Delica successor?

K

kgriggs8

BANNED
Joined
Jan 28, 2002
Messages
1,634
I have always felt that the Delica was the hallmark of what Spydercos were all about. It was small but large enough to do anything. It was light but strong. It seemed the perfect balance between having a knife and carrying nothing. It is the knife that you can carry when you don't want to carry a "real" knife for lack of a better term.

I am not bashing the Delica because I love it but it is not what I would pick for any specific task. I did carry a D-3 for several years because while not a great knife for anything, it was a good knife for EVERYTHING. That is a hard thing to say about most knives. Most knives are good at a certain area of use but are poor at others due to size, weight, ect.

The Delica 3 seemed to fit into this sweet spot of low cost, lightweight, strong, good steel, small size and easy opening that few other knives seem to master. I can't put my finger on it but the D-4 seems to have lost something. I have sold all the D-4 I have owned and I am not planning buying anymore. They are great knives and the quality is there but the weight and blade profile just seems to have pushed it into another catagory. It is like it is trying to be a more robust knife than the D-3.

So what I have found is what I consider the new D-3 in terms of use. It is the Centofante 4 or 3 if you prefer. It is light yet has a nested liner. I find it a joy to carry in any kind of pants. I have put them to the test and they have not let me done. They are amazingly strong. The VG-10 holds an edge but is easy to sharpen and is tougher than S30v. The blade is thin and pointy like the old D-3s.

In general, I think it is the most Spyderco like knife being made. I know Sal has his own idea of what Spyderco means and so do others but the D-3 was what I always considered to be the flagship of the Spyderco line.
 
Yay from here, too. I got an OLD model off eBay to complement my old one that I still have.
The D3 ...is... Spyderco.
:)

"Fragile tip", my auntie's panties.
 
kgriggs8, I agree.

I do like the D4 but I like the D3 better. I didn't realize until after I used the D4 that I actually prefer pinned Spydies rather than screwed construction. They are just easier to maintain.

Even though people think the steel makes the handle more sturdy, I really have to wonder about this on the D4. The liner and also the FRN are so thin on the D4 I would bet that you could bend the handle without much trouble. No way you could do that with the solid FRN of the D3. I also like the tip of the D3 much better. I never had a problem with it breaking. I wish the D3's were not so hard to find. I would like to buy a couple of PE models.

The Salt is OK but it still has the non pointy tip that I don't like. :(
 
Hey bung, I don't like the screws either. I never had pins that worked loose, but the screws does. Sometime I have too much loctite, and the blade gets stuck, sometimes too little, and the screw works itself loose.
 
kgriggs8, I agree with you too.

There's nothing out there - at least that I can find - that has the light weight, strength, quality steel and size of the Delica 3.

The only knife I carry that's comparable in (light) weight to the Delica 3 is the Benchmade 530. But it's a much more wicked looking blade.
I got a Leek S30V in G10, came in today's mail. Great knife, but somewhat thicker than the Delica 3. Not as comfortable a carry, IMO. Also the Leek is a touch heavier.
 
I prefer the Delica 4 over the 3.

That said, I think if you want a less expensive alternative to the D4 you need to look at the Byrd line.
 
Well, as soon as Spyderco makes a FULLY serrated Centofante 3 or 4 I will most certainly try them out.

Until then it will be my trusty Delica 3/SE;) :thumbup:
 
A fully SE Cent 3 would make a heck of a nice knife! I think the Cent 4 needs to stay in PE though. I think the Cent 3-4 are everything the D-3 was but now a little better. They seem to carry on with the D-3 tradition more than the D-4 to my mind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top