I just received email notification that the newest Spyderco Dragonfly 2 EDC folding knife is available for purchase.
If this is the first you’re hearing about this knife, you probably shouldn’t buy one. I still felt its launch to be noteworthy, so please bear with me as I try out a new post format (and chime in with a comment if you love it and want it see applied to other types of tools, or if you hate it).
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See Also: We Love it, You Might Too: Spyderco Dragonfly 2 Knife
You should buy this knife if…
You want a small knife. This one has a 3.33″ closed length, 5.62″ overall length, and 2.29″ blade length. It’s not “keychain-sized” small, but it’s quite compact, although not uncomfortably so for casual use.
A knife this size is perfectly suited for EDC (everyday carry), but I think it’s going to be a little too small for anyone not specifically looking for a smaller knife.
You want to try its K390 blade steel alloy. Here is what Spyderco says about K390:
K390 is a high-alloy particle metallurgy tool steel enriched with high volumes of vanadium, tungsten and cobalt. Produced by Bohler-Uddeholm, its advanced alloy composition offers exceptional edge retention and toughness and makes it an ideal choice for steel connoisseurs.
In other words, it holds an edge (which means it stays sharp longer), tough (usually less prone to chipping), and pricier than their knives made with other types of steel.
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Based on the information provided, and the alloy breakdown specifications, a blade made from K390 steel should be quite robust.
You like the color. Spyderco knives are often available with different FRN handle colors, and this one is described as a distinctive blue which some stores call “cyan blue.”
You want a basic knife with thumb-hole opening, lockback lock, and wire pocket clip.
Not to mince words, this is a knife for Spyderco fans, Dragonfly 2 fans, and knife enthusiasts or collectors. It’s a knife you buy if you already love the Dragonfly 2 size and shape.
Price: $98 with free shipping
If you might like the Spyderco Dragonfly 2 knife, consider less expensive versions of it. You can find it with VG10 blade steel for $66.50.
The K390 blade steel and blue handle color costs nearly 50% more than a “standard” Dragonfly 2 with VG10 blade and FRN handle. Or, looking at things from the other direction, you can save nearly 33% by going with a standard Dragonfly 2 instead of the new K390 version.
There are other colors available as well, and other specialty blade steels or shapes.
The Dragonfly 2 is a good knife for regular and even daily users who don’t want the bulk of a larger or full-size knife clipped to their pocket.
The version described above is a new premium variation, with the K390 blade steel alloy seemingly designed to stand up to frequent use, and even harder use – although the size of the knife can be limiting for what I would consider “hard use.”
See Also: Dragonfly 2 via Amazon
See Also: Dragonfly 2 via BladeHQ
See Also: Dragonfly 2 via Knives Ship Free
If the Dragonfly 2 isn’t a good shape or fit for your needs, what are you looking for? We have more knife reviews on the way – see our prior knife reviews here.
The Dragonfly 2 is made in Japan.
Jp
Like the format, I would be happy with it. Like spyderco, but too small a blade for my taste. I’d rather pay more, get a 3.5″-plus blade
Joatman
I really like Spyderco, but could never justify the prices. The Spyderco Byrd line is more my pace. They are about 1/3 to 1/2 the price. I’ve had one on my keychain for over a year……I use it almost everyday . Still haven’t had to sharpen the blade. One day I’ll break down and get a Chaparral or Para…..with a G10 handle. But lately I’ve been carrying the Milwaukee Hardline 2.5” flipper with a D2 blade. Caught it on sale for under $30. Like it so much, I bought a second. I’ve always liked the Dragonfly design, though. I look at Spyderco as the Fein or Festool of knives. To me, there are many other worthy choices at much more reasonable prices. But we all have to splurge once in a while.
Stuart
The prices have went up over the years, quite a bit in some cases. I’ve never tried the Byrd line, but I do have the Tenacious and one or two of their other more affordable knives.
I like Spyderco and can recommend them, but with caveats as I did here.
Spyderco knives don’t go on sale often, but the holidays sometimes bring discounts and even bundle deals.
A few years ago when I was ready for a pricier knife, it was Spyderco vs. Benchmade, and Benchmade won out. I later bought a number of Spyderco knives for editorial exploration/review purposes, and can’t say I’ve ever regretted it.
Milwaukee’s Hardline knives are very good. I’m disappointed they stopped where they did – I would like to see steady expansion of their EDC knife offerings.
Joatman
What I like about Spyderco is that they have something for everyone. So many variations. Benchmade prices seem to be on par with Spyderco. I like their blades but not some of the handles.
I was really surprised with the quality of the Milwaukee knives. I bought it with the intention of just keeping it in my tool chest or vehicle. But now carry it everyday. Very surprised.
JoeM
I like the new format… though I’m having trouble seeing what is “New” about it. It’s still clean, and sharp, and exceptionally easy to read… Though… This has been true since I first read ToolGuyd my first day.
Don’t care much for the knife. Don’t really care about those styles of knife in the slightest. I find them too small for me. Anything smaller than my full sized Leatherman blades, and it’s not a primary knife for me. Even my micro sized knife on the Leatherman CS and PS is reserved for just one thing: Opening Letters.
But, I’m very particular when it comes to knives. I’m not the audience for Spyderco.
I’m pretty much just here to say the “New Format” seems to be quite nice. It’s remarkably suited to ToolGuyd… but then again… No format change has ever gone outside the boundaries of what I’d expect from Toolguyd since I started reading the blog here… so… keep it up!
Stuart
Thanks! The format wouldn’t be a replacing format, but a special circumstances one? “You should buy this if…” with short bullet points.
