Should everyone own a Delica at some point?

Put me in the camp of it being a good knife overall but that it's very overpriced (like all of the Japanese Spydercos). It's a pass at $70+
 
The standard Delica is not overpriced in any way. The Japanese-made Spydercos are excellent user knives. Whether or not the Seki Spydercos are better or worse in fit/finish than the Taichung or Golden Spydercos, I've never had one fail to perform excellently during use. My Delicas have performed better than many knives costing twice as much or more.

Jim
 
The Delica melts in your hand, and does knife stuff flawlessly. I kind of want to lose my ZT 0450cf, so I have the excuse to buy and edc a Delica 4 once again

Everyone should give the Delica 4 a shot. No regrets!
 
The Delica 4 arrived today. It's far too early to form any real opinion but first impressions are favorable. The knife is nice and light yet obviously a quality piece. I'm a fan of rear locks and already have 3 liner locks so it's nice to have this feature. The blade could be sharper. What I really like is the simplicity, basically only 5 major pieces including the clip.
 
I have a Zome Delica. it is nice but I want an Endura with the wave option for my next Spyderco. And maybe one of the Wharncliff Delicas, I would buy as a second Delica. The FRN does not feel cheap like say some of the BudK knives I have received for gifts . It is quite grippy.
 
MSchott said:
The Delica 4 arrived today. It's far too early to form any real opinion but first impressions are favorable. The knife is nice and light yet obviously a quality piece. I'm a fan of rear locks and already have 3 liner locks so it's nice to have this feature. The blade could be sharper. What I really like is the simplicity, basically only 5 major pieces including the clip.
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Enjoy.. I LIKE mine!!:thumbsup: John
 
MSchott said:
The Delica 4 arrived today. It's far too early to form any real opinion but first impressions are favorable. The knife is nice and light yet obviously a quality piece. I'm a fan of rear locks and already have 3 liner locks so it's nice to have this feature. The blade could be sharper. What I really like is the simplicity, basically only 5 major pieces including the clip.
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Give those roots a chance to grow....BONUS: VG10 is a pleasure to sharpen and easy to touch up
 
A follow up review after about a month of ownership. It's not my favorite EDC. Due to aesthetics not function. My knives don't have to be supremely functional but I must enjoy how they look and feel. The Delica has a fantastic blade. The thinness and how it slices is the best in my small collection (Leek, Lionsteel SR2, Queen Barlow, GEC TC Barlow, Buck 300, Delica, Michael Morris friction folder, CRKT Swindle and a few others).

Aesthetically it falls short for me. I like blades that have closer to a 1:1 ratio to the handle, I'm not in love with the hard scales and I like blades that are less exposed when folded. Just my tastes as a new collector. Still, it's a great knife for the money and is as functional as it gets which is a terrific feature.
 
Thanks for the update. My answer to your original question is no. A delica is not for everyone, myself included. I have had one for two years and I haven’t carried it in over a year. I am not a fan of the back lock, and I have a couple other knives in this size that are more appealing to me.
 
Nothing wrong with your feeling of Delica. Given what you said, Spyderco is probably not be your favorite brand as due to the spyderhole, the blade is always exposed more from the handle than most other brands.
 
+1 for absolutely! All the pros of the Delica have been listed many times on this thread and many other threads already :p
The Delica to me is one of the best answers to the "if I only bought one knife" question that gets asked by people. It's my number one recc. for non-knife people that aren't interested in buying a bunch of knives or even 3, they just want a better replacement for the folder they carry without breaking the bank. Delica it is! :)
 
Question: "Should everyone own a Delica at some point?"

Answer: Not everyone, just knife enthusiasts who communicate with other knife enthusiasts. That way, knife enthusiasts will know which of the four major categories of knife enthusiasts they, themselves, fall into: 1. Delica lovers 2. Delica haters 3. don't really care one way or the other (it's okay, nothing special) 4. other.

Personally, having owned three Delicas, one of which I still own, I am in category 3. I own about 8-10 Spydercos, most of which I prefer to the Delica.

But by all means, if you are a knife enthusiast and have never owned a Delica, GET ONE NOW! That way, every few months when another one of these threads or debates comes up, you won't have to ponder this mystery...
 
I've never owned a Delica. I've handled a few, and sharpened a couple for friends. I don't like the Delica. The handle is just too small for me to grip it comfortably, and I don't have big hands. Average size and skinny fingers.

If it appeases the lynch mob, I do own an Endura. But it's a serrated Wave model, and I carry it with the hope I'll never have to use it, if you get what I mean.

One of my few EDC modern knives is a Caly3 ZDP/CF. Despite being practically identical in dimensions, including cutting edge length, the Caly3 is far more comfortable for me to hold and use than the Delica. I've also owned a couple Calypso Jrs, one in grey FRN/AUS-8, and the other was black micarta (AUS-8?). All were comfortable to use. IMO the Calypso Jr./Caly3 is superior to the Delica.

