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Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2022 12:27 am
by Caz
Hello!

So … I’ve finally decided on which Spyderco designs are the ones for me and the Dragonfly is one of my favorites. Trouble is that I joined the team late and now trying to catch up to you all.

How often are new steels offered on the little dragonfly? I’m not a fan of the VG and the only steels I’ve been able to find out about are Z-189, K390, and S30V. Can one expect that a new offering will be forthcoming or is that a unique/once in a decade kinda situation for the Dragonfly?

Thanks!

In other news, I’m back to being stuck in the internal conflict of trying to decide between the Police and the Endura now. I think I’m sure about it being serrated and in K390. But still stuck.

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 3:13 am
by malice
Just my 2cents:
Sprints come out every so often but if they're gone, they're gone. And they can be spectacular (f e superblue :smiling-heart-eyes ). Check out KC's rex45's if you wants something like that.

But in regular production the K390 warnie and the H1 hawkbill are probably my favourites and summum examples of ' the right steel for the right job' .
Just depends on what you need: the warnie is a 'tipcutter' for precise detailed work, the hawkbill is a 'ripper' for pullcuts on fibrous materials.
My dragonfly H1 is my most carried knife, bar none.

All the steels have their advantage and cool aspects.
What would be your primary use for the dragonfly ?

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 3:19 am
by sal
Hi Caz,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 4:08 am
by aicolainen
When I got into folders a few years ago, I bought a little handful from across the pond, with a selection of models that stood out in my very unqualified research. Among them where three Spydercos. A basic DF2 in VG-10, a PM2 and a Pac. Salt 1.
I liked the PM2 and the Pac. Salt in spirit, but after a while I found them to be a bit big for my needs. This wasn't entirely true with regards to the Pac Salt, I just hadn't discovered the right use case for it yet, so I sold them both.
I kept the DF2 as it was the right size, but it took me a long time to connect with it, and a lot of other models passed through my pockets before I eventually realized what my preferences really were and how well the DF2 conformed to that after all.

The OG is still with me, but after adding a couple of variants with the fancier pants, I very rarely pull the OG out from the sock drawer.
You landed on a fine model for sure

Image

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 5:14 am
by Donut
You might see one or two special steels per year. Just stick at it and keep your eyes open. The new salt steel is probably nice for you.

Some people might sell some or have extras if you let them know you're looking, like in your signature line.

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 7:38 am
by olywa
Think I've got 7 Dragonfly models in the knife roll now, so I understand the attraction. I carry one frequently, along with my primary, and I use the heck out of them. I'm hoping to see some some green Magnacut Salt models get released, especially an SE Hawkbill and an SE Wharnie.

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 8:23 am
by z1r
My ZDP DF2 is one of my EDC knives. K390 is sweet as well.

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 8:37 am
by Doc Dan
Dragonfly steels I can think of, off hand:

VG-10
ZDP-189
K390
H1
Hap-40
Super Blue
S30V

There may be more, but none come to mind right off.

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 8:49 am
by Pokey
Going way back, there was only one. ;)

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 9:37 am
by elena86
Dfly2 is Sal’s best design ever, IMO. It’s just brilliant. My advice is to get the one in ZDP189.

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 9:53 am
by Happymayo
I'm also a new DF collector. Would really love that pakkawood dragonfly

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 9:55 am
by Tgmr05
I really like the dragonfly. I completely missed a recent offering in 20CV with a color that made it look like a ladybug when folded up. DLT had it. They still have the 20cv Endela available.

There is also a damascus vg10 core dragonfly I like at Knifejoy which is still available. They have a 20cv endura, as well.

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 10:23 am
by TheGiant80
Grab a hawkbill Dragonfly in serrated H-1 and thank me later. It’s a pocket chainsaw!

