Delica Issue

ssblood

ssblood

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Jun 20, 2002
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I picked up a new delica 50/50 at Gander Mountain on Friday. It came in a blister pack so an inspection was impossible. It's been a long time since I have bought a new spyderco and I really doubt this is normal but I have some real issues with this knife.

The handle-spacer-handle do not match at all. Granted, I could fix this with some sand paper but there is a big difference here. The spyderhole looks like someone never finished it and has a pretty rough looking spot in it. The blade is way off center, off enough that it rubs against the handle and the liner and is scratching the side of the blade. Looking at this knife really reminds me of the bad fit & finish you see people complain about from that company I won't name. It really reminds me of the chinese knives I see at the flea market, not what I would expect from a 70 dollar folder.

Am I being picky? I really expect something with the fit and finish of a buck 110 at least and this is no where near that. Grind marks everywhere, the rubbing of the liner, just not what I expected.
 
Will take some and post, will have to get a photobucket thing since I haven't signed up for Gold membership yet.
 
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You can't really see the spot in the spyderhole because of the lighting but it's in the reflection.
 
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Sorta can't really tell too good from the pic. To me it almost looks like the grind isn't even the same on both sides. Forgive the quality of pics. Having to take them on my phone.
 
I've never seen scratches on the tang on delica/endura before. I expect it on knives like Caly3 or metal handled folders but they're made differently. The little leftover slivers on the FRN handles are no big deal, I ignore them but I guess you can try and cut them off.

The Spydie holes are often like that due to the laser cutting. I have a number of Japan-made knives with the same residue. The US made ones come well finished but I guess the makers in Japan don't go that far. I've fixed them by wrapping sandpaper around a pen and grinding them off if it interferes with my thumb.

One thing you can try is to loosen all the screws, center the blade by wedging something like folded paper between the liner and blade and re-tighten everything. You may fix centering and rubbing issues. Adding a little blue loctite can prevent future headaches from lost screws.

Or you can give the warranty dept a call or trade the knife for a new one at the store. It's a shame you're not happy with the new knife and I hope you can get it fixed. It's a great little knife in use.
 
I just got a Delica not long ago and mine has the same issue with the "handle-spacer-handle". As a matter of fact I was very surprised when I opened it. (mine came in a box).

Its not enough to bother me, but I sure do notice it.
 
ssblood said:
I picked up a new delica 50/50 at Gander Mountain on Friday. It came in a blister pack so an inspection was impossible. It's been a long time since I have bought a new spyderco and I really doubt this is normal but I have some real issues with this knife.

The handle-spacer-handle do not match at all. Granted, I could fix this with some sand paper but there is a big difference here. The spyderhole looks like someone never finished it and has a pretty rough looking spot in it. The blade is way off center, off enough that it rubs against the handle and the liner and is scratching the side of the blade. Looking at this knife really reminds me of the bad fit & finish you see people complain about from that company I won't name. It really reminds me of the chinese knives I see at the flea market, not what I would expect from a 70 dollar folder.

Am I being picky? I really expect something with the fit and finish of a buck 110 at least and this is no where near that. Grind marks everywhere, the rubbing of the liner, just not what I expected.
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Call the SFO and make arrangements to send it in. The handle issue is nitpicky, but the scratch/grind marks on the blade really should not be there IMO. $70? Ouch, well live and learn I guess.
 
I'll be the first to admit it is nit picky but my logic is this. I can buy a Buck 110 at walmart for 34.95, the handles line up perfect etc. No problems at all. 94.95 retail, 70 dollars at Gander Mountain, 60ish shipped offline and doesn't have the quality of a 35 dollar buck from Wal-Mart. That was my complaint. I returned it to to Gander and they can deal with it. I'm going to drive up to NGK Friday and pick up either a para or a reg military and another delica. I love spyderco knives and they are my prefered choice but when you pay twice what a knife from walmart would cost I expect it to at least be on par with the fit & finish.
 
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ssblood said:
I'll be the first to admit it is nit picky but my logic is this. I can buy a Buck 110 at walmart for 34.95, the handles line up perfect etc. No problems at all. 94.95 retail, 70 dollars at Gander Mountain, 60ish shipped offline and doesn't have the quality of a 35 dollar buck from Wal-Mart. That was my complaint. I returned it to to Gander and they can deal with it. I'm going to drive up to NGK Friday and pick up either a para or a reg military and another delica. I love spyderco knives and they are my prefered choice but when you pay twice what a knife from walmart would cost I expect it to at least be on par with the fit & finish.
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Makes sense to me, I'm with you on that. I have a B&M store in town, I've never been there though. I'm usually checking out gun shops or camping outfitter stores. I've mainly ordered online, and have infact received a couple that were less than what I had expected. They went back to the store, and I ended up with a different model too (Spyderco).
 
ssblood said:
I'll be the first to admit it is nit picky but my logic is this. I can buy a Buck 110 at walmart for 34.95, the handles line up perfect etc. No problems at all. 94.95 retail, 70 dollars at Gander Mountain, 60ish shipped offline and doesn't have the quality of a 35 dollar buck from Wal-Mart. That was my complaint. I returned it to to Gander and they can deal with it. I'm going to drive up to NGK Friday and pick up either a para or a reg military and another delica. I love spyderco knives and they are my prefered choice but when you pay twice what a knife from walmart would cost I expect it to at least be on par with the fit & finish.
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Hey, no... Im with you. And one thing I noticed with my other Delica is that its a different construction. I dont fault you at all. Like I said, when I opened my box and felt that spine, I commented to myself right away. And yes, I too have thought about "fixing" mine but I haven't.

You make a good point. Perhaps its shame on me for not vocalizing the exact issue.

By the way, mine does line up perectly... Just the issue with the spine not quite "fitting" together.
 
I too am a bit picky, therefore I spend a few extra bucks on an american made spydy with perfect F and F. I consider the Delica a low end spydero. And you get about what you pay for.
 
trimcut123 said:
I too am a bit picky, therefore I spend a few extra bucks on an american made spydy with perfect F and F. I consider the Delica a low end spydero. And you get about what you pay for.
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I wouldn't call a Delica a cheap import knife. I think most of the problems begin with the FRN and the Backlock combination.

Since the handles are injection molded and not precision cut with lasers or water jets, there's always going to be that slight fit and finish issue.

I have an Endura Wave that has the problem and I can't say it bothers me too much because you can fix it with some sandpaper or just by trimming the backend
 
I'll also agree that the handle backend issue is a very easy fix. So easy in fact, it's silly that it's not part of the production process IMHO. Don't want anyone to take this the wrong way like I'm bashing spyderco... because I love their stuff. Did the persian pass around years ago, can still remember the quality of that knife. It was perfect.
 
ssblood said:
I'll also agree that the handle backend issue is a very easy fix. So easy in fact, it's silly that it's not part of the production process IMHO. Don't want anyone to take this the wrong way like I'm bashing spyderco... because I love their stuff. Did the persian pass around years ago, can still remember the quality of that knife. It was perfect.
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A bit of hand sanding with a fine grit would take care of the handle issue. I agree that should be taken care of before it leaves the factory.

Andy

PS - I should add; I bought an FRN Dragonfly for my mother last year, and the handle on that knife also had some rough edges which I trimmed off before giving her the knife. Would final hand finish add very much to the cost of these knives? Would it be a good idea for a final hand finish to be added to the production process?
 
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