Love for the little guys

[JoviAl]

I’ve been experimenting lately with a variety of Spyderco’s smaller offerings (Chaparral and smaller) and it got me to wondering what other people’s experiences and preferences might be.

For me, the Chaparral LW SE is about as close to perfect as an EDC knife can be, but I also really like the ultralight D’fly 2 SE Salt and the Ambitious SE S35VN for specific tasks (running and as a work backup respectively).

I’d be interested to hear:
- what are your thoughts on small knives generally?
- which small knife you rate most highly from Spyderco’s current lineup?
- what do you use it for?

[vivi]

I’d be interested to hear:
- what are your thoughts on small knives generally?
- which small knife you rate most highly from Spyderco’s current lineup?
- what do you use it for?

1. Not a fan outside of pocket multitools. Something like a Pacific Salt is compact and light enough to carry in any situation. Since I have no legal restrictions and full sized folders can weigh as little as 2-3oz, for me there is no benefit to downsizing. Hypothetically they allow for more tip control, but seeing as I use 10" chef knives more than any other cutting tool, a 4" blade pocket knife already feels plenty nimble to me. I never have control issues using the tips on my Police folders, Millies etc.

2. Spin. It feels designed from the ground up to be a two finger knife, and it works very well even for my hand size. It's very flat and light, so easy to tuck into a wallet or pocket. Some tiny knives feels like scaled down larger knives (ladybug), but the Spin never felt that way to me.

3. I used to carry it somedays with a bigger folder, but I find small knives tougher to manipulate. I have a much easier time opening a Military VS a Spin or my kids Ladybug. So my spin sits on my desk and mainly opens letters and sharpens pencils.

I used to do the small knife big knife combo, but the small knife became dead weight for me. The big knife does everything the small one did for me, plus more. No social or legal concerns using even a Voyager XL where I live, so I never think twice about pulling out my Military at work etc.

For small knives to be worth carrying, for me they need extra tools. I can justify a Micra, Squirt or small Victorinox much more easily than a Delica or Dragonfly. I typically EDC half of a Micra on my keys, with just the blade, file and a couple of screwdrivers.

Never got into the Dragonfly. The ergonomics never sat well with me.

Never owned a chap but I've handled them. They're pretty comfy for their size.

If I moved somewhere with really restrictive laws I suppose I'd look into the Native. Smaller knives mean a much greater chance my hand will get cramped by a thumb ramp. The Native fits my hand pretty well using the choil, and no thumb ramp to worry about. Last time I owned one was back when the Native 1 was still current, but I have fond memories of that model.

Smallest single blade knife that I carry with any regularity is my Pacific Salt. I think the shortest single blade modern folder I own is an American Lawman. Either knife is smaller than I prefer to carry day to day. I'm happiest with anything in the Mitary, Police, Szabo Folder, Recon 1 etc. size range.

[brj]

I carry & use quite frequently a modified Bi-fold and/or a Jester, but I guess they don't qualify as 'current line-up'



The Bi-fold is a gem, takes almost no space at all (also works well carried inside a wallet with the clip removed) and can get me through most of the daily tasks of opening parcels and miscellaneous. I'd buy a re-run, assuming Spyderco will not add a huge choil under the huge hole just to be consistent with the rest of their line-up



In the past I've also carried a Cricket, also a very good carry (though for some reason I decided not to replace it when it got lost).

I carry my T-Mag from time to time, and still think it was one of the most innovative concepts I've ever seen (never had an incident with it, including pocket carry).

And finally I rotate the Ark a lot, it's currently my go-to for international travel (in the checked-in luggage, obviously - then simply carried inside a pocket, not as a necker).



Back to your original question, I think small knives are extremely capable for most daily tasks, light and inobtrusive to carry, and less threatening to the general public - all good things these days. However, given the choice, I rarely carry them alone, more as back-up solutions to my main carry, whichever that might be.

[TkoK83Spy]

Small knives...love em! The Manbug Wharnie and Ambitious SE are my go to smaller knives. I've said it many times and still believe it today, if people actually gave them a try and were honest with themselves...MOST people could get away with a smaller knife being their edc. Nobody really needs some honking knife to open a box or cut strawberries.

