Spyderco Forums

Whats the smallest spyderco you're comfortable using ? The lady and man bugs are a bridge too far for me, but the dragonfly is perfect.

For me it would have to be something like the Native. I know the smaller ones are neat to look at and useful but any knife with a blade 2.5 inches or shorter is too small for me. I like comfortable handles but I would rather have a bigger blade and a smaller handle than a smaller blade and bigger handle.

My "sweet spot" for folders are blades that are between 3 and 4 inches.

Urban and Dragonfly are wonderful small carry knives. Either of those are just fine for me.

I've used a Ladybug for breaking down boxes at a job, it was ok for that task. Sometimes real world use is actually less extreme than "internet hypothetical use" where you sit and cut a box into 500 pieces. A Ladybug isn't good for THAT much extended use but if I had no other choice I could make it work. I do agree though that I would absolutely prefer a Dragonfly, and it's the smallest I consider for doing " internet hypothetical use".

Funny thing is a straight handled 58mm swiss army knife is comfortable for me, i just can't work with the ladybugs handle grooves

For an all-around folder the Native is the smallest one I'm really comfortable with (and I actually like it very much).

Smaller ones (three-finger grip) need to have some kind of lanyard attached: the Dragonfly is an excellent Little Big Knife (maybe the best there is) but I'll never buy a Chaparral, for instance.

As for Ladybug/Manbug-sized knives I can still use them in a pinch ( :D ) but I view them as backups, only used once in a while.

Dragonfly

The Lil’ Native and Urban are my small go-tos these days. Great ergos for extended work.

Each solves the ergo issues I have with the Dragonfly. With my D’flies, and with my SE Manbug Salt and SE Hawkbill Ladybug Salt, I can take on heavier work but not comfortably for more than a few minutes.

I do have a couple of Manbugs and once owned a Squeak. They are too small fo me. The jury is still out on the Roadie. Well see next week. Fo,r now, the Dragonfly is the smallest knife I want to use or carry. The Urban LW hits the sweet spot for me.

Ladybug one hand opening is awkward to me.
So McBee and Dragonfly are the smallest I really use.

Lil Native is the smallest I'm most comfortable with believe it or not

Manbug Salt has been on my keys since they dropped. It does get used for odd jobs, but not a ton. I usually have something else on me.

The Urban, Baby Horn, Pingo and SAK Cadet are my smallest knives that get carried. Maybe throw in the Chaparral, but it's a little larger. The Dragonfly's ergos never really worked for me vs. the Urban and I sold mine.

I carry a Titanium Squarehead regularly. Overall, it's probably my most carried knife. I used to carry a Dogtag folder before the Squarehead, but haven't carried a Dogtag folder in much too long. Might have to change that soon. :D

I also have a couple Ladybugs that I really enjoy using. I have a HAP40 Ladybug that lives on my car keys and a modified Ladybug Hawkbill that I carry in my coin pocket occasionally.

I personally put the Lil Native in the "small-medium" size range; ideal for my knife needs. So I still find knives smaller than that plenty useable.

Size is kind of a subjective thing when it comes to knives and this thread is a good example of that. :cool:

I carry and use a Manbug all the time. I prefer something bigger for bigger jobs but the little Manbug is great for quick cutting tasks

GarageBoy wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 29, 2019 10:57 am

Whats the smallest spyderco you're comfortable using ? The lady and man bugs are a bridge too far for me, but the dragonfly is perfect.

Pacific Salt.

The blade is shorter than I like but the handle is just big enough for a full, comfortable grip.

Most of the smaller knives don't give my thumb enough space to comfortably extend forward, and they force me to always use the choil for a full grip. Not a fan of either of tbose attributes.

That being said I have a Spin I'm comfortable using, but I never carry it these days. My Pacific Salt does everything my Spin can do, so why bother?

I don't have anything smaller than the Chaparral. Don't feel like I need it. Ultra slim, very smooth opening/closing. Good traveling knife. Although, I do want to try the Ladybug one of these days.

The Dragonfly is the smallest knife I will buy, that's as small as aI care to go and like the DF2 more than I thought I would, plan to pickup a DF2 Salt SE soon.

No smaller than about 3.25 works for me. My longest carried small Spyderco is the Caly 3.5. Lately it's been the Ikuchi, but I still favor the Caly.

GarageBoy wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 29, 2019 10:57 am

Whats the smallest spyderco you're comfortable using ? The lady and man bugs are a bridge too far for me, but the dragonfly is perfect.

Before I broke it, I was fine with the Clipit-tool with the bottle opener.

Hah, easy one: Delica.