Knives in semi-retirement

Paradiggum · #1

I carried a Delica 3 for around 11 yrs until January of 2010 when I bought a newer model. A Delica 4 actually. And then started the buying spree. My trusty D3 went into semi-retirement for mostly sentimental reasons. It was one item that I've used and carried the longest. Every road trip and cutting job that needed done that could be done without resorting to something larger.

I just dug it out and decided to give it some more carry time. It made me wonder how many others have done the same. Have any of you carried a knife for years, put it away and started carrying something new? I know a lot of people have an EDC rotation, which I now have after buying so many last year. But those of you that do have a knife in retirement, do you ever get it out and give it more pocket time?
Since my D3 is far from being used up or worn out I thought I'd give it something to do again. :)

phillipsted · #2

Right before I read this, I was fiddling around with my first gen Delica - which was my first Spyderco. I hadn't carried it much in years, and I decided to re-profile the edge on my WickedEdge, sharpen it up, and replace the frazzed-out lanyard. Even added a nice Atwood lanslide.

I can't tell you how many trail meals that knife has fixed...but it definitely earned its stripes. Sure, the G-2 steel isn't the latest and greatest, but it sharpens easily and holds a fair edge. The FRN couldn't pass for new, but it certainly is tough stuff, as we've all seen. My only complaint? I don't know why I picked that awful periwinkle blue color...

TedP

jdprew · #3

I have purchased many very good and expensive knives from other manufacturers and carried them all. However, I always return to one of my several Delica D3's for EDC And Endura E3's for weekend carry. The D4's and E4's are different knives and I do not care for them. I purchased my first Delica in 1992 and every version since then. It fits my needs and is familiar to my hand.

.357 mag · #4

I haven't and won't dig out any of my old EDC blades because there not what the delica is. The only time I carry something else is if I'm in the woods and don't want to lose the delica.

JRSFITNESS · #5

I have been carrying a Manix 2 for a few years, but sometimes I will still grab the old SS Poliwog.

jackburton9807 · #6

Same song, second verse; I fired up my SE D3 in ATS-55 for old times sake a few days ago.

Jeff

Paradiggum · #7

phillipsted wrote:Sure, the G-2 steel isn't the latest and greatest, but it sharpens easily and holds a fair edge.

TedP

Yeah, mine is ATS-55 and it works just fine. That's why I don't worry too much about some of the steels as they change them. I'm guessing Spyderco will use something better than the previous generation and since that ATS-55 blade kept me happy for 11 years then I'll be pleased with whatever else I'm going to carry that's newer.

jdprew- I agree, they are very different knives. That's actually why it took me so long to buy a D4. I'd never handled one but something about it didn't look comfortable. Boy was I wrong. When I finally picked one up I absolutely loved the way it felt. A D4 is my primary EDC now. Actually with the various colors and blade options I've bought a few dozen D4's over the last year or so. Love the D3 for sentimental reasons and the fact that it's earned it's keep but the D4 is my preference now.
It's why I'm glad they make so many different kinds of knives. Something for just about everyone. And I think I've bought most of them over the last year. :D

Jazz · #8

I was playing with my large Wegner and Paramilli the other day. :) Just have too many?... naaa! :D By the way, I'd love to see a pic of your well-used D3.

- best wishes, Jazz.

Paradiggum · #9

Jazz wrote:I was playing with my large Wegner and Paramilli the other day. :) Just have too many?... naaa! :D By the way, I'd love to see a pic of your well-used D3.

- best wishes, Jazz.

Actually it looks almost new other than the clip having a bunch of black coating missing. I used it a lot and carried it every day but I'm not really rough on my pocket knives. I used to carry a small fixed blade Busse so it got any of the abusive tasks. It's the one that looks rough. :)
I met Sal a few years ago at Blade and he even commented on what good condition it was in for having been carried so much.

It's funny, when I heard they were changing to the D4 I went to my local knife shop and bought every D3 he had in stock. Now I carry a D4 most of the time.

jeffwatts@comcast.net · #10

I started with a Delica 1st generation black blade that I carried a long time then switched to a Jess Horn Lightweight that I carried forever. I liked it so much I bought another to keep as NIB. Then a Micarta Jess Horn. I carry a Delica 4 plain edge now. The Spyderco bug consumed me 3 years ago and 134 Spyderco knives later, and a SFO trip last year it is a daily habit. Ive got spreadsheets, binders of info etc. I had to come up with a storage system of plastic boxes (6 to a box) that I could stack for storage in the safe.
The Jess Horn still comes out for EDC work.

Paradiggum · #11

jeffwatts@comcast.net wrote:I started with a Delica 1st generation black blade that I carried a long time then switched to a Jess Horn Lightweight that I carried forever. I liked it so much I bought another to keep as NIB. Then a Micarta Jess Horn. I carry a Delica 4 plain edge now. The Spyderco bug consumed me 3 years ago and 134 Spyderco knives later, and a SFO trip last year it is a daily habit. Ive got spreadsheets, binders of info etc. I had to come up with a storage system of plastic boxes (6 to a box) that I could stack for storage in the safe.
The Jess Horn still comes out for EDC work.

Heh, for Christmas I got a big toolbox from my parents just for Spyderco storage. It's full and I still have knives that won't fit in it.