Time for a Delica...

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
Jeff/1911
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Time for a Delica...

#1

Post by Jeff/1911 »

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.
Hoosierdaddy
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#2

Post by Hoosierdaddy »

Jeff/1911,

Well because of all the talk about pink knives, I ordered a pink Delica. All they had was serrated edge. But this shop has blue Delicas in P/E, he said he couldn't sell them because it wasn't discontinued. You might give him a try. johnfjensen.com His price is 38.00 on the pink ones.
scolby
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#3

Post by scolby »

Jeff/1911, if you are willing to buy off of Ebay, JA Electronics is selling the Blue-handled ATS-55 steel Delica's by the boatful. I have bought two knives from them, and they are professional and quick.

"Chance favors the prepared mind" - Louis Pasteur
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4 s ter
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#4

Post by 4 s ter »

Jeff

A combo-edged FRN Delica was my first Spyderco. I know you will be happy with the feel and utility of this "classic"

David
Jeff/1911
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#5

Post by Jeff/1911 »

Thanks guys,

I'll wait and see if I get one for Christmas, and if not I'll definitely order a blue one up! Perhaps I will anyway.

Cheers, Jeff/1911.
Jeff/1911
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#6

Post by Jeff/1911 »

4 s ter,

Did you find that the combo served you pretty well? I've been wondering about this variation...seems like it would make a good "all arounder". Was there enough plain edge there to do what you needed to do? Was/is it difficult to sharpen the plain edged portion?

Thanks, Jeff/1911.
earthworm
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#7

Post by earthworm »

I second 4 s ter's post:I've bought 4 50/50 Delicas(gifted 1;2"grew legs&quot<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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4 s ter
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#8

Post by 4 s ter »

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
Jeff/1911
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#9

Post by Jeff/1911 »

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.
James Y
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#10

Post by James Y »

Jeff:
If the combo edge Delica is anything like the combo Endura, the plain portion should be double ground just like a regular plain edge, but unlike, say, the Ladybug (where even the plain half is single-side grind).
Enjoy!
Jim
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#11

Post by Jeff/1911 »

James,

Thanks. I didn't think that they would be double side ground on the plain edge portion of these knives, but if so I would much prefer that design. I guess I'd better go take a closer look at these models at the local store.

Jeff/1911.
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4 s ter
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#12

Post by 4 s ter »

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
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#13

Post by Jeff/1911 »

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.
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#14

Post by James Y »

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
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#15

Post by Jeff/1911 »

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.
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#16

Post by James Y »

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
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#17

Post by aero_student »

It was my first spydie. Darn sharp. Igave it to my best friend because he needed a knife and didn't have the money for what I would consider a safe knife at the time. It was a great knife.
Jeff/1911
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#18

Post by Jeff/1911 »

James, I'll let you know how I do at sharpening my tips.

Marauder, What blade style was the knife you gave away?

Jeff.
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#19

Post by Alan2112 »

The last Spyderco knife that I purchased is the new blue FRN Delica w/plain edge. I'm crazy about it! RKBA!
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#20

Post by mundele »

Okay, will the Blue FRN delica be offered in VG-10???

--Matt
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