Steel handled Enduras and Delicas

A

allenC

Joined
Jun 18, 2000
Messages
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I really love the stainless steel handled Endura and Delica. They look so classy and cool and they're extremely strong too.
The only problem is that the steel is AUS-6.

Since using the Endura II, I have a very hard time going back to the FRN Endura or even my beloved G-10 Police. Even though the FRN version has better blade steel, the Endura II just feels so much better. It feels like a knife should feel.

I know we have begged many times before, but I'll do it one more time...Sal, how about a limited run of VG-10 all steel Enduras and Delicas?

Or better yet, an all steel handled Vesuvius!
It could have an integral Compression-lock or a Lock-back, either way it would be awesome!

Is there anyone else here who loves the steel handles?

Allen.
 
I also love the steel handles, in particular on the Police, but I also prefer the Harpy over the Merlin. I do tend to carry and use the FRN Endura and Delica over my SS Endura and Delica, however, though there doesn't seem to be any one special reason why.

I have found that Spyderco's AUS-6 is very well-done, however those are some good ideas, particularly for more integral compression locks.
Jim
 
Allen. Ok, let's "chat".

Our stainless models have long been appreciated for their shear toughness. AUS-6 was selected for the Endura SS and Delica SS as the best compromise between steel and price point. Since they are among our better sellers, we would have to asume it was a good choice.

Knife aficianados can divided into different groups depending on their interests in knives. (might make a fun thread).

Some are into the "eye candy" looking at the knife as a 3D art form, studying lines, materials, etc.

Some are into certain brands.

Some are into specific purposes (water sports, MBC, mountain climbing, etc).

Some are steel junkies. I say junkies instead of snobs because the choices of steel, which might make one a snob, were based on the interest in the steel in the first place.


Sooo....what you are asking for is an Endura SS or Delica SS for a steel junkie. Since the models are made by our skilled cracftsmen in Seki, if would serve best if the steel was also made in Japan.

First, which would be preferred, Endura or Delica?

These are most of the exotic steels made in Japan; Keep in mind, the better the steel (in edge retention, corrosion resistence & toughness), then generally, the more expensive.

ATS-34 1.05 carbon)
AUS-10 (.95-1.10 carbon)
Cowry (powdered metal - very expensive)
D-2 (1.4-1.6 carbon - not a true stainless)
H-1 (very corrosion resistant)
MRS-30 (.112 carbon)
VG-10 (.95-1.05 carbon)
ZDP-189 (powdered metal - very expensive)


Then, what would you do to make it different in appearance so one could "see" a difference to tell them apart from the normal version?

sal
 
Sal, first let me thank you for entertaining the notion. It means so much when you ask for feedback like this.

I would love the SS Endura in either VG-10 or ATS-34.
I have some experience using those steels and I like the performance I get from them. I'm intrigued by AUS-10 but I don't know anything about that steel.
D-2 seems well liked by steel junkies, but I really do prefer a high quality stainless steel over non-stainless steel.

Here are a few ideas to set it apart from the other Enduras:
1)A full flat grind like the Military.

2)A slightly larger thumbhole.

3)Maybe a modified drop-point blade instead of the standard Endura blade (I'm not sure how much I really like this idea).

4)Maybe a skeletonized steel handle.

5)Clip holes drilled on both sides to make it "lefty friendly".

Thanks for listening,
Allen.
 
Hm... I like everything you've suggested except for the skeletonized handle.
Sounds like something that I would buy given I have the means.
 
Gentlemen, if I may add my 2 cents.

allenC, if you take your suggestions 1 and 3, I think we're getting mighty close to a Calypso, which, in addition to some handle contour differences, adds the blade/handle finger choil shared by the Dragonfly/Military etc.

Given my 'druthers of a tweaked/resurrected model with SS hands and blade in VG-10, I'd take a Calypso Jr. 1st, a Calypso 2nd, a SS Dragonfly in VG-10 3rd, a Delica 4th and an Endura 5th. Of course, those four choices would still be ahead of every other model on my wish list.

BTW, Sal, Thanks for resurrecting the FRN Calypso. As soon as they're officially announced, I'm pre-ordering one from the SFO.
 
I'd like to put in my 2 cents if nobody minds.

First of all, my main EDC is a stainless steel Calypso Jr. I can vouch for the effect of the SS on people. No matter how I show off the Delica, Endura or Native (all in FRN), and proclaim the merits of the steel in those knives, absolutely everyone says that they find my SS Calypso so much nicer...

If you were to do an Endura or Delica SS with a better steel, I'd vote for VG-10. You really have to try out that steel. My razor sharp AUS-8 blade feels dull compared to VG-10!

With all this being said, I don't really like the handles on the Endura or Delica... The Calypso really does feel like an extension of your hand!! Since you're already willing to do a run of Calypso Jr's in FRN, if the run is successful, how about doing another run with an SS handle? Just from the attention generated by the new run, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Calypso get a new lease on life!

Guy
 
I have quite a stack of stainless Spydercos. Two of my favorites are my (fully-serrated) Police models...One is VG-10, the other is ATS-55. Eventho they are both the "new-style" (with the Boye dent), I prefer the VG-10 one the best...Don't ask me why, I just do. I also own a few stainless Delicas and Enduras, and they are all AUS-6, and although I really don't have a "problem" with that steel, for some unknown reason, I also wish they were VG-10.

