Spyderco Delica/Endura or CRKT M16-03/04?

J

JMB

Joined
May 28, 1999
Messages
72
I'm just curious which knives you all prefer between those two choices. I like the slightly more expensive knives I've been buying recently (BM 710 and 730, Emerson CQC7-A) but I always like to have a few "beaters" that I don't mind using a lot.

I like to carry one for purely defense and one for utility. I'm thinking about picking up a Spyderco Endura and Delica as one pair or a CRKT M16-04 and M16-03 as one pair. Which knives do you think are of better quality and why? Thanks for any advice you can offer.
 
I have carried both Delica and Endura for several years and have always been very happy with them.

The CRKT M16 is attractive, but it doesn't feel quite right in my hand (could probably be thinner). The liner lock doesn't seem as solid as other liner locks, which makes me nervous.

However, many are happy with the M16 series, so this is probably a matter of preference.

I would suggest handling both before buying. Let me also recommend the Spyderco Calypso Jr. Lightweight--great steel, flat grind. Price is comparable to the Delica.
 
I'd go with the Endura and, like Summerland says, a Calypso Jr Lightweight. You'll get better steel (ATS-55 and VG-10, respectively) than the CRKT's AUS-8, at least in terms of edge holding, complete ambidexterity, and possibly better convenience of carry. The Endura rides really nice in the pocket, for a big knife. The Calypso Jr. gives you an extremely high performance blade grind--unsurpassed in a production knife, according to my experience.

Not that there is anything wrong with the M-16's; I'm just telling you what I like about my two all-around favorite folders.

------------------
AKTI Member # A000846
Stop when you get to bone.
 
JMB,
I'm afraid you are trying to compare pretty incomparable knife designs.
Delica and Endura are lightweight knives with unlined plastic handles. They offer much slimmer and lighter package, very thin and extremely sharp edges, very aggressive but not too strong tips, tip-up carry mode, lockback type locking devices. They are fully ambidextrous. They have better steel.
M-16's are powerful knives with sturdy aluminum handles supported with steel liners. They are much heavier (more than 1,5 times) than Delica and Endura, they are designed for tip-down carry, they have ambidextrous thumb studs only but non-ambidextrous locking devices and carry clip's. They are utilizing another locking mechanism - liner lock. Tanto blade on M-16-04 has incomparable stronger tip, spear-point blade on M-16-03 has also much stronger tip than Delica's blade.

As to quality and performance - you can't to go wrong with either.
But I can't say which knives would be better. You must decide which knives would be better for you depending on your individual liking and knife intended use.

------------------
Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland

[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 04-02-2000).]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top