What Dragonfly should I buy?

Corwyn · **on:** July 03, 2015, 02:52:27 PM

I'm thinking about buying a Spyderco Dragonfly and I must choose between a used Carbon Fiber with ATS-55 blade DF1 and a new FRN with ZDP-189 blade DF2.
I really like the price, handles and rarity of the Carbon Fiber.
I really like the steel, plain edge, clip and jimping on the ZDP.... $:-\$

And no... I cannot afford both...

powernoodle · **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2015, 02:59:37 PM

The ZDP will be easier to find next year or 3 years from now. So maybe go with the carbon fiber now while you can still find it.

captain spaulding · **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2015, 04:29:47 PM

Hard to say. Its more of a personal preference and only you can decide.

zoidberg · **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2015, 04:31:39 PM

Steinar · **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2015, 05:55:35 PM

http://zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=ATS-55%2CZDP-189&ni=,410&hrn=1&gm=0

Both have too much carbon for my taste, but at least ATS-55 will be easier to sharpen. I suspect ZDP-189 really isn't a good choice for knives, those absurd amounts of carbides means it must be originally designed for applications where you use a obtuse edge angle, i.e. tooling, not knives. I totally believe its reputation for holding an edge forever, though.

Corwyn · **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2015, 06:06:31 PM

or

But I'm leaning 85% on the ZDP... I really like the things I read about ZDP, the jimping is great and the wire clip is far less noticeable than the huge DF1 clip.
The Carbon fiber is prettier and rarer,but I'm too poor to collect and I need a trustworthy user, not a 10 year old knife with outdated design and discontinued steel (I understood ATS-55 is pretty much a rustier AUS-8)

powernoodle · **Reply #6 on:** July 03, 2015, 06:36:52 PM

I think you have decided.

captain spaulding · **Reply #7 on:** July 03, 2015, 06:39:09 PM

Quote from: powernoodle on July 03, 2015, 06:36:52 PM

I think you have decided.

+1.

The one and only downside to the ZDP-189 is it is extremely hard to sharpen.

Steinar · **Reply #8 on:** July 03, 2015, 06:45:16 PM

You have decided already, but I'd like to add Spyderco's FRN handles feel pretty great in the hand. Superior in pretty much every way to carbon fiber.

Corwyn · **Reply #9 on:** July 03, 2015, 06:59:05 PM

Quote from: powernoodle on July 03, 2015, 06:36:52 PM

I think you have decided.

Well.. to be honest I was pondering over this for a week (when I first found the Carbon Fiber one for sale)... and now when I wrote this post to ask you guys, and made the list of advantages... I realised how many things I prefered on the new DF2

Quote from: Steinar on July 03, 2015, 06:45:16 PM

You have decided already, but I'd like to add Spyderco's FRN handles feel pretty great in the hand. Superior in pretty much every way to carbon fiber.

Thanks for the tip.. I never held FRN in hand.. I just saw it in photos and it looked a bit cheap and plasticcy to me... so glad that it's not so

PS: Bidding on a Skelly CX tonight so maybe I'll get some carbon fiber goodness after all

powernoodle · **Reply #10 on:** July 03, 2015, 07:19:01 PM

Just to throw a monkey wrench in things . . . .

Corwyn · **Reply #11 on:** July 03, 2015, 07:22:39 PM

Quote from: powernoodle on July 03, 2015, 07:19:01 PM

(Image removed from quote.)
Just to throw a monkey wrench in things . . . .

I'd get that instead.. if it's got ZDP-189 and costs less than 70 USD.

PS: Dayum it's perty.. too bad I'm quite sure it's VG-10

captain spaulding · **Reply #12 on:** July 03, 2015, 07:25:04 PM

Have you considered the H-1 Dragonfly?

Corwyn · **Reply #13 on:** July 03, 2015, 07:32:59 PM

Quote from: captain spaulding on July 03, 2015, 07:25:04 PM

Have you considered the H-1 Dragonfly?

Not really, to be honest... ZDP is generally considered the better, stronger steel for PE edc.
I understood H1 really shines in humid environments and when using serrations (which I'd rather not get and it's not that wet here).
Also it's got the yellow handles which I don't like very much...

captain spaulding · **Reply #14 on:** July 03, 2015, 08:37:56 PM

Quote from: Corwyn on July 03, 2015, 07:32:59 PM

Quote from: captain spaulding on July 03, 2015, 07:25:04 PM
Have you considered the H-1 Dragonfly?

Not really, to be honest... ZDP is generally considered the better, stronger steel for PE edc.
I understood H1 really shines in humid environments and when using serrations (which I'd rather not get and it's not that wet here).
Also it's got the yellow handles which I don't like very much...

Sounds like you should go with the ZDP-189 then.

shark_za · **Reply #15 on:** July 04, 2015, 07:24:38 AM

99% of the utility value of a DF can be had with a VG10 black FRN one.
The final kicker is that you are a steel snob and want something more

British Racing Green is a lovely colour !

Mattexian · **Reply #16 on:** July 06, 2015, 06:08:35 AM

^^^ I concur about the BRG, I've got a Ladybug in it (as well as a tan H1, foliage green VG-10, grey Superblue... what can I say, they're cheap enough that even on *my* budget, I can afford to grab a Ladybug now and then, usually as a self birthday present).

I haven't had that much difficulty in maintaining the edge on the ZDP, with just a ceramic rod for touch-ups. I'm finding I like the FFG more than the sabre grind, for most of my cutting tasks (even minor surgery, for splinters that don't stick out far enough for tweezers).

Matt in Texas

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

HarleyXJGuy · **Reply #17 on:** July 06, 2015, 08:08:55 AM

Been pretty much covered but I ain't every let that stop me before.

If you don't deal with wet conditions and don't want SE H-1 is out.

Between ZDP 189 and VG-10 is just a question of how good you are at sharpening and how often you are willing to do it. There is nothing wrong with VG-10, it will server 99 percent of users fine with the added bonus of being easier to sharpen and more stainless of the two.

Don't get to worked up about scale color since Rit dye can fix that easy enough.