The Superior Delica

[bbturbodad]

I felt the same way...seemed like an odd shape to be practical in normal day to day use but WOW is it a great utility knife!

I'd like to find one with teeth too. For now though I'm extremely pleased with the the way the PE version has been working.

How about a Salt version? :D

[prndltech]

I felt the same way...seemed like an odd shape to be practical in normal day to day use but WOW is it a great utility knife!

I'd like to find one with teeth too. For now though I'm extremely pleased with the the way the PE version has been working.

How about a Salt version? :D

Probably to similar to the Tasman 2, cuz the “reverse s” is still labeled as a hawkbill....

[Doc Dan]

The Delica apparently makes a great hunting knife. In addition, it’s just great all around. I used mine yesterday to open a package my wife received and also to cut wrapping paper for Christmas presents.

[prndltech]

Just snagged a SE delica 4 over on the exchange, cheap

[Cambertree]

I've used the Delica a fair bit as a small game knife, mostly on rabbits. Prepared quite a few meals with it too, when away from home.

It's a great knife for sure. My first Spyderco model, and although I wouldn't like it, I'm sure I could get away with using one as my only pocket knife.

[Ric]

@sharp guy
@wartstein
Thanks for the explanation and videos.

:)

[Doc Dan]

Why isn’t this ffg se available on all Delica 4’s?

[Wartstein]

Why isn’t this ffg se available on all Delica 4’s?

... and also not on all Endura 4's? Works so great on the Endela...

[u.w.]

I'm a Delica fan also.
As has been posted numerous times in this tread (great thread by the way) it is such a "jack of all trades" knife, and pretty easy to modify a little too (if one would feel so inclined - I am one of those who feel/felt so inclined)

I like a lot of different Spydercos for sure. The original Stretch FRN is a huge favorite, the PM2, the UKPKs, the Urban, and for sure the topic of this thread: The Delica.
Over the years I have carried a Delica a lot, and over the years have come to find that there were certain 'little' things that I thought/think would make it better. So, I began the journey... a little at a time.
First I removed as much metal as I could from the steel liners without affecting the function of the blade/backlock/backlock spring bar. That was a hard lesson to learn as I ruined the green handles, liners, and back spacer on my ZDP delica. Those are the 'lessons' you don't forget. I messed up, learned, and continued. Now, only my Cruwear and M390 (not shown) Delicas have full steel liners (or blades for that matter).

Not quite satisfied that it was as good as it could be, I looked to my favorite: the FRN Stretch I. I Really liked that drop point blade!! It added/adds a whole lot of function without taking anything away! Such a great blade shape (IMO). I also looked to another favorite: the drop point UKPK (kind of a Delica sized Stretch, that doesn't lock - or non-locking Hyker)...
Well, it took no time at all for me to grab a fine tipped marker and trace that UKPK drop point blade shape onto one of my Delicas (the grey handled one). I liked the way it looked! A lot!
Out to my little belt sander I went, with a glass of ice water, my gray handled Delica, a dust mask, and safety glasses. A few careful minutes later I had removed the metal I wanted to and had my preferred Delica in hand!
I did also thin the blade down a little behind the edge, on stones by hand - so it (as well as the other pictured) is now around 0.012 " BTE. Holy moly this thing passes through whatever I put it to SO EASILY AND EFFORTLESSLY! Lastly, if you look you'll see that I also smoothed out the bumps on the bottom of the handle(s) (to me, this is an improvement) - which is why I'd say to keep the handles FRN. For those who want to smooth out those bumps, we can do so easily with a bit of sand paper. For those who prefer the 'bumps', they're already there - no issue.

I've subtley mentioned on the forum that I thought Spyderco should make this model and call it the Hyker. The exception being to make it linerless, like the Salts. You'd have a 2.0 oz or less knife, Delica sized, and IMO a far better competitor for the Bugout (of which the Delica is almost exactly sized - length-)...
Perhaps that suggestion never got noticed and is now buried?
I'll humbly ask here again - Spyderco - could/would y'all please make the Hyker Delica? A drop point, FRN, linerless Delica. Keep the steel VG-10 or something stainless also please, as this knife is one to spend a lot of time outdoors.

The orange one below has spent over a thousand trail miles with me, in my right front pocket, across a whole lot of mountains to include, the Long Trail, the LHHT, the Foothills Trail, the Massanutten loop, Art Loeb, all the way to the top of Katahdin at the northern terminus of the AT (I didn't start with the orange handled one, but did half or more with it). And a whole, whole lot of miles on other shorter trails. It absolutely excels at all I have ever needed it to do (sapplings, branches, packages, cordage, food prep, fire prep, first aid,...)! Though I do wish it were linerless to be just a little lighter.
Though I have never used it for game processing, I do believe it would excel at that as well.

