Thoughts on the Delica 4

[psy-ops]

I have now had my Delica 4 for six weeks. I thought it would be hands down better than the ATS 55 Delica 2 or 3, which I have EDC'd for 6-7 years. I find only slightly better.

I like the new blade shape, not so pointy but stronger. I like the new handle but I feel the index-thumb indents could be more recessed. I was also surprised that overall the new design seems to owe a nod to the BM Griptilian. You can not tell from a picture but when you are holding it the blade shape is similiar and how the handle is a bit beefier. These are subtle similiarities and I could be mistaken. One definite improvement is that it does seem sturdier. VG10 is a better steel than ATS 55 or AUS 8 in my opinion. I haven't sharpened it once. It has been used daily in this past six weeks for the usual daily cutting chores: fruit, bags, string, boxes, mail and the occasional branch.

I will still make it my EDC for the next six years.

If you own an older model Delica, I wouldn't rush out and buy one, unless you need as second EDC.

 

[JD Mandrell]

Thanks for the review, I haven't owned a Delica before, but the "improvements" to the Delica 4 are making me consider it.

I impulse bought a Native last week and am totally happy with it.

 

[LHD]

The ZDP delica is a better beast all together. I didnt think it would be that big of an improvement over the standard delica but its pretty nice. I havent been able to scratch it even with heavy use. Its been in my pocket, usually with a cricket, on and off since they came out and without touching a stone it still push cuts office paper. I carry the cricket because its the smallest knife I own and if I break or damage the delica I still have a knife. I dont think the jess horn cuts as well as the delica on anything besides paper. The caly in ZDP outcuts the delica marginally but due to blade geometry, the beefier delica blade makes for a more robust and versatile knife. I would rate the actual ability of all 3 current ZDP 189 spydercos within 5% of each other, all of which are a significant improvement over the VG10.

I'm not a Spyderco fanboy but I find myself drawn to the simplicity of thier knives in many cases. I generally prefer the idea of a benchmade with grippy G10 and aluminum handles, special locks and whiz bang features but in all reality a plane jane spyderco with an FRN handlle usually gets the job done just as well.

I now sit at a crossroads whether to keep or sell the other 10 ZDP delicas I have.

 

[JNewell]

I recently bought a gen 4 in ZDP. I've EDC'd a gen 3 for six or seven years (with a SAK Pioneer for utility cutting). Leaving aside the blade material (vs. ATS-55), I really like the new scales with the metal inserts. I like the balance and overall feel of sturdiness in the gen 4 that the earlier generations didn't have.

 

[psy-ops]

ZDP better than VG10, Man that is hard to imagine, not that I don't believe you but VG10 seems really really nice.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

ZDP better than VG10, Man that is hard to imagine...

It does well slicing abrasive materials, the grindability is fairly low though.

I dont think the jess horn cuts as well as the delica on anything besides paper.

Mine were similiar which was unexpected given the nature of the primary grinds, but the edge geometry on the Jess Horn is a little too much for its nature I would judge. However given that it is hollow ground it is much easier to sharpen at low angles than the Delica and thus with an edge reprofile it will readily out cut it. Mine is sharpened flat to the bevel, it cuts well.

-Cliff

 

[diamdave]

I never had a problem with my GIN-1 or ATS-55 or Delica 3 catching pocket lint.
The Delica 4, though, was like a lint magnet. Jammed up a few times. Don't know why.
I sold it.

 

[LHD]

Mine were similiar which was unexpected given the nature of the primary grinds, but the edge geometry on the Jess Horn is a little too much for its nature I would judge. However given that it is hollow ground it is much easier to sharpen at low angles than the Delica and thus with an edge reprofile it will readily out cut it. Mine is sharpened flat to the bevel, it cuts well.

-Cliff

Its good to know that what I noticed was repeatable and not bias due to aesthetics or preferance. How low did you sharpen it with favorable results? I'm not planning on doing any chopping or hacking so I plan to take it to a pretty low level.

 

[allenC]

The Delica 4 is nice, but I think Spyderco very best 3" folder is the Centofante III.

The single nested steel liner in the C3 gives it enough rigidity and strength to best the older Delica 3, but it seems more sophistocated than the Delica 4.

And after using both for a while, I have come to prefer the thinner hollow-ground blade of the C3.

 

[Mr Blonde]

As a Spyderco collector and user, I'm having a lot of fun with these Delica 4s. Already there's a great variety of them out there (SS, FRN, ZDP steel, Waved & Foliage Green). I like the improved ergos and the ability to (carefully!) disassemble it, best. The foliage green D4 is just a plain fun knife. It really blends in with many different backgrounds.

Dirt and bushes.

Concrete

Denim

Wouter

 

[Cliff Stamp]

How low did you sharpen it with favorable results?