So no, I don't think that EVERYONE should own a Delica. Certainly everyone should try one though. I do think that everyone should own or at least try some version of a FRN Spyderco. The Delica/Endura is a classic, just like the Buck 110/112 or a Case in yellow delrin and CV. But there's also the Native, Stretch, Dragonfly, Rescue, Salts, etc. I'll never hesitate to recommend or affirm someone choosing the Delica, but I'll also suggest other alternatives simply because it might not fit their hand like it doesn't mine.




I've never owned a Buck 110 or 112 either.
 
Great EDC blade. But it is probably one of the most overpriced knives on the market. IMO the Byrd Meadowlark at $19 is a more equitable option.
 
I would say yes.... but not only :)
IMHO the Delica is more a platforme than an unique knife: Endura, Delica, Dragonfly, Salt ... their are all part of the same familly for me and you need one of them.
The Delica is the more versatile EDC and one of the best value but depending of what you will need your knife for, another can work better for you.

I have a Delica 4 and a Salt 2, and they are so close one from the other that I am considering to sell the Delica 4.
I won't miss it since I will have the salt 2 (different grind, different tasks... for sure, but nevertheless ).
 
It's good you're trying a Delica. That and the Endura are sort of the baseline, iconic Spydercos and go way back in their line. One-hand opening and closing knives with the Spyderhole and back locks define the origin of their knives. Depending on how you define knife-collecting or knives you own and use, if you're gonna have some representative Spydercos then you really ought to have a Delica and/or an Endura. There was a time when blades at their price-point seemed considerable to me, but those days are loooong gone for knives and me.

I have one of each in contrasting bright colors and they are my field and woods folders when I'm up in Vermont. From here, they're useful knives that are easy to handle, easy to find, and won't cause major angst if lost or damaged.

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I really like my Delicas and agree with someone above, everyone should try one. The size in my hand is perfect as I don't usually EDC bigger knives. The only issue I seem to have is the back lock. I have other knives that are much easier to close one handed (Bugout).
 
I'm far from expert here but does this $19.00 knife use VG-10 steel and have a great blade like the Delica? It's the blade and solidity of this knife that make it iconic. Even though I have issues with the aesthetics, it's undoubtedly well made in every way and highly functional. The market thinks so as well.

(Sorry, I forgot to include the quote. This refers to post 94 in this thread.)
 
MSchott said:
I'm far from expert here but does this $19.00 knife use VG-10 steel and have a great blade like the Delica? It's the blade and solidity of this knife that make it iconic. Even though I have issues with the aesthetics, it's undoubtedly well made in every way and highly functional. The market thinks so as well.

(Sorry, I forgot to include the quote. This refers to post 94 in this thread.)
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The $19 uses the same FRN and uses cr13mov steel.....not as good as VG-10 but VG-10 isnt exactly a super steel either and certainly not anywhere as expensive per blank compared to high grade steels.......the bottom line is with the Delica, the consumer is pretty much paying for the Spyderco badge...and considering what people will use these small knives for in terms of EDC tasks, its a non-starter issue for me. This is not a hard use folder we are talking about.

Which brings us to the subject of what it means to be overpriced to begin with. I use this term loosely as a subjective impression. The market determines price and for a luxury item like a pocket knife, the current asking price pretty much reflects what a customer is willing to pay for the goods or services. If demand was low, the price would come down significantly. So in that sense, the Delica is not overpriced as people will pay for the item. But subjectively, everyone has their own price of value and for me I am just not a fan of FRN and consider it not worth the asking cost. I like a lot of Spyderco blades. Have a few and enjoy the PM2 in Titanium and G10. I just don't care at all for FRN. It is just molded plastic. Obviously it is used to keep weight down. But for me and my preferences, it just screams cheap. Like putting cheap Toyo tires on a Porsche.
 
MSchott said:
I'm far from expert here but does this $19.00 knife use VG-10 steel and have a great blade like the Delica? It's the blade and solidity of this knife that make it iconic. Even though I have issues with the aesthetics, it's undoubtedly well made in every way and highly functional. The market thinks so as well.

(Sorry, I forgot to include the quote. This refers to post 94 in this thread.)
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I've never had a Byrd knife, so I just looked up the specs at a reputable dealer. The blade is 8CR13MOV like Spyderco's Value Line knives. The quality of the Chinese-made Spydercos is excellent so their oversight and QC is beyond question. I'd have to assume the same for their Byrd line.

I'm a Tenacious fan as one of those was my gateway knife, and have collected a half-dozen so far. 8CR is a passable steel--easy to sharpen, but doesn't take or hold the keenest edge. VG10 sharpens easily to a better edge but tends to roll and chip a bit where 8CR does not.

If money's your bottom line, you could try the Byrd, but I think I'd still favor the Delica for the steel and aesthetics. I don't find the color options available for the Delica in the Byrd line either. There are also upgraded steel options around for the Delica and those knives with and without pop up on the Exchange often. They fly off, too, which may tell you something.
 
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