Benchmade Mini-Griptilian vs. Spyderco Delica 4

Delica for me. I have a D2 Mini Grip, and while I like it, it just doesn't fit me. I don't prefer thumb studs and the ergos of the Mini Grip leave much to be desired for me. The handle feels too fat for how short it is.

Both are great knives at good price points. But, I prefer the ergos of the Delica, the Spyder Hole and the (optional) full flat grind.
 
I haveone of the Walmart Natives, and for the price... I should have bought 10 of them. It's a great carry knife, but I stopped carrying it when i got my Endura. However, since the Endura has now been replaced by a fixed blade, I may take up the Native again.

I personally don't like rotating daily between choiled & choiless knives, to avoid accidentally choking up on a choiless knife.

As for D4 vs. MGrip, I would choose the D4 based on price, or the MGrip based on getting a unique steel (D2 or M390). As already mentioned, when you get into MGrip prices, there's a lot more to choose from. I think the VG-10 Stretch would be a good compromise between ergonomics, steel, blade length & profile, and cost.

Other than that, either knife & company are good choices to deal with.
 
You're trying to pick among two of my favorite folders. I have the mini-grip with the Doug Ritter-designed S30V blade, and two Delica 4s. The Delica is going to feel flatter/thinner in your hand, as the scales are flat, but nicely textured. The Mini-grip will feel thicker, but not necessarily heavier.

You wouldn't go wrong either way. I *think* the basic mini-Grip will have a slightly thicker blade and 154CM steel. The basic Delica 4 has VG-10. If I could only have one, and price mattered a lot, I would go with the Delica 4.

SP
 
I have a lot of "nicer" knives but I always find myself coming back to the griptilian. I have a Ritter and a regular version. The knife as a whole is great although like many have stated I don't love the feel of the handle compared to some of my other knives. I also think it's time for an upgraded pocket clip design. It's really the axis lock that does it for me. Many people focus on how fast and smooth a knife opens and the axis lock BM's are indeed quick but I think more than anything I like how quickly and effortlessly I can CLOSE the knife when my hands are full. I don't like having to mess with a lockback or liner in a one handed, high stress situation which I tend to see a lot of at work.
 
i feel the benchmade has the better locking system. the benchmade feels better in my hand. i have a fullsized griptilian and a small bone collector (around the same size as a small griptilian). the material on the bone collector is amazing. while the benchmade feels the best and has the best lock the spyder is my edc i keep going back to it, its so thin and light. i am about to order a mnandi with a damascus blade that has a six to nine month wait. sadly i feel a year from now the best edc i have will be the delica. i dont even have the latest model i have the one that pennies can screw and unscrew the clip. btw its my second delica i lost my first one in a junkyard about 5 years ago.

good luck

liquid
 
I vote delica. I own a mini grip black handle combo blade, but I also own a foliage green combo delica, and the brown ffg delica...which just came in the mail today.

No matter how much you can have love for your nicer expensive folders or the tacticool ones. There always is a place for a small folder on occasions, and for me its the delica 4. Razor blade on a strong thin lightweight handle...with great colors. Man, that brown ffg is something else. In sunlight its almost bronze/golden looking
 
I firmly believe the Mini Grip is a more solid knife overall, but I also paid about $20 more for it. My only complaints about the BM is that it shipped pretty damn dull, which is lame because I don't have a good means to sharpen it. Also, Benchmade customer service has never answered either of my questions I emailed them. Thanks a lot.

The Spyderco is a better value on a budget I think.
 
Though I love the effortless closing of the Griptillian, I'm gonna have to vote Delica 4 on this one. Thinner profile, great blade shape, and the spyderhole doesn't snag on crap like the griptillian thumb stud does.
 
All of you having trouble with the Griptillain thumb studs realize there is a hole opening version right?
 
Hey everyone,

OP here, just wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful advice! It's been really helpful. I dropped by the store last week to test the knives and I finally understand the love for both knives. Whoever said to get both was right; it's just a matter of time!

I have to say, I personally loved the Mini-Griptilian for the effortless deployment, AXIS lock and slightly smaller size (as I have tiny hands), but with that price, it's gonna have to wait until birthday time. However, I fell in love with the full flat ground blade on the Delica 4 and I ended up purchasing one. It's a wicked slicer indeed - I've nicked myself twice in two days, but the first cut was so clean, it sealed perfectly virtually overnight. Very impressed!

