Halfneck wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 8:16 pm
Anyone able to post some side-by-side pics for comparison?
I'll oblige.
To preface
(and FWIW, I find this to be the least transferrable amount of actual reliable info to give, as hands are all so different and pictures are so unjust in so many ways), my hand sizing is medium/large, depending on manufacturer and specific glove type. I have actually fit all the way down into labelled small gloves, as well, just to muddy my point of reference even further. My hands are definitely "slim", rather than "meaty", however I would not describe them as "dainty". Please, make sure to properly checkout with all of this hand-sizing info by including a pallet of salt to your shopping cart at your nearest Price Club/Costco during your next shopping trip, for best results.
Side-x-Side, matching the start of actual edge at ricasso:
Edge-to-Edge focused:
Handle-to-Handle focused, matching the start of guard/actual gripable handle:
LJ in-hand, gripped:
LJ in-hand, ungripped:
Delica in-hand, gripped:
Delica in-hand, ungripped:
*Now, before further investigation, I urge you to take a minute and look at the similarity between the two handles!!
Can you spot it?!
Please look at that first "hump" of the Delica's "mountainous" handle landscape, we'll call it. If that first "hump", bothers you personally on the Delica 4, that exact same "hump" is placed in the exact same location within the handle of the LeafJumper, however it is sharper and has more of a "peak", having less refinement of contouring, within the LeafJumper. Personally, because of that "hump peak sharpness" I find it bothers me more on the LeafJumper, than it does, or ever has, on the Delica. The "apex" of that "hump" on both handles falls right in line in the middle of my middle finger and is a noticeable, however slight hotspot from time-to-time when handling both of the knives (in and out of use). I have considered taking some high grit sandpaper to smooth that "peak" out a bit on the LeafJumper, blending the contouring lines in to suit the rest of the comfiness of the handle.
Footprint overlap, closed position to show height difference:
Handle overlap, open position to show gripable handle height difference:
Blade profile overlap, open position
*I was actually surprised to see that they have such a similar blade profile at the edge when starting from the ricasso, albeit, the Delica length being shorter:
Blade-stock profile comparison, closed position
*this also illustrates that lack of contoured refinement in the LJ when comparing the handle "humps", being sharper in the LJ:
Handle-spine profile comparison, closed position to show side-x-side handle thickness difference
*they are much more similar in this dimension than I would have thought:
Up next are pictures illustrating the kick-to-finger closing methods, providing depth to sal's comment on familiarity of closing their back-locks:
LJ:
Delica:
Just a useful grip that I find suits my hand size, per size of the handles (like a "cavity opening" grip, when field dressing, or skinning an animal), comfortable and practical with both knives:
LJ:
Delica:
*This last round of pictures illustrates my only real downside to having a folding knife with the edge that extends all the way back to the guard. Honestly, this is just a grip preference that I have come to use based on my usage of the Delica 4 and other "choiled" knives, for so many years now and is such a muscle memory engrained grip, that I've caught myself in this grip a couple times already whilst handling and using the LeafJumper. If you, too, use what I can only call this "modified pinch grip", please, keep that in mind when you "pinch up" on the LeafJumper, you are "pinching up" on actual edge and not a ricasso, or otherwise dull spot of the blade. I have done this a few times already when preparing for a cut, on autopilot, from using the Delica for so many years:
LJ:
Delica:
All that being said, the LeafJumper is a fantastic platform and honestly, I've come to quite appreciate the lack of thumb jimping and boye-dent. It gives it it's own character, that adds a breath of fresh feels. I don't get nervous sweats when seeing the "missing" edge length that
could have been maximized within that handle, because it would honestly add dimensions otherwise to the blade that already push a limit,
for me (
blade height when closed would increase further for the length of the knife and most likely, the overall height itself, to retain a similar, or the same, leaf shape in profile). If maximal blade is demanded, by all means, maximize the larger variants in-development down the pipeline (Sequoia, and/or CliffJumper??)
I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the K390 variant, although, this VG-10 has been a pleasure to use, itself. Those who think the VG-10 version is a waste of their money, do not fret on the K390 iteration. This is a wonderful little knife and I'm sure will appease those who find the Delica not to their liking. I love the Delica, and so far in this honeymoon phase, I too, love the LeafJumper.
Make Knife Grinds Thin Again.