- Joined
- May 3, 2002
- Messages
- 6,192
I've thought about buying one of these for about 2 years now because I thought they looked like a good design but never got around to it. When I heard about their going-out-of-business sale I, finally, decided to buy one. For $28.00 I wasn't expecting much, but it's actually even a good knife for the $60-something that they used to charge for it. I'm pretty happy with the product that arrived this afternoon and thought I'd write about it, especially since I've NEVER seen a review on one of these. (I did a search before I bought and didn't find much.)
Here's what I have:
Delta-Z Osprey
Plain-edge
Black-coated blade
G10 handles
Blade length: 3.25" (that is both the blade length from the forward part of the handle and also the length of the shapened part of the blade. I didn't measure down the spine to the handle because that is a little longer and I didn't think that was an honest measurement of blade length. 3.25 is the length I'm sticking with.)
Over-all length: 7.5"
[I will compare to my Benchmade Axis AFCK a bit because they're similar in many ways and because I carry my AFCK religiously and this is also the kind of knife that I would carry a lot for it's features. I'll also rate various things on a scale from 1 to 10.]
First of all, this knife is every bit as cool-looking as the pictures I've seen. Even more-so considering that the clip on the back side was actually designed with the knife instead of just adding one of the standard clips that come on most Tac knives. The pocket clip fits WAY too tight and needed bending just to get it to slide onto a pocket easily. Taking off the pocket clip, I noticed that the screws holding it on were much thicker than the average PC screws. I like that because I sometimes stip them out. No problem this time. Pocket clip get an 8 and would have been a 10 if it weren't so tight.
The first thing I thought when I opened the box was "Cooooooool!"
It is DEFINATELY a 10 on the coolness chart!
The second thing I thought (after realizing that the action was pretty tight) was, "What the heck is up with this pivot pin?" The pivot pin isn't a hex or torx screw but some ODD thing with 5 holes in it.
It didn't take me long to find (I forget the exact name) one of those pliers for removing O-rings with the holes in the end at work. (Someone please post the name of this tool.) In any case, it worked REALLY easily in loosening the pivot. At home I also found that a REALLY pointy needle-noze pliers will do nearly as well. The pivot pin gets a 4 and only that because of good looks. They should have just used a hex-screw which I prefer even over Torx.
Even after loosening the pivot, the action was still a little tight. I think, maybe the detent ball is a little too high. Maybe it would help if they removed the blade coating from that area. In any case, the action is really smooth but isn't as fast as, say an Axis-lock Benchmade or even a better-tuned liner-lock Spyderco. It's not bad, and maybe it'll loosen up with use. Action gets a 7.
The knife came shaving sharp which is not to be taken for granted. I OFTEN sharpen knives right after I get them or at least strop them. I didn't feel any of this neccessary with this knife. This isn't too surprising because it's a common complaint and now some manufacturers try to be better about that. On the other hand, I've bought knives recently that weren't sharp enough to cut open a bag of chips. Sharpness gets a 9.
The constuction is solid. There are 4 Torx screws holding the handle together compared to 2 in my larger Axis AFCK.
It seems like a thick knife. It feels thick - almost square - considering that it's almost as thick as it is wide. In fact, it does have a narrow sideways profile and it does have rather thick G10 scales compared to the rather thin liners. These are some of the thickest G10 scales I've seen. But actually it's almost exactly the same thickness as my BM Axis AFCK. It just FEELS thicker because of it's narrow profile.
I like the thickness. It gives you a good handle to grab. Construction gets a 9.
The thin liners worried me but I beat the hell out of the blade and couldn't get the liner lock to fail. Liners get an 9 because of lack of confidence based on appearance.
The coating looks just like the coating on my Benchmade Axis AFCK. I don't know if it's the same composition, but it looks similar and is equally well done. Coating gets a 10 for looks before I've used it and beat it up.
Fit and finish are supurb. Equal to any Benchmade and way above any Emerson I've seen. I'd definately give it a 10 for looks.
The ergonomics are just OK. I have small hands and if I put my fingers where I think they were intended to go then they are spread out a bit which is uncomfortable, though I can get a comfortable grip if I just find my own positioning. I think the ergos are designed for someone with bigger hands. This is strange because it's a fairly small blade; but obviously with a handle designed for someone with big hands. I think this knife could easly stand being about a 1/4" longer in the blade and equally in the handle and be a little harder worker. I think it would be super-cool if the knife was a full 1" bigger in the blade with equally extra handle. This would make one-hell of an impressive knife if it were larger. I'd give it a 7 for ergonimocs.