I've got some questions though for those of you who are familiar with lockback knives: What is the best way to close the Delica 4 safely with one hand? How do I know if I've loosened the pivot screw too much? I understand lockbacks are inherently harder to flick due to its construction, but I've only been able to flick it about 3/4 of the way open without wrist movement.

Thank you all once again!
 
tl91 said:
I've got some questions though for those of you who are familiar with lockback knives: What is the best way to close the Delica 4 safely with one hand? How do I know if I've loosened the pivot screw too much? I understand lockbacks are inherently harder to flick due to its construction, but I've only been able to flick it about 3/4 of the way open without wrist movement.
Click to expand...

I did a Mini-grip vs. Delica vids check out pt.2 skip to about 2:30 minutes for one hand closing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afb4_EjX4cQ

To flick it open I put the top/tip of my thumbnail in the hole and flick straight up, maybe slightly outward depending on the knife, following thru with the motion. You'll know when the pivot screw is too loose when the blade has a lot of side to side movement in the locked/open position.
 
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I like the Delica 4 ffg over the regular Mini-Grip and EDC the Delica more than any of my other knives. I like the ffg cutting capabilities over the hollow grind and the thumb hole and back lock don't pain your fingers as much as the thumbstud and axis lock IMO. I also like the VG10 over the 154CM for edge holding and ease of sharpeninig. However, for more abusive cutting tasks, I think the Grip would perform a tad bit better than the ffg and probably equal to the saber ground Delicas. I also prefer the way the Delica rides in your pocket and gives you quite a nice grip, where the Mini Grip's grip is kinda short. However, I own the Gold Class Grip and that fits very nice in the hand and the M4 steel is awesome, but that's a whole other story. That being said, they are both great knives and I find it pretty cool that Benchmade's offering full customization of the Griptillian models and kinda wished that Spyderco would do the same with their models. Also, LeBaron is another great store located in Markham (just bought a new Delica 4 ffg in blue from there for my dad for just under $60), and Bass Pro in Vaughn both have a decent selection of knives.
 
everyone has already chimed in, so mine is useless, but here goes:

The grip feels better to grip IMO. It looks nicer, and it deploys easier. The axis lock is awesome. The spyderco is more utilitarian, and rides higher in the pocket. It has a unique look, hard to get used to at first. Benchmade makes fantastic knives, and has awesome customer service. The axis lock is one of the smoothest locks (when not dirty) out there.

But nothing, and I repeat _NOTHING_ slices and cuts like a spyderco. I've had so-so sharp knives from Benchmade before. I've never had anything other than scalpel sharp from Spyderco. Just get both, you will eventually anyway. Seriously. If you have to choose, just flip a coin.

The Benchmade feels higher quality at first, especially if you aren't far down the deep and sick and twisted path of knifenuttyness. The Spyderco though, is an equally fantastic knife, and when it comes to cutting, is better IMO.

-Freq
 
ASBOB said:
Are we permitted to suggest knives beyond those two?

On Spyderco: as mentioned, the Native would be my choice.

On Benchmade: I find the Mini Grip just a tad too small. The Mini Bone Collector, on the other hand, is knockdown perfect. Handles also re a terrific shape, and the ridges in the G10 just grip your hand. This is my edc and to[ choice.
Click to expand...

The Native would be my choice too. S30V in a tough package at a reasonable cost. What's not to like?
 
I had been looking for a really good knife that wouldn't compromise its strengths, had a locking mechanism that wouldn't fail and was under $60. I did not think that such a knife was out there until I discovered this spyderco at a really cheap price. In most cases blades in this price are designed of 440A metal, or in other words, poor. The VG-10 metal of this knife is very distinct and looks excellent.

Here are some helpful reviews I found for the [xxxx]
I also found some cheap prices Here at [xxxx]
 
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tl91 said:
I've got some questions though for those of you who are familiar with lockback knives: What is the best way to close the Delica 4 safely with one hand? How do I know if I've loosened the pivot screw too much? I understand lockbacks are inherently harder to flick due to its construction, but I've only been able to flick it about 3/4 of the way open without wrist movement.
Click to expand...

For one-handed closing, I use the same method seen here (skip to ~1 minute in). (This is not my video.) I like this one because it requires relatively little maneuvering of the blade in your hand, and due to how it is positioned, there is less chance of accidentally closing the blade on your fingers.
[video=youtube;BaucYP2jieM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaucYP2jieM[/video]

As for being able to flick the blade open, once it wears in some, it will get much smoother.
 
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