Brand | Spyderco |
---|---|
Model Name | SC28PGRE2 |
Special Feature | Pocket Clip |
Age Range (Description) | Adult |
Included Components | Dragonfly 2 |
Handle Material | Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon |
Color | B.R. Green |
Blade Material | Alloy Steel |
Style | Classic |
Blade Length | 2.28 Inches |
Theme | Sport |
Power Source | Manual |
Product Care Instructions | Hand Wash Only |
Item Weight | 34 Grams |
Blade Shape | Clip Point |
Blade Edge | Flat |
Item Length | 5.56 Inches |
Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 4.06 x 1.89 x 0.87 inches |
Package Weight | 0.05 Kilograms |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 4 x 2 x 1 inches |
Brand Name | Spyderco |
Country of Origin | Japan |
Warranty Description | Manufacturer Warranty |
Material | Steel |
Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
Number of Items | 1 |
Manufacturer | Spyderco |
Part Number | C28PGRE2 |
Model Year | 2013 |
Size | PlainEdge |
Spyderco Dragonfly 2 Lightweight 5.61" Signature Folding Knife with 2.28" ZDP-189 Steel Blade and High-Strength British Racing Green FRN Handle - PlainEdge Grind - C28PGRE2
Brand | Spyderco |
Model Name | SC28PGRE2 |
Special Feature | Pocket Clip |
Age Range (Description) | Adult |
Included Components | Dragonfly 2 |
Handle Material | Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon |
Color | B.R. Green |
Blade Material | Alloy Steel |
Style | Classic |
Blade Length | 2.28 Inches |
About this item
- DRAGONFLY 2 - The Dragonfly 2 upgrades features over the classic while keeping the important basics. Features carrying-over to the new version are the tried & tested mid-sized blade and ergonomic handle along with a front-finger choil and spine cusp.
- FRN HANDLE - Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon is a polymer mixed with glass fiber then injection molded into formed and textured lightweight high-strength knife handles.
- FULL-FLAT GRIND - This knife features a blade ground with flat bevels that extend from the spine all the way to the cutting edge. This grind reduces drag during cutting and decreases overall weight.
- PLAINEDGE - A sharpened knife blade with no serrations or teeth sometimes referred to as a smooth blade.
- SPECIFICATIONS - Closed Length (Inches): 3.33, Overall Length (Inches): 5.61, Blade Length (Inches):2.28, Blade Steel: ZDP-189, Grind: Full-Flat
- Left/right, tip-up wire clip.
- David Boye Dent. 11mm Spyderco Round Hole.
- FRN Bi-Directional Texturing handle.
- Spine, choil, and handle jimping.
- Leaf-shaped flat-ground blade. Skeletonized full liner.
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Product Description
Dragonfly 2
RELIABLE HIGH PERFORMANCE
Left/Right Tip-Up CarryThe Dragonfly concentrates all the features of a full-sized folding knife into a compact, pocket-friendly cutting tool. Its pocket clip, Spyderco Round Hole and sturdy back lock mechanism provide convenient carry, one-handed operation and serious functionality. The refined ergonomics of the handle and textured index-finger choil provide a comfortable, secure grip with all sizes of hands and the flat-ground blade cuts with authority far beyond its size. The Dragonfly is available with several different handle choices, including stainless steel, foliage green G-10 with stainless liners, textured FRN, and even a “tattoo” version with etched, colorized artwork on stainless steel. High-performance VG-10 stainless steel is the standard blade steel for most versions.
SPECS
- VG-10 Stainless Steel Blade
- Sturdy Back Lock Mechanism
- Full-Flat Ground
- FRN Lightweight Handle
- Multiple Variations Available
- Made in Japan
DRAGONFLY 2 | ENDURA 4 | DELICA 4 | LADYBUG | MANBUG | |
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Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars
911
|
4.8 out of 5 stars
1,941
|
4.6 out of 5 stars
911
|
4.4 out of 5 stars
28
|
4.6 out of 5 stars
285
|
Model # | C28 | C10 | C11 | LBK | MBK |
Lock | BACK LOCK | BACK LOCK | BACK LOCK | BACK LOCK | BACK LOCK |
Carry | TIP UP | FOUR-POSITION CARRY | TIP UP | AMBI NO CLIP | AMBI NO CLIP |
Series | SIGNATURE | SIGNATURE | SIGNATURE | SIGNATURE | SIGNATURE |
Origin | JAPAN | JAPAN | JAPAN | JAPAN | JAPAN |
Blade Length | 2.28"-2.32" | 3.55"-3.78" | 2.75"-2.9" | 1.90"-1.93" | 1.97" |
Overall Length | 5.54"-5.63" | 8.53"-8.78" | 7"-7.10" | 4.38"-4.41" | 4.47" |
THE SPYDERCO WAY
Spyderco is a business that provides state-of-the-art innovation and product quality while maintaining traditional values and service.
