Mini-Griptilian vs. Delica

I thought the correct answer was always Both!

I do have both.

My Delica is a standard blue with VG10 blade. I dyed it a darker blue with RIT dye, and added an aftermarket deep carry clip. IIRC, the price of the delica was about ~$70, which was cheaper than the mini-grip. If you count the price of the deep carry clip (~$24), the price is more in line with the mini-grip.

The Mini-Grip I got from the custom shop. I chose the sheepsfoot blade since I really don't like thumbstuds. It has the 154cm steel and frn handles, but still cost over $100. Benchmade offers a deep carry clip at no additional cost, which is nice.

Both are great knives, and more than I need as far as steels go. Both came hair-shaving sharp from the get go, and have no issues with anything I've needed to cut.

They are both light, though I think the delica is a bit lighter, and easier to carry. But the difference isn't really all that noticeable to me.

Axis lock is cool, and supposed to be stronger, but the backlock feels stronger to me. In my real world situation, I don't see that much of a difference. The axis lock is a little easier to use.

I'm glad I have both. Here's a couple of pics:

x26XXo8l.jpg


5lAZ6h0l.jpg


8WjpdBgl.jpg
 
F308gt4 said:
I thought the correct answer was always Both!

I do have both.

My Delica is a standard blue with VG10 blade. I dyed it a darker blue with RIT dye, and added an aftermarket deep carry clip. IIRC, the price of the delica was about ~$70, which was cheaper than the mini-grip. If you count the price of the deep carry clip (~$24), the price is more in line with the mini-grip.

The Mini-Grip I got from the custom shop. I chose the sheepsfoot blade since I really don't like thumbstuds. It has the 154cm steel and frn handles, but still cost over $100. Benchmade offers a deep carry clip at no additional cost, which is nice.

Both are great knives, and more than I need as far as steels go. Both came hair-shaving sharp from the get go, and have no issues with anything I've needed to cut.

They are both light, though I think the delica is a bit lighter, and easier to carry. But the difference isn't really all that noticeable to me.

Axis lock is cool, and supposed to be stronger, but the backlock feels stronger to me. In my real world situation, I don't see that much of a difference. The axis lock is a little easier to use.

I'm glad I have both. Here's a couple of pics:

x26XXo8l.jpg


5lAZ6h0l.jpg


8WjpdBgl.jpg
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Great looking Delica! Love that darker blue and the deep carry clip is fantastic.

I’m in the Delica camp to answer the OP. For all the reasons already stated. Back locks are also my preferred lock.
 
I own and like both. I prefer the grip for two reasons. The thicker scales are more comfortable, and I am not a fan of the back lock on the delica. Different strokes and what not...
 
I favor knives in that size range and have a Mini Grip and a Delica 4. I like them both, and which I like better would probably depend on what day I was asked. Some of my other favorites are the Cold Steel Mini Recon(unfortunately discontinued), Kershaw RAM(also discontinued), Boker Patriot, and my absolute favorite the Spyderco Native 5 LW.

If you're interested in the Delica, my advice would be to at least take a look at the Native 5 LW.
 
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ScooterG said:
I'm a Spyderco fan-boy and I prefer the Mini-Grip. I prefer the handle and do not care for the flex (handle/blade) in the Delica.
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well with those 2 you posted it would be impossible for anyone to choose one over the other. One has a polished edge and the other the blade treatment..

I want both rather than having to decide. Both are great knives for the price point and everybody should have both at least once in their life.

You picture just made this thread even harder. Beautiful pic and knives.
 
I don’t know where you guys are buying your axis lock knives that have no vertical play. I have owned several and tested dozens in store that all had play. Maybe I’m just being nit picky in the amount of play I find acceptable.

Back on topic:
The steel difference is negligible if it even exists. Most real world testing I have done or heard about puts 154cm on par with VG-10. Handle material on the Grip feels cheap to me. The liners in my Delica make it feel very solid. The FFG blade is an extremely good slicer. I appreciate the backlock and I tend to think axis lock fans enjoy it more for the fiddle-factor. At the end of the day, you’re using this as a small EDC blade. Both locks are more than enough for any task you will throw at them. At the end of the day the only difference will be personal preference. It’s worth it to have one of each anyhow.
 
Murdamook said:
I don’t know where you guys are buying your axis lock knives that have no vertical play. I have owned several and tested dozens in store that all had play. Maybe I’m just being nit picky in the amount of play I find acceptable.

