Older Delica, Calypso jr. or Standard?

oupa

oupa

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Older Delica, Calypso jr. or Standard?

I am looking for a lightweight EDC with a plain edge and pocket clip.
If steel is not an issue – (anything AUS8 and better but I do not really like AUS6)
I would prefer tip down carry and hollow grind.
Which of these is a more desirable EDC and why?
Being new to the Spyderco brand, a little help please.
 
Oupa, I'll confine my comments to the tip down models. I have all of these:

The Delica in S.S. is the only Delica which can be tip down. Older versions were tip down only; newer ones can be switched either way. It is AUS-6 though. Nice and thin, feels good to me, except for the slipperiness, which in some applications you may like (easier to slide out of a waistband, for example). (I prefer the FRN versions, especially the original plastic clip one. They are all tip up, which is my choice for an EDC.)

The Calypso Jr. comes in FRN lightweight and Micarta versions. Neither is "too heavy" though. Some folks love the feel of the handles and raised thumbramp at the "hump." I don't. The FRN version can switch it's clip to either side, if that is important to you (could be if you wanted the same type knife in either pocket). Given the choice, I would go with the FRN for it's better grippiness and ambidexterity. The Micarta model is classy, though.

My choice (if I didn't mind going tip down) would be the Standard. It has black G10 scales which are quite rough on my sample, which I absolutely LOVE. Grippiness is important to me! I don't know if this is a feature of most/all Standards or if I got lucky with mine. It has one steel liner for some extra weight and rigidity, but it is still not too heavy, IMO. Just real solid. The clip is not ambidextrous, and you would have to take it off to adjust the pivot pin. If you wanted to customize it, both the lockbar and blade can be removed by taking out the screws holding them. The blade steel on mine is ATS-55. It also makes a great smaller companion to the G10 Police model. (Unusual that the Rookie, which is very much like the Standard, is tip up. However, I find the hole to be a tad too small--or not quite perfectly placed--for me.)

It also comes (or came) in an all stainless AUS-6 model.

Hope this helps.

Karl
 
For my lightweight carry I usually will pickup my Blue FRN Delica first, followed by my FRN Native.
My Delica is by far my lightest, slimmest knife I own. Mine clips to my left side with blade at the back seem of the front pocket. No accidental opens so far. Spyderco made me a believer in tip-up carry.
-SB
 
I don't have any experience with the Standard, but my Calypso, Jr. PE is one of my favorite Spydies. It meets all of your criteria, except it comes with a full flat grind. The steel is VG-10, which you can get Wickedly sharp, and the FRN scale design allows for maximum grip. It has the tip down carry configuration that is ambidextrous for righties and lefties alike.

BTW, the Delica is also a great little Spydie, it was my first venture into the world of the Spyder. Regardless of your decision, you can't go wrong with any Spydie that you get. Beware of the Spydie virus, though, once you're bitten, there is no turning back. You'll want another, and another, and.....;).
 
Tip down spydie with a hollow ground blade. hmm
hollow ground yes, tip down a bit tougher.


Well here is my two cents. I vote for the native in either frn or ss or the snap it for its tip down carry. I do not know if the snap it is a hollow grind or not though.
 
I carry my large working knife in the rightside front pocket of my jeans
Tip up for this knife - easy to pull out and open.

My smaller user I like to clip to the left breast pocket of my shirt.
I find tip down is easier to pull out and open with the right hand.

Installing a clip is not difficult, I have done a few.
I may just have to do this modification myself, once I have decided on which knife to get.
 
Shirt pocket carry!

You should of said that earlier. A few months ago I worked first shift and had to wear a monkeysuit in the art galleries (security). One of my companions was a new knife I'd bought--small, light and very slender. I had bought it because it was so cute, and had a sweet looking black Ti blade coating. It fit in my shirt pocket like it wasn't even there, and accessability was perhaps easier than anything I could keep in my pants pockets. It was PERFECT for opening food packets and such.

And you may not like this:

It was a Benchmade Ascent Model 824! I'm one of the few folks who like Ascents, apparently, and I used to carry my large one (older with the round hole) every day.

Like I said, this smallest of Ascents is very light and slim and fits shirt pockets perfectly. There are two drawbacks, however.

One, it is not as easy to manipulate as larger, wider knives. Part of this is inherent in it's slenderness. The other part is due to it's oval hole with bevelled edges. You just can't get a purchase with your thumb as easily as a sharper edged hole. It's a quarter inch longer (opened) than my Standard, yet the Standard is much easier to manipulate.

Two, it isn't a Spydie! :)

If you check out my posts around here, you'll see I'm a dedicated Spyderknut, and if I knew of any Spydies which I thought would make better shirt pocket knives, I'd name them. If by chance you are wearing heavier cloth, like coveralls, one of the heavier Spydies would work well, no doubt. But if I went back to carrying a shirt pocket knife in an average weight dress shirt, it'd be this little cutie Ascent! One of the few times I'd recommend something other than a Spyderco, especially here in the Spyderco forum! :eek:

Perhaps a Cricket or a Meerkat may work for you? I don't have either one yet, but they are both tip down and should be easier to open than the Ascent. They just aren't as slender.

Karl
 
Yeah if i knew it was for shirt pocket carrying, my response would have been different too.

I too am a spydie nut but my chocie for shirt carry is a benchmade Mel pardue combo in bt2.

It's light, sharp, good steel(ats-34 version) and unobtrusive.

Two negatives though.

It is a only made for the right hand. Leftys need to flick it. This leaves few options like carrying it in the pocket for weakside use due to non-ambi operations.


And it is not a spydie
 
I was able to get hold of a NIB plain edge Standard.
It arrived and I must say it is a very solid knife.
I suspect that it is going to become one of my favourites.
Its a keeper for sure.
 
Standards are very hard to find now, nice catch. I think Spyderco makes the best FRN handle knives, but their G10 knives are far far superior. My favorite is large Wegner followed by Military, in mid sized knives I like Standard best because of G10. Too bad Spyderco is moving out of G10 handles, too expensive it seems. :(
Hopefully new junior Military will still be in G10??!?!!
Martin
 
I have a great feeling of contentment.
I have been able to aquire a Calypso Jr from a fellow formite.
It will compliment my Standard very nicely!:D
 
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