Spyderco Forums

PeaceInOurTime wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 04, 2024 2:13 pm

How do you like the steel used for this knife? Been kind of avoiding this knife for now because I’m uncertain about the quality of the steel used. Would be open to opinions that may change my mind.

Produced 26 years ago.

VandymanG wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 06, 2024 8:50 am

PeaceInOurTime wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 04, 2024 2:13 pm

How do you like the steel used for this knife? Been kind of avoiding this knife for now because I’m uncertain about the quality of the steel used. Would be open to opinions that may change my mind.

Pros: super easy to maintain and almost impossible to corrode.

Cons: poor(er) edge retention compared to other similarly used steels like LC200N.

It needs frequent sharpening/edge maintenance, but it’s super quick and easy, and I often do it on the bottom of a coffee mug or other ceramic dish.

Don't mean to scare you away from H1/H2, it has worked fine for me for four years now, certainly my most used steel. But, I would love to see the ARK get more variants in steels and blade shapes.

As an alternative to the ARK, I’d like to try the Subway Bowie, someday. USA made, LC200N, slightly lower tip placement, slightly longer blade.

Some will know how this goes:
When gifting Spydies, they come back periodically for a proper sharpening...
(Always funny to me: Compared to many HERE I am an complete amateur when it comes to sharpening - but in my "real life" it does not take much skill and people think I am kind of a sharpening wizard... )

So this Delica is one I actually gifted to someone, but it really needs some work at the edge and so it`s back with me right now and I decided to carry it today.

And though my own favorite "Delica" is the Salt 2 SE, I am always really enjoying the original (in ffg):
So solidly built, reasonably thin, but not TOO thin blade stock, slim carry, roomy handle, reliable lock, such a refined design... imo just the best in its particular size category (in which I also tried Native 5 LW and Para 3 LW (when it comes to Spyderco) - nice knives, especially the Native (the Para 3 is just TOO much kind of a "small knife that carries big" for me) - but no match for a Delica in my use).

Haven´t carried my Stretch XL in a while, took it with me for todays "biathlon" (trailrunning mixed with no spin throwing)
Still really, really like this model - light, several good grip options, a lot of edge, pretty much perfect serrations.

Just on the very fine tip (even more delicate in SE, due to the chisel grind) I am always kind of in two minds:
On the one hand it is extremely capable in finer "tip tasks".
On the other I am always a bit worried I could snap that tip and thus use my Stretch XL with some more caution than I normally do with other Spydies.

Yes, I could reground the tip if it snapped or could even reground and give it an "Endura drop" right now.
But I don´t want to do that, cause that fine tip actually IS one of the defining features of the Stretch XL for me, and I also want it to keep every bit if that long cutting edge.
Makes the XL kind of a "niche knife" for me though. I would not bring it as my only folder for a multi-day outdoor trip for example, but pair it with for example my Chap or Salt 2 for their a bit stronger tips (I guess. Never tested this obviously).

Makes me want to get an H2 Stretch XL SE as a "stronger tip" alternative...

MG2

Wartstein wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 06, 2024 11:04 pm

Just on the very fine tip (even more delicate in SE, due to the chisel grind) I am always kind of in two minds:
On the one hand it is extremely capable in finer "tip tasks".
On the other I am always a bit worried I could snap that tip and thus use my Stretch XL with some more caution than I normally do with other Spydies.

I have the same concern about a Straight Spine Mule I'm converting for lightweight carry. In the Mule section, I'd asked the forum if I should "Delica" the tip for backcountry use, and Sal responded:

sal wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 12, 2024 1:30 am

Hi Bolster,
I've been using a SPY27 Mule daily for a multitude of tasks. I think the steel will handle the tip as it comes. Just don't pry or stab concrete. I sharpen it on a 20, 30, and a few strokes of 40. It's held up just fine. Sort of a Hamaguri.
sal

Bolster wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 07, 2024 9:41 am

Wartstein wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 06, 2024 11:04 pm

Just on the very fine tip (even more delicate in SE, due to the chisel grind) I am always kind of in two minds:
On the one hand it is extremely capable in finer "tip tasks".
On the other I am always a bit worried I could snap that tip and thus use my Stretch XL with some more caution than I normally do with other Spydies.

I have the same concern about a Straight Spine Mule I'm converting for lightweight carry. In the Mule section, I'd asked the forum if I should "Delica" the tip for backcountry use, and Sal responded:

sal wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 12, 2024 1:30 am

Hi Bolster,
I've been using a SPY27 Mule daily for a multitude of tasks. I think the steel will handle the tip as it comes. Just don't pry or stab concrete. I sharpen it on a 20, 30, and a few strokes of 40. It's held up just fine. Sort of a Hamaguri.
sal

Thanks, Bolster, good to know!

I could imagine though that the Stretch XL SE tip is even thinner than the ss Mule tip - both have the same blade stock thickness, but the XL actually has a longer blade so it could be that due to the added length for tapering it gets even thinner in the tip area - ?

Also, as said: SE or precisely the chisel grind it comes in make a tip noticably finer than PE in my experience (even managed to snap the very end of the tip on my Endela SE, despite it has a "dropped" tip).

And: My XL has a VG10, not a Spy27 blade (don´t know how much of a difference that could make - ?)

Anyway: For a universal outdoor knife and what I do with it I know that I do want a sturdier tip.

Snow!