Delica or Native?

Joined
Feb 3, 2003
Messages
16
Lookin for a midsize folder. The smaller close length of the Native is attractive, but is it worth the extra money? Honestly I hear more people reccomend the Delica. Please post which you prefer and why. The knife will be plain edge, with a stainless handle (most likely).

Please consider the -size -materials -value -lock -ease of closing with one hand, and how useful it is in daily tasks as well as a mild hiking knife. Oh yes, also consider how low the knife rides in the front pocket when clipped.

Thanks,

Matt
 
First let me get this auto-response out of the way:

"do not go to the spyderco zealots for counsel, for they will say buy this AND that."

I have both (only FRN so keep that in mind). I rotate both in EDC.

Let me rank them IMHO by values:

Looks: NATIVE (I just like it darnit)
Steel: DELICA (VG-10 for me is easier to sharpen than CPM440V)
Size: NATIVE (feels bigger)
Price: DELICA (slightly cheaper)
Pointy-ness: DELICA (much more pointy)
Better feel in hand: NATIVE
Ease of opening/closing: NATIVE (mine is FAST and the "kick" is bigger giving me peace of mind for "gravity-bounce closing")
Ride: EVEN (they both ride fine in the pocket, although I will say you can see some "blade" on the native peeking out)

So what do I carry more: Native. The aesthetics push me over the top.

Good luck, and you really cannot go wrong with either blade. They are both top notch.
 
I don't own a delica, but I own a native and a ladybug, and I would take the native over a larger ladybug any day. I love the handle texture on the native(spyderwebs are much cooler than checker-board squares :)) and I absolutely love the CPM440v. Its really easy to touch it up on a sharpmaker, just don't let it get too dull then it won't be a pain to sharpen it.

Also, VG-10 shows fingerprints very badly(at least it does on my VG-10 Calypso Jr.) while the CPM440V has a really nice lustre to it which I love and it doesn't show fingerprints at all.

The native has great ergonomics too, I really like the cutouts in the handle, it makes it very comfortable to hold in my medium-sized hands.

Both knives are great, I just prefer CPM440v for reasons of looks, and I think the native is more comfortable to hold and use than my calypso or ladybug.
 
Native, in the new S30V steel. It's worth waiting a bit or looking around to find an S30V model. The knife is great, but the 440V can be tough to sharpen.

Johnny
 
Edited to say:

Get the stainless Delica. Most of us cringe at the idea of unserrated AUS-6, but most of us lack firsthand experience with its use (being a steel snob means never having to say you're sorry). If you limit yourself to whittling one sequoia a day, the performance issues should be meaningless.
 
Just FYI mwgbb11, if you are going with the SS handle, you are limited to AUS-6 on the Delica and AUS-10 on the Native. Still both very good steels, just not the "wonder steels" VG-10 and S30V are. This is done to keep the price relatively the same as the FRN counterparts and the SS and usually not used quite as hard. I'm sure someone else here can shed more light on the AUS6/10 differences.

As to a preference between the Delica and the Native, I prefer the Delica, but I haven't had much of a chance to handle a Native.
 
Notice that the original poster said he wants a SS-handled model. That changes the equation quite a bit.

In a SS Spydie, I'd go with the Native. It's more expensive, but it has a _much_ better steel (Spyderco's AUS-6 is nothing to sneeze at, mind), and the finger choil eliminates any worries about grip.

Also, the SS Native has the ambidextrous "barrel screw" clip. I don't know if the SS Delica is Ambi.
 
The clip on my SS Delica (fairly new with the Boye Dent) is 3 screw attachment and not ambidexterous.

I would also recommend the Native - better blade steel, sturdier blade shape, more ergonomic handle shape, reversable clip.
 
I really like the blade of the Delica better than the Native. I think that the new flat ground blade out cuts the Native and the VG-10 remains easier to obtain a super sharp edge. The Native does fill the hand better but IMO, doesn't ride as nicely as the Delica because of the clip placement and thicker scales. Both are GREAT knives, but I carry the Delica more.
Matt

Forgot to add that the Delica is also legal to carry in <3in areas where the Native with it's 3.2 in blade isn't :(
 
I have Delica's. One FRN, and one SS. I have never liked the looks of the Native. It's just not for me. I think I'm the only person in the world who doesn't like the Native. :) Either one will be an excellent choice. Good luck deciding between the two.