Back on topic:
The steel difference is negligible if it even exists. Most real world testing I have done or heard about puts 154cm on par with VG-10. Handle material on the Grip feels cheap to me. The liners in my Delica make it feel very solid. The FFG blade is an extremely good slicer. I appreciate the backlock and I tend to think axis lock fans enjoy it more for the fiddle-factor. At the end of the day, you’re using this as a small EDC blade. Both locks are more than enough for any task you will throw at them. At the end of the day the only difference will be personal preference. It’s worth it to have one of each anyhow.
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That was fun to read. Thanks for sharing.

It is fun to read about 2 knives that are so well accepeted in the knife/EDC community. They are both great EDC knives. But still these kinds of threads are fun to read everyones opinions.
 
I have fairly large hands so I went from the too small handle of the Mini Grip to the Delica and never looked back. Another issue is that the Delica is a far better cutter/slicer than the MG because of the blade grind. The locks are both equally strong so that is a non-issue.
 
I own some of both, and both are good knives BUT, I own way more Delicas, and I much prefer the Delica 4 over the Grip, for many reasons.

Jim
 
Murdamook said:
I don’t know where you guys are buying your axis lock knives that have no vertical play. I have owned several and tested dozens in store that all had play. Maybe I’m just being nit picky in the amount of play I find acceptable.

Back on topic:
The steel difference is negligible if it even exists. Most real world testing I have done or heard about puts 154cm on par with VG-10. Handle material on the Grip feels cheap to me. The liners in my Delica make it feel very solid. The FFG blade is an extremely good slicer. I appreciate the backlock and I tend to think axis lock fans enjoy it more for the fiddle-factor. At the end of the day, you’re using this as a small EDC blade. Both locks are more than enough for any task you will throw at them. At the end of the day the only difference will be personal preference. It’s worth it to have one of each anyhow.
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I know Griptilians especially are known to have slight side to side play(horizontal), but I've never even read that they are known to have vertical play. None of mine had any that's for sure.

If I remember right back locks are actually prone to up and down(vertical) play. I've had a few back locks with it, not any Delicas though.
 
I have yet to have any problems with the axis locks (vertical or horizontal play). My Delica had bladeplay from day one.
 
I liked both for their ability to slice, but I have the hollow ground mini which is a little thinner behind the edge. I like the way the mini feels in hand and and pocket better. Interestingly, I like to just carry the delica around in folded in my hand sometimes when I was bored, like a worry stone.

I no longer own a delica, just not my cup of joe after a few months of carrying it. I do have a customized native 5 with micarta scales which competes with the mini for my favorite EDC folder.
 
Why are people who complain about the delica scales OK with the ones on the mini-grip? Is it just based on looks? If anything I thought the mini-grip felt MORE cheap, and also the handle had worse grip and was less comfortable for me. The delica's handle is quite a bit bigger.

The Axis lock is a plus, but not because it's a "better" lock, it's just a fun novelty factor. Neither one is going to be stronger than the other in practice because neither knife is going to experience the kinds of forces necessary to tell them apart unless someone is trying to exert those forces. The Axis lock is a bit more convenient, though, and makes the knife more enjoyable to open and close (imo).

I'd probably give the nod to 154CM over VG10 (major differences being 4% Mo plus a tiny hint of W in 154CM vs 1.4% Co in VG10), but they're roughly similar and the delica is going to slice significantly better because of the differences in grind and stock (delica is a bit more thin at the spine and you really can't beat a ffg imo).

Because of the ergonomics and cutting performance I'd have to choose the delica.
 
Carboniferous said:
Why are people who complain about the delica scales OK with the ones on the mini-grip? Is it just based on looks? If anything I thought the mini-grip felt MORE cheap, and also the handle had worse grip and was less comfortable for me. The delica's handle is quite a bit bigger.

The Axis lock is a plus, but not because it's a "better" lock, it's just a fun novelty factor. Neither one is going to be stronger than the other in practice because neither knife is going to experience the kinds of forces necessary to tell them apart unless someone is trying to exert those forces. The Axis lock is a bit more convenient, though, and makes the knife more enjoyable to open and close (imo).

I'd probably give the nod to 154CM over VG10 (major differences being 4% Mo plus a tiny hint of W in 154CM vs 1.4% Co in VG10), but they're roughly similar and the delica is going to slice significantly better because of the differences in grind and stock (delica is a bit more thin at the spine and you really can't beat a ffg imo).

Because of the ergonomics and cutting performance I'd have to choose the delica.
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For me personally, I don't like the bidirectional texturing on the Delica(or the other Japanese FRN Spydies). It doesn't feel all that great in the hand. The "cheapness" factor doesn't really bother me for either one, I just prefer the texturing on the grip's scales way more.
 
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