L Ladybug

The L Ladybug was introduced in the early 90s and is currently still available. The Ladybug is Spydercos smallest lightweight knife and can for example be attached to a keychain.

Generations

Three L Ladybug generations can be differentiated. They are described in the following.

           1998             2002
           |- Generation 2 -|
|-------- Generation 1 --------|- Generation 3 ->
1990                           2007

Generation 1

The first Ladybug variations introduced in the early 90s all have a modified clip-point blade. The 2003 Spyderco dealer catalog mentions 1990 as the year the Ladybug was introduced.

Throughout the years many different handle colors were available. Blade steels used for first generation Ladybugs (L1) are GIN-1/G-2, AUS-8, AUS-6, and ATS-55. In the "regular" offering by Spyderco only blades with PS edges were available till 2003. From 2004 till 2006 PE and SE were available instead.

Intentionally targeting the Japanese market only, additional color variations and blades with plain edges before 2003 were produced. Part of these variations made it back to US and European shops (at least Ironstone in the US and Klotzli in Europe... details and more info???).

Several Ladybug & Micro-Light (Photon) combinations were available with L1 models, e.g.:

• Combination of differently colored Ladybugs with a black Micro-Light (Photon). Listed in the Ironstone catalog.
• LFG Ladybug Photon II Combo in the 2004 Spyderco catalog (SKU FL01LFG)

Generation 2

The second generation Ladybug (L2) is a combination of the L1 handle (black FRN variation only) with a sheepfoot blade and serrated edge.

Generation 3

The third generation of the Ladybug (L3) was introduced in 2007. The most prominent modifications from the L1 are

• a modifed handle shape,
• addition of a Boye dent,
• switching to VG-10 blade steel, and
• an enlarged Spyderco round hole.

Appearance in catalogs

The L Ladybug appeared in all annual Spyderco product catalogs since 1991? (older, newer):

• Ladybug 1 (1995/1996 Spyderco catalogs not verified):
  • LBK: 1993-2006 Spyderco catalogs
  • LBL: 1994-2003 Spyderco catalogs
  • LFG: 2004-2005 Spyderco catalogs
  • LGR: not found in a catalog so far
  • LGY: 1994 Spyderco catalog
  • LPN is mentioned in the 1994 Golden Edge Cutlery catalog
  • LRD: 1994-2003 Spyderco catalogs
  • LYL is mentioned in the 1994 Golden Edge Cutlery catalog
  • LCF is mentioned in the 1998 and 1999 Spyderco catalogs and the 2000 Spyderco dealer catalog
• Ladybug 2 appeared in the 1999-2002 annual Spyderco product catalogs
• Ladybug 3 appeared in all Spyderco product catalogs since 2007

Designer

Spyderco?

History, mentionings etc. from the forums

• Discussion about unavailability of PE Ladybugs in 2000 in the Spyderco forum.
• Discussion about Ladybug with gray handles and PE availability (2003 Spyderco forum).
• Another discussion about colors and PE variations available in Japan (2006 Spyderco forum).

Information from the Spyderco catalog on the web

"It attaches to your keychain and is nearly as small as your car keys, Spyderco’s smallest lightweight knife is the Ladybug. Made of VG-10 stainless steel, the hollow ground blade comes in a SpyderEdge or PlainEdge configuration. This modified clip-point blade style is matched up with a black, lightweight handle of fiberglass-reinforced nylon resin making the entire knife weigh only 0.6 of an ounce (16.4 grams). The LBK3 doesn’t have a clip but rather a lanyard hole for attachment to a keychain or lanyard. Like its larger counterparts (and all Spyderco knives) the Ladybug3 packs tremendous cutting power and can take on both fine and heavy cutting tasks."

See also: LBK, LFG, FL01LFG, LBKII, LSS3, LORP3, LWHS3.

Variations

All Ladybug variations are made in Seki City, Japan, and have a Back Lock locking mechanism.