My favorite part of this knife is the blade geometry. I love the recurve with the extra sort-of tanto point. It is perfect for the kind of work I do. I do a lot of long cuts on paperboard and cardboard while opening containers of film and plates at work. I also, very often, hold my knives like a pen for intricate cutting. This is both because of the prepress work I do and because of the habit I've developed from using an Exacto knife for so many years. That tip works great for the Exacto-like work I so-often do with my knives. The two-faceted grind reminds me of one of my all-time-favorite knives; the Spyderco Lum Tanto folder. Blade geometry gets an easy 10.
I totally dig the odd-shaped opening hole. I really like opening holes. When ever I find a knife that will allow it, I often use the first and middle finger of my right hand on the right side of the knife to flip it open rather than my thumb. (Especially with tip-up knives like I wish this one was.) Those fingers open knives faster in some cases (from my experience and are 'flippier') by activating the hole or stud on the right side of the knife. That is definately true with this knife. The elongated opening hole allows me to use either my middle or first finger because they can each find the hole and get good purchase quite easily. The long hole is definately not just for show especially if you use those fingers to open like I do. My only complaint is that the opening hole is a little thin at the spine and I question the strength in that area. Hole gets a 9 because of the thin area at the spine.
Testing? Well, I sliced up a bunch of paper of different weights with great joy. I didn't do any kind of endurance test. I don't see the point. The knife steel is AUS-8. I have a bunch of knives in this steel and I know what to expect. I expect this knife to perform similarly. Steel quality gets a 10 because I think that's a pretty good steel for the price.
In conclusion, I'm sad. Very sad. I'm sad that Delta-Z is going out of business.
I feel guilty for not buying one of these over the last two years. (I could have written a review sooner!) Perhaps, if the word got out, they would've done better and wouldn't have had to go out of business. Based on what I see, they certainly DESERVE to stay in business. This is a damn good knife for the money and a REALLY great design! Maybe I'll go back and buy another Delta-Z before they're gone.
Good-bye Delta-Z. I'm sorry it took a going-out-of-business sale for me to discover you. Take care. Thank you for the contributions you've made the the knife world.
Here's what I have:
Delta-Z Osprey
Plain-edge
Black-coated blade
G10 handles
Blade length: 3.25" (that is both the blade length from the forward part of the handle and also the length of the shapened part of the blade. I didn't measure down the spine to the handle because that is a little longer and I didn't think that was an honest measurement of blade length. 3.25 is the length I'm sticking with.)
Over-all length: 7.5"
[I will compare to my Benchmade Axis AFCK a bit because they're similar in many ways and because I carry my AFCK religiously and this is also the kind of knife that I would carry a lot for it's features. I'll also rate various things on a scale from 1 to 10.]
First of all, this knife is every bit as cool-looking as the pictures I've seen. Even more-so considering that the clip on the back side was actually designed with the knife instead of just adding one of the standard clips that come on most Tac knives. The pocket clip fits WAY too tight and needed bending just to get it to slide onto a pocket easily. Taking off the pocket clip, I noticed that the screws holding it on were much thicker than the average PC screws. I like that because I sometimes stip them out. No problem this time. Pocket clip get an 8 and would have been a 10 if it weren't so tight.
The first thing I thought when I opened the box was "Cooooooool!"
It is DEFINATELY a 10 on the coolness chart!
The second thing I thought (after realizing that the action was pretty tight) was, "What the heck is up with this pivot pin?" The pivot pin isn't a hex or torx screw but some ODD thing with 5 holes in it.
It didn't take me long to find (I forget the exact name) one of those pliers for removing O-rings with the holes in the end at work. (Someone please post the name of this tool.) In any case, it worked REALLY easily in loosening the pivot. At home I also found that a REALLY pointy needle-noze pliers will do nearly as well. The pivot pin gets a 4 and only that because of good looks. They should have just used a hex-screw which I prefer even over Torx.
Even after loosening the pivot, the action was still a little tight. I think, maybe the detent ball is a little too high. Maybe it would help if they removed the blade coating from that area. In any case, the action is really smooth but isn't as fast as, say an Axis-lock Benchmade or even a better-tuned liner-lock Spyderco. It's not bad, and maybe it'll loosen up with use. Action gets a 7.
