If you can only have one Delica...

[Sharp Guy]

You're going to get as many different answers as there are different variations

[JuPaul]

I find the KC exclusive with the Pakkawood scales to be the best looking Delica.

+1. But if you prefer frn, I'd pick the recent DLT coated cruwear Delica.

[Bill1170]

The good news is this: nobody is limiting you to only one Delica!

[awa54]

CruWear! CruWear is always the answer. Basically stainless in my experience.

My only CruWear Spydie that has shown any corrosion is the Delica

It wasn't even harsh abuse, just some packing tape residue that was left on the blade for a week or two.

All the rest of my Cru crew have been functionally stainless though.

[w3tnz]

K390, or M390 if you want stainless.

[Oloung1]

My only CruWear Spydie that has shown any corrosion is the Delica

It wasn't even harsh abuse, just some packing tape residue that was left on the blade for a week or two.

Curious if the corrosion occurred on the edge or bevel? Any Flitz applications to them?

[A.S.]

St. Nick’s Hap40 with red G10 scales. My favorite, favorite Delica.

[normal]

K390, or M390 if you want stainless.

My vote as well.

[5-by-5]

Got mine

[elena86]

The one in Hap40 with burnt orange frn handle would be my choice. Second close is the one in ZDP189.

[bearfacedkiller]

My super blue is the one I won’t ever part with but they are as scarce as hens teeth.

Of the more current options I would choose k390 or Cruwear.

[Mr Blonde]

Only one Delica is ... well ... hard to imagine for me ;-) . But if I had to choose one, I'd go with one in VG10 and a FFG blade.
Personally, if I'd had to keep just one Delica from my current collection, it would be the one with the stainless damascus blade that Ed Schempp made for me.

[storyville]

DLT Cruwear--OD green FRN with black blade and hardware.

#2 would be the orange HAP40.

Love love love both. And for EDC, no matter what else I buy, the Delica is the model I keep returning to. Kinda went from 'outdated' to 'timeless' for me.

[nerdlock]

Thank you everyone for your detailed responses!

As much as I'd love to have more Delicas, I'm afraid that any more than one would be relegated to my knifebox as it has to compete with my Taichungs and Para3s/Manixes.

I really appreciate your opinions on why this model is the "one" for you. I'm narrowing it down to the steels you have mentioned here.

I have a preference for stainless since it is quite tropical and humid where I'm at right now, and if this is going to spend most of its time out of rotation in storage, I might forget maintaining it and rust might form when I least expect it (has happened to my M4s). On the other hand, I'm not disregarding tool steels at all since I require toughness and edge wear resistance due to the nature of my work.

[TkoK83Spy]

You're going to get as many different answers as there are different variations

As the replies keep coming, you were spot on buddy haha! OP has no chance of help on this one :p

[nerdlock]

You're going to get as many different answers as there are different variations

As the replies keep coming, you were spot on buddy haha! OP has no chance of help on this one :p

Haha, indeed guys :D but I'm currently narrowing it to 3 stainless and 3 tool steels, inputs have been extremely helpful!

[The Mastiff]

I'll pick the Cruwear Delica . The K390 model next. The tried and true HAP 40 version is right there with both of them as far as usefulness and all around performance. I have extras of HAP 40 so that shows how I think about it.

Any of the above 3. They are all really great knives. As far as stainless I'd go S90V.

[Sharp Guy]

You're going to get as many different answers as there are different variations

As the replies keep coming, you were spot on buddy haha! OP has no chance of help on this one :p

Haha, indeed guys :D but I'm currently narrowing it to 3 stainless and 3 tool steels, inputs have been extremely helpful!

With so many great variants it would be really hard for me to pick just one to keep. I really like the two Cruwear versions I have (grey/satin & OD green/TiCN) but then I start to think about some of the others I have. The SNK red G10/HAP40 is great. So are the Fradon Lock CF/HAP40 & KC Pakkawood/HAP40 Delicas. One of my most used is the HAP40 Wharncliffe. The two I've had the longest are a blue VG10 and another VG10 with a set of Boomer 52's Lil Para scales. I keep thinking I'd sell one or both of those since I have so many others but I haven't been able to yet. I guess I like them too much. I want a K390 version but haven't pulled the trigger on one yet. I'm still hoping they'll do a K390 Wharnie

As I was thinking about all these Delicas I pulled out the Super Gold one. That's now going to work with me tomorrow :)

Good luck in your search for "the one"

[Doc Dan]

There is no way that anyone should only have one Delica.

[rabbitanarchy14]

i just got the k390 dragonfly and am loving that. if you can find one in stock i would get the k390 delica.