Variations of the Ladybug 1

SKU	Handle	Edge(s)	Steel	MSRP	Note	Number made	Grind	Clip	Collectors club
LBK	Black FRN	PS	GIN-1/G-2	25.95$ (1994)	1993? - ca. 1995	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LBL	Blue FRN	PS	GIN-1/G-2	25.95$ (1994)	1994 - ca. 1995	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LRD	Red FRN	PS	GIN-1/G-2	25.95$ (1994)	1994 - ca. 1995	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LGY	Gray FRN	PS	GIN-1/G-2	?	1994 - ca. 1995	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LGY	Gray FRN	PE	GIN-1/G-2	?	early 90s?	<100?	Hollow	No clip
LBK	Black FRN	PS	AUS-8	?	ca. 1996 - 2001	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LBL	Blue FRN	PS	AUS-8	?	ca. 1996 - 2001	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LRD	Red FRN	PS	AUS-8	?	ca. 1996 - 2001	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LBK	Black FRN	PE	AUS-8?	?	?, Japan-only	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LBL	Blue FRN	PE	AUS-8?	?	?, Japan-only	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LRD	Red FRN	PE	AUS-8?	?	?, Japan-only	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LGY	Gray FRN	PE PS	AUS-8	?	?, ca. 1996?, Japan-only: PE	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LPN	Pink FRN	PE PS	AUS-8?	?	1994, ?, Japan-only: PE	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LYL	Yellow FRN	PE PS	AUS-8?	?	?, 1994, 1996, Japan-only: PE	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LGR	Green FRN	PE PS	AUS-8?	?	?, Japan-only	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LCF	Black CF	PS	ATS-55	69.95$ (?)	1997 Sprint	500	Hollow	No clip
LBK	Black FRN	PS	AUS-6	?	ca. 1999 - 2003	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LBL	Blue FRN	PS	AUS-6	?	ca. 1999 - 2003	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LRD	Red FRN	PS	AUS-6	?	ca. 1999 - 2003	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LBK	Black FRN	PE SE	AUS-6	28.95$ (2004)	2004-2006	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LFG	Forest Green FRN	PE SE	AUS-6	28.95$ (2004)	2004-2005	N/A	Hollow	No clip

Variations of the Ladybug 2

SKU	Handle	Edge(s)	Steel	MSRP	Note	Number made	Grind	Clip	Collectors club
LBKII	Black FRN	SE	AUS-6	33.95$ (?)	1998-2002	ca. 5000?	Hollow	No clip

Variations of the Ladybug 3

SKU	Handle	Edge(s)	Steel	MSRP	Note	Number made	Grind	Clip	Collectors club
LBK3	Black FRN	PE SE	VG-10	39.95$ (2007)	2007-	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LSS3	Stainless Steel	PE SE	VG-10	54.95$ (2007)	2007-	N/A	Hollow	No clip
LORP3	Orange FRN	PE	VG-10	39.95$ (2008)	2008 Sprint	?	Hollow	No clip
LWHS3	White FRN	SE	VG-10	39.95$ (2008)	2008 Sprint	?	Hollow	No clip
LPR3	Purple FRN	PE	VG-10	?	2009-	?	Hollow	No clip
LYL3	Yellow FRN	PE SE	H-1	?	2009-	?	Hollow	No clip

Most collectible variation

Questions regarding collecting the Ladybug

• There are open questions marked with '?' above and below. Any answers?

Technical information

Measurements of the L Ladybug 1 and 2 (Weights: FRN, CF):

Length overall	Length closed	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weight
110mm	64mm	49mm	44mm	7mm	2mm	16g, 17.2g
4 5/16"	2 1/2"	1 15/16"	1 3/4"	9/32"	5/64"	0.5oz, 0.6oz

Measurements of the L Ladybug 3 (Weights: FRN, SS):

Length overall	Length closed	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weights
111mm	62mm	49mm	43mm	9mm	2mm	18g, 34g
4 3/8"	2 7/16"	1 15/16"	1 11/16"	11/32"	5/64"	0.6oz, 1.2oz