Spyderco then and now!!

Modoc ED · May 16, 2011

Below is a picture of an early Spyderco Delica Clipit (made in 1992) top knife and a Spyderco Delica 4 (made in 2010) bottom knife.

The early Delica Clipit is a very simple knife with very few parts. It is pinned construction with a G-2 steel blade. The Delica 4's construction is much more complicated with many parts and is screw constructed with a VG-10 steel blade. The older Delica is smaller than the newer Delica 4 -- the handles about a 1/4" shorter and the blade a tad smaller in all areas. Both knives were made in Seki-City, Japan. The material of the handles of the older Delica Clipit are I think Zeytle (SP?) and have a moulded in clip of the same material while the Delica 4 handles are FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon) and have a steel clip held in place by 3 screws. The metal clip on the newer Delica 4 takes the advantage over the moulded in Zeytle clip of the older Delica Clipit because the old moulded clips had a tendency to break over time.

The lock release bar is further forward on the older Delica Clipit than on the newer Delica 4 and does not have the useless, ugly, (to me anyway) David Boye Dent.

I guess change is good but I like the early Delica Clipit much more than the Delica 4. It sits nicely in the hand and the blade is perfect.

Fortunately, I have two early Delica Clipts -- the one shown and another just like it and two early Endura Clipts made just like the Delica Clipts both with G-2 steel blades. Then again, I also have two of the more modern Delica 4s (screws and all) so I guess I'm a happy camper all around.

Thanks Sal for making these knives available.

yablanowitz · May 16, 2011

Just so you will know, Zytel is DuPont's trade name for their Fiber Reinforced Nylon. I belive the early Delica and Endura used DuPont Zytel FRN, but I don't know if it is still being used. Sal has posted in the past that the FRN they use has extra fiberglas in the mix to give it more strength.

spydie fanatic · May 17, 2011

The really old ones are only stamped spyderco

Modoc ED · May 17, 2011

yablanowitz said:
Just so you will know, Zytel is DuPont's trade name for their Fiber Reinforced Nylon. I belive the early Delica and Endura used DuPont Zytel FRN, but I don't know if it is still being used. Sal has posted in the past that the FRN they use has extra fiberglas in the mix to give it more strength.

Thanks for the info on the handle material.

The Deacon · May 17, 2011

I'm that way with telephones. I think telephone technology peaked with the rotary dial bakelite bodied monsters Western Electric use to turn out for AT&T. You could beat a burglar to death with one, then use it to call the cops. Try that with an iPhone.

On a more serious note. Any time something is "improved" in response to requests from one group, there will always be another group of folks who were totally satisfied with the older version. While I agree that simplicity is a virtue, as a lefty the Delica Clipit would not work as well for me as the Delica IV. Good news for those who prefer them is that older models show up fairly regularly on the secondary market, often at reasonable prices.

Insaneinmate · May 17, 2011

Sure has come a long way. Delica 4 foliage green FRN was my first spyderco, and first "real" knife. Still own it to date.

Sithus1966 · May 17, 2011

spydie fanatic said:
The really old ones are only stamped spyderco

Like this one.

Sal Glesser · May 21, 2011

Thanx for the "blast from the past".

sal

timberweasel · May 21, 2011

I love how the changes between the 'then-and-now' knives are subtle... It shows that although Spyderco was on the right track in the beginning, they still see fit to tweak their designs. Most impressive! :thumbup: