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First Delica Just Arrived!

J

John_0917

Joined
Apr 15, 2014
Messages
3,384
I'm not really new to Spyderco, I have a handful of them (Matriarch wave, Resilience, Tasman, Autonomy on order) but never have had one of the most popular models, the Delica. I was looking for a smaller (for me) EDC type knife for carry in the office, general light utility, and for use when carrying one of my larger knives is either inappropriate or impractical. I'm an attorney in a small firm (of which I'm a partner so HR rules aren't an issue, I carry my CCW to the office daily) who rarely goes to court (once a month maybe, no knives then anyway obviously) and usually dress in business casual (khakis, jeans sometimes) attire so the smaller size and light weight of the Delica appealed to me along with the color options, which I chose in brown. I know that brown is intended to be "tactical" or something along those lines to many people, but I saw the appeal as blending in better with the colors of pants I typically wear.

Knife arrived today, and I'm very impressed. I went with the FFG version and all I can say is that it reminds me of a box cutter on growth hormones! That or possibly a factory made prison shank...The FFG came literally razor sharp, I am very glad that I went with the FFG over the sabre grind version. All in all, it seems to be right on for what I was looking for.

One question...do they tend to loosen up (the pivot) and become more easily "flickable" or should I work on the pivot screw?
 
John_0917 said:
I'm not really new to Spyderco, I have a handful of them (Matriarch wave, Resilience, Tasman, Autonomy on order) but never have had one of the most popular models, the Delica. I was looking for a smaller (for me) EDC type knife for carry in the office, general light utility, and for use when carrying one of my larger knives is either inappropriate or impractical. I'm an attorney in a small firm (of which I'm a partner so HR rules aren't an issue, I carry my CCW to the office daily) who rarely goes to court (once a month maybe, no knives then anyway obviously) and usually dress in business casual (khakis, jeans sometimes) attire so the smaller size and light weight of the Delica appealed to me along with the color options, which I chose in brown. I know that brown is intended to be "tactical" or something along those lines to many people, but I saw the appeal as blending in better with the colors of pants I typically wear.

Knife arrived today, and I'm very impressed. I went with the FFG version and all I can say is that it reminds me of a box cutter on growth hormones! That or possibly a factory made prison shank...The FFG came literally razor sharp, I am very glad that I went with the FFG over the sabre grind version. All in all, it seems to be right on for what I was looking for.

One question...do they tend to loosen up (the pivot) and become more easily "flickable" or should I work on the pivot screw?
Click to expand...

Back lock.
The blade on a back lock will always have spring pressure that hinders its flick-ability.
Not much that can be done, especially on a small light blade like the Delica.
But with some break-in, proper lubrication, and practice they sometimes loosen up enough to be flicked.

To check the pivot I depress the lock all the way and let the blade swing. If it's adjusted correctly it should drop, maybe with a bit of friction.
That's about the best you can expect from this style knife, the rest is technique. I've got quite a few Spyderco back locks that can flick and some that can't.
 
The Delica 4 models I've bought recently came pretty tight but they did loosen up with use. Delicas are not really tactical (in my opinion) and they're not ever gonna be like a flipper style knife.

You can adjust the pivot with a Torx wrench. It's one of those trial and error things--get it too loose and the blade is de-centered and wobbly, too tight and you can hardly get it open. I would just open and close it a few hundred times and see how that works for you.
 
Luv the Delicas. I'm well on my way to getting at least one of each type the Delica comes in. ;)


It won't take long before it will 'break in' and you can open it one-handed very easily.


Not really a flicker but it can be done with lots of practice. (I can't do it.)

Here's the YT vid - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFQmFzuhzI8
At 2:07 he flicks open a Delica.
 
They do loosen up! At least on my 3 so you can imagine how long I had that one, or maybe it was just because that one was pinned? For lightweight edc, easy cleanup, they are just really darn hard to beat. The 4 that I had but just gave away not so much.

PS the pinned Goddard that barman gifted to me kinda flicks open too!
 
