Am I the only one who doesn't like the Delica handle?

[vivi]

I think the Endura and Delica are two of the best EDC folders on the market, except for two things:

1. The ergonomics
2. The saber grind

First,t he grind. I'm sure Sal has a specific reason for using the saber grind, but for my uses it gives me absolutely no advantage over the full flat grind. It penetrates in thicker media worse, and results in more work should one decide to reprofile the edge. I'd love to see the regular delica and endura become full flat ground like the G10 versions.

Ergonomics on the Delica were the reason I got rid of my first one. The first cutout, the large one where I put my middle finger and index finger in saber grip, it just doesn't work well for me. It feels too small for both fingers, but holding it that way is the only way I can fit four fingers on the knife and have my fingers line up with the contours. If I just pick up the knife and hold it how in a manner more comfortable for me rather than adjusting my grip to the knife handle, my middle finger sits right on the point under the Delica logo. Two things I can think of for the Delica in particular would make the ergonomics better. Give it a finger choil, or shorten the first contour for just the index finger and widen the center one for the middle and ring finger to both grip. The handle would work similar to the out of choil grip in the Byrd Cara Cara, with the middle and ring fingers in the same contour, using the latter change. I don't really know why but with how I grip a knife having those two fingers share a grip contour feels good while having my middle and index finger share one does not.

I have the same problem with my Endura. If I choke up on the handle and have both fingers in the first contour, it gives better leverage but the ergos just do not work for me. If I grip further back with just my index finger in the first contour and my middle finger in the single finger sized contour under the Endura logo the handle feels wonderful as far as ergonomics go, but holding the Endura this way it feels too blade heavy and the index finger sits too far from the cutting edge.

These two issues about the knives frustrate me. I know with the Delica I largely just described the Calypso (Which I do carry frequently and strongly prefer to the Delica). But the Endura 4 in ZDP189 is one of my favorite knives, and I consider it my best one knife to do it all sort of EDC. It's thin, light and not wide in the body like a Manix or Military, offers a nice amount of cutting edge, is easy to open, has the best FRN texture I've ever seen etc. The grind I can fix fairly easily by grinding them flat to the stone, but even then I prefer my reprofiled full flat grind folders. If I had a belt sander I'd try to flat grind my Delica. The ergonomics are more difficult to change myself though.

Is there anyone else that doesn't like the Delica handle? I don't recall ever really seeing people post a negative opinion about the Delicas ergos, so I wonder if I'm just not picking up on the right way to hold it or what?

For reference here's some photos of me holding my Endura is various grips: http://metalx.org/raum/Articles/endura.html

I just don't "get" either knife's handle.

[sixheads]

I like the e and d but they have no choil. So i got a Caly3 .

Sheads

[Morales]

Good point there, I always thought of the Caly or knives alike to be my first Spyderco. My first "Spyderco" was a Byrd Cara Cara, thought I also had my hands on Delica and Endura. For the reasons you've mentioned both knives never made it on top of my list. The G10 versions were able to change this in some way, but a Military was the first goal I had to achieve. :D
The Cara Cara also has a saber grind, but no flat but a hollow grind. Please correct if I'm talking nonsense, I always thought the D and E have a saber/flat grind.
Bottom line is that I'm going to buy a Caly III next...

Take care,
CZ

[Left Hand Path]

If I just pick up the knife and hold it how in a manner more comfortable for me rather than adjusting my grip to the knife handle, my middle finger sits right on the point under the Delica logo.

I have this exact same problem. I solved it by taking a file and removing the point. That way the D4 is very comfy in my hand. That is one of the nice things about FRN!

[vivi]

I might end up doing that. It seems like it would work well with my hand. Do you happen to have a picture of yours?

Morales, the Cara Cara was my first favorite Spyderco design. I got the Delica first, then traded it after deciding the grind was too thick and the handle was not working for me. I got a Native, but for reasons that I can't remember got rid of it. Got a Manix and really liked it. Then I got the G10 Cara Cara and sold the Manix, because I thought the Cara Cara carried better and did everything my Manix had done. I EDC'd the Cara Cara for months, eventually replacing it with a 440V Military, then trading for a UKPK on a whim and having it "convert" me to the smaller blades.

[JBE]

Nope..you're not the only one...I find the D3-shaped handles of the Salt 1 to be more comfortable in my hand than those of the D4.

[vivi]

Nope..you're not the only one...I find the D3-shaped handles of the Salt 1 to be more comfortable in my hand than those of the D4.

That handle does look better. The more prominent guard on the D4 handle is part of the problem I think. It pushes my index finger away from the cutting edge, which contributes to making that finger and my middle finger feel kind of cramped together.

I don't know. I hold my D4 and I think..."Ehh...it works," then hold my UKPK and think "perfection." At least, as far as ergos are concerned.

Regardless I traded for the Delica to give it another chance. I'm going to EDC it every day for the next couple of days and see how it works out. I think my opinion will be the same though. Fantastic knife overall, goofy ergos and overly thick blade grind.