Mine is currently at 9.3 (5) degrees per side. This is free hand on a soft waterstone which will round during the honing so the actual bevel is more of a sweep from 8 to 10. This is low enough so that the primary grind itself is getting abraded which could have aesthetic concerns for some. It will also likely show differences in the primary grind so one side will look very different than the other. I add a light micro-bevel of about 0.1 mm wide by finishing with about 5 passes per side, on a 1200 DMT stone.

I have no concerns with durability with this bevel and will use it for any cutting I have to do, including for example opening a one litre can of tomato juice. Once you work with angles of this nature you will learn how to use them and not damage the edges. On the metal cutting you have to be very careful to not load the edge across as you want all the force to be directly pushing against it. About the only sort of utility work that would be hard to do is chisel cut very thick wires or try to cut very thick plastics which require 50-100 lbs of force as both are likely to take a piece out of the edge unless done very carefully.

The only big concern is that on n accidental impacts you could damage the edge significantly. If you are carving wood or cutting up a cardboard box for example and hit a staple/nail it will impact and likely fracture the edge enough to be visible by eye. If you cut hard and fast and this kind of impact is a likely probability and the damage would bother you, then really don't want to go much under 15 per side on most stainless steels.

The difference in cutting ability from 20 to 10 however is very extreme, as are the benefits in edge retention, ease of sharpening, etc. . I can for example take the Jess Horn, use it to cut cardboard until it has just 5% of optimal sharpness, grind the edge completely off by making five passes cutting right into a 800 grit waterstone - and restore the edge with 5 passes per side on 600 DMT followed by 5 passes per side on 1200 DMT. How is that for ease of sharpening.

You don't of course need to grind the edge off on a waterstone, I only do that on cutting comparisons to insure all weakened metal is removed. If you don't do this then you only need the five passes per side on the 1200 DMT, so going from 5% to 100% is just seconds. This is due to the heavy relief bevel so the edge which is getting honed is only 0.1 mm wide.

-Cliff

 

[IUKE12]

Mr. Blonde, your photos are fantastic, I know you've heard that before but wow! The Delica in any flavor is a great knife.

 

[Jedi_Knife]

The Delica used to be my favorite knife of all time. For some reason, Spyderco suddenly designs it to exceed 7" in overall length, but just barely. There is no reason why they couldn't have made all the improvements and eliminated the additional fraction of an inch. There are jurisdictions that forbid carrying folding knives over 7" in length, so that rules the new Delica out. As much as I used to like Spyderco, I feel that their intention to do this was a poor one, and as such I'm totally reevaluating any future purchases that I will make from Spyderco. Fortunately there is enough competition in the knife market that I should be able to find a suitable knife in current production from another manufacturer.

 

[Halfneck]

Jedi_Knife - Spyderco redesigns their Delica and because it is now over 7", you will probably no longer buy Spyderco knives? Maybe if Mr. Glesser sent you a letter stating they intentionally did that to piss you off, otherwise I think it is an extreme reaction. Maybe buy a Navigator II, or look at some of the other Spyderco knives that meet the < 7" criteria.

Personally, I prefer the new changes in the Delica 4. Hopefully this week my ZDP-189 Delica will arrive. Also trying to decide between a SE Delica 4 or a SE Tasman Salt for a new work EDC.

 

[Jedi_Knife]

I know it sounds extreme, but the Delica used to be my most favorite knife, ever. Even though I own several knives from Spyderco and other manufacurers (including an original "pre-naming" Navigator), the Delica was enough to satisfy my knife needs. The fact that I could confidently carry it without worry of legal complications at the places I frequented the most was foremost in my considerations. What I'm trying to say is that, as a big knife enthusiast, losing the Delica to a poor design flaw is very disappointing. Since I'm only one person (who may get a little too creepily attached to knives now and then), I won't be hurting Spyderco at all if I find another current model line of knives from a different manufacturer, that's more suitably designed for those who wish to avoid legal entanglements.

 

[rifon2]

The Delica used to be my favorite knife of all time. For some reason, Spyderco suddenly designs it to exceed 7" in overall length, but just barely. There is no reason why they couldn't have made all the improvements and eliminated the additional fraction of an inch.

I think the Spyderco designers' input could be important here. Maybe there was a reason they couldn't eliminate the additional fraction of an inch after making all the improvements.

There are jurisdictions that forbid carrying folding knives over 7" in length, so that rules the new Delica out.

My understanding is that laws which apply to the length of folding knives relate to blade length only.

I would be interested to know of a jurisdiction whose laws regarding knife length take into account the handle of a folding knife.

 

[allenC]

What I'm trying to say is that, as a big knife enthusiast, losing the Delica to a poor design flaw is very disappointing.

You don't have a knife with a design flaw, you have a law with a freedom flaw!

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Spyderco has designed knives specifically for legal conditions such as the UK Pen, you might want to make a note of this in the Spyderco forum. Note as well than anyone who does mods like STR could fix this issue easily.

-Cliff