice.

I bought myself a :spyder: Endura knife plain edge with the Emerson wave, since opening the box it has been my edc at work and home. I love the knife and its rarely out of reach, it is larger than I would have bought had I realized the size I would have likely bought a delica maybe smaller.
I work in parcel shipping and will give away my cheap box cutters and use my Endura for whatever I need. Now like most of you, I realize one isn't enough :rolleyes: and I'm ready for number two.
I would like to get a second knife to use as my primary and the Endura would then be secondary/backup.

I'm leaning towards the Ladybug, I've heard great things about it but I've got a reason to look for a salt/h1 blade, I have a divers permit and would like a knife for when I'm in the water.

Now for questions, first is the ladybug too small to use while scuba diving or is that a good size? It seems like it should be small enough to carry and a large enough cutter to depend on.
Second question, should I get a plain edge or serrated edge? I have plans to buy a Sharpmaker in the future but not yet (I will probably have it before diving again), plain should cut through whatever I'm against, but I'll need to keep it sharp and underwater I may not be using the knife as well as I normally would above water, serrations may help cutting in an emergency (especially if not fully sharp)
The tip of the serrated blade would still be plain so box/tape/shrink cutting can be done and the serrations can handle emergencies underwater.

In your opinion Ladybug Salt or larger, plain edge or serrated?

Thanks in advance, there's tons of info around here so back to trolling.

[captnvegtble]

I buy all my H1 blades with a serrated edge. H1 is work-hardened and the SE grinding process causes the SE to have a higher hardness than the PE. Hence the edge lasts longer on a serrated blade.

[gunnut35]

The ladybug salts are excellent knifes and a hawkbil salt is perfect for opening packages. In a small blade like the ladybugs i like a SE blade. I carry alot of Spyderco knifes but i probably use the ladybugs the most to handle most of my cutting needs throughout the day.
I would also recommend a Dragonfly as a edc.

[gijoe945]

I think the caspian salt would best fit your fancy for diving. Check it out.

[Half Sack]

Your right, I should actually save up for the Caspian if I'm underwater I don't really want good enough I want the perfect tool. When I first saw the Caspian I thought that's the knife, I'm just looking for an alternative because of the price.
I think I will still buy a Ladybug for edc and start saving for a Caspian before I go under again.

I have no problem with the SE but I hadn't considered the hawkbill, for edc would you recommend the regular or hawkbill? Primary use would be work, cutting things like tape, shrink wrap, boxes, managers etc At home use, I usually reach for my Endura before looking for scissors (The Wife tends to remove them from their home, which leads me on an Easter style house hunt) but at home its opening packages like food and simple cutting.

So I'll look for and save up for a Caspian (The Wife should be on board as she's my diving buddy and will benefit from the blade too)
Back to Ladybug, hawkbill or regular clip point? Whats the advantage of the Hawk?

*great so I'm a few posts in and now I've got plans for 2 more blades plus a sharpmaker, wheres the "But Honey..." thread?*

Edit: I just found my answer about the hawk, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BFLqHqA ... ature=fvwp
the Hawkbill curves in, which allows the cutting material to be "drawn in" and keep contact with the blade. A standard blade you apply pressure to keep the material close.

[Freediver]

I dive all the time. If I am just freediving I always have my car keys in my pocket, which has a ladybug salt attatched. As a dive knife I have always used a pacific salt or a spyderhawk salt. A ladybug isn't really too functional while SCUBA diving to be honest, especially if you have gloves on it will be really hard to work with. If it was a ladybug or nothing, obviously I would want the ladybug on me, but while underwater you will want something a littler larger to work with. The Caspian is a great knife but you need to come up with some other way to secure it to yourself. The straps on the sheath are not enough to keep it around your leg. I found the best thing is just using heavy duty zip ties and secure it right to your BC.

[Tank]

I agree with freediver, the ladybug I think is to small to use while diving. As far as for cutting open boxes and such a ladybug hawkbill salt is great, i don't have the salt version yet but but I use my vg10 version all the time.

[xavierdoc]

Ladybug Salt is a good knife but, given the choice, you don't want to be fumbling with a small knife in an underwater emergency.

I know price is an issue but this is an area I would not compromise on. A sturdy fixed-blade H1 is the obvious choice for diving but if you must have a folder in the interim I'd opt for one of the full-size handles with larger spydie hole, and a lanyard (eg. Pacific or Spyderhawk.)

Serrations are a no-brainer for this scenario (IMO).

[Pro-V]

Primary use would be work, cutting things like tape, shrink wrap, boxes, managers etc

Managers? Was that a Freudian slip? Remind me not to hire you and then piss you off! Haha!

