Sell me on the Delica

H

Hesparus

Joined
Oct 31, 2004
Messages
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As I've mentioned a couple times before, I really dig the new endura. The new delica is on the same line, and so it's pretty cool, too, but I'm not really sold on it. First of all, I think it's pretty ugly. My rescue PE is pretty ugly, too, so the ugliness isn't a real issue if the knife is cool enough. The tip up/tip down clip is nice, but I've got a native if I want to carry tip up and a calypso jr if I want to carry tip down. The calypso has far superior geometry and the native — well, it's a native.
This isn't so much of a reduncancy issue — there are far more reasons to buy a knife than need, as we can all attest to. But what does the delica offer that my other knives don't? Other than "because everybody has one" why should I buy a delica?

- Chris
 
The steel liners on the new version.

Let me ask you this. How can a person who digs the Endura think the Delica is ugly? I mean, they're the same knife just different sizes. There are little differences, but not enough to make one ugly and the other not.

Other than the steel liners, personally, I like the geometry and ergos of the Delica better. Other than that there's not much I can say.
 
The steel liners are one of the most attractive things about the knife. As for the delica and the endura being the same knife at different sizes, let me ask you this: would a porsche look as good if you shortened it by five feet? When you scale something up or down in some dimensions but not others it changes the proportions. Primarily, it is the angle from the top of the thumb ramp/hole down to the tip that bugs me.

- Chris
 
The liners make it stronger, I prefer the new clip style over the barrel bolt, jimping helps with a better grip, it can be fully disassembled for cleaning, it comes with washers for a smoother opening, larger hole size without adding additional width while closed, possibly in the near future a low ride clip option.
 
I think its biggest draw is the low price. The quality of the new D4s cannot be matched in any other $45-$50 knife, IMO. And the fine jimping on the Spyder-hole just plain rocks! I love mine, but I also don't own other Spydercos of similar size, like the Native or Caly Jr. (not yet anyway! :mad: ).
 
So far the biggest plus is (one that I forgot about) the ability to completely dissasemble it. If it was up to me (and perhaps we're fortunate that it's not) I'd make it a standard that all folders could be taken appart for cleaning and adjusting. But on the other hand, what good is a knife that can be taken apart if I don't like it to begin with?
Harry White - you haven't carried a knife until you've carried a native. $40 at wally world or $45 at savsonswordsandknives.com. And fwiw, I got my calypso jr (grey) for $50.

- Chris
 
All I can really say is that I've only ever liked one knife enough to buy it more than once. And that knife is the Spyderco Delica.









I've bought it three times, and possibly a fourth when the wave comes.
 
Well I've made up my mind. To hell with the delica 4 — I'm going to get me a waved delica 4! Now that the blade isn't ugly there's no stopping me.

- Chris
 
Just got one from knifeworks. Knife is a little heavier, longer handle, better handle, grippier handle, bigger hole, probably stronger point, slightly better pocket retention, you can hold it in your hand closed discreetlywith no one being aware of it, if so desired,
and, if your hand are my size, you can open it without repositioning your grip. Can't do that with the Endura.
 
If you ever use a fully serrated one, you will be at a loss to think of ANY other folding knife.

:)
 
Hesparus said:
Harry White - you haven't carried a knife until you've carried a native. $40 at wally world or $45 at savsonswordsandknives.com. And fwiw, I got my calypso jr (grey) for $50.

- Chris
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Thanks Chris. I've checked my local wallyworlds and no Natives. :mad: May I ask where you picked up a CalyJr for $50? That's an awesome deal. :D
 
Harry White said:
Thanks Chris. I've checked my local wallyworlds and no Natives. :mad: May I ask where you picked up a CalyJr for $50? That's an awesome deal. :D
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At first I thought neither of mine had them either. The picture case they have isn't up to date. You have to actually ask for it at some wally's.
 
CriTiCiZe said:
At first I thought neither of mine had them either. The picture case they have isn't up to date. You have to actually ask for it at some wally's.
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Good advice. I did peek behind two counters (no one was staffing them, as usual) and didn't see any Spyie boxes, but I never did ask anyone. Thanks. :)
 
You know, I like steel liners and all - but I have plenty of knives with steel liners (my current EDC - 806SD2). My first quality folder was an Endura with the FRN clip. I appreciate its weight relative to its size. It's nice to have a big blade that weighs in at under 3oz. The .7 oz or whatever makes a difference.

Shao
 
There's really no reason to get the wally world native as its only a couple bucks more online and the quality is much higher. I got my calypso from a guy here on bladeforums.
 
Hesparus said:
There's really no reason to get the wally world native as its only a couple bucks more online and the quality is much higher. I got my calypso from a guy here on bladeforums.
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I'm fully aware the chances are that I have no idea what I'm talking about here... but why would the quality differ from one distributor to the next? Don't they all get the same product? Maybe that comment/fact just caught me off gaurd because the Native's quality that I got was oustanding, comparable to any Spyderco or Benchmade I own.
 
The one you get from wally world is very similar to the other ones, but I don't believe it's the same model. I went to check it out and put my native on the counter next to it for comparison. The wally world native does not have as good finish as the regular ones. Mine seems to be finished to a bright 400g whereas the wally world one is a dull, rough, 220g, or something. The inside of the hole on mine was routed from the inside to make it perfectly round. The inside of the wally world hole just seems to be left with the laser marks, making it not pivot on your thumb quite as well. The locking mechanism and the moving parts are the same way — they are very rough and unfinished which makes the action slightly inferior. The one I looked at didn't have very good fit and there was a pretty good amount of lateral blade play. Other people have done more extensive examination of several different ones and found that most have this blade play but if you're patient you'll find one that doesn't.

- Chris
 
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