Native, Delica or mini Grip?

T

tzkid

Joined
Feb 22, 2008
Messages
18
I've been looking into getting a new EDC as I've given my Monochrome to my father. My prime candidates are the Spyderco Native 3, Delica and the Benchmade mini Griptilian.

Now, i was pretty set on getting the mini grip but after looking around the forums for a bit and seeing more pictures, it seems as if the knife's handle is a bit thick and chunky. And i do not want a chunky knife in my front pocket, as a Vic electrician will be tucked in there as well.

So after looking around i came upon the Spyderco Native. I didn't care for the native much in the past, but after looking into it a bit more, i think the Native 3 looks like a real workhouse: a thick blade, good lock up and it just looks hardy as hell. And when closed up it looks relatively small and not too wide or thick. The lack of a thumb rest(? Don't know what it's called, sorry) that the Delica has bothers me a bit, but seeing as I'm not going to be doing any intricate work with an EDC its fine.

And the Delica i just threw in there. I always had the impression they were rather thin and not as bomb proof as other knives. Never really handled one, but they seem to be really popular.

Thanks
 
They're all really tough knives. The most rugged would probably be the Griptilian/Mini. If you mean Native I, it's got S30V which is a stronger steel than VG-10. I have a Delica, and I love it and its VG-10. There's nothing flimsy about this knife at all.

I think you mean lack of thumb rest on the NATIVE, not the Delica.

Easiest to carry I would say is the Delica. As you mentioned, the Grips are a bit on the thick side. This is a plus in that it gives you more to hold onto while cutting, but it makes it more noticeable to carry. I love the way my Delica carries. It's flat, but it's not awkward to hold while using.

You can't go wrong with any of the above.

PS: How did you like the Monochrome? I'm considering getting one.
 
Ah, I loved the monochrome. I've had knives here and there (not too big of a collection), and for 30 dollars the monochrome was my favorite knife. Cut like a champ and held an edge surprisingly well. I even did some batoning through some wood while I was out camping because i had forgotten my fixed. I thought the sucker would break, but hell, i could just get another one for 30 bucks. However, after batoning through the wood, the monochrome held up. The opening became a little harder, but the frame lock still held up :thumbup:.

And I think i will either wait for the Native IV, which i heard will have carbon fiber handles and have flat ground edge, or get a Delica.

For now, my vic electrician and old buck 55 will have to satisfy me. :)
 
My S30V Native does not see much use at all, but my Delica Wave is my perfect EDC. The VG-10 takes a great edge, and I find that it does not take up any room in the pocket, nice and light. Plus the wave makes a great bottle opener :) The "thumb ramp" in the Delica is great, but I find the jimping on the Native to be a bit rough on the thumb. I do not have a mini-grip, only a full size Ritter grip, and it does feel a little thick in the pocket sometimes.
 
tzkid said:
And I think i will either wait for the Native IV, which i heard will have carbon fiber handles and have flat ground edge, or get a Delica.
Click to expand...

I'm also looking forward to that Native, although I saw on www.spydercovt.com that it's going to be around $165-ish... I want either that or a Sage when the newer models with different locks come around.
 
I have all three.
Delica in VG10
Native III in VG10
Mini-Grip 556 in 154CM

Very different knives.
The Delica is thinnest and is unnoticeable in my pocket. A lockback, it does not flick real fast, but is probably the least scary shape of the three to the blade challenged.

The Native III is a robust lockback, my favorite lock style, but not quick if you want to flick it. For me, of the three it is the most comfortable to hold in the hand. You can really control the blade because your hand chokes up as the blade has a choil. Of the three, it also has the wire clip, which is my favorite. Never gets caught on things, and very strong.

The mini-grip has the axis lock. If you like a quick action on the knife blade, this is the one to choose. For me, it has the prettiest blade shape and possibly the overall most useful one, though a bit more imposing to the blade-challenged. (YMMV on that.)

All three have excellent steel and good blade shapes.

No matter which you choose, you will choose a winner.
 
There is a reason sooo many people EDC mini-Grips. The axis lock is a great lock and the mini-Grip is a great knife.

If you've got the money, I'd really recommend "upgrading" to the mini-Rittergrip with the S30V blade. As much for the modified shape of the blade as for the steel. Much more information here:

http://www.equipped.org/rsk_mk1.htm
 
Hm 160 for a Native 4 now seems out of the question for me lol. :(

I guess it's back to the Delica, Native 3 and 1.

I would shoot the trigger on the Native 3 but i heard it is rather "3D" and bulky. How would you compare the thickness to the mini grip/native 1/Delica?
 
tzkid said:
Hm 160 for a Native 4 now seems out of the question for me lol. :(

I guess it's back to the Delica, Native 3 and 1.

