Some Newbie Questions about Delica 4.

[BanjoCam]

Hi guys,

I decided I want to have a nice knife and have been researching online now for about a week on what would be best for me. My friend recommended Buck knives but since seeing an online post about Spyderco I think it has become my brand of choice. I have settled on the Delica, as it seems to be small enough to be "pocket sized", a good price (online SRKnives.com in Canada for about 78$ including taxes and shipping), and very high quality. I was very worried about it being too big but it seems many people carry it around fine. I just have a few follow-up questions that I haven't been able to get a concise answer for in my searches.

I plan to use the blade for normal-life stuff such as opening packages, cutting the pellet food for my fish into smaller pieces (LOL), etc etc. I also have really enjoyed whittling in the past, ie even just taking sticks and shaving the bark off and smoothening them out. Is Delica appropriate size (not too big) for these types of tasks?

What's also worrying me is FFG vs sabre-ground. I really like the look and thinness of the FFG blade. I'm concerned because I see posts on it being too weak, tip breaking, etc. I'm not a knife guy, I don't know what "too hard" use is. Can I whittle? Can I cut rope? At what point would be "too hard" for that blade?

Maintenance/repair: I see lots of references to sharpmaker, or VG-10 not requiring sharpening just stropping...etc etc. I don't think I can afford a sharpmaker in the near future. I also won't be doing any more than light tasks with the blade for the immediate future. Will the sharpness last? Are there good guides to "stropping" available somewhere? How do I oil and clean the blade? I am purchasing this knife at a little higher than my desired price level with the mindset that it will last me a long time.

I think that's all for now. Any help would be appreciated, because I am very eager to make a purchase.

Thanks!

 

[dsmegst]

FFG Delica is a fine knife that should serve you well. As for FFG vs Saber, the only reservation I have is with certain types of carving. When you're digging out wood to carve holes in hardwood, the FFG tip may be too weak for it.

If you're whittling, you're using the strongest part of the blade, towards the handle. That's no problem.

As for stropping, it will take years for a strop to sharpen a dull blade. You really need some kind of sharpening tool. A pair of bench stones from the hardware store, maybe a coarse/medium combo stone and a fine stone can be had for very little money. I would take some time and learn to sharpen with a cheap knife, maybe an old paring knife from the kitchen. Then when I feel good about my progress, I would try it with the Delica. I would tape up the handle and the sides of the blade until it I get the hang of it. No need to scratch up the knife while learning.

An old belt and some white or green compound can serve you quite well. Even the cardboard backing from a notepad can be used with some compound to strop.

As for oiling and cleaning, any oil will suffice. I use 3in1 oil, turbine lube, CLP, cooking oil, whatever is handy. The blade is stainless so it's pretty stain resistant. If I get it gunked up, I run some warm water and work the pivot for a while. Shake it dry and wipe. A little oil in the pivot and work it in the pivot.

Can you afford to pickup a Byrd knife as well? It costs about 1/3 of the Delica and it can be your beater knife. I like to keep a nice EDC folder and also have a beater knife in case I need to do something silly.

 

[dinozzo]

You are on the right track with a Delica! I have owned a few in different configurations, and the new FFG ones are my favorite.

As for sharpening, this is a big question (and a potentially expensive one) basically the sharpmaker is a great option, and especially with a spyderco knife as the angles match up pretty well. But it can really add up, with the sharpmaker(~$60), and then the UF rods are amazing but add another $20-$30. I would check out the maintenance section where you can find tons of info on stropping, and you can build you own strop for not much money at all, and it is a great way to maintain your edge until you can afford a sharpmaker.

The FFG delica should stand up to the tasks you listed, the only thing it will not do too well is prying, which shouldnt be done with a knife anyway. if your not planning prying with the knife, it should serve you very well for a long time.

Hope this helps! I know it can be a little overwhelming just starting out into the good knives, especially with what sharpening stuff to buy.

 

[BanjoCam]

Thank you so much for the replies guys!

I guess I will have to read up the maintenance part of the forum (which I didn't previously know existed) on how to strop. I wasn't thinking of stropping as an alternative to sharpening, I was under the impression that with VG-10, if you strop as regular maintenance, you can prolong having to actually sharpen the blade. Which would be perfect to save up for sharpmaker. And yes, when it comes time to actually try sharpening, I would come back to the site, and practice on something less important first

Thanks for the oiling/cleaning tips... I was reading stuff about tuf-glide and didn't really know why it was great or where to get it. I have some oil sitting around that I use on the fingerboard of my banjo, and back home I always have access to some 3 in 1.

Prying... like a bluebar? Or a screwdriver? I don't think I would do that. And I don't plan on carving out hardwoods in the immediate future. Knive would be for cutting stuff day to day, and whittling for fun. And I wouldn't afford a Byrd right now (nor is it available at the site I'm purchasing the Delica from) but that's kind of the idea I had... to have a more hacking-around one for if I do anything more intense (like camping). Can you still do stabbing/puncturing cuts on softer materials (like opening packages) with the FFG?

Thanks so much guys... I'm getting excited to order (I think I will be purchasing the gray one... looks the most utilitarian/manly )