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#65313 - 05/07/06 01:20 AM Knife opinions: Spyderco Native vs. Delica4?
haertig Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 03/13/05
Posts: 2322
Loc: Colorado
I'm looking for a knife in the $50-ish to $60-ish online price range, to move up from my $20-ish Kershaw Vapor and Benchmade Mini-Pika (which I think are both great value for the money). I wish to try a Spyderco (because I've never owned this brand before), and was looking for some personal opinions on the Native and Delica4. Both appear to be highly regarded and cost roughly the same. I would also like something that is relatively easy (and fun) to sharpen. I consider the Mini-Pika "easy and fun to sharpen" whereas the Vapor is more of a chore. I don't know if this is 440C vs. AUS6, blade shape, my technique, or some of all of these. (However, the Vapor eats the Mini-Pika's lunch when it comes to ease/smoothness of opening.) From what I can tell, the VG10 vs. S30V on the Spydercos is pretty much a 50-50 personal opinion split. Both steels appear decent based on my online research, not that I know this from personal experience.

Any personal experiences, comments or suggestions welcome. I won't be plunking down $100+ on a knife at this time, so that's not what I'm after. EDC, inexpensive ($50-60-ish), decent quality - that's what I'm shooting for. Most preferably Spyderco - just because I want to give them a try. Thanks!


Edited by haertig (05/07/06 01:21 AM)

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#65314 - 05/07/06 08:05 AM Re: Knife opinions: Spyderco Native vs. Delica4?
Xterior Offline
Member

Registered: 06/25/05
Posts: 148
I've got a Native III with the VG10 steel. It was razor sharp when I got it. It fits my hand pefectly.

Than handle is made of FRN so there are no other metal parts in the knive than the blade and the backspring. The delica has got skeletonized stainless steel liners, so I guess it would be stronger. But my Native III locks verry solid, and there is absolutly no blade play.

I guess you can't go wrong with either of them. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

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#65315 - 05/07/06 08:38 AM Re: Knife opinions: Spyderco Native vs. Delica4?
Leigh_Ratcliffe Offline
Veteran

Registered: 03/31/06
Posts: 1355
Loc: United Kingdom.
Spyderco's are good knives. I have been using them for something like 10 years now. Quality wise they rival Benchmade. If I want a straight blade I tend to use my Benchmade RSK. If it involves ropes and things I go Spyderco. Their popularity with forum members says everything about that needs saying.
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#65316 - 05/07/06 03:24 PM Re: Knife opinions: Spyderco Native vs. Delica4?
garrett Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 03/07/03
Posts: 249
Loc: North Carolina
I concur with everyone's remarks. For folders, I only use Spyderco. I have a Native as my EDC knife and I love it. It is sharp as all get out, and the VG-10 holds an edge and is easy to sharpen. I have not had a chance to see the new Delicas, but they are getting rave reveiws on the Spyderco Forums.

Garrett
_________________________
On occasion of every accident that befalls you, remember to turn to yourself and inquire what power you have for turning it to use. - Epictetus

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#65317 - 05/07/06 09:59 PM Re: Knife opinions: Spyderco Native vs. Delica4?
haertig Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 03/13/05
Posts: 2322
Loc: Colorado
Thanks all. I will probably end up with both knives eventually. But for now I went ahead and bought the Native. Can't beat the price (at WalMart, of all places!) Only $39. that's for the CPMS30V plain edge version, not the VG10 one (I think that model is the Native III). From what I've researched, both steels are quite good and neither one is clearly superior to the other. The Native is certainly a nice knife. I'm very happy with it!

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#65318 - 05/20/06 11:45 PM Re: Knife opinions: Spyderco Native vs. Delica4?
Roarmeister Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 09/12/01
Posts: 960
Loc: Saskatchewan, Canada
I've got a Delica combo blade with ATS-55. It held a really nice edge. Although a great knife, I didn't care for the clip point - too fragile and people thought it looked too aggresive. Even though I have a Syderco Tri-Angle sharpener, I've always found it a pain to sharpen the serations. I carried a sharpener (similar to one reviewed elsewhere on this site) that had a medum ceramic rods set in a vee. I found this $2 sharpener easier to use with the serrations.