While we are on the subject of stainless-scales Spydies, I wonder why Spyderco has never done anything to roughen-up the scales to make them alittle more "grippy"...(I guess it would raise the price too high, due to the extra labor cost?).
 
I Think a fully flat ground VG10 SS Endura would be a very nice, stylisch, strong, hi-perfromance blade. For people who like great cutting performance in an elegant package. (People like me ;) ) I think a full flat ground delica would be to close to the sprint run grey Calipso in funktion.

JD
 
Enkidu, you may have hit on something that I had not considered.
Maybe what I'm really looking for is a Large SS Calypso with VG-10 (or AUS-10 or ATS-34) steel.
I can't say for sure because I've only seen pictures of the Large Calypso.

I don't really think Spyderco needs another small SS knife as much as it needs a large one.

You have several choices of smaller SS lockbacks (although some are discontinued they can still be found): the SS Calypso Jr., SS Native, SS Delica, SS Cricket, SS CoPilot, SS Dragonfly, SS Rookie, SS Worker, and maybe some others that I don't know about.

But if you want a large SS lockback Spyderco, then your only choices are the Police and the Endura.
Maybe a Large SS Calypso is just the ticket.

Allen.
 
VG10 or AUS10 and have cutouts in the scale like that of a Navigator.
 
I also like the cutouts, but I noticed that they tend to pick all the pocket lint, even with the knife clipped :(
 
Neat idea and kudos to Sal for taking it seriously, whether or not it actually gets made.

I would be more interested in an upgraded Delica than an Endura, but might go for either.

My first choice for steel would be D2. A very tough steel to go with a very tough frame. And I find that D2 holds an edge better than any of the other choices. I can live with the somewhat lower stain resistance in exchange for that. If D2 isn't the winner my next choice would be VG-10.

Aside from the change in steel I would like to see the rest of the design remain intact, including the grind. Otherwise this stops being an upgraded Delica and becomes a new knife. :)

My suggestion for differentiating this batch from the regular stainless Delicas would be to put a gold Spyder on the clip. I seem to remember that being done on one of the other special runs. It would be subtle, but sufficient.

So, where do I order? :D

--Bob Q
 
I must say that I absolutely love my stainless Endura. I’d take it over an FRN Endura any day of the week, no matter what the blade steel. But if I had the option of a better blade steel than AUS-6, I’d be on it in a heartbeat. My personal choice would be VG-10 or possibly D2. I’d most likely go for the VG-10 because stainlessness is important to me on my folders.

Even better would be a large stainless Calypso, with flat ground VG-10 PE blade. That would very possibly be the ultimate stainless folder in my opinion. It could even supplant the Military from pocket carry on the weekdays.
 
Then, what would you do to make it different in appearance so one could "see" a difference to tell them apart from the normal version?
Click to expand...

The average consumer probably wouldn't buy it unless the blade was a different color (Bodycote!). But for the steel snobs, they'd probably still buy one if you jacked up the prices to justify a smaller production.
 
I too would go for the D2 or VG10 SS Endura. Or even AUS10, since I don't have any knives with that steel.:D While D2 is not technically stainless, it certainly is in function if even slightly cared for.
 
Hi Phoulplae. We generally work on fixed margins. The MSRP of the knife would be based on the cost of manufacture. "Charging as much as the market will bear" which we all learn in "Business 101" is, IMO, "squeezing as much out of the customer as they can possible afford" or "biting the hand that feeds you". The ELU (End Line User) is the most impoprtant part of the business chain and should be treated with the respect of that position.

We have the suggestion of cutouts in the handle, bug on the clip. What about bead blasting the handle?

Adding things like finger choils, mean new tooling. Then it becomes a new model and would probably not happen.

Thanx for the input.

sal
 
Thanks for the replies Sal. I think it's incredibly neat and cool that you spend the time to come talk with us.

Not to hijack the thread, but if the costs of creating a SS VG-10 Calypso or Calypso Jr. are too high, then I guess I'd be most interested in an SS VG-10 Dragonfly first, a VG-10 Delica II second and a VG-10 Endura II third. All of these would still be extremely high on my list of must-have-knives. I prefer flat ground, but the current sabre+flat ground is good too.

Personally, I think cut-outs introduce another path for debris to get trapped near the closed blade and I don't like them. The colored bug sounds cool. Would the bug on the handle be welded/glued on or just colored differently? Bead blasting the handle sounds interesting, I think I'd prefer a bead-blasted handle to a plain polished one. I don't like bead blasted blades, though.
 
I personally prefer the solid smooth handle of my Endura, instead of cutouts. It looks classy, and stays free of pocket lint. The solid handle also gives the knife that feeling of heft that makes it so.... enduring.

Would a spider web etch or engraving on the blade be a "doable" kind of thing? I've always lusted after those engraved stainless Spydies.
 
Originally posted by enkidu
Personally, I think cut-outs introduce another path for debris to get trapped near the closed blade and I don't like them.
Click to expand...
I agree. That's why I bought two G10 Navigators, rather than the SS handle with cutouts. It doesn't seem right to have the lock innards exposed that way. I would vote for a solid SS Endura with VG-10.
 
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