Customer Reviews

Spyderco Delica 4 Folding Plain Edge FRN Knife

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I have carried the older Delica for years. It's a good knife but this one is far better...

The older models have a shorter handle than the newer model and were hard to open compared to this newer one. The clip is reversible and made of steel instead of molded into the handle. The locking spine is indented so that it is harder to accidentally unlock it when applying pressure. It is a slim knife so it doesn't make a nasty bulge in your pocket, but there is enough meat on new handle so that it feels very good when using.

There are a bunch of folders out there, but the Spyderco opening method is superior, and the improvements over the old standard Delica have put this at the top of the heap, especially considering the price available online...

A couple years ago, I took a folding knife course from Insights Training. One less-comfortable but more-enlightening aspect of the course was the opportunity to cut through a large, canvas-covered roast, simulating a defensive situation. While some students with knives costing far more than the Delica required multiple tries to make a clean cut, those with gear from Spyderco made quick, clean cuts with minimal effort. For those of us who had not yet purchased our own knives, the decision to go with Delicas was an easy one.

I have carried Spyderco Delicas nearly every day since that course. I use mine regularly for various utility-type tasks, and they have remained consistently sharp, as well as smooth to operate. While I have accidentally bent the clips out a few times (catching them on a countertop or table edge, for instance) they're easily removed and adjusted with a T6 Torx driver. Despite being exposed to dirt, mud, dust, water, high humidity and road salt (not to mention copious pocket lint, rubbing alcohol for cleaning, and the occasional sharp cheddar), the mechanisms of my Delica knives have remained smooth and jam-free.

I highly recommend the Delica to anyone looking for a versatile all-around folding knife, and strongly advocate choosing Delica if you have made the decision to carry a folding knife for lawful self-defense. Of course, I recommend getting good training just as strongly. Couple the excellent quality and reliability with Spyderco's free lifetime sharpening, and the Delica is an amazing value.

Excellent knife! Fits perfectly in my hand. It has a lock back design. The texture on the Fiberglass Reenforced Nylon scales provide for a great grip as well as a pleasing design. The knife clip can be moved to any of the four positions. The blade is very sharp VG-10 steel from Seki-City Japan.

Love this knife! It's a perfect fit for pockets. The blade is sharp and durable. The grip is very ergonomic. I have had this knife for years and take it with me everywhere - Camping, fishing, personal protection. I lost it during my last kayaking trip and was very pleased to see my replacement available on amazon for this price!!

I had been looking for a good sharp knife that could retain its edge, had a locking mechanism that wouldn't fall apart and was under $50. I did not think that such a knife existed until I found this spyderco at an unbelievably low price. Most knives in this price range are made of 440A steel, or in layman's terms, weak. The VG-10 steel of this blade is very sharp and looks great.

The quality is top notch. It opens easy and locks solidly into place with no play in the blade. I found the handle a slight bit small for my hands, so if you're a big guy, you might not be completely satisfied. The blade came sharp, and the VG-10 steel holds an edge nicely. I carry my Delica 4 very often, but when I have serious work to do (like cutting canvas or carpet), I reach for the SOG trident tanto.

I have had this knife for a few months now and it has been the best knife I have owned. It is still very sharp and zero imperfections. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because the clip is cheaply painted and loosens the more you put use it. You can take it off and bend it back but I have a older kershaw knife that the clip never loosened. In my opinion the knife is great but the clip sucks. They should really fix this issue because you could lose your expensive knife once the clip loosens and it falls out of your pocket. It is an integral part of the knife for me. Overall the knife is great besides the clip, which is workable but should be improved period.