Spyderco Delica 4 Folding Plain Edge FRN Knife

by Spyderco

Product Features

• 4-way Clip. Screw-together construction.
• Skeletonized steel internal liners. Phosphor bronze washers.
• FRN Bi-Directional Textured® handle.
• David Boye Dent. Enlarged opening hole.
• Spine jimping. Flat saber-ground blade.

Product Description

Amazon.com

One of Spyderco's most popular models, the lightweight, versatile Delica knife features a flat, plain-edge blade made of VG10 steel. The volcano-grip FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) handle has an ambidextrous black clip and a David Boye dent in the locking lever. Made in Japan, the knife measures 7 inches overall and weighs 16 ounces. The blade is 2.88 inches long.

Manufacturer's Warranty
Spyderco warrants that all of our products are free from defects in material and workmanship. Repairs to your knife performed by any source other than Spyderco unconditionally voids the knife's warranty. Spyderco's warranty does not cover damage caused by abuse, misuse, loss, improper handling, alterations, accident, neglect, disassembly, or improper sharpening.

About Spyderco
Spyderco Knives is a manufacturer of quality, reliable, high-performance knives and sharpeners designed for superior function and ergonomic comfort in many applications, from everyday carry to tactical use.

Product Description

In 1990 Spyderco shook things up by introducing two knives, the Delica and Endura. First of their kind on the market, both folders opened up the knife market to lightweight performance, one-hand open pocketknives that just about everyone could afford. They settled as Spyderco’s top two bestsellers and their improvement hasn’t slowed since. Refinement has been so ongoing and continual Spyderco tagged the updating/upgrading process with the term CQI- Constant Quality Improvement. During the Endura and Delica’s CQI journey Spyderco tweaked ergonomics, refined blade steels and fine-tuned their performance countless times. They are an evolutionary work in progress and the next level is here with the new Endura4 and Delica4. Both models now have screw construction making cleaning and adjusting easier. The fiberglass reinforced nylon handles come molded with Bi-Directional Texturing® for preferred traction and improved ergonomics. Inside the handle dual skeletonized stainless steel liners make the knife stronger without adding weight and make an anchor for all external and internal components to attach through adding sturdiness and rigidity. Their VG-10 blades are flat saber-ground with a stronger tip and larger 13mm opening hole. Added to the blade’s spine is slip resistant jimping. Phosphor bronze washers smooth out the open/close action and the clip is upgraded to a four-way tip-up, tip-down, left- or right-handed clip.

Product Details

• Item Weight: 2.7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000PL5C84
• Item model number: C11PBK
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,432 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Choice Between the Spyderco Tenacious and Delica, May 30, 2010

By 

JR Plaza (Birmingham, AL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spyderco Delica 4 Folding Plain Edge FRN Knife (Sports)

For the past few months I've been daily carrying either the Spyderco Tenacious or the Spyderco Delica and have found only slight differences with regards to overall functional value. Surprisingly, I find myself reaching for the cheaper Tenacious more often when I'm heading out the door. However, there is no denying that the Delica is an overall superior knife. The VG-10 steel Delica retains its edge longer than the Tenacious with roughly equal amounts of moderate use and the Delica's grip surface is more refined and tacky than the simple G-10 handle on the Tenacious. I just haven't found a reason one of these knives would appreciably out perform the other for basic and regular daily tasks if both blades are properly maintained. However, there are some specialized tasks that each knife excels at over the other.

Recently, I've been using the Delica for cutting tasks reserved for a paring knife around the kitchen and it serves that function very well. The Delica's blade itself is around a half inch shorter than the Tenacious' blade and is more suited for delicate work like mincing garlic. On the boat, the blade shape makes gutting fish an easy chore.

For more gritty worksite tasks the easily maintained, open frame and superior blade size of the Tenacious are quality features which make the cheaper blade functionally competitive with the Delica. The Tenacious simply makes a better blade that you don't mind beating up.

Moreover, it's easier for me to close the Tenacious with one hand due to the common liner lock. The Delica's blade locks and unlocks from the back of the handle which is more suited for a two handed closing method. Granted, these are small qualms against a very light and sturdy blade which is almost always dangerously sharp when needed.

Overall, the Delica is more useful, feels better in the hand, and is more reliable than the Tenacious, but all of these qualities are reflected in the price of the knife, whereas I would say from my experience; the Tenacious is functionally worth more than it's retail value. If your debating which knife to buy; think about its intended use, maintenance, and your personal preferences. If you tend to lose or damage knives frequently, then you most certainly should choose the cheaper Tenacious. If you take care of and retain your tools for years, the Delica is a more reliable companion and is definitely a superior selection.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spyderco = great knives, February 14, 2008

By 

os1kne - See all my reviews

I've been carrying a Spyderco Delica in my pocket almost everyday for about 7 years. It has a nice size, not too big - not too small. It's not too heavy in the pocket and it's easy to open and close with one hand. The VG-10 steel in the blade holds an edge very well.

Before I bought my first Spyderco knife, I thought that they looked "goofy" - and I purchased several other knives from other manufacturers, but I wasn't happy with any of them. After I got my Spyderco, I wouldn't carry anything else. The Delica is a great knife at a great price.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DELICA 4 one of the BEST general purpose EDC knives!!!, January 14, 2010

By 

A. LOCOCO "TDB, LLC." (Midwest USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spyderco Delica 4 Folding Plain Edge FRN Knife (Sports)

I picked this one up in 2000-01. I was not too fond of the 3rd generation. this one the Delica 4 the first thing you notice is the grip is 100x better wet dry, you just cant loose your grip. the blade deployment is easier due to hole size and placement on the blade. The lock-up is rock solid and does not have a cheap liner lock that many of us feel is not as reliable. the detent is on the back edge. The V-10 metal is great, still to this day. Sure ZDP189 is supposed to be 10x better. I'm thinking about picking one up, they are considerably more $ money $. I would avoid the models that use AUS 8, those usually sell for sud $30 range. They are ok and usually see those in the "mart" stores in blister packs, it is probably a price point thing. I'm not totally sure but those may be made in Tawain or China. Spend the extra $12 and get the V10 steel, if you shop hard you may be able to get a ZDP189 blade for $89-$128 range

In all it has not failed me once, it is light so jeans, dockers, shorts it is very comfy. It is a serious enough blade to get the job done. And God forbid in a defensive mode in the right hands could inflict some serious "ouch" on some fool. I don't bother to carry/buy any blade smaller than this one for those reasons. If all you plan on doing with an EDC is open envelopes and cleaning dirt from under your fingernails spend $3 and buy a nice pair of nail clippers. When you own this unit it says you are serious about your edged implements in a subtle way. It does not offend those PC types as if you were pulling out an 8" Ka Bar Tanto blade to open a package at the returns line in Wally Mart.

Final Word: Buy it you will be happy! They also make great holiday/birthday Guy Gifts. I've been handing them out for years and no one has ever been disappointed in getting one!

Spyderco service is always top notch, they will sharpen and check for free as long as you cover the shipping. I have also requested s/s clips as the black "painted" ones look like crap after about a year. they usually charge only a few bucks for the better clip, if it was my decision I'd make them standard and call it a day, what would it add to the production cost of the knife $2-3 maybe?

8/3/2011 update I did get the green w/ZDP-189 and WOW is it sharp! It is a harder steel that some say is more brittle. Being harder than VG-10 etc. It is really not one an amateur will be able to edge well. This is definitely one you want to send it as needed. Edge retention is supposed to be better, I've had it for almost a year and although it is not my primary EDC it is still surgery sharp.