[Half Sack]

No managers was on purpose but never in life.
I have never cut someone other than myself and hope to never have to, I was hoping someone would catch that though. I actually added it to the sentence before posting it.
**** if I wanted to cut them, no way would a Ladybug come to mind over the Endura....
but no, no violence. I'm not that guy.

Its good to hear about the faults of the Caspian, it may still may be the #1 if I go diving but its good to have options and know what may not work.

I'll order a Ladybug soon, I'm thinking H1 Salt SE Hawkbill for edc, Endura for secondary and a Caspian (with zipties) Pacific or Spyderhawk for diving.
As I said before it would be best to have the best possible knife underwater not "this will do" I clearly can have backups but in that type of situations I'd rather not think I wish I bought *fill in the blank* instead. My Girl is my dive partner and her life may depend on the blade as much as my own, I'm not willing to risk her safety over a few $$$

"not to hire you and then piss you off" -glad to know you'd still hire me, you just wouldn't follow up with pissing me off...
I haven't been in a fight since elementary school and bladed combat is not where I'd like to pick up.

[Half Sack]

btw if anyone at work read this they'd think twice about how they treat employees, I sound **** crazy....

Edit: it took 4 replies before someone mentioned the "manager" line, either they didn't notice or did and though, yeah sounds right.

[Joe Internet]

>>> My Girl is my dive partner and her life may depend on the blade as much as my own, I'm not willing to risk her safety over a few $$$

So... which knife will she be carrying?

[jossta]

I would definitely go with a fixed blade for diving. Last thing you need to be doing under water is fumbling with a folder underwater. Especially with gloves on. I have two dive knives. A primary and a backup, both ti fixed blades that my dad got me when he got me my equipment in High School. Might pick up a Caspian somewhere down the road, but I don't dive enough to justify the expense.

[Half Sack]

>So... which knife will she be carrying?
Likely none, she's more likely to have a camera and be off swimming ahead (buddy system failure)
She will also use up her air faster which means we both need to return to the boat...

I found a Caspian for 75 which is the best price I've seen but I don't have the cash still.

I'm going to wait till payday and try to grab a Labybug Salt hawkbill I'll keep looking for a good knife in the future because I shouldn't be diving for quite a while but I'll be keeping my eyes pealed.
I may also break down and order the Ladybug tonight, if all Spyderco are similar I will have no regrets picking up a Ladybug, it will be money well spent and will last.

[jossta]

I agree that you will have no regrets. I think that is going to be my next purchase. I have been wanting to try H1, a full serrated blade, a traditional hawkbill and a ladybug. So that's 4 birds with one stone, all for around $30 bucks. Can't go with that.

Enjoy!

[Half Sack]

Ya for sure, I'm just so surprised at how much people seem to love and be impressed by this knife.
I haven't heard one review that's been, "its a great knife handy to have around if you have nothing else"
Cutlerylover on youtube went for 25 min talking about it, another review was 10 min on such a small knife, and they just seem to love it and impressed by the quality or the knife.
I just can't see how I can go wrong.
I've also seen this knife open a can, it was a spyderco test more than a ladybug test, but still impressive.

[Half Sack]

Before I place the order, can anyone talk me out of the Ladybug and into a larger blade?
A Delica is too close in size to my Endura, it would make carrying the Endura nearly useless, so it should be smaller.
The Tasman is available as an H1/Salt blade, hawkbill as well, it would cost nearly double what a Ladybug salt hawk would cost so that's a con. I'm mainly wondering if a Tasman would be a better edc/primary rather than a Ladybug, I plan on carrying my Endura regardless but I want my new knife to be the primary and move the Endura to secondary.
My main points, I want a salt prefer a hawkbill (not a deal breaker though) and would like this to be the number one over my Endura.

Any opinions?

[delicafreak]

well this 1 might be out because of price and availability, but the Dragonfly sounds like the size you want (smaller then delica, bigger then ladybug) and it is coming out in a salt version, but im not sure when it will be available. its on pre-order at knife center right now though.

[Blue72]

skip the dragonfly, the cutting edge is almost equal to the ladybug and I feel the ladybug feels more secure in the hands.....and thats coming from a dragonfly fan (look at my avatar)

You wont regret the ladybug,matter of fact every member of my family has one.

It is perfect for EDC. The ergonomics handle and small, narrow, pointy blade opens plastic blister packages with great control and ease. Sometimes larger knives feel like it might slip and cut yourself. The best part is you can open,hide, and use this knife to open things without other people knowing you have a knife.

Just get it, everyone should have one in their collection

[Half Sack]

Order up, I just placed my order for SPYDERCO LYLS3HB.
I would have waited for the Dragonfly salt but I'm moving and would like to have my order delivered before I'm gone.

I guess I have no my questions, when I get my package I'll try to post up some pictures.
Thanks for all your help and advice. I have a feeling this won't be my last Spyderco purchase....