Product information
Technical Details
Additional Information
ASIN | B004VG77R8 |
---|---|
Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #631,205 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors) #1,459 in Folding Hunting Knives |
Date First Available | April 6, 2011 |
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Important information
Legal Disclaimer
This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the sharpness, size, quality and portability of the knife. For example, they mention it's extremely sharp, perfect for everyday small cutting tasks and that it rides nicely in the pocket. That said, some complain about the ergonomics.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the sharpness of the knife. Some mention that it's extremely sharp, razor sharp, and brilliantly sharp. They also say that it comes razor sharp from the factory and will keep its very sharp edge longer than most. Overall, most are happy with the quality and performance of this small and light knife.
"...It comes razor sharp from the factory and will keep it's very sharp edge longer than most other knives which don't have steel this hard...." Read more
"...It comes literally razor sharp out of the box, or even sharper...." Read more
"...Like every other Spyderco I've owned, it takes a really sharp edge, and you'll find that its one of the sharpest out of the box knives...." Read more
"...Thus far, I have not used the knife enough to make any judgements. It's sharp, most knives are these days...." Read more
Customers like the size of the knife. They say it's perfect for everyday small cutting tasks and for EDC use. The design is tiny in the pocket, but the finger choil feels much bigger and fits their large hand well. The small blade is ideal for an ultra-hard steel like ZDP-Full flat, and provides more space in their front pocket. The fit and finish are great, and the blade is under 2.5 inches long, making it legal to carry in most states.
"...This makes a formidable team; one knife is super strong and has a nice long blade while the other is better suited for delicate cutting tasks or use..." Read more
"...I prefer the Dragonfly 2 for EDC due to its perfect size for every day small cutting tasks and it's great, sturdy pocket clip...." Read more
"...Size and grip: Perfect EDC size. I have small hands, so I find it very easy to do a 4-finger grip on the handle...." Read more
"...I could see how such a small knife felt so much bigger and fit my large hand so well. It's all in the choil and the choil's placement...." Read more
Customers like the quality of the knife. They mention that it's a superb steel, with high rockwell hardness. The knife is very sturdy, and has exceptional sharpness. They find that the handle material is fiberglass reinforced nylon that protects the Aogami steel from chipping, breaking, and corrosion. They also say that the steel has been beautifully cut and that the knife can cut through cardboard quite easily.
"...This makes a formidable team; one knife is super strong and has a nice long blade while the other is better suited for delicate cutting tasks or use..." Read more
"...In addition to the exceptional sharpness and high quality, what makes it the perfect pocket knife is its convenient size...." Read more
"...Locking mechanism: The build quality is extremely good: there is literally zero up-down or side-to-side move on the blade, it locks very solidly...." Read more
"...It is classified as an exotic, stainless steel alloy. I can tell you though, even as fancy as all that sounds, it will rust...." Read more
Customers find the knife very light for its mid size, and praises its grip as super glue. They say it rides nicely in the pocket, and fits easily in the change pocket. Customers also mention that it weights nothing and takes no space. They also say it is a great pocket carry EDC.
"...The pocket clip design means that this knife rides nicely in the pocket. The total weight for this knife is only 1.2 ounces...." Read more
"...It has the tip-up carry orientation that I like, and fits perfectly in a watch pocket on a standard pair of jeans...." Read more
"...Weight: Very lightweight, you literally do not feel this knife in your pocket, espcially if you find a comfortable angle to clip it on...." Read more
"...The wire clip is also excellent. It rides low in my pocket and I've found that the clip is also less prone to snagging than the more conventional..." Read more
Customers like the ergonomics of the knife. They mention that it feels great in their hand, secure, and comfortable to carry. The handle has a textured grip that adds to the overall grip length, and it's a joy to carry as you can easily forget that it is even in your hands.
