Spyderco Delica

KBR

KBR

Joined
Feb 12, 2002
Messages
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What are your opinions on the Delica? Is it convenient enough for EDC?
 
I'm more a fan of the Calypso Jr. The choil makes for a better grip. But if you can't get ahold of a Calypso, you'll have absolutely no problem at all finding a Delica. It'll certainly be convenient enough for an everyday carry, being neither too large nor too small for most everyday tasks, like cutting boxes, string, and the like. It'll also make a decent self-defense knife, but if you're carrying a knife with protection in mind, I'd go with the Gunting, or else a larger knife like the Endura or Police.

Try one in 50/50 combination edge, for an edge that will rip through rope while still making precision cuts to open boxes and bags. Or, go full plainedge for a less aggressive look.
 
I haven't seen the Calypso, so I may not be able to get one around here. However, I did see the Delica at the local Academy store and I'll be back to pick one up next weekend(payday).

The main thing that I liked were the serrations on just about the entire blade. I usually go for the 50/50 combo on any knife that I purchase, but this blade looked TOUGH. Also, like you said, because of its' size, it isn't too intimidating for EDC.

One thing to note is that this will be my first Spyderco, but let me tell you I think that I may become addicted!
 
The Delica is a fantastic knife. Finally after buying many other, more expensive Spyderco's I got ahold of a Delica a couple of months ago, and wonder if I ever needed anything else. I particularly like the look of the fully serrated version like the one you describe.

In case you're interested, Spyderco has upgraded the steel used on these knives to VG-10, from ATS-55. If you want the latest version, look for one that says "VG-10" on the base of the blade. It's wonderful steel, however so is the ATS-55 that preceded it.

Good luck, and let us know how you like the knife once you've got it.

Jeff/1911.
 
The Delica? A great knife at a great price. If you chose a lightweight, it's small and light enough to carry around and not even know it's there. Also, this knife is small enough that - if you're in a situation where you want to be super discreet - you can unclip it and drop it down into your pocket (you know, the way guys <i>used</i> to carry knives! :D ) and still not notice it. Yet at the same time, the Delica affords an awful lot of cutting power. I used to have one in AUS-8 steel. Enjoyed it a lot but I sold it off because I was tired of serrations. Now I have a plain edge Endura in ATS-55. Great knife, but sometimes I still miss that more-compact Delica. I may have to take the plunge and get a plain-edged version of the new one with VG-10 steel.
 
Ditto all the above comments!! A Delica was the first Spyderco I purchased.

If you're only going to carry one knife, the 50/50 FRN Delica is a great choice - lightweight and able to handle most cutting requirements. The serrated portion is great to start cuts in materials such as hose, rope or cable ties, while the plain-edged portion is there for straight cutting of lighter material.

If you will often carry two knives, then either a plain-edged or serrated Delica would make a great partner to your other knife, depending on it's blade type.
 
I have a ATS55 Delica that I rotate in as my EDC knife quite frequently. It's light and just the right size for most jobs. The only drawback I see is the tip is pretty fine and can be broken if you get a little too excited. My Delica has seen some pretty hard use and held up well though. Easy to sharpen and holds an edge well. They are also pretty inexpensive.
 
I have a plain edge delica that serves as my EDC. For me it's perfect, light weight, comfortable to use and carry, easy to sharpen. Not to mention is reasonably priced so if I lose it I can easily replace it.
 
I've started carrying my 50/50 Delica again. It was my first Delica, not my first Spyderco, but my first Delica. It has been used and abused, and was the knife I taught my little sister-in-law about knives with. One summer she stayed with us, she carried it everyday, and at night, while we would be sitting around, watching TV, she and I would annoy my wife by sitting there, opening, closing our knives. Click, click....click, click. Over and over again. Drove my wife nuts. ;) Anyway, after 3 months of that, plus being cleaned and oiled during that time, that Delica got to be pretty loose. When you pushed in the lockbar, you didn't even have to flick your wrist, it would just fall closed. Well, I decided I liked the looks of the half & half edge so much that I wanted to start carrying it again. After only a little bit of use it developed side-to-side play. I shopped around to find another 50/50 Delica to carry while I sent this one back to Spyderco for repair, but all anyone had in stock were either plain-edge or fully serrated. My wife even tried to find one for my for Valentine's Day.:D :D (I love my wife!!) I really didn't want to be without it while it was being repaired, so just for the heck of it, at work one day, I found a punch, and using the vise we have at the end of our parts counter, I gave the pivot pin a couple of good taps like someone once posted they had done to a Zytel knife that had developed play like mine. :eek: Well, to my surprise....it worked!!!
My Delica feels like it just came out of the box brand new!! This is so sweet. This knife is one of the first '98 Delicas. No Boye cut-out, no reinforcement around the clip area. I've repainted the clip twice after wearing the previous coat off. This little guy has been through a lot and it just keeps coming back for more. Yeah, I've had to do some stuff to it to keep it going, but this is nothing that Spyderco themselves couldn't do if I had sent it back under warranty.

So, the moral of this very lengthy story is: If you want a Delica, go for it!! :D The Delica is not one of Spyderco's best sellers without reason.

Flinx
 
You just can't go wrong with a Delica. My favorite best bang for the buck knife.
 
Excellent story Flinx! I especially got a kick out the part about you and your sister-in-law drivng your wife nuts opening and closing your knives...sounds familiar.

Jeff/1911.
 
I'VE CARRIED A DELICA FOR YEARS NOW AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT DESPITE THE FACT THAT I ALWAYS OPEN IT WITH A "SPYDER DROP".THIS WEEK I GOT A STANDARD MODEL WITH THE G-10 HANDLE. IT'S LIKE THE DELUXE VERSION OF THE DELICA.I LOVE IT! THEY ARE NOW DISCONTINUED BUT IT IS DEFINITLY WORTH HUNTING ONE DOWN.:D
 
The delica is a great knife! I've had three over the years, and still have all of them. My wife has two herself. I've moved onto the Native after a brief stint with a mini-afck (lefty), but still love to rotate the delica into the EDC every once in awhile....
 
Hey, Jeff/1911. You know what is weird? My little sister-in-law is back in town!! Sad circumstances though.....her uncle died this last Monday, and she and her Dad (my father-in-law) flew down for the funeral. Still its great to see them both again. I just told her about her part in this thread and showed her the Delica I fixed. She laughed.:D She left in such a hurry to try and made it down here before her uncle died, that she didn't get a chance to pack either of the two Delicas I gave her last year (one pink, one blue). Oh, well, she can always borrow one of mine again!

Flinx
 
Tough to beat all-around for the price.., and you've heard it all in the posts above...just get one :)


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
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