How good is the Socom delta?

T

Twindog

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I recently purchased a used Microtech DOC and was disappointed in it. The flipper is hard to work -- anything but smooth. The nightmare grind is a nightmare to cut anything with. It carries a full-tang blade thickness of 16 hundredths out to within 3/4ers of an inch of the tip. The wide and varying thickness and angle grinds can cause the knife to go off line quickly, especially when cutting hard material.

And all the hardware is proprietary, making it impossible to take apart to polish and clean the flipper washers or to make any other repairs.

On the other hand, I really like the size, solid construction and general fit and finish.

I sent my DOC off to have the blade converted to a slicer grind, but I don't know if that will be enough.

I was wondering about the Socom Delta, which is much like the subframe DOC, but without the balky flipper. It has a big 4 inch blade, but not the funky, shovel shaped blade of the DOC. And it has a decent point, which I like for detail work.

I'm wondering whether the Socom will handle like a knife that costs that much should, and whether the blade grind is actually functional as a slicer.
 
As an overall medium use edc the Delta is a good solid knife. I have do not own one, but have handled one plus I do own a Socom Elite and the Delta is very similar blade wise. It works as a slicer too, but is no kitchen knife. The point is fine and would be good for detail work. Definitely a well built quality knife, but I would not go beating on it like some of the overbuilt folders.
 
Thanks, Addicted. Do you have the tanto blade? The Socoms are getting hard to find, and the only one I've found with the steel I am looking for -- CPM D2 or Elmax -- is a tanto, which I normally don't like.
 
There are some reviews on YouTube about the cutting power of the SOCOM. The clip point is super thin behind the primary adge which makes in an amazing slicer.
 
I have the g10 delta, it carries very well for a big blade, & is very light.i hate tanto blades,mine is the false edge long clip type blade. cuts very well,too. very grippy handles,too bad it wasnt peel ply carbon fiber, that would really be nice.
 
I wasn't impressed with the G10 delta version, the first one I bought went back to MT right out of the box, the lock would fail under moderate spine pressure (not an impact) and the pivot was very gritty. I sent them $ and waited 7 weeks and what was returned was equally unimpressive. I personally think the steel lock inserts are a poor idea and are more likely to slip than a Ti/Steel interface. Ti might wear faster but it's a better friction fit. I milled a bit off the steel lock bar insert and it now locks up secure, the pivot however is still not very smooth.

The other thing I don't like is on both of mine you can pretty easily push the lock bar to almost 100%, when a strong opening results in about 40%. I believe this is because the thin G10 handle the lock bar is attached to is flexing, in fact you can see it flex when you push the lock bar over. I've seen this in other G10 only handles with lock bars attached to them like the 0777. While not unsafe the more lockbar flex you have the more likely the lock is to fail or slip.

Also this is just me, and it's their design choice but I really dislike the proprietary fasteners. You can't make a clip tension adjustment without spending $75 for their cute little tool.

That out of the way I've always really liked the design of the Socom's, you get a ergonomic handle profile and a lot of blade length for the handle, it carries like a much smaller knife. However, I'd never buy another one sight unseen and I hope I never have to use their customer service again.
 
Sounds like a crap shoot with poor customer service to bail me out if I get bad luck. My DOC lock up is is as solid as any knife I've ever had, but the pivot, while not exactly gritty, is stiff and noisy. Other than the pivot and the blade grind, it's an incredible knife; so I was hoping that the Socom might get me the rest of the way.
 
Have you considered a Strider SMF flat grind with lego G-10. Strider and Mirotech did a collaboration knife and it looks sweet. I don't have Mircotech, I just have Strider. I haven't had any issues with Strider so I can't say if their service is good or not.
 
Lots of people are happy with them, I'm probably just too picky, and their customer service is not well regarded though it's supposed to have improved as of late. I prefer the old style original socom and elite liner lock design having compared to the lockbar bolted to a G10 scale design. Honestly these days it seems paying a bit more for being able to inspect one in person before purchasing is getting more and more worth the extra money.
 
I had a Socom Delta but I sold it because it couldn't compete with my Spyderco Military(s)

If you've never owned a Military perhaps consider it? 4" blade, pointy tip, cuts great, slim in pocket, cult following...
 
Personally I like the Elite over the Delta, which is weird because on paper the Delta is everything the Elite should have been. According to my tastes anyways. Tip up, non aluminum handles, etc. But in hand the Elite wins for me. That isn't to say that the Delta isn't a fine knife, it is. But having owned both I would take the Elite over the Delta every time.

As for MT's CS, I've only needed to contact them once and they took care of me with no problems.
 
From the comments here, I expanded the search to include the Socom Elite. The best, in my opinion, would be the full 4-inch blade, plain edge, in some powder steel, such as CPM D2 or S35VN. Those seem to be long gone.

I do have a Spyderco Military in CPM M4. That's probably going to do it for the slicer in my rotation.

Microtech has a lot of interesting concepts, but goes for too many gimmicks. And the quality, while overall very good, can occasionally be poor, a shortcoming compounded by what seems to be less than stellar customer service.

Currently, I've been EDCing an original Manix in S30V, a rough-and-tough blade with geometry that just absolutely blows the DOC out of the water. I'm starting to believe that the Military blade geometry will do the same in comparison to the Socom.

I really want to like Microtech, but I'm losing that loving feeling.
 
I ordered a socom elite and returned it because the blade grind wasn't what it was specified as. Then I saw a delta on that website, and I couldn't resist. The delta is my first "high end" knife, and i'm in love. I've had it for a few weeks, so I'm still getting used to it.It has aluminum handles and a ATS-34 blade. It is super sharp, at least a lot sharper than my other knives have been(like I said, first high end knife. I previously EDC'd a Kershaw Blur). I have no problems at all with lockup, there is absolutely NO blade play. When I first got it out of the box, it was a little rough to open and was a pain in the a$$ to close. However, after playing with it for a week just constantly opening and closing it, it is a incredibly smooth knife, both to open and close. Easily close one handed, and if you hit the thumb stud just right, it opens up without any wrist flick. Tip up carry is nice, and the ergonomics are very comfortable(more comfortable than the elite). Just a warning, it carries higher than any other knife i've had. A good 1/2 inch is sticking out of my pocket. The jimping on it isn't great, but it's useable. There are only two minor things that I do not like.One is that it has those funky screws. You have to buy Microtechs tool in order to open it up and clean it, or send it back to them. I bought the Delta with the intentions of taking it on deployments with me, but I think i'm going to buy a different knife when that time comes, just so that I can take it apart if need be. The other is that the "lanyard hole" is just about useless. There is no way you're getting some para-cord through that tiny thing. I really wish they had thought that through abit more. Anyways, I hope this helps in your decision. So far I really enjoy this knife.
 
I went and snapped you a few pictures. Again, hope this helps :)

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