"...this knife offers a super-exotic and high-end steel in a stunningly ergonomic package that is forgotten about as soon as it is clipped to your..." Read more
"...The blade-gimping and the FRN-handle together results a very grippy and easy-to-control knife...." Read more
"...aid in manipulating and controlling the knife in use, it adds to the overall grip length...." Read more
"...Wrong. This knife can carry a wicked sharp edge. It has spectacular ergonomics...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the edge retention of the knife. They mention that it holds an edge very well, the steel is extremely hard, and it holds that edge without honing or touch-up. Some say that the knife is good for everyone as the steel holds and edge well and resharpens easily. Overall, most are happy with the knife's edge retention.
"...It has excellent rust resistance and holds an edge decently well. It takes an extremely keen edge, but doesn't hold it for nearly as long as ZDP-189...." Read more
"...the Stretch on the way.. It is a hard steel (3% carbon) with great edge retention...." Read more
"...I recall the main characteristic of this steel is the ability to hold a very sharp edge for a very long time while being used very much...." Read more
"...The knife holds an edge for a long time. It does have a small amount of play when locked, which I find tolerable for its given tasks...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the performance of the knife. They mention that it is extremely functional, able to do almost any job, and does all these work like a lightsaber. The stone attachments work great, and it is a good, working EDC tool. The blade is small, yet useful, and has no play at all. The ZDP-189 steel is very hard and has great edge holding.
"...This knife even does reasonably well with food preparation, although the short blade length means it may have difficulty with larger items...." Read more
"...This little beast does all these work like a lightsaber, and I don't even have to apply pressure.Size and grip: Perfect EDC size...." Read more
"...Once I accepted the dragonfly 2 for what it was: practical, useful and convenient, I never looked back. It's a fantastic knife." Read more
"...I've never had it stained or rust, no chipping, and it has sufficed for my every day use...." Read more
Customers like the lock of the knife. They mention that the locking mechanism is solid, completely secure, and centered perfectly. The blade lock is very secure without being difficult to unclip. The pivot and lock mechanisms are solid, and the blade feels extremely secure when gripped in the hand. The pocket clip is strong and carries deeply concealed. Overall, customers are satisfied with the lock and recommend it to others.
"...though it's a small knife, due to the choil and jimping it feels extremely secure when gripped in the hand...." Read more
"...is literally zero up-down or side-to-side move on the blade, it locks very solidly...." Read more
"...It rides low in my pocket and I've found that the clip is also less prone to snagging than the more conventional designs...." Read more
"...Centering is good, no play, lock release is easy enough and smooth etc. By the way the edge is brilliantly sharp and ground to a shallowish angle...." Read more
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I feel I have to be honest prior to beginning this review: I absolutely love this knife and this review is in no way going to hide that fact! This knife combines an extremely low weight with an awesome steel in a package that is surprisingly affordable. It also makes an excellent "people-friendly" option to carry alongside another knife that might appear threatening in mixed company. If you are someone who insists on carrying one of Cold Steel's massive, 5.5 inch-bladed pocket swords but also want something light and unobtrusive that isn't going to scare people if you need to trim a thread off of your shirt, this is a fantastic option.
Fit and Finish (9/10): I've seen a few examples of this model in the past couple of years, and overall, the fit and finish has been quite good. The blades, out of the box, have been perfectly ground and finished to a dull satin. I always prefer a stonewashed finish on my knives purely for practical reasons, but with a blade steel as hard as ZDP, it is going to take a lot to scratch the blade badly enough that it is noticeable upon casual inspection. There are two reasons I don't feel I can give a higher score in this category. The first is that most of the models I have seen have blade-centering that is less than perfect when the knife is closed. The problem has always been slight and in no way affects the functioning of the knife. The other issue, which doesn't bother me, is that the examples I have handled have all had a tiny amount of blade play when open. In my eyes, this knife is really meant for EDC-type tasks. It is plenty stout enough to slice up cardboard, but given the fact that the FRN handle has no liners, I wouldn't pick this as my first choice for hard use, say, cutting up yards upon yards of carpet or batonning through 6 inches of solid oak. I've owned my personal model for the past 2 years, and it has never shown any signs of wearing out, nor has the blade play gotten any worse over time, so I am not going to penalize it too harshly for the blade play issue. This knife is tough enough to do any task one should reasonably expect it to do.
Steel Choice (9/10): I really, really like ZDP-189 a lot. It is a super hard steel that can be hardened above 65 on the Rockwell hardness scale due to an insane carbon content of 3 percent. This stuff takes and holds a razor's edge for an unbelievable amount of time. The other thing that is worth noting is that there are very few makers who offer this steel on any of their knives, let alone at this price point. If you start looking around for knives with this blade steel, you are going to find it used primarily on knives from Rockstead and William Henry. Good luck finding anything from those makers for around 70 bucks. This steel has two possible downsides which, were it being used in a different knife, might cause me to downgrade the score.
The first potential issue is corrosion. As carbon content increases, a steel's tendency to rust increases as well. ZDP-189 tries to combat that with a massive amount of chromium, but some have still reported rust issues with this steel. I myself have never noticed a problem, but if you think you will be exposing the knife to a lot of corrosive conditions, you could consider getting the same model in VG-10 steel, which in my experience has excellent rust resistance. If you work on a fishing boat, you could get the knife in H1 steel, which is essentially rust-proof, although there are likely other knives that would serve you better in that role. Personally, I am willing to pay the slightly higher price for a knife that, in my two years of ownership, has only needed to be sharpened twice. The other possible issue that can arise with super hard steels is brittleness or chipping, neither of which I have ever experienced with this steel. The corrosion and brittleness issues are, in my eyes, purely hypothetical, because the uses this knife are best suited for do not expose it to highly corrosive environments nor to high levels of shock or lateral force.
Blade Shape and Grind (14/15): If you think you "need" a 4-inch long blade to accomplish your EDC tasks, I challenge you to carry this knife for a week and see if it ever lets you down. The stock on this blade is quite thin, which allows it to be an excellent slicer. The first time I cut down cardboard boxes with it, it felt more like I was unzipping the cardboard than actually cutting it. This knife has a relatively delicate but precise tip that makes it a superb choice for detailed cutting tasks. The Spyderco leaf-shaped blade has been turned into a more pointed, arrow shape in the Dragonfly II. Overall, it is a fantastic choice for daily use, and I have found that the short length combined with the very acute tip and thin grind makes it superb in situations where a longer blade is simply unwieldy. This knife even does reasonably well with food preparation, although the short blade length means it may have difficulty with larger items. It would not be my first choice to cut a large sandwich in half nor to hack up a watermelon into bite-sized servings.
Design/Ergos (25/25): Yes, the ergos on this blade really are good enough to warrant a perfect score in this category, and that is largely due to the fact that Sal and his gang at Spyderco have managed something close to magic in this knife. They have managed to come up with a design that is tiny in the pocket, but, due to the finger choil built into the blade's design, can manage a full, four-fingered grip.
Both the thumb-ramp and the finger choil on the blade have excellent jimping that is neither too aggressive nor so wimpy as to be useless. The FRN handle provides excellent grip and the pocket clip somehow never causes hotspots during use. People in online forums frequently talk about "little big knives", pocket knives that manage to accomplish tasks usually reserved for larger folders or fixed blades. Typically, people are referring to stocky, overbuilt little nuggets of titanium with thick blade stock--the Spyderco Techno is a great example of this. In many ways, however, I think the Dragonfly II is in fact a better embodiment of this design philosophy. It manages to punch way above its weight and size in terms of the utility it provides its owner.
Retention Method (15/15): It is hard for me to think of any way in which the pocket clip on this knife could be improved. Spyderco uses a variety of clips on their knives, but the wire clips are almost always my favorite. The roundness of the wire means there are no sharp edges against your hand even when gripping the knife quite tightly. If the clip ever loses its tension, it is easy to bend back the clip and reinstall it on the knife. One thing few people mention but I appreciate is the fact that the clip is retained with a single screw, which makes it easy to install and remove. This is particularly nice because, on occasions when I don't want to have something attached to my pocket, I will remove the clip and throw on a lanyard. The knife rides unobtrusively in my pocket and is easy enough to grab with the lanyard attached. All in all, I have no complaints with the pocket clip. I suppose one could prefer the darker coloring found on the Sage 1's wire clip, but that is really splitting hairs.