[ladybug93]

small blades are great for backups, different blade shapes that you don't want to carry as your only blade, and to use or let someone else use when other people are around that might freak out over a larger edc.

i'm obviously partial to the ladybug. i specifically love the hawkbill salt version. it makes the small blade less redundant in my edc and also provides some functionality i don't get with other knives without having to carry a hawkbill as my main knife.

lately, i've been carrying the roadie xl in this role. nice little blade that is out of the way and not intimidating, even though it kind of reminds me of a scalpel.

these are always carried in conjunction with larger knives though. as always, my pacific salt is iwb, and today i'm also carrying my spydiechef in my from pocket as my main carry and my emerson delica with a signet ring in my weak side back pocket. four isn't overkill right?

[mikey177]

The Delica 4 is as small as I want to go for a primary knife. I often carry a Manbug or Dragonfly as backup, but pair this with a larger knife as I follow the saying that It's better to have extra cutting edge and not need it than to need extra cutting edge and not have it.

I avoid small knives in general because my old hands can't operate them as well as a larger folder.

My typical usage involves work around the yard and breaking down the occasional cardboard box.

[benben]

I own 3 or 4 Dragonfly's? A Chaparral, and I just gave my youth pastor at church my Lil' Native. All great knives, I just don't remember the last time I carried any of them? I've never once carried that Chaparral.

The smallest I carry is my G-10 Native 5. I do kind of miss owning that Lil' Native though, in one of the many "what would you like to see" threads I did say I'd love to have a serrated Salt Green G-10 Lil' Native back lock in either LC200N or MagnaCut, that would be a cool little knife!

[yablanowitz]

I'll re-post these and let you guess what I think of small knives.

[kobold]

My smallest blades are on my keychain Minichamp. They see minimal use, still have the factory edge.
The next in line are my Dragonflies. I love the Wharnie K390 version, keep it on the desk and use it all the time for parcels, envelopes and utility cuts.
I also carry a SE Salt DF2 in my beach/spa bag, just in case. It's my second copy, the 1st one went missing in the garden, because, I assume, the pocket clip is kinda small, not very good at retaining..
So when I bought a replacement, the 1st thing I did is to swap out the OG clip for the one I took off of one of my Chaparrals.

The Chaparrals and Natives are my actual EDCs. The Chaps being used mostly for urban carry and the Natives are the actual workhorses. I use the Chaparrals without their pocket clips, to minimize the chance of losing them and also because my Raffir Noble and Birdseye Maple scales are nicer on the clip side. I also removed the pocket clips from my CF and Fluted Ti Natives. Feels much safer keeping these gents folders at the bottom of the pocket.

[vivi]

Such short hands Yab

That's something a lot of people in this hobby fail to consider.

Ask for a knife recommendation and it's rare someone asks what the posters hand size is.

Sure, me and a lot of others could get by with a Delica sized blade for many tasks. But the handle is a different story.

I'd rather use a Military for 100% of my EDC cutting than deal with something difficult to hold on to or tricky to open because it's small for my grip.

[nerdlock]

-Love small knives because they're discreet and can be brought almost anywhere with minimal effort to hide them.

-Highest rated would be the Lil Native, based on how many copies and variants I have. Would rate even higher if scale chamfering was present. But I do love Ladybugs and my most used EDC Spyderco is actually a GITD VG-10 LB - in fact the other week, I totally forgot it in my pant pocket and came through the washer (again) unscathed.

-Usage would be typical EDC tasks.

[Evil D]

This being a knife forum and all, it pains me to admit it but you guys wouldn't believe how effective this little Leatherman can opener is. I use this for practically all my box opening needs, and just a bit ago I cut off a flap from a double wall box just fine. It wasn't the cleanest cut, and the edge on this isn't sharp to the touch, but it will rip through boxes well enough to get the job done.



That said, I really like very small knives on my keys. I've carried a Bug and a Ladybug quite a bit on my keys and I use them for all the mundane needs I run across, especially when pulling out a Military 2 might be frowned upon.

I would really like to see the stainless handled Bug knives made in a much better steel. I like them because they're so much thinner and closer to being key shaped/sized. I would even say I'd pay "full size knife" money for a Honeybee or Grasshopper in a top tier steel, especially if it were also made in Golden.

[Vamais]

I do love the Leatherman can openers.

I actually just bought a Chicago, and so far I'm loving it. Nice and stout, with a substantial handle. I did put a Lil' Native clip on it, though.