Congrats on your new knife. The Delica was my first real knife way back in the day. It's clip was molded right in the handle back then. It's made me the crazy knife guy i am today. Lol. Enjoy that baby
 
I too got my first Spyderco today, also a Delica 4 FFG FRN in grey. It was a little tight but I can flick it open very easily. I'm a mechanic, so my hands are pretty strong and beat up. My friend who works in the office couldn't flick it open though, he said it was too stiff. He said the Spyder hole edge was too sharp also. He did like how it fit his hand though, so much so that he went online and ordered a black Delica for himself.

Have you tried doing the Spyder Drop (I can't remember if that's the right term or not), you hold the knife tip up with your thumb and first knuckle on your pointer finger in the Spyder Hole and snap it downward. Mine takes a little extra snap but it isn't too hard. I also have no problem opening it old school just pushing it with my thumb.

Brown is my next favorite color. Grey and brown don't seem to show dirt and road grime as bad as the lighter colors like blue or green. I'll be getting a Delica and Endura next in Brown. That is if I don't get a Stretch or Manix 2 first. As I said this is my first Spyderco, I've never had a new knife that is this sharp from the box. If the lower end knives from Spyderco are this good I can't wait to get some of the medium cost stuff like the Para Military 2, Millitary, and Manix 2!
 
I love my Delicas. I like them better than other Spydies that I own, except for the Endura, which I like about the same. You made a great choice. They are not flicking knives. They are for more serious and thoughtful use. They will loosen up and get smoother the more you use them. It is like breaking in a new pair of shoes. They get better with age.
 
I can use my thumb to flick it open quickly but I rarely do. I think the only situation I would ever encounter that would require that quick of deployment would be a self defense situation--hope I never get into one of those, especially with a knife. I EDC my PM2 for that very reason, but my Delica is my weekend going out pocket knife cause I deep pocket carry it and it's totally unobtrusive! I love my Delica...congrats you will enjoy it!
 
Spyderco is a very weird brand. I own more expensive Spydercos as that's what you ought to do right if you like a brand. You buy their more expensive stuff? But even with that said, it's always their lower priced models UKPK, Delica, Endura, Cara Cara 2 that I end up just saying hell, I just plain like these models better even though the materials aren't better etc...etc...
 
I too received my first Delica this week also. it's was a toss up between a blue or orange handled version, I got the blue one. It is a little stiff to open, but I prefer that over it being too loose. I probably will pick up an orange one also, It's a great size for EDC.
 
IMO, it won't really 'loosen up,' so to speak. I think that as you use it, you'll develop the strength to open/close it more easily. It's a muscle-memory thing.

Here's mine.
[video=youtube;IpOQ5x_uHLs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpOQ5x_uHLs&spfreload=10[/video]
 
The Delica is one of those knives that no matter how many times you hang it up in favor of carrying a SAK, you always come back to it. I prefer the sabre grind over the FFG if only because it's a thicker and stouter blade, especially at the tip.
 
A delica ffg is my every day work knife.it does everything I need it to do and is very light.have gone through 6 or so over the years
 
Alnamvet68 said:
The Delica is one of those knives that no matter how many times you hang it up in favor of carrying a SAK, you always come back to it. I prefer the sabre grind over the FFG if only because it's a thicker and stouter blade, especially at the tip.
Click to expand...
Agreed! I think the FFG gets talked up a lot for its slicing ability. But... If you are going through a thick medium like cardboard the FFG hangs up in it vs the sabre grind which splays out the cardboard while cutting making it easier to get through!
 
After carrying and using it a few days I have definitely changed my opinions a bit, the knife is very easy and light to carry but is really just too small. Sure, it's fine for opening letters and threads and that kind of thing, but I find it too small for things like cutting a steak etc. I will probably keep it, but I ordered a Manix 2 LW today that I hope will be more what I am looking for as far as size and won't be a pain in the butt to open quickly.

Also, not impressed with the VG10 edge retention, I cut up about a half dozen medium size cardboard boxes the other day and it went from razor sharp (factory) to unable to slice legal pad paper. I realize I am a bit spoiled by the S30V Blur and D2 Griptillians I have been carrying lately but still I was disappointed.
 
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