Ease of Carry (15/15): If this knife doesn't get a perfect score here, no knife will. I routinely carry this and entirely forget that I have a knife on me. The pocket clip design means that this knife rides nicely in the pocket. The total weight for this knife is only 1.2 ounces. That is a bit more than the weight of 5 nickels. If you want to carry a pocket knife without it weighing you down, this would be an excellent choice.
Value (8/10): In many ways, this is the most difficult category in which to evaluate this knife. If you shop around, you can find this knife online for around 75 dollars. When you consider the fact that this is more than a VG-10 Endura or Delica, you have to ask how much the nicer steel is worth to you. VG-10 is a good steel overall. It has excellent rust resistance and holds an edge decently well. It takes an extremely keen edge, but doesn't hold it for nearly as long as ZDP-189. If you buy the Dragonfly II in VG-10 steel, you can get it for around 45-50 bucks, which is likely to be far more palatable to many individuals when speaking about a relatively small, "plastic"-handled pocketknife. That being said, I still feel this knife is a good value at 70 bucks. As I noted earlier--you are not going to find very many knives with ZDP-189 steel on the market for less than 100 dollars, which makes this knife rather special, even if it costs significantly more than the same knife in VG-10. Whether or not you feel this knife is "worth it" will largely come down to how often you have to use your pocketknife and how often you are able to sharpen it. The other thing to note is that ZDP can be difficult to sharpen if you don't have a high-quality sharpening system like a Wicked Edge or Sharpmaker, so this may influence your decision as well.
The Verdict (96/100): As I said at the outset of this review, I absolutely love this little blade. It and the Paramilitary II are likely my two favorite Spyderco knives and I frequently carry both of them at once. This makes a formidable team; one knife is super strong and has a nice long blade while the other is better suited for delicate cutting tasks or use in situations where the PM2 might draw the evil eye of bystanders. All-in-all, this knife offers a super-exotic and high-end steel in a stunningly ergonomic package that is forgotten about as soon as it is clipped to your pocket. There are certain applications where it might not be ideal, but these are few and far between in my daily life. I can therefore give a strong recommendation for the Spyderco Dragonfly II.
I feel I have to be honest prior to beginning this review: I absolutely love this knife and this review is in no way going to hide that fact! This knife combines an extremely low weight with an awesome steel in a package that is surprisingly affordable. It also makes an excellent "people-friendly" option to carry alongside another knife that might appear threatening in mixed company. If you are someone who insists on carrying one of Cold Steel's massive, 5.5 inch-bladed pocket swords but also want something light and unobtrusive that isn't going to scare people if you need to trim a thread off of your shirt, this is a fantastic option.
Fit and Finish (9/10): I've seen a few examples of this model in the past couple of years, and overall, the fit and finish has been quite good. The blades, out of the box, have been perfectly ground and finished to a dull satin. I always prefer a stonewashed finish on my knives purely for practical reasons, but with a blade steel as hard as ZDP, it is going to take a lot to scratch the blade badly enough that it is noticeable upon casual inspection. There are two reasons I don't feel I can give a higher score in this category. The first is that most of the models I have seen have blade-centering that is less than perfect when the knife is closed. The problem has always been slight and in no way affects the functioning of the knife. The other issue, which doesn't bother me, is that the examples I have handled have all had a tiny amount of blade play when open. In my eyes, this knife is really meant for EDC-type tasks. It is plenty stout enough to slice up cardboard, but given the fact that the FRN handle has no liners, I wouldn't pick this as my first choice for hard use, say, cutting up yards upon yards of carpet or batonning through 6 inches of solid oak. I've owned my personal model for the past 2 years, and it has never shown any signs of wearing out, nor has the blade play gotten any worse over time, so I am not going to penalize it too harshly for the blade play issue. This knife is tough enough to do any task one should reasonably expect it to do.
