Time for a Delica...
Time for a Delica...
You see I've got all these other beautiful, fancy stainless and G-10 handled creations with various steels and many are custom collaborations...and I love them dearly.
But, the one that started me on this road of no return when it first caught my attention a couple of years ago at my local camping store, was the Delica in FRN.
I recall thinking back then that I couldn't justify spending almost as much on a Delica as I could have the Endura for, and since I would only be purchasing the "ONE KNIFE"...I should take time to make a good decision. I mean the Endura was bigger, but I really liked the Delica. I couldn't decide.
So, more than a dozen Spydies later, I still don't own that Delica. I sure like em' though. Fact is, I don't always use my others as much as I should, deeming some things and tasks "uncutworthy" or something silly like that and I have thought for awhile how I need a good, solid, not-too-fancy knife to cut most stuff with. Enter the Delica, probably in plain edge. I'd love to find a Blue one, but it'll likely end up being the black version due to local supply.
Well anyway, it's on my Christmas list and the kids know where the store is from last year, when they bought me a Ladybug for my Birthday. I'll let you know what happens.
Cheers, Jeff/1911.
But, the one that started me on this road of no return when it first caught my attention a couple of years ago at my local camping store, was the Delica in FRN.
I recall thinking back then that I couldn't justify spending almost as much on a Delica as I could have the Endura for, and since I would only be purchasing the "ONE KNIFE"...I should take time to make a good decision. I mean the Endura was bigger, but I really liked the Delica. I couldn't decide.
So, more than a dozen Spydies later, I still don't own that Delica. I sure like em' though. Fact is, I don't always use my others as much as I should, deeming some things and tasks "uncutworthy" or something silly like that and I have thought for awhile how I need a good, solid, not-too-fancy knife to cut most stuff with. Enter the Delica, probably in plain edge. I'd love to find a Blue one, but it'll likely end up being the black version due to local supply.
Well anyway, it's on my Christmas list and the kids know where the store is from last year, when they bought me a Ladybug for my Birthday. I'll let you know what happens.
Cheers, Jeff/1911.
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I second 4 s ter's post:I've bought 4 50/50 Delicas(gifted 1;2"grew legs"<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> & am quite pleased.EXCELLENT all-around knife:light weight,narrow profile(narrower if you remove the clip),& that combo edge is NOT a gimmick-after a week I wondered how I got along without it.
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Jeff
I normally favor a plain edge (carrying a plain-edged Native right now) but I did find the the combo edge Delica was a good all-around compromise for an every day carry.
There is enough plain edge to do most cutting tasks, but the serrations were an advantage when cutting items such as cable ties or hose.
Haven't had any problems sharpening the plain-edged portion of the blade.
Hope this helps!
David
I normally favor a plain edge (carrying a plain-edged Native right now) but I did find the the combo edge Delica was a good all-around compromise for an every day carry.
There is enough plain edge to do most cutting tasks, but the serrations were an advantage when cutting items such as cable ties or hose.
Haven't had any problems sharpening the plain-edged portion of the blade.
Hope this helps!
David
earthworm, 4ster...
Thank you both for your response. I wondered about the usefulness of the combo edge on a blade the size of the Delica, as mentioned. I imagine that the plain edge portion is ground on one side only like the serrations, correct?
On knives with a "fully serrated" blade and only a wee' bit of a plain edge tip such as on my Military and Police models I have had some difficulty in the past achieving a good edge on the plain edged tip portion, due to the relatively short stroke length allowable across the rods of my Sharpmaker. This was the reason for my previous question regarding ease of sharpening of this knife, with it's combo edge.
Jeff/1911.
Thank you both for your response. I wondered about the usefulness of the combo edge on a blade the size of the Delica, as mentioned. I imagine that the plain edge portion is ground on one side only like the serrations, correct?
On knives with a "fully serrated" blade and only a wee' bit of a plain edge tip such as on my Military and Police models I have had some difficulty in the past achieving a good edge on the plain edged tip portion, due to the relatively short stroke length allowable across the rods of my Sharpmaker. This was the reason for my previous question regarding ease of sharpening of this knife, with it's combo edge.
Jeff/1911.
- 4 s ter
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Jeff
The blade is hollow-ground with a double-edged bevel on the plain-edged portion. In other words, it is not ground on only one side as the Ladybug is.
The plain-edged portion of the blade is about 1 1/2 inches long while the serrated portion is just under 1 1/4 inches long.
You might have some problems sharpening if using the Spyderco Sharpmaker. I don't have one, but I have heard that you have to be careful to stop before reaching the tip to avoid "rounding" it off. With a plain blade length of 1 1/2 inch and quite a fine point on the Delica blade, this could be difficult. I normally use only natural Arkansas stones so keeping a fine point on the tip hasn't been a problem for me.
David
The blade is hollow-ground with a double-edged bevel on the plain-edged portion. In other words, it is not ground on only one side as the Ladybug is.
The plain-edged portion of the blade is about 1 1/2 inches long while the serrated portion is just under 1 1/4 inches long.
You might have some problems sharpening if using the Spyderco Sharpmaker. I don't have one, but I have heard that you have to be careful to stop before reaching the tip to avoid "rounding" it off. With a plain blade length of 1 1/2 inch and quite a fine point on the Delica blade, this could be difficult. I normally use only natural Arkansas stones so keeping a fine point on the tip hasn't been a problem for me.
David
David,
Thanks for your specific and detailed reply. I have had exactly the problem you mention (rounding off tips) on several of my Spydies when using the Sharpmaker and still haven’t really figured out what I’m doing wrong to cause it.