With this product, the full backstory seemed ill-fitting. I don’t want to say I wanted to take a shortcut, but wanted to get to the punchline right away, and it hit me that the approach could work with some other tool posts too.
JoeM
OH!!! THAT I like very much. I thought you were talking about the size or bullet fonts or whatever actual formatting to the text you use.
No, I think you have a great quick-and-dirty format for this. This isn’t lazy, this is actually rather brilliant. It’s not meant for a full review it’s a straight up “This is a new version of X Brand’s Model Y, Here’s the new differences, this is why they’re good/bad. Here’s where you can get it, the alternatives, and this is a bit of why ANYONE wants these at all.”
It’s for those ITERATION releases that many companies do. You’re addressing the existence of a release, even though you’ve reviewed its predecessor elsewhere, and there’s no need to repeat yourself. This is the kind of place you update things like “This one is involved with Charity X where so much goes toward the charity from every sale” kind of thing.
This is very versatile for you, Stuart! I think this can speed up your output on some of the more tedious releases! I mean, I may be a Team Yellow guy, but I know some of their Drills start getting annoying to tell us about. At this point, you could use this format to say “This is the FIRST in the line just like this, and now here’s all the models since, and here’s the NEW one. It’s Good HERE, but this OTHER Model from before had THIS feature that is now gone… This new one is worth buying IF…” and that will trim down huge amounts of work that neither you, nor we the audience, need repeated so many times. You can always link back to these short ones with the iteration comparissons when a new iteration comes in.
I like this VERY much now, Stuart. I love efficiency!
Bobby
I like the look of spyderco knives, and really like the full flat grind. I haven’t been able to get over the thumb hole, I much prefer flippers or thumb studs. Maybe I’ll bite the bullet…
Michael
I carry a Dragonfly 2 all the time… can’t justify $99 for one. I just got a limited run slipjoint from Serge Panchenko for $135. That’s just a heck of a lot for a tiny knife like the Dragonfly and I like Spyderco a lot.
OhioHead
I have “sprint” run Dragonfly 2 (orange handle w/ HAP & SUS blade steel), it is an excellent EDC for basic usages and primarily is used as a money clip.
The Byrd line in excellent bang for buck knife (I own the Bird & Delica equivalents), the 2 I own have a steel lining that make them “thicker” and heavier then a Bird/Delica and I primarily keep in my tool bags for “beater” usage.
928'er
I’m sure Spyderco makes good knives, but boy are they ugly. And, I don’t buy ugly…
JoeM
Weird… I kinda thought it was just me… I always seem to think “That’s not really a knife design, is it? Sure, anything with the pointy end sharpened to an edge can BE a knife, but… that’s a weird design…”
I dunno… I was a scout… maybe I’m spoiled by long blade designs, and standard lock blades… the Stubby with a Tiny Handle/Blade Edge Cover Folder doesn’t really look like a KNIFE to me.
Not to say their build quality, material choices, or ideas like the rounded thumb deployment hole are, in any way, bad things. I’m sure their business model, and the price point considering the material cost of the higher end steels is pretty accurate… Pretty much everything about Spyderco seems to be on the up and up… It’s LITERALLY down to their designs being… Weird…
Thank you for mentioning it… I was worried I was the only one thinking it.
Jonny
K390 is about as good as it gets when it comes to edge retention and toughness. Just watch out for corrosion if you live or work in a more humid climate. I recently picked up a K390 Ladybug 3 for my wife to carry around in her purse for the rare occasions that she needs a knife.
Koko The Talking Ape
I carried a Dragonfly for a while, when I was doing lots of gardening and yard work. The deep, flat-ground blade (that it shares with many Spyderco knives) make it great for slicing, especially stiff materials like cardboard, branches, etc. It’s like a tiny chef’s knife.
That grind sacrifices some blade stiffness side to side for better slicing and less binding in some materials. Some people (with lots of time on their hands, in my opinion) will take scandi grind knives like Moras and put a flat grind on them. That’s a lot of grinding.
The handle is very secure, but it gets a little too narrow in the middle to fill my (size large) hand very well. Anyway, it wasn’t designed for heavy daily use. When I lost it, I replaced it with a bigger knife.
Michael
What advantage does k390 have over m4
Clay
I have a Carbon Fiber-handled Dragonfly that I gave to my dad. The Dragonfly has always been one of their best designs. Has a much more comfortable handle than most knives of that length.
I regret giving away my old micarta Calypso Jr, which was the Dragonfly’s big brother.
Ricky Hockensmith
My first visit to ToolGuyd. Kudos to the “USA-Made” tab. As a US Navy veteran, I will always look to American manufacturers. Regarding the Dragonfly 2 w/K390, I appreciate the honesty in the review. I carry my DF2 in VG10 everyday. Useful in the grocery store and elsewhere. It complements my Leatherman Skeletool CX, my omnipresent custom fixed blade and vintage Kabar jack knife. Hocky
Stuart
Thank you, much appreciated!
Groppler Zorn
I’ve carried a Dragonfly in H1 SE since 2012. I firmly believe that the best knife is the one you have on you, and the Dragonfly is the epitome of discretion and comfort for everyday carry. Many a time i’ve worn it clipped to the waistband of my undershorts when the circumstances dictated the utmost sensitivity. The knife has always handled my needs without being outspoken.
The price is not unreasonable, especially when considered in a cost v use context. I am looking at this variant for the K390 and PE difference from mine. I’m not wild about the color, but anything beats another black knife.
I like the Zome Green concept, but it ends up looking like a camo knife, and the Wharncliffe suffers the black knife fate. So it’s down to this one or the VG-10 with G-10 handle. All good options.