Spyderco Forums

Spent a few days in Maui, just got back. Wandered into some knick-knack shop in Lahaina and to my surprise there was a gigantic knife display. Everything was under glass so the pictures aren't great. I would have gotten everything out and gotten better photos but I had a 3 year old in a store full of interesting glass objects.







I don't remember the artist's name. I think it started with a W. I did handle the Dragonfly, since I've never actually seen one in person and people are always talking about them. It had steel liners with the wood on top. Not sure whether the liners were original or not (I don't know Dragonfly's that well). The asking price for that one was $299.

Wish I could find a place with this many unmolested Spydies for sale, but it was cool to see none the less.

Nice collection of embellished knives. Less certain about some of the others, but all the Spydercos and Byrds appear to have been embellished by Santa Fe Stoneworks. I have two Dragonflies of theirs, one PE and one SE, exactly like the one in your photo. Perhaps the shopkeeper mentioned Bill Wirtel, the owner of SFSW?

Man those are nice. I couldn't have left without a couple.

Nice

The Deacon wrote:Nice collection of embellished knives. Less certain about some of the others, but all the Spydercos and Byrds appear to have been embellished by Santa Fe Stoneworks. I have two Dragonflies of theirs, one PE and one SE, exactly like the one in your photo. Perhaps the shopkeeper mentioned Bill Wirtel, the owner of SFSW?

Paul, Are your SFSW-embellished Dragonflies done up on both scales, or just the non-clip side? If just the one side, did you have them done up special for you as a lefty?

I bought a beautiful red SFSW Dragonfly thinking of giving it to my daughter, but she is a lefty, so the clip is on the wrong side for her, and with the embellishments only on the one side I don't think I can switch it around. Since my first SFSW-modified knife was a (clipless) Kiwi and pretty on both sides, it didn't occur to me when I ordered the Dragonfly that the clip side of the knife would be plain stainless steel.

rodloos wrote:Paul, Are your SFSW-embellished Dragonflies done up on both scales, or just the non-clip side? If just the one side, did you have them done up special for you as a lefty?

I bought a beautiful red SFSW Dragonfly thinking of giving it to my daughter, but she is a lefty, so the clip is on the wrong side for her, and with the embellishments only on the one side I don't think I can switch it around. Since my first SFSW-modified knife was a (clipless) Kiwi and pretty on both sides, it didn't occur to me when I ordered the Dragonfly that the clip side of the knife would be plain stainless steel.

Both of them have the overlay on one side only, and it's the wrong side for left handed users. Aside from Kiwis, that's true for almost all the Spydercos SFSW has embellished over the years. However, if you're ordering direct from them and are willing to wait, you can pay extra and have one custom built for you with overlays on both sides. Now that, aside from the D'fly, Spyderco is putting clip mounting holes on both sides of most SS midlocks, SFSW would probably be willing to custom build one with a single overlay on the correct side for left handed users. They might even do it on a D'fly, as long as the buyer understood they'd be getting a knife with no provision for clip mounting.

Thanks for the update, Paul. I know they aren't cheap, but I do think they do some very nice-looking embellishments.

As a lefty, I'd really prefer a knife, with the stone handle embellishments, be done on both sides.

For a knife like this, I would pocket carry and not worry about a clip.

It's a good trade off for a non self defense, utility knife.

Santa Fe Stoneworks has a booth adjacent to the Spyderco Booth at the Blade Show - same as last year. They have a large display of exquisite knives. Wow!

TedP

Those are excellent pictures, and a very impressive selection in that shop! I know I would not have left empty-handed.