Blades
 
I have to vote for the Delica. I prefer the style and grind of its blade to that of the Native, and the handle of the Native really is just not a good fit for me at all.

The AUS-6 is not bad steel overall, and is much easier to sharpen than some of the wondersteels.
 
You know, your question is quite a challenge to me. I have both models and boy do I love them! :) First, the Native is slightly bulkier and has a thicker blade than Delica. Both fit well in your hand, though I'd say that the Delica is more suitable if you have smaller hands, while the Native works great for slightly bigger hands.
Also, given the fact that the Delica has a thinner, more pointy blade, it makes it suitable for rather delicate cutting chores, while the Native, with its broad, thicker blade takes more abuse. (not that both models won't cope with delicate cutting or abuse, you'll be amazed).
The Native can be carried tip up, left or right, while the Delica can be carried tip up or down, but only right. Note that we are talking SS Delica, the FRN model is just like the Native (tip up, left or right).
Speaking of SS, I aggree that the Native's AUS-10 is a better steel. Delica's AUS-6 is also OK, great rust resistance and easy to sharpen.

But I'll try to convince you to try a FRN model. Though it may not seem so eye appealing like the SS models (but they look great anyway, believe me, I was also into SS and now I pick FRN without looking back), the featherweight and by far better steel(s) are IMO a great compensation.

The Native also was made with G-10 handles if you are looking for an alternative, and the Delica will come in CF scales soon. ;)

Good luck and I hope you'll be satisfied by the performance of your new knife, whitchever it will be.
 
The steel is really not the deciding factor for me. I, unlike most of you it seems, don't have a daily and constant use for knives. I carry them because I love them and for odds and ends that need to be done, but I don't open boxes or whittle :D.

Just a couple more questions for some things that are hard to answer just by looking at the specs. Is the SS delica much slimmer than the native? The native is heavier and shorter as well, so I'm guessing its marginally thicker.

The more I think about it...the cheaper FRN handle Delica with the VG-10 is also pretty appealing. The Zytel handle native on www.1sks.com says it comes with AUS-10 or GIN1, so the S30V models haven't come out yet? Whats the price range on one of those? I am really trying to keep the knife cost down this go-round.
 
You know, I just got my SS Native today. I already had a SS Delica. I can tell you that the handles are basically the same width. The Profile on the Native looks kind of like my Lum Chinese, actually. I say that if you don't use a knife hard, all day long, and you don't try to pry with it, go with the delica. I like the native, but I'm intending to use it in order to give my Massad a break every now and then. I like the SS handles because they are slim, and I don't really give a crap if they get all scratched up. The Delica seems to be easier to disengage with one hand, though the Native will do it, and the hole on the Delica is also fully exposed, as opposed to the partially hidden hole on the Native. If you got the FRN Delica, not only would you get a great steel (VG-10), but also the great ergos of the Delica (which rides lower in the pocket by the by).
In short, I like the Native, but my EDC will still be my Delica. If and when I use my SS Delica up, I'm gonna buy another one (and retire my first)! Happy knifing!

Sincerely,
Anthony

Edited to say that the S30V natives are out, though only a few dealers seem to have them. There was a thread about this a couple of days ago, I think.
 
Delica. Trust me on this one. It just "feels right" in my hand. I have 3 Delicas, and next to my (3) Police models, the Delica is my favorite folder, and is one of my "EDC's".
 
Ok, the delica it is.

Nowwwww...I thought I wanted the stainless handle, but now I'm not so sure. It sure is puuurty, but will I really appreciate the lighter weight and the better steel of the FRN? I have also noticed that most knives with SS handles feel a little better in my hand, quality wise. Except for G10 of course, that feels oh so nice as well. :D

Don't think I want to spend the $90 on the CF version when it comes out. Although I am sure they will be nice also.
 
I am sure you'll be pleased of the FRN Delica. You may even carry it attached to your pyjamas or underwear if you like and you won't even feel it's there. ;)

Just in case you wonder about carying a Delica attached to your pyjamas, some of us do (me included).
 
Get them both and give them a try. Pick the one you really like to use and give the other away as a gift. Myself I would keep them both and rotate my EDC. I rarely carry the same knives for more that a week or two anyway. This week it is a Meerkat with a s blade. last week it was my S30V Native PE. Next week . . . Endura, Dyad, Merlin, etc...??? Who can tell :D

Some day I may settle down . . . maybe ;) \
 
I too like the Delica. It is a good everyday, but heck, there is not many I don't like! paul
 
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