Endura and Delica: Can anything outstrip them?

[fredswartz]

These two knives have been around for a long, long time and still seem to be the mainstay of the Spyderco line. IMHO I think it is because of their size, the name recognition, the price and the continous upgrades. I have a new Delica 4 and it is about all you could ask for in a knife. It seems to do it all as have past Delicas and Enduras. They just feel right and have the built in quality of more expensive knives. Other models end up being safe queens and collectors items and fetch high dollars but these two keep trucking along and I would bet that most are EDC's. I am just wondering if Sal and crew can or will ever come up with a design to equal these two in price and longivity. I think that a slimmed down FRN Caly 3 with skeletonized liners and a flat clip may come close but then it would need a new name and in the end still look like a Delica or Endura............................Are these two knives absolutes?

[Diamondback]

...well said Fred !

- regards

[vivi]

I'm all for an FRN Caly 3, but why give it a worse clip design? I guess some might find the four way mounting useful, but personally I'm fine with ambi tip up carry.

I like the Centofante knives better. They're very light, cut much better and I find the ergos superior. I think Spyderco already outdid itself with that model, and the upcoming FRN Stretch should do it again. If you're willing to spend the money (100$+), I can think of many other knives that do the same.

[CTfam]

D4 is a great knife. That said, Caly3 is better! It is the best EDC blade on the planet. :)

[The Deacon]

I'm hoping the new FRN version of the Stretch will fall into that category. For me, it has some real advantages over the "stock" versions of the Delica and Endura. Decent bit more blade than the Delica. A bit less blade than the Endura, but the tradeoff there is that it's quite a bit smaller in the pocket. In my book the full flat grind and 50/50 choil are both major pluses for the Stretch, but I know the general knife buying public has not warmed to either of those features to any great extent. They're more likely to agree with me regarding the desirability of its more acute tip.

Hard part for it, or anything that comes along now, is that the Delica and Endura have a 25 year jump on them. Then again, taken as a whole, the Hunter family, of which the Stretch is merely the latest and greatest member, did pretty well over the years itself.

[sixheads]

I had an E4, but i personally prefer the Caly i think it is the best EDC> I like Choils and the flat ground leaf shap blade and prefer the low rider clip. An frn version would be awsome....

[Murdoc]

Maybe they are great for "non-afis" as the ideal EDC, but I agree with Paul wholeheartedly:

I believe right now that the new Stretch 2 FRN could become "the best" EDC of all Spydies ever made (for me, that is, of course). IMHO, the CF Stretch 2 is simply too pricey to (ab)use every day, and the steel is too prone to staining and too difficult to sharpen (or quickly touch up) to hair popping sharpness.

The new FRN (VG10 or really S30V?) model will take care of that, and it may even be a tad lighter to boot. I honestly can't wait for that knife to come out. I think I will do like I did with the first 2 Stretches and buy a pair of them,one for EDC use and one as a "pre-need replacement" .


All that said, the G-10 FFG(!) Endura is a hot candidate for "the best EDC", too. Mainly because of the FFG. Gotta get one of these someday. Hopefully in 2009 :)


Dennis

[suedeface]

The delica/endura is my favorite tactical knife design. These are the models that got me interested in spyderco. If I'm not carrying a SAK, I have some version of the delica on me. While there are other great designs in the spyderco line, I think the selection would be somewhat lacking without these two mainstays. Also the price is great, which is a big factor for me. And on a side note, I also think an FRN caly3 would be an excellent knife. I'd definitely buy one.

[FLYBYU44]

They are cheap well built knives that offer quality and strenght. I paid less then $30 for my Delica 4 on ebay, and for that price it is unbeatable. Some would say the Caly 3 is petty, but where are you going to find one as cheap as a Delica? To start with I disliked the saber grind, but I discovered that it offers one distinct advantage over FF grind, and that is an incredible strong tip. I had a Para-Military before this and the thin tip made me wonder why Spyderco would have that on what is supposed to be a hard-use knife. The Delica I would feel comfortable jamming it through a tin can, knowing it wouldn't break the tip off, the Para-Military I wouldn't do that in a million years. Plus the Delica/Endura can be bought in so many different versions there is something for everyone to enjoy. Personally I like the SS handle versions of both knives best.

[Simple Man]

All that said, the G-10 FFG(!) Endura is a hot candidate for "the best EDC", too. Mainly because of the FFG. Gotta get one of these someday....

I agreeas an "afi", the FRN ones do not interest me much personally, although they are great for beating on, gifting, and introduction to Spydies in general. SS are much better, but the G-10 E4 is the one that does it for me. (You really need to get one sooner than later Murdoc.) I have tried the Stretch, but the way the grip convexes at the third finger is uncomfortable for me. I'll still probably give the FRN version a try sometime.

[vivi]

They are cheap well built knives that offer quality and strenght. I paid less then $30 for my Delica 4 on ebay, and for that price it is unbeatable. Some would say the Caly 3 is petty, but where are you going to find one as cheap as a Delica? To start with I disliked the saber grind, but I discovered that it offers one distinct advantage over FF grind, and that is an incredible strong tip. I had a Para-Military before this and the thin tip made me wonder why Spyderco would have that on what is supposed to be a hard-use knife. The Delica I would feel comfortable jamming it through a tin can, knowing it wouldn't break the tip off, the Para-Military I wouldn't do that in a million years. Plus the Delica/Endura can be bought in so many different versions there is something for everyone to enjoy. Personally I like the SS handle versions of both knives best.

Is there anything else you would not do with the Para's tip? I ask because I have one reprofiled with a back bevel somewhere in the range of 10 degrees inclusive and I can pound the tip through canned food without issues.

Likewise I also wonder if there's anything you would do with a saber ground Delica you would not do with a FFG Delica.

[Crocodilo]

I too love everything about these knives... except for the grind.

FFG should be mandatory! :cool:

[FLYBYU44]

Is there anything else you would not do with the Para's tip? I ask because I have one reprofiled with a back bevel somewhere in the range of 10 degrees inclusive and I can pound the tip through canned food without issues.

Likewise I also wonder if there's anything you would do with a saber ground Delica you would not do with a FFG Delica.

I've broken tips off Spyderco knives in the past and to me the Para-Military looks like it has a very long thin tip. I much prefer the blunter tip on the Delica for an EDC knife as I think it will handle stresses more without breaking. For instance, one day at work I was cutting some zipties off an airline with my Para, I was having to thrust it under the tie and pry up, I finally stopped as I felt it was only a matter of a few more zip ties and I may have bent or broken the tip off. I wouldn't think twice with the Delica doing that. Just my experiances and opinion for what it's worth.

[vivi]

I've done a similar job with most my EDC's, including the Para and a Caly Jr taken even thinner. Not sure what your technique is, but I slide the tip in with the spine against what the zip tie is wrap around, so as I push the blade in it forces the cutting edge against the zip tie and cuts it. I can't picture a tip snapping this way.

[bladese97]

:spyder: :spyder: :cool: :spyder: :spyder:The Delica is a GREAT knife, and I used to carry one of 4 all the time :eek: It was my favorite for a long time, until I layed my eyes on beautifull Caly :eek: lol After I got my first Caly3/SE, I was HOOKED, and I've never carried a Delica since(they still are incredible Spyders) :cool: I now own 3 Caly3's, and the cf Caly3 is the newest, and my favorite of them all, and it is so AWESOME, it comes close to my Para's :eek: I allways carry my cf Caly3, my UKPK/fg, and my D2 Para ALLWAYS :D