The knife came shaving sharp which is not to be taken for granted. I OFTEN sharpen knives right after I get them or at least strop them. I didn't feel any of this neccessary with this knife. This isn't too surprising because it's a common complaint and now some manufacturers try to be better about that. On the other hand, I've bought knives recently that weren't sharp enough to cut open a bag of chips. Sharpness gets a 9.
The constuction is solid. There are 4 Torx screws holding the handle together compared to 2 in my larger Axis AFCK.
It seems like a thick knife. It feels thick - almost square - considering that it's almost as thick as it is wide. In fact, it does have a narrow sideways profile and it does have rather thick G10 scales compared to the rather thin liners. These are some of the thickest G10 scales I've seen. But actually it's almost exactly the same thickness as my BM Axis AFCK. It just FEELS thicker because of it's narrow profile.
I like the thickness. It gives you a good handle to grab. Construction gets a 9.
The thin liners worried me but I beat the hell out of the blade and couldn't get the liner lock to fail. Liners get an 9 because of lack of confidence based on appearance.
The coating looks just like the coating on my Benchmade Axis AFCK. I don't know if it's the same composition, but it looks similar and is equally well done. Coating gets a 10 for looks before I've used it and beat it up.
Fit and finish are supurb. Equal to any Benchmade and way above any Emerson I've seen. I'd definately give it a 10 for looks.
The ergonomics are just OK. I have small hands and if I put my fingers where I think they were intended to go then they are spread out a bit which is uncomfortable, though I can get a comfortable grip if I just find my own positioning. I think the ergos are designed for someone with bigger hands. This is strange because it's a fairly small blade; but obviously with a handle designed for someone with big hands. I think this knife could easly stand being about a 1/4" longer in the blade and equally in the handle and be a little harder worker. I think it would be super-cool if the knife was a full 1" bigger in the blade with equally extra handle. This would make one-hell of an impressive knife if it were larger. I'd give it a 7 for ergonimocs.
My favorite part of this knife is the blade geometry. I love the recurve with the extra sort-of tanto point. It is perfect for the kind of work I do. I do a lot of long cuts on paperboard and cardboard while opening containers of film and plates at work. I also, very often, hold my knives like a pen for intricate cutting. This is both because of the prepress work I do and because of the habit I've developed from using an Exacto knife for so many years. That tip works great for the Exacto-like work I so-often do with my knives. The two-faceted grind reminds me of one of my all-time-favorite knives; the Spyderco Lum Tanto folder. Blade geometry gets an easy 10.
I totally dig the odd-shaped opening hole. I really like opening holes. When ever I find a knife that will allow it, I often use the first and middle finger of my right hand on the right side of the knife to flip it open rather than my thumb. (Especially with tip-up knives like I wish this one was.) Those fingers open knives faster in some cases (from my experience and are 'flippier') by activating the hole or stud on the right side of the knife. That is definately true with this knife. The elongated opening hole allows me to use either my middle or first finger because they can each find the hole and get good purchase quite easily. The long hole is definately not just for show especially if you use those fingers to open like I do. My only complaint is that the opening hole is a little thin at the spine and I question the strength in that area. Hole gets a 9 because of the thin area at the spine.
Testing? Well, I sliced up a bunch of paper of different weights with great joy. I didn't do any kind of endurance test. I don't see the point. The knife steel is AUS-8. I have a bunch of knives in this steel and I know what to expect. I expect this knife to perform similarly. Steel quality gets a 10 because I think that's a pretty good steel for the price.
In conclusion, I'm sad. Very sad. I'm sad that Delta-Z is going out of business.
I feel guilty for not buying one of these over the last two years. (I could have written a review sooner!) Perhaps, if the word got out, they would've done better and wouldn't have had to go out of business. Based on what I see, they certainly DESERVE to stay in business. This is a damn good knife for the money and a REALLY great design! Maybe I'll go back and buy another Delta-Z before they're gone.
Good-bye Delta-Z. I'm sorry it took a going-out-of-business sale for me to discover you. Take care. Thank you for the contributions you've made the the knife world.
If you went out & bought a 'lousy' dinner, would you stop buying food? Come on, give it a chance!