[twinboysdad]

I’ve been experimenting lately with a variety of Spyderco’s smaller offerings (Chaparral and smaller) and it got me to wondering what other people’s experiences and preferences might be.

For me, the Chaparral LW SE is about as close to perfect as an EDC knife can be, but I also really like the ultralight D’fly 2 SE Salt and the Ambitious SE S35VN for specific tasks (running and as a work backup respectively).

I’d be interested to hear:
- what are your thoughts on small knives generally?
- which small knife you rate most highly from Spyderco’s current lineup?
- what do you use it for?

I basically only do LBKs now. My largest Spydercos are Chapparels and both LW, PE and SE. I mostly carry a Leaf Manbug with a lanyard making it a four finger grip. I love that knife and use it for everything and most importantly don’t have a clip scratching my cars or ruining my look in slacks and tucked in shirts. I also am a DFly fan and was carrying my Wharn clip removed and a lanyard but lost it at a high school wrestling match. Fell out of my pocket and the DFly weight is enough that it fell out before. Manbug does not. Lastly but bestly is the H1 Ladybug Hawkbill. I have had several and had to put one in the trash at The Masters for entry. I run with my wife on the weekends and take this knife. I take it in my swim trucks at every pool or US beach I go to. My current LBHB had a crappy grind and tip but it still cuts like a boss. If I ever carry two knives, the larger is a PE and the smaller is the LBHB. I have mentioned here before that I used a LBHB to open a box in front of two coworkers from out of town. One said to the other “did you see that?” And the other said “that knife is diabolical”. Not made up. I also love the smaller knives because it makes me carry my firearm and I can move the Manbug around to a back pocket or even sock if needed. I am here for the Little Big Knives. Wish I had a Lava

[twinboysdad]

I own 3 or 4 Dragonfly's? A Chaparral, and I just gave my youth pastor at church my Lil' Native. All great knives, I just don't remember the last time I carried any of them? I've never once carried that Chaparral.

The smallest I carry is my G-10 Native 5. I do kind of miss owning that Lil' Native though, in one of the many "what would you like to see" threads I did say I'd love to have a serrated Salt Green G-10 Lil' Native back lock in either LC200N or MagnaCut, that would be a cool little knife!

That one exists in FRN

[twinboysdad]

By the way I consider the Native more of a Delica size. Not a LBK. I missed getting a Jester and wish we had a Reverse S LBK available like the Meerkat. Also the Pingo was great LBK. Gave my orange one to my nephew and slept on the discontinued ones and now they are gone. And per Sal forever

[JoviAl]

I’ve been experimenting lately with a variety of Spyderco’s smaller offerings (Chaparral and smaller) and it got me to wondering what other people’s experiences and preferences might be.

For me, the Chaparral LW SE is about as close to perfect as an EDC knife can be, but I also really like the ultralight D’fly 2 SE Salt and the Ambitious SE S35VN for specific tasks (running and as a work backup respectively).

I’d be interested to hear:
- what are your thoughts on small knives generally?
- which small knife you rate most highly from Spyderco’s current lineup?
- what do you use it for?

I basically only do LBKs now. My largest Spydercos are Chapparels and both LW, PE and SE. I mostly carry a Leaf Manbug with a lanyard making it a four finger grip. I love that knife and use it for everything and most importantly don’t have a clip scratching my cars or ruining my look in slacks and tucked in shirts. I also am a DFly fan and was carrying my Wharn clip removed and a lanyard but lost it at a high school wrestling match. Fell out of my pocket and the DFly weight is enough that it fell out before. Manbug does not. Lastly but bestly is the H1 Ladybug Hawkbill. I have had several and had to put one in the trash at The Masters for entry. I run with my wife on the weekends and take this knife. I take it in my swim trucks at every pool or US beach I go to. My current LBHB had a crappy grind and tip but it still cuts like a boss. If I ever carry two knives, the larger is a PE and the smaller is the LBHB. I have mentioned here before that I used a LBHB to open a box in front of two coworkers from out of town. One said to the other “did you see that?” And the other said “that knife is diabolical”. Not made up. I also love the smaller knives because it makes me carry my firearm and I can move the Manbug around to a back pocket or even sock if needed. I am here for the Little Big Knives. Wish I had a Lava

Question from the uncultured - what does LBK stand for?

[jwbnyc]

Little Big Knife.

[JoviAl]

Little Big Knife.

Ah! Thank you

[jwbnyc]