K390 Delica

L

LostCause

Joined
Apr 1, 2022
Messages
840
Apologies in advance because of long post.

So I just received the knife. It's still in package. I'm going to work now (noon shift) and plan to unbox it tommorrow after work (morning shift). And will write quick review tommorrow.

So I had K390 Endura that I ended up selling.
I liked the spydie hole, I liked the edge retention, I liked the sliciness, I liked the action... But I didn't like that it was so long and so thin. I'd always be concerned it'll snap on me. Having folder of that size yet so thin was always making me a bit anxious. Other issue was uphill battle vs corrosion with it during summer (or having something oily in pocket instead).

Currently I have spear point Recon1 that is my most carried knife and EDC I use for pretty much everything.
Tough, tanky, stainless and has good edge retention. But, it's kinda big for some occasions. Also, I used to have smaller folder (Medium Vaquero Voyager) that I gifted to someone as it was bit clunky for it's size and also looked kinda ridiculous (especially for said occasions).

So I had just 1 folder, and decided I could use a smaller folding knife too.

Decided to go with Delica as it's lightweight, small and reliable. And in VG-10 vs K390 - I decided to go with K390 with price difference being just 40€. And ironically, it's the same price as S30V mini Bugout.

Also looked at CTS XHP Chaparral, CTS BD1 Para 3 and Dragonfly in S30V. But those models left me confused because of these finger choils on the handle. My fingers would be either too close or too far from the edge. I'd literally get confused each time I open the knife.

What are your opinions?
 
Sounds like you have had some good choices but can't settle down to just one or two knives.

The Delica is a good one and so is the DragonFly. You are not going to find the perfect fit and steel choice is all over the place.

Don't get hung up on steel. Just pick one and use it for a while and see how it works out.
 
I daily carry one of two model folders. Dragonfly in ZDP-189 or Delica in ZDP-189 (or K390). The delicas are both wearing custom scales from our own BOOMER52. Considering it is a folding knife, slim/slicey is more important than ability to pry open a safe, to me.
 
Whitedog said:
Sounds like you have had some good choices but can't settle down to just one or two knives.

The Delica is a good one and so is the DragonFly. You are not going to find the perfect fit and steel choice is all over the place.

Don't get hung up on steel. Just pick one and use it for a while and see how it works out.
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I have Recon1 in my pocket even now. I just needed smaller folder for more special occasions, so in the end I went with K390 Delica.

Other days I use either 1095 Izula or CRKT Minimalist spear point (8Cr13MoV) when I know I'll get wet.
 
navman said:
I daily carry one of two model folders. Dragonfly in ZDP-189 or Delica in ZDP-189 (or K390). The delicas are both wearing custom scales from our own BOOMER52. Considering it is a folding knife, slim/slicey is more important than ability to pry open a safe, to me.
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Although I don't carry them everyday, I also carry a ZDP Dragonfly and K390 Delica Wharnie from time to time :D
 
I have a bunch of Knives. Folders and fixed.

My Endura gets a lot pocket time and trash duty every week. No way is it going to break.

Rich K.
 
Oh, and to clarify on the Edura issue. I carried an Endura in VG-10 on my kit in Iraq, used it to do alot of things that would be considered abuse. Other than some loosening of the pivot, still rock solid to this day.
 
K390 quickly became one of my favorite steels. Excellent edge retention, very easy to sharpen. Enjoy! I ended up going with the Endela (sp?). Nice size in between the Delica and Endura.
 
rlewpolar said:
If you like the Recon 1, how about the Mini Recon 1? I found it to be the perfect size for EDC

www.coldsteel.com

MINI RECON 1 SPEAR PT IN 10A STONE WASH

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I tried it out in the past so I know it's a good knife and I liked it, but it just isn't it. I'm not buying smaller knife for the sake of having smaller knife.
I want something slicier and something that looks nice, for more formal occasions. K390 with patina and blue handle is pretty much something like that.

I'd honestly prefer if mini Recon1 had black screws and pocket clip like regular one.
It is like my regular Recon1, just it's still not Recon1. If you understand what I want to say. Different feel, different handle material, different blade steel and different action.
It is like smaller Recon1, but worse in every aspect. Cheaper feel, shiny clip, gritty action, uneven grinds and downgraded steel.

Even if it still had handle it has, just with better action like regular Recon1 and grinds as symmetrical as the regular one - I'd get it in a heartbeat, even if price is higher.
- and if it was in S35VN too, then I'd pay for it as much as K390 Delica costs.
 
P2P said:
I love the chaparral, if it had a different clip, it would be perfect for me. Super slicey.
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The clip is one of my favorite things about it! I only have a couple of knives with wire clips, but I really like them. Always interesting to see the breadth of opinions on knives.

To OP: If you decide you don't like that Delica and end up wanting to sell it, let me know. I've been wanting one of the K390 knives, and would have already gotten the Delica if it had that forward choil you don't seem to like. Still on my short list but I just haven't pulled the trigger yet.
 
mercutio99x said:
To OP: If you decide you don't like that Delica and end up wanting to sell it, let me know. I've been wanting one of the K390 knives, and would have already gotten the Delica if it had that forward choil you don't seem to like. Still on my short list but I just haven't pulled the trigger yet.
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I ended up unpacking it before I planned. I love the thing already.
K390 is good stuff, so you should get one.

Also, that choil is something I just don't understand, and possibly never will. It's good for carving, but for everything else it's just awkward...
 
LostCause said:
I ended up unpacking it before I planned. I love the thing already.
K390 is good stuff, so you should get one.

Also, that choil is something I just don't understand, and possibly never will. It's good for carving, but for everything else it's just awkward...
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Glad you're liking it! I'll probably get one at some point, but I'm trying to space out my purchases so I don't go to crazy with things. I already own so many knives I've barely used but there's always something shiny and new around the corner.

I like the choil and being right up on the blade, it makes me feel like I have more control. Some of my knives I feel like I'm so far back from the blade. Probably just personal style/preference/use cases. The diversity of the community is interesting to me - like that pet peeves thread and like 1/3 of them were pet peeves of mine, 1/3 i was indifferent about, and 1/3 I strongly disagreed with. In the knife world, there's something out there for everyone though
 
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