I would shoot the trigger on the Native 3 but i heard it is rather "3D" and bulky. How would you compare the thickness to the mini grip/native 1/Delica?
Click to expand...

Yeah, Carbon Fiber is expensive. Plus, it's flat-ground, which is different.

I think in order from highest thickness to lowest, it would go mini-grip>Native>Delica. The Delica is slim, yet it doesn't feel like it's lacking volume when you grip it. If you're looking for a really heavy duty knife, I would recommend the Mini-Grip, although personally, I would still take the Delica ;)

On a side note about the Monochrome: would you consider it decent for a gentleman's knife? I'm thinking about using it for two purposes: that and a backup EDC; it looks tough enough for EDC.
 
Well, if the Native is big enough for you, go with it. You certainly can't beat the steel, and it's a very comfortable knife in the hand. I don't find the Native quite large enough, but I've got a friend who switched from a Native to a Byrd Cara Cara with G10 scales. Only costs about thirty bucks, but I've got to say it's quite a knife. Also has a 4-inch blade.

Since I like 5-inch blades, I use the Native as a second knife and it's such a sweet thing that no matter what you end up with, you ought to have a Native for the simple fact that everyone ought to have a Native.


SpydercoNative_1.jpg


SpydercoNative_3.jpg
 
THG said:
Yeah, Carbon Fiber is expensive. Plus, it's flat-ground, which is different.

I think in order from highest thickness to lowest, it would go mini-grip>Native>Delica. The Delica is slim, yet it doesn't feel like it's lacking volume when you grip it. If you're looking for a really heavy duty knife, I would recommend the Mini-Grip, although personally, I would still take the Delica ;)

On a side note about the Monochrome: would you consider it decent for a gentleman's knife? I'm thinking about using it for two purposes: that and a backup EDC; it looks tough enough for EDC.
Click to expand...

The Monochrome is a great knife for EDC. I carry one often. Very tough. Cuts great with that high grind. Sits very thin in the pocket. Excellent steel. Love that N690. Great solid lockup.

But I don't consider it in the "gent's" category. Too large. A significant amount of steel when you open the blade. That is a wide thick blade. I would look elsewhere for a gent's blade.
 
Confederate said:
Well, if the Native is big enough for you, go with it. You certainly can't beat the steel, and it's a very comfortable knife in the hand. I don't find the Native quite large enough, but I've got a friend who switched from a Native to a Byrd Cara Cara with G10 scales. Only costs about thirty bucks, but I've got to say it's quite a knife. Also has a 4-inch blade.

Since I like 5-inch blades, I use the Native as a second knife and it's such a sweet thing that no matter what you end up with, you ought to have a Native for the simple fact that everyone ought to have a Native.


SpydercoNative_1.jpg


SpydercoNative_3.jpg
Click to expand...

Ah I've just decided to get a Native 1 and Delica 4 :). I like the swedge on the Native 1 compared to the Native 3. Also seems a lot thinner than the 3 too.

One question though, after looking at the Native 1, it seems that the handle part of the choil is flat instead of round.. do you find that to be annoying/slippery?

thanks :thumbup:
 
tzkid said:
One question though, after looking at the Native 1, it seems that the handle part of the choil is flat instead of round.. do you find that to be annoying/slippery?

thanks :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Cutlerylover just made a video review of the Native today, and he mentioned that exact same thing.
 
FWIW, even though you've decided on the Native and Delica, I don't find the Mini-Grip to be that thick. I'd been carrying a S&W framelock and then a Kershaw Chive and now a Mini-Grip and the adjustment from the thinner knives to (somewhat thicker, but not horribly) the Mini-Grip went fairly quickly. I don't feel it in my pocket even when I'm sitting down.
 
Confederate said:
Well, if the Native is big enough for you, go with it. You certainly can't beat the steel, and it's a very comfortable knife in the hand. I don't find the Native quite large enough, but I've got a friend who switched from a Native to a Byrd Cara Cara with G10 scales. Only costs about thirty bucks, but I've got to say it's quite a knife. Also has a 4-inch blade.

Since I like 5-inch blades, I use the Native as a second knife and it's such a sweet thing that no matter what you end up with, you ought to have a Native for the simple fact that everyone ought to have a Native.


SpydercoNative_1.jpg


SpydercoNative_3.jpg
Click to expand...


What he said. :thumbup:
 
Wow, Google is amazing. I looked up "Native 4 Carbon Fiber," and this thread came up #3.

/off-topic
 
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