Down to 3 choices...I think

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gordolindsay

Joined
Dec 29, 2010
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Hi, short time lurker, first time poster here.

I was on the lookout for an edc a while back and posted on one of my other forums that I was looking, and through a little research, I thought the mini-manix would be my perfect knife. Turns out someone had one, offered it to me for peanuts so I took it. I have had it on me for a little over a month now.

I didn't realize how huge it was from the pics!! It's a bit big to carry with me everywhere, so I'm looking for something a little narrower width wise, and a tiny bit shorter while closed while keeping it's skinny-ness. :thumbup:

I've narrowed it down to these three for price and size mostly:

Spyderco Delica 4 SS $59 - I'm not sure if it will be much narrower side to side with the hole opener, probably my only concern.

Benchmade Mini Grip $58- Gonna be too small? Does the handle feel cheap?

Benchmade Mini Presido Ultra $68- Could be just the right size but the blade steel is a step or so below the Mini Grip and the Delica. (Correct?)

What would really help is if someone could take some measurements or point me to where I can find some (looking for closed, from top of blade to bottom of handle, specifically).

Oh, and as you can see, my price range is the ~$65 area.

Thanks in advance!! ;)
 
I just purchased the Delica and the mini griptilian in the past weak. I like the Delica much more. For measurements you can go to spyderco.com and benchmade.com. But I can tell you now, The Spyderco is going to be longer and wider but it weighs less and I believe it is thinner.
 
Buck vantage pro? Its an s30v steel with g10 handles. You can get one for around 60$.
 
The minigrip and presidio will dominate the delica. The delica is not a competitor--maybe the Native S30V would be.

As per the steels between the minigrip and presidio, you'd be hard pressed to tell a difference.

I would recommend the Kershaw RAM over any of them, followed by those two benchmades.
 
Artfully Martial said:
The minigrip and presidio will dominate the delica. The delica is not a competitor--maybe the Native S30V would be.
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How so? :) When it comes to making 1 piece 2, delica doesnt have many set-backs IMO. Cant imagine why anyone would say it wouldnt compete, its certainly a cutter.
 
oh and gordolindsay, welcome to Bladeforums! All 3 knives you have in mind will consistently get the job done well. I would like to add, Id reco a frn delica over the SS version if you are looking for an ideal user. If not familiar with frn, many times the initial thought is that its cheap plastic but dont be fooled, its proven itself over the last 2 decades. Its lighter weight, feels better in the hand when using (IMO), looks better over time (IMO), and has all sorts of different options(colors, blade steels, grinds), oh and it costs a little bit less. Good luck with your choice.
 
I prefer the mini grip and grip to the delica and enduras. Thats said there both good knifes. The grips just feel more comfortable in the hand to me.
 
I would pick Mini-Grip. I do not lilke Delica in SS version. I absolutely support dericdesmond's advice - why to go for more weight and scratches! As for Mini Ultra - I guess that will be the same blade shape and the same extreme hollow grind as on the regular version - not to my liking.
 
dericdesmond said:
How so? :) When it comes to making 1 piece 2, delica doesnt have many set-backs IMO. Cant imagine why anyone would say it wouldnt compete, its certainly a cutter.
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The blade is great, but it's the rest of the knife that lets it down. It's not as robust or as comfortable as the minigrip, and the lockback isn't nearly as strong or reliable as the axis lock--and, most importantly, it's not nearly as convenient. The minigrip is the great divider between cheap beaters and "nice" knives--it's just solid, well put together and smooth.

I'm not hating on Spyderco either--Spyderco has some great options in the Minigrip price range, and they all seem so wildly superior to the Delica--like the Centofante at the same price or the Native S30V for a little more. The Native has much better ergonomics, better steel, and in my opinion, looks a lot better--and it's also the natural price competitor for the minigrip. I think it's a real competitor. I bought both (several minigrips and both the S30V and VG10 Natives) and I felt like the Minigrip was still the winner, but I can see people with other uses and preferences choosing the Natives.

When I play with a Delica, I just totally feel that I'm using a budget knife. But I can go from a Sebenza, from a Ti Tyrade, from a William Henry, and go straight to a minigrip and I don't feel like I'm using something I'd only buy because I couldn't afford something nicer.

The Delica will certainly get the job done--I don't hate it or anything--but I wouldn't buy it unless I saw it for $35 or less. Even then, I'd rather have a Storm, but I think it'd be reasonable there.

Rereading this I think I sound like I come off harsh. I really don't mean to. But I do feel strongly that there are better options for that price.
 
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I tried a mini-grip and I had to return it for a full size. The handle was simply too small for my tastes. I think the Delica is an awesome blade although $60 is waaaaay too much. I think you can find it for much less.
 
I'd go with the Delica. The thinner profile disappears into my pocket better than the mini grip. I have big hands and find the handle much more ergonomic as well.
 
trust me everytime you visit this forum your list will become longer not shorter. you will learn a lot from the nice folks here and end up checking out different brands and models :)
 
Jeez I would have to say that the Delica is great competition with the mini grip. I have both. And I love both.
 
Welcome to BladeForums!

+1 on the choice of the FRN Delica over the stainless one. Believe it or not, it's probably just as strong in terms of ultimate breaking limits as the stainless one. It's very comfy and thin in the pocket as well, and lighter. The recommendation for the Kershaw RAM is also one I would second, even though you didn't list it in your three picks. There are a lot of people who complain about the hollow plastic feel of the Griptillian. I understand where they're coming from, but time has proven it to be a good design. I don't know anything about the Presidio so I can't help you there.

You can probably pick up a used sample of either in the Exchange for a pretty good price anytime you look.
 
Thanks for all the replies everyone!

One other thought that I had was to try something other than spyderco and benchmade because I'm planning on getting the Benchmade 470 when it comes out in the spring as a type of gentlemans' folder or light work type of knife.

So Kershaw is looking promising, but which one I don't know. Is the RAM a big knife? It looks fairly butch from the pictures and measurements. I like the Leek design alot but that's not really a tough working knife.

So, again, thanks for all the help and any more suggestions in the Kershaw line or any other brand that would fit my requirements would be hugely appreciated.
 
The RAM is a mid-sized knife, comparable to the MiniGrip. In my opinion, it is the perfect EDC size. Plus it uses good materials (G10 and Sandvik 13C), a cutting-edge locking system and the best flipper ever made. Love the simple clip too. Really hard to go wrong with that knife.

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I have a Mini Grip and a Delica and prefer the Delica. For me, the Mini Grip doesn't feel as good in hand, or cut as well as the Delica (my Delica is an FFG variation). I still like the Mini Grip, but I haven't carried it in ages; I just have too many other knives that cut better and carry better. These, of course, are my opinions and yours may vary.
 
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