L Ladybug

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The L Ladybug was introduced in the early 90s and is currently still available. The Ladybug is Spydercos smallest FRN 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 1990 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 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: 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 from the forums etc.

  • 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

LBK3:

"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." [1]

See also: LBK[2], LFG[3], FL01LFG[4], LBKII[5], LSS3[6], LORP3[7], LWHS3[8], LPRP3[9], LYL3[10].

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 From/To MSRP Note Number made Grind Clip Collectors club
LBK Black FRN PS GIN-1/G-2 1992? - ca. 1995 25.95$ (1994) N/A Hollow No clip
LBL Blue FRN PS GIN-1/G-2 1992 - ca. 1995 25.95$ (1994) N/A Hollow No clip
LRD Red FRN PS GIN-1/G-2 1992 - ca. 1995 25.95$ (1994) N/A Hollow No clip
LGY Grey FRN PS GIN-1/G-2 1994 - 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 1997 69.95$ (?) Sprintrun 500 Hollow No clip Variant
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 2004-2006 28.95$ (2004) N/A Hollow No clip
LFG Forest Green FRN PE SE AUS-6 2004-2005 28.95$ (2004) N/A Hollow No clip

Variations of the Ladybug 2

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

Variations of the Ladybug 3

SKU Handle Edge(s) Steel From/To MSRP Note Number made Grind Clip Collectors club
LBK3 Black FRN PE SE VG-10 2007- 39.95$ (2007) N/A Hollow No clip Variant
LSSP3 Stainless Steel PE VG-10 2007- 54.95$ (2007) N/A Hollow No clip Main
LSSS3 Stainless Steel PE VG-10 2007- 54.95$ (2007) N/A Hollow No clip Variant
LORP3 Orange FRN PE VG-10 2008 39.95$ (2008) Sprintrun ? Hollow No clip Variant
LWHS3 White FRN SE VG-10 2008 39.95$ (2008) Sprintrun ? Hollow No clip Variant
LPR3 Purple FRN PE VG-10 2009- 44.95$ (2009) N/A Hollow No clip Variant
LYL3 Yellow FRN PE SE H-1 2009- 51.95$ (2009) N/A Hollow No clip Variant

Most collectible variation

Questions regarding collecting the Ladybug

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

Technical information

Measurements (mm and grams) of the L Ladybug:

Variation Length overall Length closed Length blade Length edge Hole Ø Blade thickness Weights
Ladybug 1 and 2 FRN 110mm 64mm 49mm 44mm 7mm 2mm 16g
Ladybug 1 CF 110mm 64mm 49mm 44mm 7mm 2mm 17.2g
Ladybug 3 FRN 111mm 62mm 49mm 43mm 9mm 2mm 18g
Ladybug 3 SS 111mm 62mm 49mm 43mm 9mm 2mm 34g

Measurements (inches and ounces) of the L Ladybug:

Variation Length overall Length closed Length blade Length edge Hole Ø Blade thickness Weights
Ladybug 1 and 2 FRN 4 5/16" 2 1/2" 1 15/16" 1 3/4" 9/32" 5/64" 0.5oz
Ladybug 1 CF 4 5/16" 2 1/2" 1 15/16" 1 3/4" 9/32" 5/64" 0.6oz
Ladybug 3 FRN 4 3/8" 2 7/16" 1 15/16" 1 11/16" 11/32" 5/64" 0.6oz
Ladybug 3 SS 4 3/8" 2 7/16" 1 15/16" 1 11/16" 11/32" 5/64" 1.2oz

References

  1. ↑ The LBK3 Ladybug Lightweight in Spyderco's online catalog
  2. ↑ The LBK Ladybug in Spyderco's online catalog
  3. ↑ The LFG Ladybug in Spyderco's online catalog
  4. ↑ The FL01LFG Ladybug Photon Combo in Spyderco's online catalog
  5. ↑ The LBKII Ladybug in Spyderco's online catalog
  6. ↑ The LSS3 Ladybug in Spyderco's online catalog
  7. ↑ The LORP3 Ladybug in Spyderco's online catalog
  8. ↑ The LWHS3 Ladybug in Spyderco's online catalog
  9. ↑ The LPRP3 Ladybug in Spyderco's online catalog
  10. ↑ The LYL3 Ladybug in Spyderco's online catalog

Pictures

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