Steel Choice (9/10): I really, really like ZDP-189 a lot. It is a super hard steel that can be hardened above 65 on the Rockwell hardness scale due to an insane carbon content of 3 percent. This stuff takes and holds a razor's edge for an unbelievable amount of time. The other thing that is worth noting is that there are very few makers who offer this steel on any of their knives, let alone at this price point. If you start looking around for knives with this blade steel, you are going to find it used primarily on knives from Rockstead and William Henry. Good luck finding anything from those makers for around 70 bucks. This steel has two possible downsides which, were it being used in a different knife, might cause me to downgrade the score.
The first potential issue is corrosion. As carbon content increases, a steel's tendency to rust increases as well. ZDP-189 tries to combat that with a massive amount of chromium, but some have still reported rust issues with this steel. I myself have never noticed a problem, but if you think you will be exposing the knife to a lot of corrosive conditions, you could consider getting the same model in VG-10 steel, which in my experience has excellent rust resistance. If you work on a fishing boat, you could get the knife in H1 steel, which is essentially rust-proof, although there are likely other knives that would serve you better in that role. Personally, I am willing to pay the slightly higher price for a knife that, in my two years of ownership, has only needed to be sharpened twice. The other possible issue that can arise with super hard steels is brittleness or chipping, neither of which I have ever experienced with this steel. The corrosion and brittleness issues are, in my eyes, purely hypothetical, because the uses this knife are best suited for do not expose it to highly corrosive environments nor to high levels of shock or lateral force.
Blade Shape and Grind (14/15): If you think you "need" a 4-inch long blade to accomplish your EDC tasks, I challenge you to carry this knife for a week and see if it ever lets you down. The stock on this blade is quite thin, which allows it to be an excellent slicer. The first time I cut down cardboard boxes with it, it felt more like I was unzipping the cardboard than actually cutting it. This knife has a relatively delicate but precise tip that makes it a superb choice for detailed cutting tasks. The Spyderco leaf-shaped blade has been turned into a more pointed, arrow shape in the Dragonfly II. Overall, it is a fantastic choice for daily use, and I have found that the short length combined with the very acute tip and thin grind makes it superb in situations where a longer blade is simply unwieldy. This knife even does reasonably well with food preparation, although the short blade length means it may have difficulty with larger items. It would not be my first choice to cut a large sandwich in half nor to hack up a watermelon into bite-sized servings.
Design/Ergos (25/25): Yes, the ergos on this blade really are good enough to warrant a perfect score in this category, and that is largely due to the fact that Sal and his gang at Spyderco have managed something close to magic in this knife. They have managed to come up with a design that is tiny in the pocket, but, due to the finger choil built into the blade's design, can manage a full, four-fingered grip.
Both the thumb-ramp and the finger choil on the blade have excellent jimping that is neither too aggressive nor so wimpy as to be useless. The FRN handle provides excellent grip and the pocket clip somehow never causes hotspots during use. People in online forums frequently talk about "little big knives", pocket knives that manage to accomplish tasks usually reserved for larger folders or fixed blades. Typically, people are referring to stocky, overbuilt little nuggets of titanium with thick blade stock--the Spyderco Techno is a great example of this. In many ways, however, I think the Dragonfly II is in fact a better embodiment of this design philosophy. It manages to punch way above its weight and size in terms of the utility it provides its owner.
Retention Method (15/15): It is hard for me to think of any way in which the pocket clip on this knife could be improved. Spyderco uses a variety of clips on their knives, but the wire clips are almost always my favorite. The roundness of the wire means there are no sharp edges against your hand even when gripping the knife quite tightly. If the clip ever loses its tension, it is easy to bend back the clip and reinstall it on the knife. One thing few people mention but I appreciate is the fact that the clip is retained with a single screw, which makes it easy to install and remove. This is particularly nice because, on occasions when I don't want to have something attached to my pocket, I will remove the clip and throw on a lanyard. The knife rides unobtrusively in my pocket and is easy enough to grab with the lanyard attached. All in all, I have no complaints with the pocket clip. I suppose one could prefer the darker coloring found on the Sage 1's wire clip, but that is really splitting hairs.
Ease of Carry (15/15): If this knife doesn't get a perfect score here, no knife will. I routinely carry this and entirely forget that I have a knife on me. The pocket clip design means that this knife rides nicely in the pocket. The total weight for this knife is only 1.2 ounces. That is a bit more than the weight of 5 nickels. If you want to carry a pocket knife without it weighing you down, this would be an excellent choice.
