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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Delica 4 or Centofante III
- Thread starter raja
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2005
- Messages
- 4,761
I really like the centofante, although the 4s are catching up. It has a nice long handle for those like you and I. It's quite slim, not unlike the Delica. I also think it's the most attractive low end Spyderco, combating perhaps the slightly more expensive D`allara line.
Speaking of which, if you can handle the increased size (and it is WAY increased), the D`allara drop point blows everything at its price point away. But it's MUCH larger in every way (especially closed) than it appears on photos.
Speaking of which, if you can handle the increased size (and it is WAY increased), the D`allara drop point blows everything at its price point away. But it's MUCH larger in every way (especially closed) than it appears on photos.
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2003
- Messages
- 666
I have the delica 4 and let me tell you.. this knife has it ALL! The subtle new improvements were very well thought out!
I just took delivery of my Delica 4 and Centofante 4 yesterday
I also have a Delica 3 and Centofante 3. Here are some first impressions of both:
Delica 4 - the Delica 3 has pretty well been on me since I got it. It's pretty well my "Goto" knife in most instances, exceptions being when I have "ugly" work like scraping where my Ka-bar/Dozier comes into playand a couple of other beaters. So far, I've found that the new Delica is much nicer to hold. For me, it wasn't that bad to begin with, but then I have medium small hands (cadet in golf terms). Now, normally, I carry my Delica loose and a BM Mini-Grip clipped on the same pocket, so weight was also a concern. This is a concern with me because I do carry up to 6 or more folders plus Inova X5 and a multi-tool every day. The Delica 4 is noticeably heavier, but not annoyingly so. So far, from carrying it, I haven't noticed a difference. The new pattern on the FRN, coupled with the steel liners gives it a higher quality feel and weight of a knife that costs much more. The Delica 3 gave a bit of a feeling of holding the knife a bit far back, if you know what I mean, which in turn means it's something you have to get used to. The new handle design doesn't give you this feeling near as much, though it's still there a bit. The tip has been made stronger and the blade is slightly wider than the Delica 3 but not to the point of interfering with poking and cutting There are other little touches that make this a great value - Screw pivot, and screws in the handle to attach to the liners, new clip with the ability to go left/right/tip up/tip down, traction grooves (jimping?) on back of the hump. It's also supposed to have phospor bronze washers, but, for the life of me, I couldn't see them - they looked embedded, if they were. I read in another forum that a few got by with the super thing washers. On the D4, this was not a real concern to me, BTW. Bottom line on this one - it's a winner Will it replace my Delica 3? Probably, but then again, for the moment I have both with me - the D4 replaced my BM530
Time will tell - so far I'm super happy with this one. In fact, I have another one on order with another vendor. I got this one because I just couldn't wait.
Centofante III & 4 - My CIII typically rides in one of my cargo pants pockets. For me, it's not a high use knife, but it does get used when I have to slice things. This one is like the Calypso Jr (I have two gray ones, btw). The handle is longer and more flowing, and for slicing tasks, it works I love the CIII's slightly longer blades, especially when it does sandwiches The new C4 wharncliff appears to be a CIII with a different blade shape. I would classify this one as closer to a gentleman's knife. Very elegant with underlying utility. From what I've done with my CIII, though, I'm not a hard user per se, your regular edc things like cutting carboard, zip ties etc don't bother it, but compared to my Delica 3, I found that I was always worried about that thin blade and tended to not use it for those "muscle" tasks like my D3 or BM Mini-Grip. It just not as utilitarian, so to speak. It would probably handle it fine, but...... I've always enjoyed wharncliffs and sheepsfoots shapes, but one of things I've found with these shapes, was that when I needed one, it was either too small or too large. The wharncliff on the C4. for me so far, appears to be a bit on the large side. BUT, and this is a big BUT, the longer handle, coupled with the shape on the top of the blade make this one a dream to handle We'll see over time how useful this one is. I like wharncliffs for that sharp straight edge - it's the point that going to see the most use, especially for opening clam packs, etc. It sure made quick work of my USB memory stick clam pack last nite
Just some thoughts - hope this helps - gord
I also have a Delica 3 and Centofante 3. Here are some first impressions of both:Delica 4 - the Delica 3 has pretty well been on me since I got it. It's pretty well my "Goto" knife in most instances, exceptions being when I have "ugly" work like scraping where my Ka-bar/Dozier comes into playand a couple of other beaters. So far, I've found that the new Delica is much nicer to hold. For me, it wasn't that bad to begin with, but then I have medium small hands (cadet in golf terms). Now, normally, I carry my Delica loose and a BM Mini-Grip clipped on the same pocket, so weight was also a concern. This is a concern with me because I do carry up to 6 or more folders plus Inova X5 and a multi-tool every day. The Delica 4 is noticeably heavier, but not annoyingly so. So far, from carrying it, I haven't noticed a difference. The new pattern on the FRN, coupled with the steel liners gives it a higher quality feel and weight of a knife that costs much more. The Delica 3 gave a bit of a feeling of holding the knife a bit far back, if you know what I mean, which in turn means it's something you have to get used to. The new handle design doesn't give you this feeling near as much, though it's still there a bit. The tip has been made stronger and the blade is slightly wider than the Delica 3 but not to the point of interfering with poking and cutting
There are other little touches that make this a great value - Screw pivot, and screws in the handle to attach to the liners, new clip with the ability to go left/right/tip up/tip down, traction grooves (jimping?) on back of the hump. It's also supposed to have phospor bronze washers, but, for the life of me, I couldn't see them - they looked embedded, if they were. I read in another forum that a few got by with the super thing washers. On the D4, this was not a real concern to me, BTW. Bottom line on this one - it's a winner Will it replace my Delica 3? Probably, but then again, for the moment I have both with me - the D4 replaced my BM530 Time will tell - so far I'm super happy with this one. In fact, I have another one on order with another vendor. I got this one because I just couldn't wait.Centofante III & 4 - My CIII typically rides in one of my cargo pants pockets. For me, it's not a high use knife, but it does get used when I have to slice things. This one is like the Calypso Jr (I have two gray ones, btw). The handle is longer and more flowing, and for slicing tasks, it works
I love the CIII's slightly longer blades, especially when it does sandwiches The new C4 wharncliff appears to be a CIII with a different blade shape. I would classify this one as closer to a gentleman's knife. Very elegant with underlying utility. From what I've done with my CIII, though, I'm not a hard user per se, your regular edc things like cutting carboard, zip ties etc don't bother it, but compared to my Delica 3, I found that I was always worried about that thin blade and tended to not use it for those "muscle" tasks like my D3 or BM Mini-Grip. It just not as utilitarian, so to speak. It would probably handle it fine, but...... I've always enjoyed wharncliffs and sheepsfoots shapes, but one of things I've found with these shapes, was that when I needed one, it was either too small or too large. The wharncliff on the C4. for me so far, appears to be a bit on the large side. BUT, and this is a big BUT, the longer handle, coupled with the shape on the top of the blade make this one a dream to handle We'll see over time how useful this one is. I like wharncliffs for that sharp straight edge - it's the point that going to see the most use, especially for opening clam packs, etc. It sure made quick work of my USB memory stick clam pack last nite Just some thoughts - hope this helps - gord
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 90,915
Nice comparisons, Gord. Thanks! I like the Centofante III, it's an elegant knife and a great slicer, and a lightweight carry. I've been trying to convince myself to go for the Centofante 4 and I think you convinced me.