Spyderco Caly 3 vs. Delica 4

thejamppa

thejamppa

Joined
Aug 20, 2009
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Hi all!

There's change me to get Spyderco Caly 3 slightly used. However I know Delica 4 and Caly 3 are slightly different price segments but which one is more suited to EDC carry?

Pro's and Con's for models. I know I can't go wrong with Delica 4 either and even 2nd hand Caly 3 is slightly more expensive than Delica 4, Caly 3's G-10 scales and Leaf Shaped, full flat grind blade appeals greatly to me.
 
Either would make a good choice for EDC. I think it is a matter of personal preference, but there are some notable differences between the two.

Caly 3 has a finger choil---some love it and some don't. Ergonomically the knife feels better to me when you are using the choil. If you don't like using a choil grip then you won't like the Caly because the remaining grip behind the choil doesn't have room for all of your hand. The wire clip on the Caly is very nice but limits you to tip up carry--that isn''t an issue for me since all my knives are tip up. The Delica is built with screws and the Caly is pinned together---this only matters if you are someone who likes to take their knives apart.

There is a third option--the G10 Delica. It's just like the D4 but with steel liners and g10 scales like the Caly. It's like a Caly that's shaped like a Delica!
 
Delica with full flat grind and G-10 would be perfect... None exist yet? But I also have to consider what's available nativelly and what knives cost when buying from eBay. I am pretty sure G-10 Delica would go over 52€ toll limit...
 
I like the Delica but IMO the Caly 3 beats it in a number of ways. It's more ergonomic, rides deeper in your pocket, full flat grind, choil, better pocket clip.
 
elkins45 said:
Either would make a good choice for EDC. I think it is a matter of personal preference, but there are some notable differences between the two.

Caly 3 has a finger choil---some love it and some don't. Ergonomically the knife feels better to me when you are using the choil. If you don't like using a choil grip then you won't like the Caly because the remaining grip behind the choil doesn't have room for all of your hand. The wire clip on the Caly is very nice but limits you to tip up carry--that isn''t an issue for me since all my knives are tip up. The Delica is built with screws and the Caly is pinned together---this only matters if you are someone who likes to take their knives apart.

There is a third option--the G10 Delica. It's just like the D4 but with steel liners and g10 scales like the Caly. It's like a Caly that's shaped like a Delica!
Click to expand...

Top notch run-down. The other thing I'd mention is that as-manufactured, the Caly's full-flat ground blade will cut better than the delica for many jobs, but the blade and edge will be weaker (less metal). That doesn't mean "weak", just not as strong as a sabre grind, due to simple physics. I strongly favor the caly's full flat grind for most uses.

One other option, if you decide you hate the Caly's choil but love everything else about it. Pick up the g10 delica as advised above, then send it to Tom Krein to get a reprofiling job done on it, ask him to make you a full flat grind that's .01" behind the edge (I had him do that with my endura), it just screams.
 
Joe Talmadge said:
Top notch run-down. The other thing I'd mention is that as-manufactured, the Caly's full-flat ground blade will cut better than the delica for many jobs, but the blade and edge will be weaker (less metal). That doesn't mean "weak", just not as strong as a sabre grind, due to simple physics. I strongly favor the caly's full flat grind for most uses.

One other option, if you decide you hate the Caly's choil but love everything else about it. Pick up the g10 delica as advised above, then send it to Tom Krein to get a reprofiling job done on it, ask him to make you a full flat grind that's .01" behind the edge (I had him do that with my endura), it just screams.
Click to expand...

Joe, the G10 Delica IS a full flat grind, or at least the one I have is. Don't know if Krein reprofiles it even further, but it's not the saber grind of the normal FRN Delica.
 
thejamppa said:
Delica with full flat grind and G-10 would be perfect... None exist yet? But I also have to consider what's available nativelly and what knives cost when buying from eBay. I am pretty sure G-10 Delica would go over 52€ toll limit...
Click to expand...

Yes, they do exist. Unless you are finding the Caly at a good discount then the G10 Delica is very close to the same price and may even be a little less expensive. When I looked on http://www.knifecenter.com the G10 Delica was actually $3 less than the Caly3. But I don't know what is available to you in Finland, so that might be useless information to you.
 
I love the caly3 g10. It spends the most time in my pocket because It is my work knife. I like it so much I'm getting the cf one
 
Darn... Caly 2 about 26% more expensive than Delica 4, but Delica 4 is widely available via various retailers for "reasonable" domestic price and I can buy Delica from the states without breaking the toll limit.

Now its just matter of gutts to spend as much money to Caly 3 as is necessary... It costs more than 3 my kershaw's together...

But I most likely get Caly 3 first and then Delica 4...
 
elkins45 said:
Joe, the G10 Delica IS a full flat grind, or at least the one I have is. Don't know if Krein reprofiles it even further, but it's not the saber grind of the normal FRN Delica.
Click to expand...

Cool! Yes, Tom will reprofile even further ... .01" is much thinner than Spyderco's standard full flat grinds, and I know guys on the forum who have gone even thinner than that, but now you're moving away from rougher uses and more towards gents' razors. For a general purpose knife, I think spyderco's full flat grind is enough.
 
Get the Caly 3. It's a awesome sliver, has the inconspicuous wire pocket clip, great ergos and great hande materials.
 
The Caly is nice, but I don't like the skinny "neck" area at the choil. I like the way the Delica fits in the hand much better. It was my first Spyderco knife and is still one of my favorites, just under the Stretch.
 
I like the Spyderco Caly 3 knife a little better Great little pocket knife. This is top quality craftsmanship. The laminated steel cutter comes razor sharp and remains razor sharp. Can be a little to sharp to use for day-to-day stuff, those small slips can wind up being deep gashes! Terrific little knife and very pleased with it.

Here are some more good reviews on (( your own sales blog ))
 
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I prefer the ergos of the Caly over the Delica due to the finger choil. I also prefer the wire clip of the Caly. Both are great knives, however, and I have several variations of both.
 
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