I got to see and handle all three different FRN Delica versions at my local sports store today. I do quite like the 50/50 model, but I’m still trying to decide whether to choose something other than the plain edge, which was my original choice. But, that’s not all...
They have some of the VG-10 Delica’s in stock now! Yippee! I didn’t think we’d get em’ up here for awhile yet. I also thought that they were going to be flat ground in VG-10, yet the two I saw today (pe and 50/50) looked the same as others in ATS-55 w/ only the VG-10 on the blade to show a difference. This is great because I really like the hollow ground style of the past Delica’s and was afraid that this was to be lost w/ the change to VG-10. I certainly appreciate a flat ground blade for many purposes, but for this all-arounder I want a hollow ground profile.
So, I've just gotta’ decide between plain edge and 50/50 now; they have both in VG-10.
Cheers, Jeff/1911.
Thanks for your specific and detailed reply. I have had exactly the problem you mention (rounding off tips) on several of my Spydies when using the Sharpmaker and still haven’t really figured out what I’m doing wrong to cause it.
I got to see and handle all three different FRN Delica versions at my local sports store today. I do quite like the 50/50 model, but I’m still trying to decide whether to choose something other than the plain edge, which was my original choice. But, that’s not all...
They have some of the VG-10 Delica’s in stock now! Yippee! I didn’t think we’d get em’ up here for awhile yet. I also thought that they were going to be flat ground in VG-10, yet the two I saw today (pe and 50/50) looked the same as others in ATS-55 w/ only the VG-10 on the blade to show a difference. This is great because I really like the hollow ground style of the past Delica’s and was afraid that this was to be lost w/ the change to VG-10. I certainly appreciate a flat ground blade for many purposes, but for this all-arounder I want a hollow ground profile.
So, I've just gotta’ decide between plain edge and 50/50 now; they have both in VG-10.
Cheers, Jeff/1911.
Jeff:
I noticed something strange yesterday. I was browsing at a local mall knife shop and saw some ATS-55 Delicas/Enduras with the flat saber grind just like on the VG-10 Enduras/Delicas I saw at the gun show on Saturday. So it is possible there were a few VG-10 samples that were still made with the hollow grind; I haven't seen any, but if that's so, snatch 'em up, because hollow-ground VG-10 Delicas and Enduras may become scarce.
As for rounding off the tips, when I sharpen on the Sharpmaker, I take care not to pull the blade tip all the way through when using the corners of the rods. And when I'm using the flat surface I only sharpen bringing the tip about halfway across the rod, again, avoiding pulling it all the way through and off the rod's surface. It's easy to do but hard to explain in writing for me...so far I haven't rounded any sharp tips with this method.
Jim
I noticed something strange yesterday. I was browsing at a local mall knife shop and saw some ATS-55 Delicas/Enduras with the flat saber grind just like on the VG-10 Enduras/Delicas I saw at the gun show on Saturday. So it is possible there were a few VG-10 samples that were still made with the hollow grind; I haven't seen any, but if that's so, snatch 'em up, because hollow-ground VG-10 Delicas and Enduras may become scarce.
As for rounding off the tips, when I sharpen on the Sharpmaker, I take care not to pull the blade tip all the way through when using the corners of the rods. And when I'm using the flat surface I only sharpen bringing the tip about halfway across the rod, again, avoiding pulling it all the way through and off the rod's surface. It's easy to do but hard to explain in writing for me...so far I haven't rounded any sharp tips with this method.
Jim
James,
Thanks for the "tip" about sharpening. You may have responded with this advice to me awhile back when I posted here specifically about this problem...yours comments sound familiar. In any case, I don't think I remembered your description of this technique, at least not enough to employ it as such. I sure will give it a try now though. What I have been doing in the interim is simply not sharpening quite all the way to the tip at all, for fear of losing the sharp tips that remain. Obviously, this is not a good long-term solution so I will try what you suggest.
Regarding the hollow ground Delica's I saw...I wondered if the might be "oddballs". If so, I'm going to see what I can afford to get, or go buy. Sounds like they're "different" alright. These were definitely purely hollow ground; and in VG-10.
Jeff.
Thanks for the "tip" about sharpening. You may have responded with this advice to me awhile back when I posted here specifically about this problem...yours comments sound familiar. In any case, I don't think I remembered your description of this technique, at least not enough to employ it as such. I sure will give it a try now though. What I have been doing in the interim is simply not sharpening quite all the way to the tip at all, for fear of losing the sharp tips that remain. Obviously, this is not a good long-term solution so I will try what you suggest.
Regarding the hollow ground Delica's I saw...I wondered if the might be "oddballs". If so, I'm going to see what I can afford to get, or go buy. Sounds like they're "different" alright. These were definitely purely hollow ground; and in VG-10.
Jeff.
Jeff:
Glad to be of help...I'm not certain if it was me or not who wrote the advice...I got the idea from another person who posted the advice(was it Joe Talmadge?). I guess I should clarify...when I use the corners of the rods I try not to sharpen all the way to the tip, and only sharpen the tip when using the flat section, as described above.
Let us know how it turns out and how much you like your new acquisitions! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
Jim
Glad to be of help...I'm not certain if it was me or not who wrote the advice...I got the idea from another person who posted the advice(was it Joe Talmadge?). I guess I should clarify...when I use the corners of the rods I try not to sharpen all the way to the tip, and only sharpen the tip when using the flat section, as described above.
Let us know how it turns out and how much you like your new acquisitions! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>
Jim
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