L Ladybug

2009-02-11T23:42:08Z

Spyderco-mike: /* Variations of the Ladybug 1 */

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 of 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 Golden Edge Cutlery and Ironstone in the US and Klötzli in Europe... more shops, details???).

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 [http://www.spydie.nl/catalogs/ironstone.pdf 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? ([http://www.spydie.nl/catalogs/ older], [http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/download.php 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: mentioned in the 1994 Golden Edge Cutlery catalog
** LRD: 1994-2003 Spyderco catalogs
** LYL: mentioned in the 1994 Golden Edge Cutlery catalog
** LCF: 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==

* [http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118 Discussion] about unavailability of [[PE]] Ladybugs in 2000 in the Spyderco forum.
* [http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=942 Discussion] about Ladybug with gray handles and [[PE]] availability (2003 Spyderco forum).
* Another [http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25064 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.''"
<ref name="current catalog">The LBK3 Ladybug Lightweight in [http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=262 Spyderco's online catalog]</ref>

See also:
LBK<ref name="current catalog2">The LBK Ladybug in [http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=18 Spyderco's online catalog]</ref>,
LFG<ref name="current catalog3">The LFG Ladybug in [http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=69 Spyderco's online catalog]</ref>,
FL01LFG<ref name="current catalog4">The FL01LFG Ladybug Photon Combo in [http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=69 Spyderco's online catalog]</ref>,
LBKII<ref name="current catalog5">The LBKII Ladybug in [http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=142 Spyderco's online catalog]</ref>,
LSS3<ref name="current catalog6">The LSS3 Ladybug in [http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=270 Spyderco's online catalog]</ref>,
LORP3<ref name="current catalog7">The LORP3 Ladybug in [http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=330 Spyderco's online catalog]</ref>,
LWHS3<ref name="current catalog8">The LWHS3 Ladybug in [http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=329 Spyderco's online catalog]</ref>,
LPRP3<ref name="current catalog9">The LPRP3 Ladybug in [http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=375 Spyderco's online catalog]</ref>.

==Variations==

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

===Variations of the Ladybug 1===

{|{{Articletable}}
{{Tableheading}}'''SKU'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Handle'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Edge(s)'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Steel'''
{{Tableheading}}'''MSRP'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Note'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Number made'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Grind'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Clip'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Collectors club'''
|-
|valign="top" |LBK
|valign="top" |Black [[FRN]]
|valign="top" |[[PS]]
|valign="top" |[[GIN-1/G-2]]
|valign="top" |25.95$ (1994)
|valign="top" |1993? - ca. 1995
|valign="top" |N/A
|valign="top" |[[Hollow]]
|valign="top" |[[No clip]]
|valign="top" |

|-
|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
|Grey [[FRN]]
|[[PS]]
|[[GIN-1/G-2]]
|?
|1994 - ca. 1995
|N/A
|[[Hollow]]
|[[No clip]]
|

|-
|LGY
|Grey [[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
|Grey [[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===

{|{{Articletable}}
{{Tableheading}}'''SKU'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Handle'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Edge(s)'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Steel'''
{{Tableheading}}'''MSRP'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Note'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Number made'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Grind'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Clip'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Collectors club'''
|-
|valign="top" |LBKII
|valign="top" |Black [[FRN]]
|valign="top" |[[SE]]
|valign="top" |[[AUS-6]]
|valign="top" |33.95$ (?)
|valign="top" |1998-2002
|valign="top" |ca. 5000?
|valign="top" |[[Hollow]]
|valign="top" |[[No clip]]
|valign="top" |
|}

===Variations of the Ladybug 3===

{|{{Articletable}}
{{Tableheading}}'''SKU'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Handle'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Edge(s)'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Steel'''
{{Tableheading}}'''MSRP'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Note'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Number made'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Grind'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Clip'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Collectors club'''
|-
|valign="top" |LBK3
|valign="top" |Black [[FRN]]
|valign="top" |[[PE]] [[SE]]
|valign="top" |[[VG-10]]
|valign="top" |39.95$ (2007)
|valign="top" |2007-
|valign="top" |N/A
|valign="top" |[[Hollow]]
|valign="top" |[[No clip]]
|valign="top" |

|-
|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]]
|44.95$ (2009)
|2009-
|N/A
|[[Hollow]]
|[[No clip]]
|

|-
|LYL3
|Yellow [[FRN]]
|[[PE]] [[SE]]
|[[H-1]]
|?
|2009-
|N/A
|[[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):
{|{{Articletable}}
{{Tableheading}}'''Length overall'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Length closed'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Length blade'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Length edge'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Hole Ø'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Blade thickness'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Weights'''
|-
|align="right"|110mm
|align="right"|64mm
|align="right"|49mm
|align="right"|44mm
|align="right"|7mm
|align="right"|2mm
|align="right"|16g, 17.2g
|-
|align="right"|4 5/16"
|align="right"|2 1/2"
|align="right"|1 15/16"
|align="right"|1 3/4"
|align="right"|9/32"
|align="right"|5/64"
|align="right"|0.5oz, 0.6oz
|}

Measurements of the L Ladybug 3 (Weights: FRN, SS):
{|{{Articletable}}
{{Tableheading}}'''Length overall'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Length closed'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Length blade'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Length edge'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Hole Ø'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Blade thickness'''
{{Tableheading}}'''Weights'''
|-
|align="right"|111mm
|align="right"|62mm
|align="right"|49mm
|align="right"|43mm
|align="right"|9mm
|align="right"|2mm
|align="right"|18g, 34g
|-
|align="right"|4 3/8"
|align="right"|2 7/16"
|align="right"|1 15/16"
|align="right"|1 11/16"
|align="right"|11/32"
|align="right"|5/64"
|align="right"|0.6oz, 1.2oz
|}

==References==

<references/>

==Pictures==

==Categories==

[[Category:knives]]
[[Category:Folding knives]]
[[Category:Ladybugs]]

Spydiewiki - User contributions [en]

L Ladybug