yet another wal-mart thread

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dumdeedum

Joined
Jun 16, 2007
Messages
113
I'm on the verge of buying a spyderco folder as an edc, but thinking that wally world offered only the good ol' Native, I get on their website to request shipment to my store, when BAM!... I also find the Delica for $10 more. Being that it's late and I'm feeling too tired to search through the forums more tonight, I'd like to post a few questions:

-How does S30V compare with VG10? I know it's a very general question with many ways of answering it, but that's simply because of my lack of knowledge about the general comparisons between the two steels. I'm one of those people who soaks up all sorts of information very easily, so even the more comprehensive information won't be a hindrance. I'm also quick at picking up on technical knowledge, so don't worry about simplifying any complex terminology, unless you see fit.

-How does the Native compare to the Delica in general (vague question again, I know)? I'm aware of the blade geometry and whatnot, having looked up countless images online already, but I'd like to hear more from individuals about their own contrasting or similar experiences involving both knives. Which of the two would you personally prefer as an EDC, and why?

I'm not looking for anyone to try to tackle all of these questions... just any bit of useful information, or even a relevant anecdote would be much appreciated. Heck, I'll even take links to relevant sites/posts/articles since it ultimately equates to time saved from hours of researching. I'd just like to hear what you as an individual have to say about each or either knife/steel/etc., your personal preferences, and why you might like one ever so slightly more than the other (and yes, I research knives to death before I buy them now, since bladeforums has made... nay, forced me to spend a budget-breaking amount of currency on knives ever since I joined up such a short time ago).

-Thanks
 
I have a Native and a Delica. I've EDC'd both of them. I've not noticed much difference between the VG-10 on the Delica and the S30V on Native for light to medium tasks. They both get razor sharp and stay that way for a good long while. Both have FRN handles. The Delica feels slimmer in the pocket than than the Native. Overall they both are great knives for the money. Personally, I prefer the Native over the Delica....and I'm not exactly sure why...I just do. :D
 
Sorry I can't offer any real technical information. All I can do is relate my personal findings, subjective as they are.

S30V and VG-10 are both great steels. The way I use my knives has led me to prefer S30V. It seems to hold an edge better for me. VG-10 seems to roll a bit too easily for my taste.

I like the Delica 4 better than the Native. It simply fits my large size hand better, as well as feeling a bit smaller in my pocket. The Native is a good workhorse of a knife and I like it a lot, but I like the Delica a bit better.

Given the choice betwen a VG-10 Delica and an S30V Native, I will take the Native. (I carry ZDP-189 Delicas)
 
I cannot say I have extensively used my knives as much as some of the other folks here, but I find that I am in general, much more happy using VG-10 than S30V. A razor-sharp S30V blade is really nice, though.
 
The Native wins for me as an EDC for one reason, the ergos.

I can't comfortably fit 4 fingers on the Delica. While I don't require a 4 finger grip on a knife, a 3 finger grip on the Delica didn't feel good to me and when applying pressure with my thumb on the spine the whole knife felt unbalanced to me.

As far as steels go, VG10 works better for me. Takes a very fine edge with less work than S30V. Holds a razor edge about just as long as S30V in my experience, S30V holding a working edge longer, but when my knives get that dull I sharpen them anyways. Both are good all around steels outside of edge retentiojn, but I give VG10 the nod for ease of sharpening and the edge just seems easier to acheive and maintain for me.

They're both very well made knives. If the Delica fits you, I think it's a great choice for an EDC. I think overall it's a little tougher than the Native. The native ergos just work better for me so I kept it and traded off my Delicas.
 
is one considered a better workhorse, or are they approximately the same... or at the very least, does one feel sturdier than the other?
 
dumdeedum said:
-How does the Native compare to the Delica in general (vague question again, I know)? I'm aware of the blade geometry and whatnot, having looked up countless images online already, but I'd like to hear more from individuals about their own contrasting or similar experiences involving both knives. Which of the two would you personally prefer as an EDC, and why?
Click to expand...

As I am sure you are aware both knives are truly excellent designs that share a large amount of overlap in their usage and design features. Both are FRN handled, lockback, and bi-directional. The Delica features Torx-screw construction and steel liners as well as a 4-way pocket clip.

The knives diverge pretty heavily in their steels and their handles. Beginning with the steels; I shall share my experience with S30V since I have the most time with the Native. In general use the Native holds an edge very well for a very long time and only required touching-up on the Sharpmaker at 30 degrees every week or so. However, under heavy use the edge would usually dull out due to chipping over time. I never found this a real problem since the materials I was cutting would dull most every other steel used anyway and S30V generally would retain more sharpness than lower-end steels. I have found that over time the chipping has seemed to occur less and less.

I usually sharpen my knives with a Lansky kit and found that it took too long to use the regular stones so diamond stones were a necessity with S30V. Oddly enough I found that the Fine diamond stone would cut the Native much faster than the Coarse diamond stone. Not sure why, but it works a lot faster to reprofile with the Fine stone. The Native takes a very keen edge and responds well to cardboard stropping and a very fine edge.

The blades of the Native and the Delica differ as well. The hollowground, swedged, spearpoint blade of the Native is slightly thicker at the spine than the Delica but feels "zippy" when compared to the Delica. Both blades cut well but for general use I feel the saber-flat ground blade of the Delica wins out. The Native has a thinner tip than the Delica so it is not as sturdy but has a higher piercing ability.