What good is all this typing with not a single photo!? lol (my Cruwear & M390 - both un-modded still - are obviously not in the photo(s) )



The top one is a Salt, and I've given it 'the finger choil mod' - which I can say I actually do not prefer after having done it, and used it. The regular Delica choil-less handle works just fine, if not better, for me.



and of course, the one that I have grown very fond of & attached to because of how much time we've spent together alone in the woods in the mountains on trails - and has always got the job needed done so well. My orange handled Delica Hyker



and I suppose all this talk of hiking might better stand up to scrutiny with a photo?
If you look close you'll see the clip of that orange handled Delica 'Hyker' on the outside of my right front pocket. Photo is of me at the northern terminus of the AT last year, standing next to the summit sign, feeling a flood of emotions to include, about as awesome as I've ever felt. That knife, to me, is priceless... and superior - as this thread states



u.w.

[Holland]

Awesome thread. The Delica receives the most pocket time for me. Such a perfect all round knife, with a nice thin blade stock

[elena86]

...................................................................................
I did also thin the blade down a little behind the edge,
...................................................................................


u.w.

Well done u.w ! Awesome photos and tight work bro .... but I have to say that 0.012 behind the edge is quite low... it should come like that from the factory if you ask me. I only hope and pray that Sal reads these posts and will do something about this. It's a mistery to me why they ground the Delica so thick bte... all my ffg Delicas came > 0.025 bte from the factory :eek:

[tonijedi]

I'm a Delica fan also.
[...]
u.w.

Great post. Although not exactly what you're wishing for a LC200N FFG Salt 2 would tick some of your boxes. I hope this variation of the Salt 2 becomes a reality sooner or later.

[Doc Dan]

I need to convince my wife that I NEED a Salt 2. I was going to buy one and saw the GITD Delica and got that instead.

[prndltech]

I need to convince my wife that I NEED a Salt 2. I was going to buy one and saw the GITD Delica and got that instead.

Get you both one for an anniversary so you can both carry them

[dman62]

The Delica and Para 2 are my favorite Spyderco's by far. Last Spydie I bought was a foliage green partial serrated Delica. A lot of people say it's not enough blade to have partial serrations but so far I've not found that to be the case, for me at least, (and I have the matching Endura to compare it to). The Delica carries great and is a great value. Sal definitely hit a home run when he designed it (one of many).

[Kyle8734]

Bought my first Delica -M390 version a while back and love it. Not only for the steel that performs great but I really do love the model. Very nice/smooth lock, simple design but feels great in the hand. Very lightweight. Probably isn't the best model for those with huge hands (check out the Endura if you do) but for me it is great. Kind of wish now I would have grabbed one of the Cru Wear models a while back but it's ok, I do love this M390 version. Knife tested at nearly 62 Rockwell. Depending on which future models are released I doubt this will be the last Delica I buy.

[Cambertree]

I had to smile when I saw my 5 and 7 year old nephews the other day, using this to try to pop open the plastic seals on a box of Lego.

I couldn’t fault their technique or their taste in knives. I’m sorry to say the edge left something to be desired though... :D



I used a real one to finish the job. :)

[Doc Dan]

I had to smile when I saw my 5 and 7 year old nephews the other day, using this to try to pop open the plastic seals on a box of Lego.

I couldn’t fault their technique or their taste in knives. I’m sorry to say the edge left something to be desired though... :D



I used a real one to finish the job. :)

:D :D

[bearrowland]

Great job finishing the AT!!

I'm a Delica fan also.
As has been posted numerous times in this tread (great thread by the way) it is such a "jack of all trades" knife, and pretty easy to modify a little too (if one would feel so inclined - I am one of those who feel/felt so inclined)

I like a lot of different Spydercos for sure. The original Stretch FRN is a huge favorite, the PM2, the UKPKs, the Urban, and for sure the topic of this thread: The Delica.
Over the years I have carried a Delica a lot, and over the years have come to find that there were certain 'little' things that I thought/think would make it better. So, I began the journey... a little at a time.
First I removed as much metal as I could from the steel liners without affecting the function of the blade/backlock/backlock spring bar. That was a hard lesson to learn as I ruined the green handles, liners, and back spacer on my ZDP delica. Those are the 'lessons' you don't forget. I messed up, learned, and continued. Now, only my Cruwear and M390 (not shown) Delicas have full steel liners (or blades for that matter).