[pedropcola]

I agree. Someone in another thread was mildly trashing the sprint run of G10 rookies as "outdated" and I was thinking about these two knives as just as outdated. The UKPK and Caly3 feel much better in hand. The saber grind is like a Busse. Way too thick, especially for a 3 inch folder. The only reason I keep my E4's and D4's is the torx construction and price point. They are "almost" ok to lose, almost. When they make an FRN, torx construction Caly3 with full flat grind then I will never have to buy another Delica again. Problem solved.

[RIOT]

the grind has nothing to do with the handle FYI


I love the handle, its an authentic knife thats been the same way from day one

[vivi]

the grind has nothing to do with the handle FYI


I love the handle, its an authentic knife thats been the same way from day one

I should of changed the title to reflect that, forgot to do that. Originally I was going to post about solely the handle, but the grind was on my mind as I was handling my D4 during the post.

Actually, the Delica has gone through many changes. Different clips and clip mount positions, different FRN textures, the addition of liners, different tip style, blade steel changes, color variations, the new wave model..... :D

[RIOT]

I should of changed the title to reflect that, forgot to do that. Originally I was going to post about solely the handle, but the grind was on my mind as I was handling my D4 during the post.

Actually, the Delica has gone through many changes. Different clips and clip mount positions, different FRN textures, the addition of liners, different tip style, blade steel changes, color variations, the new wave model..... :D

all in all the handle has kept the certain shape though, hopefully it doesnt go anywhere, doubt they would anyways since its one of the best sellers

[The Deacon]

No you're not the only one. But the way I look at it, Spyderco makes knives to satisfy a varieity of audiences. The Delica and Endura are specifically aimed at the "casual" (or some would say "normal") knife buyer who seems to have a preference for knives with a saber grind and no choil. For folks like us, they make other models. The Calypso Jr, the Caly 3 and, if you're right handed, the Sage feature both a choil and full flat grind. The Native gives you the choil with a saber grind, and the G-10 Delica offers flat grind without a choil. So there's something for everyone. For me, the Stretch, C83 Persian, and R2 are the "affi" equivalents of the Endura.

[araneae]

I like the handle on the D4 well enough. I prefer it over the D3 and like it slightly more than the D1.It is probably my favorite handle on any choil-less knife. The grind I am not a huge fan of. Full flat or even hollow would better suit my taste. I love to see FFG and FRN come together. Perhaps that's why I am so hyped up over the FRN Stretch :D

[Shike]

I think the new style handle and clip are the best Delica's yet. What I am not to fond of is the new tip profile, a bit too thick, imo, for that type of knife.

Shike

[SimpleIsGood229]

I think the Endura and Delica are two of the best EDC folders on the market, except for two things:

1. The ergonomics

The ergos are alright, but my hands are too big for the Delica IV. The Delica III/Tasman/Salt 1 handle works just fine, though.

2. The saber grind

Two words: Tom Krein.

[Halfneck]

Delica 4 is my favorite Delica since the original. Saber grind is not my favorite. If it bugged me enough I could send it to Tom Krein & solve it.

[Fred Sanford]

Vivi,

I currently don't own any Delica 4's. The reason for this is that I like the handle but hate the shorter less pointy blade and I hate the grind. The Saber hollow grind on the SS D4 is much better. I'm not so sure why they don't put that blade on the FRN model D4's.

I had 1 thread in the past dealing with quality control on the grinds and also a couple PM's back and forth with someone from Spyderco. As far as I know nothing has been done about it. I'm guessing just by the fact that I still see D4's out there with a grind line that is close to the hole on the front of the blade and about 3/16" away from the hole and closer to the blade edge. The grind on the D4's is lower than the D3's. The Saber Flat grind on the D3 is up much closer to the hole and it makes it a better slicer.

Also, the different grind lines on each side made sharpening my D4's more difficult because I first had to rebevel the edge so that each side was equal. However since the grind is not the same on the back side you would see a wider edge on the back than you would on the front. That only makes sense because there is less room going from the full width of the blade down to the edge so it has to be a steeper angle.

I've not really complained much about it I just stopped buying Delica 4's until it's resolved.

Anyone that is curious about this....pick up your D4 and look at the grind line on the front vs. the grind line on the back. I bet it's noticably lower than the front.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now.

[THG]

I like the handle of the Delica. I don't find any need to always have the fingers in the inward curves of the handle. It's small enough that when the handle is in my hand, I really don't feel the points/humps. It was actually only when people pointed it out to me that I started to notice it, and then it became bothersome. But then I realized it was becoming bothersome because someone told me it was supposed to be, so I stopped being bothered by it :D

But I agree about the grind. Why is there no 3-inch flat-ground knife for around the price of the FRN Delica? Why are they all $100+?

[RIOT]

i swore on a D4 not too long ago but recently started carrying a used Carbon Fiber Delica SE, its the best knife ive owned to this date, its super thin in the feel of the hand, the tip is pointy,the clip is perfect compared to others & the ergos are perfect (for my hand)

[Left Hand Path]

Here are some pictures of my slightly modified Delica to remove the point. You can see that it is a subtle change, but it makes a big difference in my hand.