Best SD knife between Delica and Endura?

KBR

KBR

Joined
Feb 12, 2002
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I'm planning on giving one of these fully serrated Spydies, for SD, to an uncle of mine that was seriously assaulted last night(see Community Center forum), but I can't decide on which one. The choice is ONLY BETWEEN THESE TWO, mainly because I have them in my collection right now.

The Delica is easy to conceal IWB, and although rather small it could pack a powerful offensive strike if you use the SHARP point with equally SHARP serrations. Whereas the Endura is identical but just a larger knife in general.

I understand that a knife MUST be accompanied with proper SD training for it to be an effective self-defense weapon and I'm already looking for a class that he can take if he so chooses. My main reason for wanting to help my uncle out is to replace his POS poor excuse for a wannabe knife, with the superb quality of a Spyderco knife. Would you believe that to open his POS "knife", you have to use both hands?? My uncle needs a crash course in knives and knife care.

What would you recommend would be the best of these two? Thanks for your feedback. I really appreciate it.
 
Get both . The Endura for your "dominant" hand. And the Delica for your "weak" hand(back-up).:eek: And don't forget to p[ractice with your "weak" hand openning and closing!!;)
 
Second what big-target said.
I personally would take something else, but I'd choose Endura in that situation because of the length. That extra length may mean extra reach, to make up for the space, or to put more kick.
To be frank, after hearing that, I'd suggest that he first, have a long Mag-Lite in his car, and/or carry one when he's in the company truck. Although it may not be purposely built, some of them have excellent reach (look for the 4D version) and have enough mass as a good baton, not to mention a good flashlight. An ASP would replace the Mag-Lite, but maybe not as useful in a car.
Then I'd take the longest, heavy duty spyderco that you may find (within your and your uncle's financial situation) as the primary, and something like the fully serrated Harpy/Merlin/Civilian as a secondary.
I'm really sorry about what happened to your uncle, and I think that justice will be served to something as heinous as this. Make sure he press for lawsuits for compensation if possible too.
This really confirm about why people should have the right of SD and have the tools to SD.
 
I have to agree with BT here...both, and let him decide what to carry as the desire suits him.

As you may have read from my posts of the past, prior to inheriting my buddy's knife collection, and becoming a instant 'knife ho' in the process...I carried alternating Endura's and Delica's daily, for almost 8 years...as the situation required.

I'd bought two of each, both fully serrated and 50/50, old style FRN's, for a total of 4 knives.

I lost one of each large and small over the years, and a few months back sold the other two to Revolvergeek because I just couldn't kill them.

I miss them both, and will be replacing them soon hopefully.

The Spyderco that was always missing was the size in between. (Sal, are you still listening?)

So, give him one of each, and I'll chip in $10 to offset the cost if need be.

My condolances,

Mel
 
Get him the Endura. It has a longer blade, and a longer handle (I think...). IF forced to defend MYSELF with a knife, I'd want it to be my Bill Siegle Bowie with an 11 inch-long blade, but since the choice is between a Delica or an Endura, go with the larger one.

It also might not hurt to invest in a can of GOOD pepper-spray for your Uncle to carry.
 
Thanks for all of the replies, you guys. I appreciate it, ya'll are the BEST. Just came back from the hospital and he's doing just fine.

I also think that the best thing to do would be to let him decide between my two Spydies. I'll also ask if he'd like that pepper spray that I picked up this past weekend at a gun show. My wife thinks I'm nuts for 'giving' away one of my prized Spydies, but if I can help it he won't ever carry a POS knife again.

Hopefully, someone will come forward with decent descriptions of these punks and the vehicle they were in, at least. My uncle, sad to say, doesn't remember much.

Thanks again for your support and feedback. It's sincerely appreciated.
 
the bigger knife is the best choice, what about some 15% OC to start with, nice for mutiple targets....
 
I would go with the Endura because of the large size. The handle is larger and easier to hold, and the blade will give you added reach. Two Enduras, one plain edge and one serrated, would be a good economical choice.
 
Randall Model 14 with a seven and a half inch sticker. When you care enough to carry the very best....
 
Keep in mind the local laws. I'd carry dual Enduras, but the laws where I am limit blade length to 3 inches.

From my miniscule body of knowledge, wouldn't it be better to carry the larger blade on the weaker side? Strong side should be more able to control thrusts and slashes and cuts. More likely to hit your target. Weak side may not be and could possibly use the extra length. Just a thought.

I used to carry a G-10 Rookie on strong side and FRN Goddard on weak. I really liked the Goddard. The integral handguard made it a natural for weak-sided carry. Until I found out about the 3 inch limit. And the realization that I didn't want to lose either of these discontinued blades. So now it's double plain edge Delicas and a Jester for opening envelopes and the like. Suits me fine.

ZF

and I know your options were Endura or Delica or both. If it was me, Delica strong, Endura weak.
 
How big are your hands? I have big hands and the Endura handle fits me better than the Delica. The suggestion to check local ordinances is a good one too; I think the Delica blade is < 3".
 
If you do only opt to carry just one, then handle both in order to decide.

When I did, back on a prior knife-hunting shopping spree, I handled both and found that for my hand size, the Endura offered the higher amount of opening techniques that felt right when doing them. The Delica seemed to lack some weight and I bungled things up more. So the Endura is what I carry a lot of the time for this reason and also due to it's reasonable replacement cost. I tend to use this knife a lot more due to it's low cost and also for it's cutting ability.
 
Not knowing your uncle's age or physical condition it's hard to say.

I know that right now passions are at a peak for the assuault of a family
member. Mine would be too. Just take care that you don't equip your uncle
with the a weapon that can be turned against him in the future. He might
not be hospiltalized next time.

If you are comfortable with his ablity to USE a knife to defend himself
then give him all he can handle. Let him decide how much risk he can
handle.
 
Despite all the knife nuts here (not just in this thread, but on these boards in general) who "seem" to be combat experts, let me point out that nobody really wins in a knife fight. Some folks might like to believe that an opponent, when slashed, will just turn tail and run, but that's not always the case. Knife fighting is ugly business best left to combat specialists.

Your other thread mentions there were four determined assailants. A knife very well could have been used against your uncle in this scenario.

Pepper spray is not a bad option, but it would require quick deployment and still might not have stopped four attackers.

But you're in TX where you can carry a gun for self defense. Get your uncle a .38 snubnose revolver, a quality holster, and have him take a handgun class (or two, or three, or four). Also, he needs to begin to practice situational awareness at all times.

Presented with the business end of a revolver, assailants typically WILL turn tail and run.

I carry my knife for cutting open boxes and sharpening pencils. I carry my pistol for stopping potential threats. I've never drawn down on anyone and hope I never have to. But given a life-threatening situation, I'd rather have a 9mm than an Endura.
 
Tightwad, my uncle is in great shape and is in his early 40's. He used to be a boxer, and can usually handle himself pretty good in a fight. But not in this situation. For some reason(I guess because of my anger), I had a very strong inclination that if he had had a good knife with him, it could have made somewhat of a difference. After some reflection about the severity of the situation, I realized that it was a good thing that no knife was drawn because it could have been used against him with even worse consequences.

Guyon, I agree with your opinion about a knife not really being an effective weapon with these odds. I plan on advising him about CC and handguns. He's not really into firearms as much as I am. At the least, maybe I can talk him into some pepper spray.

Thanks for the input.
 
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