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 10:36 am
by RustyIron
Caz wrote:
Sun Aug 28, 2022 12:27 am
In other news, I’m back to being stuck in the internal conflict of trying to decide between the Police and the Endura now. I think I’m sure about it being serrated and in K390. But still stuck.
Hey, Caz.
That's a big problem. If you figure out the answer, let me know and I'll go out and buy one, too. I want a K390 Spydie Edge knife and haven't been able to make a decision.

I have both an Endura and a Police 4 in K390 with a plain edge. The Endura is the Goldilocks size--it's nice to carry, it's nice in the hand, it's nice to use. But I almost never carry it. The Police 4 is bigger, and why would I carry a smaller knife when I can carry a bigger one?

Now that I've typed it out, it kind of makes sense for me to get the Police 4 K390 SE.

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:43 am
by Caz
malice wrote:
Tue Aug 30, 2022 3:13 am
Just my 2cents:
Sprints come out every so often but if they're gone, they're gone. And they can be spectacular (f e superblue :smiling-heart-eyes ). Check out KC's rex45's if you wants something like that.

But in regular production the K390 warnie and the H1 hawkbill are probably my favourites and summum examples of ' the right steel for the right job' .
Just depends on what you need: the warnie is a 'tipcutter' for precise detailed work, the hawkbill is a 'ripper' for pullcuts on fibrous materials.
My dragonfly H1 is my most carried knife, bar none.

All the steels have their advantage and cool aspects.
What would be your primary use for the dragonfly ?
Thanks! I haven’t tried anything in Rex45 yet. I had a VG10 dragonfly 2 and an H1 dragonfly 2 as my only spyderco knives until recently. I found them and noticed that the VG was completely dull with little to no use. The H1 was still sharp.

I use my dragonfly 2 for everything, but my all time favorite (so far at least) is the Delica Wharncliff.

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:43 am
by Caz
sal wrote:
Tue Aug 30, 2022 3:19 am
Hi Caz,

Welcome to our forum.

sal
Thank you!

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:45 am
by Caz
Donut wrote:
Tue Aug 30, 2022 5:14 am
You might see one or two special steels per year. Just stick at it and keep your eyes open. The new salt steel is probably nice for you.

Some people might sell some or have extras if you let them know you're looking, like in your signature line.
Thanks! Good point about using the signature line… I hadn’t thought of that

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:48 am
by Caz
aicolainen wrote:
Tue Aug 30, 2022 4:08 am
When I got into folders a few years ago, I bought a little handful from across the pond, with a selection of models that stood out in my very unqualified research. Among them where three Spydercos. A basic DF2 in VG-10, a PM2 and a Pac. Salt 1.
I liked the PM2 and the Pac. Salt in spirit, but after a while I found them to be a bit big for my needs. This wasn't entirely true with regards to the Pac Salt, I just hadn't discovered the right use case for it yet, so I sold them both.
I kept the DF2 as it was the right size, but it took me a long time to connect with it, and a lot of other models passed through my pockets before I eventually realized what my preferences really were and how well the DF2 conformed to that after all.

The OG is still with me, but after adding a couple of variants with the fancier pants, I very rarely pull the OG out from the sock drawer.
You landed on a fine model for sure

Image
I know what you mean about connecting with a new knife. I’m going through something similar right now with the chaparral. I find it to be dragonfly-ish but with an altogether different feel. I mean… I like it but ….

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:50 am
by Caz
olywa wrote:
Tue Aug 30, 2022 7:38 am
Think I've got 7 Dragonfly models in the knife roll now, so I understand the attraction. I carry one frequently, along with my primary, and I use the heck out of them. I'm hoping to see some some green Magnacut Salt models get released, especially an SE Hawkbill and an SE Wharnie.
Magnacut would be sweet but how would that compete with H1 and LC. Would it make the previous steels obsolete?

Re: Dragonfly steels… and other things

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:52 am
by Caz
z1r wrote:
Tue Aug 30, 2022 8:23 am
My ZDP DF2 is one of my EDC knives. K390 is sweet as well.
Both of those are proving hard for me to find. I joined the team too late. Does the ZDP not chip as much in the DF2?