Decision help: delica/endura/sage/gayle bradley

jasper83 said:
Are the sage and native that similar?? If going with a delica or endura over the sage is a better option, I'm willing to consider. I'll try to post a pic of the native I have.
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probably not. I think the overwhelming theme here is get yourself a gayle bradley, then choose whatever else u want to go with it. :)
 
Thanks for the pics remnar! It helps to see them next to each other. That looks like the native I have. Does the blade shape of the sage and delica make a difference in terms of performance? Or is it all about aesthetics?
 
I haven't done enough heavy cutting with either one to give you an accurate answer, but I am a big fan of the finger choil on the Sage. That is probably why I don't have a bunch of Delicas.
 
delica zdp flat ground is by far the best blade but if you lose it you are out 85 bucks. great knife for gutting deer. just little pieces of guts get caught in the handle scales. get one in g10/
 
Calc said it better, but let me try:

IMO, your Native can replace both sage & delica. Get the Bradley AND the Endura. Around same size but different in weight & light/heavy duty. Endura tip is thinner, better at detailed work with a long reach, while Bradley is a really robust (but heavy) knife.

Since cutting is mostly done with edge, blade shape mostly matters only in how the edge relates to the grip & how wide the tip is. IIRC, Surfingringo doesn't like Bradley due to how the tip is formed, not acute enough for his use.

Or, get Bradley AND Byrd Cara Cara 2 & Meadowlark 2 FRN. They are like Endura & Delica.

Note: I own Bradley, Endura Superblue, Resilience. Getting Cara Cara 2 FRN for EDC because I like the Endura ergos better but can't afford to lose it (knife law being vague here). Opinion based on this & Remnar's comparison pics. I found recently that I am also liking backlock more than liner lock, and that 8Cr is great for my use (light city use). Thus the Cara Cara.
Getting an Endura also teaches me a different kind of ergonomic comfort. It's on par but different from Bradley, buth both are above Resilience. If you can try & hold them, it''ll give a better idea what suits you best. Choil vs no choil might matters too (I like them both with bias more towards choil).

I also carry mine mostly clipless in pocket with pouch, because clip is annoying to me.

Lastly, if budget permitting, get them ALL :) lol
 
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Thanks Chris. It looks like the GB is in for sure, but not 100% on the other. I like the thought of the endura combined with the GB, but I'm one of those that has to make the perfect choice so I'm going to keep thinking.

Ricky...I'd love a delica zdp too. If only i could buy all of them :)

More thoughts welcome!!
 
Of these options I'd suggest getting the Endura/Delica with the Bradley. You've already tried Spyderco's S30V, you owe it to yourself to experience their VG-10.






That said, buy a Manix. :D
 
I have all the knives mentioned except the current Endura. I have a couple of older model Enduras. Of the all the knives mentioned, the Gayle Bradley is my favorite. Not that that means anything to your situation, just my preferences. I often call the Bradley "quirky" because it's really a different type of knife. It's not easy for most people to close the blade with one hand, the blade steel is not stainless, the choil puts your finger close to the cutting edge, the liner is wider than the grip covers...it's different. I can understand why some don't like it and others (like me) love the damn thing.

I prefer both the Delica and the Native to the Sage. I like the Sage okay but I never seem to carry it. It's a sweet knife but I've never warmed up to it like I have to other Spydercos. Again it's personal preference but I would get the Delica before the Sage. And I would also put off getting the Endura for a while. Your PM2 can do the same jobs as the Endura so you aren't missing anything to wait a while.
 
Thanks Lee48. I am really wrestling with that same thought. the sage 1 just has so many good things said about it for me to stop considering. Speaking of native...anyone help with identifying which one I have?

but first tell me how to post a pic on here...i just tried to link a URL and nothing happened.
 
jasper83 said:
but first tell me how to post a pic on here...i just tried to link a URL and nothing happened.
Click to expand...

Use a photo hosting site and copy the BBC code and paste everything between the IMG code including the [] and [/]

As for the knives: the native (if you have the lightweight) is similar to the delica in that it is a lock back but in all other ways (feel, shape and steel) is different. To me the endura was too long and have traded away 3. I keep telling myself I can get used to it, but each time I pass it along. The sage series is excellent and the sage I being a liner lock it is obviously different from the delica line. The shape and size is a real sweet spot for EDC and the looks are hard to beat so I understand why that one makes it in either buying scenario.

When deciding between GB and Delica+Endura we'd have to know whether you'd use them. The GB is a heavy beast of a knife. I really like it but I rarely carry it. I'll never sell it, but it'll look unchanged a year from now. My delicas get carried a lot. So if I were spending I'd probably buy one delica and then buy another or Salt (same size and shape as a delica), but you'll never know if an endura is too long until you get one. If you don't like it you can sell it without losing a lot of invested money. Compare that to a GB, it may be harder to sell without a loss. More expensive = smaller buyers market.
 
On a side note, you may consider just getting the Sage 1 and holding the rest of the money. A week later you will want a Sage 2 and 3

14605938602_b0864bd4da_z.jpg
 
Quick and dirty comparison of some of what's been mentioned in this thread.



Cara Cara 2 FRN
Endura 4 FFG
Para Military 2
Manix 2 (sabre grind)
Native FRN
Meadowlark 2 G-10 (roughly delica size)
Robin 2 G-10
 
All of those will serve you well but IMHO the Gayle Bradley is the one that is a have to have. Its beefy enough for a work knife, yet svelte and pretty enough for an everyday carry. The blade being m4 is just icing in the cake. Its ridiculously awesome.
 
I'm no expert but how about the sage, delica, endura, and a centofante 3. Four is always better than one.
Good luck with so many choices.
 
Chris "Anagarika";14328785 said:
Calc said it better, but let me try:

IMO, your Native can replace both sage & delica. Get the Bradley AND the Endura. Around same size but different in weight & light/heavy duty. Endura tip is thinner, better at detailed work with a long reach, while Bradley is a really robust (but heavy) knife.

Since cutting is mostly done with edge, blade shape mostly matters only in how the edge relates to the grip & how wide the tip is. IIRC, Surfingringo doesn't like Bradley due to how the tip is formed, not acute ebough for his use.
Click to expand...

This is true and it makes me sad because other than that the GB would probably be my favorite Spyderco! I'm quick to mod a tip too but I just can't figure out a way to regrind the GB without destroying the aesthetics of the beautiful grind. Oh well.

As far as blade profile, I prefer more narrow blades like endura/delica, military, police etc. I find they perform better for my uses than the wider leaf shaped blades. Wider blades can be more stable for slicing but are more prone to bind when making curved or arced cuts.
 
Great input! I'm planning on getting the GB. Any other thoughts on a perfect match for it? I'm open to any suggestions, unique and all.
 
Good choice.

If you want a match up with the Bradley, I'd recommend looking for a lighter, thinner knife for small tasks. The Centofante 3 is one of my favorites of this type--the thin blade on that thing cuts like a laser. In the same price range and general size, you have to look at the Delica 4--a perennial favorite.
 
I am in the minority here, but the GB was just too heavy for me to carry comfortably. I had one and sold it quickly. The Stretch feels like a light weight FFG version of it to me, but I much prefer the Endura or Military over it.

Of those listed, I would grab the Delica / Endura and if you can find the Super Blue versions, all the better.
 
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