Spyderco Forums

Hello, I was looking for some wisdom of the knife enthusiasts on this forum.

I'm interested in getting a delica/endura pair. To mix it up I'd like one to be serrated and the other to be plain edged. The question:

1. Which would be better suited for serrations? I'm thinking the delica since the smaller blade would allow for more control when cutting through an object where the serrations would be handy. That would leave the endura as the plain edge for more food prep and general slicing tasks.

2. For the plain edge knife is FFG a must if mainly a slicer knife? From my research the only advantage I see is that the saber grind provides thickness for careless users. Since I don't plan on abusing my blades this doesn't seem to be an issue. Does the saber grind have anything else to offer that I've missed?

It would also be appreciated if someone could post a picture with the Delica, Endura, and Ladybug all side by side. Curious to see the size ratio of this entire family.

Just wanted some opinions before I dropped 100 dollars.

Thank you,
Rav.

1. That is your preference but it would probably be my logic too. The only other consideration is substituting a Tasman for the Delica to mix up the blade shapes.

2. FFG is not a must. It does give better geometry but also a finer tip (good an bad). A saber-flat will still slice paper easily out of the box and might take a tad longer but really the angle behind the edge is what is wider (like slicing through a watermelon or cardboard).

Really there are dozens of other combos but your gut pick seems very rational.

Like Blerv said, it all depends on your cutting needs. With the options you gave, for me I would get the delica in SE and the Endura in PE. Both my Endura and Delica are in PE and I have a 79mm rescue and a harpy for SE. SE excells in both in these platforms.

On my list is a set of salt 1's PE/SE. Thinkin that would be a great combo.

P.S. Cutlery Shoppe has the rescue on a overstock special right now.

Exactly what I would do under those circumstances. Endura FFG is pretty durable, you sound like you will take care with the blade so you shouldn't have a problem.

Just to confuse things have you thought about a Millie in PE along with teh Delica SE?

I would go with a PE Endura and a SE Salt 1. The H1 steel in SE is the best performer.

Blerv wrote:1. That is your preference but it would probably be my logic too. The only other consideration is substituting a Tasman for the Delica to mix up the blade shapes.

2. FFG is not a must. It does give better geometry but also a finer tip (good an bad). A saber-flat will still slice paper easily out of the box and might take a tad longer but really the angle behind the edge is what is wider (like slicing through a watermelon or cardboard).

Really there are dozens of other combos but your gut pick seems very rational.

All of what he said. I would opt for a H1 Tasman SE which will give you the best SE steel option, and in a hawkbill blade which IMO is the only way to go if you really want SE because it just multiplies the cutting abilities of a SE. Then i'd go with a FFG ZDP Endura for my plain edge partner.

Personally, I would go with:

1. ZDP-180 plain edge Delica for precision cutting

2. H1 serrated Pacific Salt

TedP

phillipsted wrote:Personally, I would go with:

1. ZDP-180 plain edge Delica for precision cutting

2. H1 serrated Pacific Salt

TedP

I agree with this (except it should be ZDP-189, not 180 :) ). Serrated on the bigger blade (Endura or Pacific Salt) is better for cutting off tree limbs because you have a longer stroke. Cutting tree limbs is the only real task that I have found that a plain edge is completely useless for.

Shakyamuni wrote:I agree with this (except it should be ZDP-189, not 180 :) ). Serrated on the bigger blade (Endura or Pacific Salt) is better for cutting off tree limbs because you have a longer stroke. Cutting tree limbs is the only real task that I have found that a plain edge is completely useless for.

Yeah if you try to saw your way through it. This is what a pocket saw is for. You can "carve" your way through any reasonable tree branch with a plain edge, probably faster than you can saw your way through with serrations since they weren't designed to saw.

araneae wrote:I would go with a PE Endura and a SE Salt 1. The H1 steel in SE is the best performer.

This is exactly what I was thinking after I read the OP. I freaking love my Salt 1 and its SE.

My favorite "beaters" are my serrated knives. Not in the abuse sense but the way that you will cut things you normally wouldn't touch your precious thin edge too.

A serrated hawkbill is a beast of a user.

I've got a Delica FFG in ZDP for EDC tasks, and an Endura FFG in VG10 for outdoor, food prep, and other aggressive uses where a longer blade is advantageous. I chose the VG10 on the Endura because it resists staining and rust much more than ZDP especially during food prep, and the edge can be field-maintained much more quickly. Both are in plain edge because I believe a PE can do everything a SE can do, but not the other way around.

I tried a Salt, but was not crazy about the hollow saber grind for slicing. If you really want a SE and slicing is not a high priority then the H1 steel is definitely the way to go.

Curious, why is the H1 steel best for serrated knives?

The Tasman/Harpy are beautiful knives and if they came in G-10 I'd probably pick them up. However, I wanted a delica/endura combo for their history as some time-tested knives.

H1 works hardens as it is serrated resulting in an edge that will out cut most everything else.

Ravana wrote:Curious, why is the H1 steel best for serrated knives?

According to Sal, their testing has shown that H1 holds an edge longer with serrations than any steel they've tested.

I like a PE Delica and a CE Endura. This combination can handle just about everything I'll ever need a knife for.

Shakyamuni wrote:I agree with this (except it should be ZDP-189, not 180 :) ).

I hate autocorrect...

TedP

r small wrote:I like a PE Delica and a CE Endura. This combination can handle just about everything I'll ever need a knife for.

This is what I have as well. I like PE FFG in the Delica for controlled work. The CE Endura 4 allow me enough PE blade to get the job done but also some serrations for ropes or fibrous materials. CE isn't my favorite platform, really. But it works for me on the Endura.

I always have a vic spartan on me so that's my controlled small plain edge.

I think ill go with the original though for the Delica SE and Endura FFG. Ill be ignorant about the Salt being a superior blade for the sake of matching styles.

For most people a little edge holding either way isn't going to matter.