Not quite satisfied that it was as good as it could be, I looked to my favorite: the FRN Stretch I. I Really liked that drop point blade!! It added/adds a whole lot of function without taking anything away! Such a great blade shape (IMO). I also looked to another favorite: the drop point UKPK (kind of a Delica sized Stretch, that doesn't lock - or non-locking Hyker)...
Well, it took no time at all for me to grab a fine tipped marker and trace that UKPK drop point blade shape onto one of my Delicas (the grey handled one). I liked the way it looked! A lot!
Out to my little belt sander I went, with a glass of ice water, my gray handled Delica, a dust mask, and safety glasses. A few careful minutes later I had removed the metal I wanted to and had my preferred Delica in hand!
I did also thin the blade down a little behind the edge, on stones by hand - so it (as well as the other pictured) is now around 0.012 " BTE. Holy moly this thing passes through whatever I put it to SO EASILY AND EFFORTLESSLY! Lastly, if you look you'll see that I also smoothed out the bumps on the bottom of the handle(s) (to me, this is an improvement) - which is why I'd say to keep the handles FRN. For those who want to smooth out those bumps, we can do so easily with a bit of sand paper. For those who prefer the 'bumps', they're already there - no issue.

I've subtley mentioned on the forum that I thought Spyderco should make this model and call it the Hyker. The exception being to make it linerless, like the Salts. You'd have a 2.0 oz or less knife, Delica sized, and IMO a far better competitor for the Bugout (of which the Delica is almost exactly sized - length-)...
Perhaps that suggestion never got noticed and is now buried?
I'll humbly ask here again - Spyderco - could/would y'all please make the Hyker Delica? A drop point, FRN, linerless Delica. Keep the steel VG-10 or something stainless also please, as this knife is one to spend a lot of time outdoors.

The orange one below has spent over a thousand trail miles with me, in my right front pocket, across a whole lot of mountains to include, the Long Trail, the LHHT, the Foothills Trail, the Massanutten loop, Art Loeb, all the way to the top of Katahdin at the northern terminus of the AT (I didn't start with the orange handled one, but did half or more with it). And a whole, whole lot of miles on other shorter trails. It absolutely excels at all I have ever needed it to do (sapplings, branches, packages, cordage, food prep, fire prep, first aid,...)! Though I do wish it were linerless to be just a little lighter.
Though I have never used it for game processing, I do believe it would excel at that as well.

What good is all this typing with not a single photo!? lol (my Cruwear & M390 - both un-modded still - are obviously not in the photo(s) )



The top one is a Salt, and I've given it 'the finger choil mod' - which I can say I actually do not prefer after having done it, and used it. The regular Delica choil-less handle works just fine, if not better, for me.



and of course, the one that I have grown very fond of & attached to because of how much time we've spent together alone in the woods in the mountains on trails - and has always got the job needed done so well. My orange handled Delica Hyker



and I suppose all this talk of hiking might better stand up to scrutiny with a photo?
If you look close you'll see the clip of that orange handled Delica 'Hyker' on the outside of my right front pocket. Photo is of me at the northern terminus of the AT last year, standing next to the summit sign, feeling a flood of emotions to include, about as awesome as I've ever felt. That knife, to me, is priceless... and superior - as this thread states



u.w.

[u.w.]

Great job finishing the AT!!

Thank you very much! An amazing experience to be sure!

Great post. Although not exactly what you're wishing for a LC200N FFG Salt 2 would tick some of your boxes. I hope this variation of the Salt 2 becomes a reality sooner or later.

Agreed - it would & yes, that would be pretty cool to see. I've not used LC200N personally. Maybe one day,

...................................................................................
I did also thin the blade down a little behind the edge,
...................................................................................


u.w.

Well done u.w ! Awesome photos and tight work bro .... but I have to say that 0.012 behind the edge is quite low... it should come like that from the factory if you ask me. I only hope and pray that Sal reads these posts and will do something about this. It's a mistery to me why they ground the Delica so thick bte... all my ffg Delicas came > 0.025 bte from the factory :eek:

Thank you! And Yes, I agree that 0.012 behind the edge is quite low compared to factory. It works so amazingly well at that thickness (thinness) also! I also would not mind if some (many) of the knives came from the factory like that.
I just thinned down my BD1N drop point UKPK to 0.010 bte yesterday. I cut saplings and vines for over an hour in my back yard today with it, and had no issues at all. It flies through paper, plastic, zip-ties, and cardboard all of which I cut at work yesterday and today.


I'm loving seeing all these photos of all these Superior Delicas!
u.w.