Now, the largest factor in your purchase will be the handles of the two knives. The Native handle has a lot of detractors since it is more specialized than the Delica and is not as "one-size-fits-all." I recommend handling the Native first and trying out the different grip positions while noting the large and useful choil. I love the Native handle on most days since it gives a very good grip under all kinds of use but some days it just doesn't fit my hand. The Bi-directional texturing on the Native is not as aggressive as the Delica and does not hold as well but there is no problem with wet/oily hands, both knives perform well.

As far as durability overall I feel both knives are strong enough to handle all medium use tasks and a fair number of hard use tasks. I gave my Native to my brother to use while he was working machine reconfiguration in a plastics factory. He did everything with the knife including hitting the spine with his handmade 12lb sledge to cut some thick plastic stock and the knife is still ticking. The Delica will probably come out on top in this department though since it has steel liners.

The opening of the Native is also slightly different than the Delica since the hole is much closer to the scales and is slightly smaller. The Native also seems to require more of a "straight-line" approach while the Delica feels more circular.

For EDC use I would recommend the Native because the it's excellent handle/blade ergonomics. For collection purposes the Delica is king with it's color/blade options.

DSCF0477.jpg


Get both? :D
 
I prefer the Native, but that's just me. The Delica has been one of Spyderco's flagship models for years, so a lot of people like it. And, there are probably those who don't care for either. S30V and VG-10 are both excellent steels. Neither, in my opinion, has a significant advantage over the other. My suggestion would be to go with whichever knife is more visually appealing to you. But, since the Native is stocked by Wal-Mart stores, and the Delica only available from them via the website, you might want handle a Native there before making your decision. If you really like the feel of the Native, then it will be the best choice for you. If not, the Delica may feel better to you.
 
I have 7 Delicas and 4 Natives, so if you judge by quantity, the Delica wins :D. Seriously, I like carrying a Native for use around the house/yard because of the blade shape, but the Delica handle actually works better for me than the "off-the-rack" Native handle. The Delica's handle is a more comfortable 4-finger grip. When I do use the Native, however, I notice that the spear point, the choils, and the spine jimping give me a bit more control for fine cuts.

The main reason I like the Delica is because of the liners (a bit more weight and thickness) and the overall toughness. I work in a warehouse and I've used my VG-10 D4 to cut everything except the steel support posts for the racks. I even cut electrical wire and insulation with her. Then I go and drop her onto the warehouse floor from 10+ feet in the air. No harm... no foul... no chips, dips, or anything else. Just lays there waiting for me to come pick her up. Didn't even unlock the blade (gotta love those back locks).

For an EDC steel, I prefer VG-10 over S30V or ZDP-189. I value toughness somewhat more than edge holding. None of my knives are going to get dull, so restoring a dull edge is never a concern. S30V and ZDP-189 are top-notch steels, but they are very hard and I have been known to run over a staple or two in a box I'm opening, or to hit one of the steel support posts when I'm slicing stretch wrap or shipping bands in the racks. I also use them for clearing out grass and weeds in the yard and fence line where we have rocks, nails, etc.

Deacon's advice is good... if you can't handle both, handle the one you can reach. Play with it... try different grips. If it really fits your hand well and the rest of it is solid, that's probably the one for you. Either knife will last you for many years with proper care. If it's Spyderco, they're all good... Sal don't make no junk ;).
 
I've had both and prefer the Delica. Waved one if given the choice. The Native is a nice knife but to me is only good in one grip where the Delica has a better grip in different positions. The tip of the Delica is thicker then the Native and is less prone to chipping in the experience I have had with both using them on day to day tasks.
 
I carried an original Delica all through college. Later I replaced it with a Delica III, which I lost due to bent clip that I was too lazy to replace. Now my EDC is a waved Delica 4. I bought the waved Endura 4 first and decided it was too large for me, so I sold it and bought the Delica. I don't own a Native, but like the design and handle shape a little better than the Delica. I used the Delica just this morning to cut the tags out of my wife's new shirt. Why the Delica? Because it's what I had on me and what I could get to the quickest.

GregB
 
Vivi said:
The Native wins for me as an EDC for one reason, the ergos.

I can't comfortably fit 4 fingers on the Delica. While I don't require a 4 finger grip on a knife, a 3 finger grip on the Delica didn't feel good to me and when applying pressure with my thumb on the spine the whole knife felt unbalanced to me.
Click to expand...

Wow, you must have some big paws there Vivi! :eek: I find it very easy to get all 4 of my fingers on the handle quite comfortably, with my thumb on the ramp behind the Spydie Hole.

I've only got the Delica (D4W) so I can't compare and contrast, but I will say that I agree with those who've already mentioned that Delica is a good work knife. It's comfortable in a standard grip as well as reverse, blade-out grip. It's a little awkward in the blade-in grips. As far as
edge durability, I don't use mine quite as extensively as some folks here, but I do at least a little cutting with it just about every day and I haven't felt a need to sharpen it in the week and a half or so that I've been carrying it. It doesn't shave arm hair anymore like it did out of the box, but it zips through cardboard, plastic strapping and shrink wrap just fine.
 
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