I've since purchased a plain edge Syderco Salt 1. It has the same form factor as the Delica 4, with the blunted tip. It is made from H-1 steel and can be sharpened razor sharp. It however needs to be sharpened more oftern as it doesn't hold the edge quite as long. The improvements were the blunted tip (almost a Sheepsfoot), the larger hole for gloved hands, and the "ribbed" feel on the thumbrest. It does not have the 4-way pocket clip like the Delica 4 has and it is rivited instead of screwed nor does it have the updated grip pattern. It gained slightly in weight now 2.0 oz instead of 1.8 oz. - all of the weight went into the slightly beefier blade.

I've met many a Spyderco owner - in fact at my local camping store, ALL the staff seem to sport one clipped to their pocket! You could do worse - much worse than one of these blades. I chose a sub-3" blade so that people are less intimidated in public but the one handed operation and click as it locks still throw people off. I do love that I one-handedly can open, cut, close and return the knife so quickly to the pocket though that most people don't even know I got it out!

BTW, my OTHER knife is a Benchmade Ares. This is a larger blade of 154CM the sharpens and holds the edge very well. I love it's thumb stud and axis lock. The only thing I don't like about it is it's heft - coming it at 4.2 oz and it's considerably thicker handle takes up a lot of space in my pocket. It's also about 3 5/8" long. Not a bad Survival knife - just heavier than I think it needed to be especially for an EDC. I prefer a smallish knife, with the clip out so I can still access my keys or coins in my pocket. The slimness of the knife is a real bonus as I don't usually where cargo pants to work.

My EDC knife is the Spyderco. I also have a Leatherman Squirt S4 on my keychain and a Leatherman Wave 2 in my briefcase (replaced a Gerber multi-tool). The multi-tool is useful at work where I occasionally need to work on Systems Furniture.

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#65319 - 05/21/06 03:30 AM Re: Knife opinions: Spyderco Native vs. Delica4?
haertig Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 03/13/05
Posts: 2322
Loc: Colorado
I have the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker too. And I've never been any good with mine. It takes me FOREVER to sharpen anything. Plain blades that is. I don't have any serrated pocket carry knives. OK, one Cold Steel "Ready Edge" or something like that, but that one doesn't count in my book. That Ready Edge convinced me that serrations were a waste on small blade knives. It's got like a 1 or 1-1/4 inch blade and it's useless for cutting anything. The serrations hang up and bind your cutting motion on every cutting task. I DO like my serrated kitchen knives though, but we're talking more like 8 inch blades on those.

But I still can't use my Sharpmaker worth a dang on straight blades. So I bought one of those "assisted angle" jobbers. Mine is made by Gatco, very similar to the Lansky competition. The best $17 ($19?) I've spent. It was mismarked terribly on the price, but the store volunteered to sell it at the erroneous price, which I gladly accepted! Real knife people will surely laugh at me for needing something to help me maintain the correct sharpening angle, but my results have been very very good with that device.

Now that I have the Spyderco Native, it's only a matter of time (short) before I go for the Delica 4. When that Native locks open, it is such a nice solid (and loud!) click. I can see how you say some people may be disturbed by the solid click. I can envision a reaction like someone hearing the noise of the slide being racked on a quality pump shotgun. One of those "straighten up and be more alert" reactions. When I bought the Native I never gave a thought to what other people would think being near it. But now I see how the blade shape and solid lockup click could scare some people, so I'm discrete when I use in front of others (a well-timed "cough" covers the click nicely!)

In the past, the look of Spyderco knives has somewhat turned me off. I didn't really care for the trademark hump and the pointy-to-the-extreme tips. Throw in those serrations I don't like and some of Spyderco's really weird blade shapes, and I was just turned off - despite knowing they were quality knives. However, the Delica 4 is changing that feeling. The tip is not quite so pointy, and that hump is getting more and more appealing every day. If it locks up anything like the Native it's got to be a winner (I've seen Delica 3's in person, but no 4's yet - only pictures).

I also like the look and feel of the Benchmade Mini-Griptillian with the sheepsfoot blade. That one's probably going to be added to my (small) collection in the future too.

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