Value (8/10): In many ways, this is the most difficult category in which to evaluate this knife. If you shop around, you can find this knife online for around 75 dollars. When you consider the fact that this is more than a VG-10 Endura or Delica, you have to ask how much the nicer steel is worth to you. VG-10 is a good steel overall. It has excellent rust resistance and holds an edge decently well. It takes an extremely keen edge, but doesn't hold it for nearly as long as ZDP-189. If you buy the Dragonfly II in VG-10 steel, you can get it for around 45-50 bucks, which is likely to be far more palatable to many individuals when speaking about a relatively small, "plastic"-handled pocketknife. That being said, I still feel this knife is a good value at 70 bucks. As I noted earlier--you are not going to find very many knives with ZDP-189 steel on the market for less than 100 dollars, which makes this knife rather special, even if it costs significantly more than the same knife in VG-10. Whether or not you feel this knife is "worth it" will largely come down to how often you have to use your pocketknife and how often you are able to sharpen it. The other thing to note is that ZDP can be difficult to sharpen if you don't have a high-quality sharpening system like a Wicked Edge or Sharpmaker, so this may influence your decision as well.
The Verdict (96/100): As I said at the outset of this review, I absolutely love this little blade. It and the Paramilitary II are likely my two favorite Spyderco knives and I frequently carry both of them at once. This makes a formidable team; one knife is super strong and has a nice long blade while the other is better suited for delicate cutting tasks or use in situations where the PM2 might draw the evil eye of bystanders. All-in-all, this knife offers a super-exotic and high-end steel in a stunningly ergonomic package that is forgotten about as soon as it is clipped to your pocket. There are certain applications where it might not be ideal, but these are few and far between in my daily life. I can therefore give a strong recommendation for the Spyderco Dragonfly II.
It is of extremely high quality with no play or wiggle of the blade. It has the tip-up carry orientation that I like, and fits perfectly in a watch pocket on a standard pair of jeans. It comes razor sharp from the factory and will keep it's very sharp edge longer than most other knives which don't have steel this hard.
After receiving it I carried it for a few days and put it through some rough use. I cut paper and cardboard, which it went through flawlessly. I also used it as a chisel to remove glue from a piece of steel and it functioned like a brand new razor blade. I used it enough to slightly dull it from how it originally came (even though it would still shave arm hair). Then I put it on the Spyderco Sharpmaker's fine and then ultra fine stones. Wow... I don't think it could now possibly be any sharper. It is sharper than it came from the factory; that is for sure. Initially it would pop hairs off, but now after having sharpened it on the ultra fine stone it removes them by the hundreds with no pressure; just like a brand new safety razor would do. I believe it can attain a sharper edge than most knives due to it's very thin blade, which is appropriately the very hard Japanese ZDP-189 steel. I feel that I could break it if pretty easily I used it for prying, but I won't attempt that.
In addition to the exceptional sharpness and high quality, what makes it the perfect pocket knife is its convenient size. If a knife is too big generally one won't carry it as a pocket knife. This is a definite EDCknife that will be there when you need it. Even though it's a small knife, due to the choil and jimping it feels extremely secure when gripped in the hand. I am a self-defense instructor and train a lot in edged weapons fighting, and I have no doubt that this would make an excellent weapon in a worst case scenario in which I had to use it for such a purpose.
I will mention that I also have the Spyderco ladybug in ZDP-189 steel. While it is identical to the Dragonfly 2 in quality and sharpness, I prefer the Dragonfly 2 for EDC due to its perfect size for every day small cutting tasks and it's great, sturdy pocket clip. If you are looking for a great EDC pocket knife then look no farther; this is it.
Top reviews from other countries
The knife is awesome good qualiti and sharp...
The knife itself is a little bit smaler than expected...
All in all a bit high price but awesome knife
カッターナイフに近い切れ味、満足してます
大きさは閉じたら手のひらに収まるくらい。軽くて持ち運びも邪魔になりません。
片手でオープンクローズできるので非常に便利です。
とにかく切れ味は良いです。
箱出しでも良いのですが、少し研いだらスーパーシャープ。
さすがのSEKI-CITY JAPAN!!!
閉じたときに刃に指が当たらないようになっているので安全に使えます。
年末年始にも関わらず最速で届きました。良い買い物ができました。