Gray_Fallen
Member
For Deputy Tom, and anyone else who had problems with the link I posted in the "Assisted Openers With Spyderco Hole" thread, here's a forum version of the article - the pics should work here, if they dont I will email. 
Combat Customizing
Enduras & Delicas
Spyderco Endura and Delica models can be found in most shops that handle knives, and in most parts of the world. They are both inexpensive and reliable, using good quality materials, and solid construction. Because of this they have earned a reputation as good working tools, and are rather common. Considering I use my pocket knives for utility first and foremost, I like a knife I can use hard, so I’ve always like Spyderco products, especially the FRN handled Delica and Endura.
Despite the fact that my pocket knives are for the most part work tools first, I always choose them with self defense being foremost on my mind. As a knife-maker and designer, specializing in tactical and defense styles, I know a lot about what is needed for a good defense knife, and my brain is usually tracking on that path anyway, so I use that knowledge to pick my knives. Still, I turn my eye to Spyderco Endura and Delica. Not my first choice, that is an Emerson Commander (and will have a part to play in this article yet), but they are my back-up folders, and would be wonderful defense/utility folders for those on a budget. There are a few things that can be done to make them better for their role as a defense tool however.
Ernest Emerson developed one of the most important advances in folding fighting cutlery of the 20th century, a small catch on the back of the folder blade called the Wave. The Wave (which is trademarked and patented) catches the lip of the pocket when the knife is drawn, and opens the blade as the knife comes out of the pocket. With a little practice this mechanism is fool-proof. What this does is enables a knife equipped with a Wave to be opened faster than any other folding knife, even a switchblade, because all other knives have to be drawn from the pocket, and then opened, a Waved knife opens as it is drawn. This also removes the need for fine motor skills to work the one-hand opener on the knife. Fine motor skills go away under high stress, high adrenaline situations (like fights), so depending on them, or being forced to by your gear, is a mistake. The Wave is the very best opening mechanism in my opinion, because of these qualities. The Emerson Commander I possess and use for my EDC is Wave equipped, and it is because of this that I am reluctant to purchase a knife that is not Waved, or that cannot be Waved. And it is also because of this, that I started on my series of Spyderco modifications.
I got three used Spyderco folders, one Delica and two Enduras, at a gun show for about $40. None of them had clips, but the Delica was the new style, where the missing clip could be replaced, and one of the Enduras had enough of the old molded clip left, that I could make it into a pocket stud, to catch and hold on the lip of my pocket. The third, which had no clip left at all, and a bit of a bent tip, I decided to turn into a trainer. Since I was going to be grinding most of it away to make a trainer anyhow, I decided I would experiment and add a Wave, so that if I screwed up, there was no harm done. I’d been doing some sketching and random note making in one of my note books about these folders, and their tactical applications, and a Waved Delica had ended up being sketched, so I guess that’s why I had it on my brain.
As it turned out, it was pretty easy to do, so I went ahead and did the two I planned to carry. I did the mod like this: I took my hacksaw with the carbide blade (the kind that’s like the thick wire, with carbide coating) and used it to make the initial cut for the Wave. Then I used my Dremel to lower and smooth the area in front of the cut, leading into the cut, so the lip of the pocket was guided in smoothly, to reduce the possibility of a partial, or zero, opening. Then I used sand paper to smooth it all up. Doing it this way retained the integrity of the Hole opener, which is one of the best “stress reaction able†thumb openers around because it’s big and easy to hit.
When I was done I discovered something else nice about a Spyderco with a Wave, especially the smaller Delica. It can be made to work like the Kershaw Talon, AKA the “Southern Comfortâ€, in that it can be drawn, Waving it, into a Pikal (Edge In) grip very easily. Both blades are very nice for Pikal, especially the Delica. Not as good as a Talon, or similar shaped blade with a handle that is shaped for a Pikal grip, either on accident or purposefully, but they definitely do work. Here is the SoCo draw stroke as shown by SouthNarc with a SoCo:
The draw-strike for either of the Spydercos is the same. Any Waved knife should be able to accomplish this type of draw with some practice.
The next modification came about as the effect of a realization of a potential problem. The Endura and Delica are lock-backs, and while the more recent Spyderco Lock Backs have had a “Boye Detentâ€, a small concave notch in the back of the lock bar, to keep it from being accidentally depressed, none of the older ones I bought had this. Because of this in Pikal the fingers of the hand were right over the lock bar, and in a tight grip pushed down on it enough to make releasing it a problem. In a convulsive grip, under stress, un-able to adjust the hand around the lock bar, this could be a big problem. So, I took my Dremel tool with sanding drum and installed a detent like the ones Spyderco currently puts on. Problem solved.
The finished knives I was very happy with, and began to carry immediately. In several months of carry now, there have been no problems at all with the locks, or with the reliability of my “Ghetto Waveâ€.
Of course, with every good weapons system there must be a means of training. For folding knives having a trainer that actually folds and functions like your carry folder is just about a necessity. The first knife I set out on modifying was of course to be a trainer, and it is just as important as the other two.
To make the blade safe for training I used my Delta 4x36 belt sander and ground the tip blunt, and ground back into the blade about ¼†back from where the edge had been. This left a blunt, thick tip, and a blunt thick edge. Then I carefully used my sander and then sand paper to completely De-Horn all the sharp angles, especially on the blunted tip and edge, so everything was safely rounded off and smooth. Once that was done, I applied a Krylon orange coating to the handle to identify the knife as a dedicated trainer, so no mistakes could be made, and the wrong one accidentally be pocketed.
Brand new a Delica or Endura shouldn’t cost more than $50. Spyderco makes trainers as well, but if you get a good deal on a well-used model, I see no reason not to get it and turn it into a trainer and save some money. For under $100, give or take some hours in your garage/workshop, you can have a reliable knife and trainer set, that make the very best of stress reactions, gross muscle movement, and superior knife techniques, all while being good, solid, working knives. If you’ve spent $1200 on your custom 1911, and are short for new knives for a bit, you can set yourself up with a nice weapons retention set up with a new Spyderco folder that can be carried weak side (thanks to the reversible clip), and trainer. $50 for a Ring Manufacturing “Blue Gun†trainer, and you’re even better set up for your training.
A talented Kydex maker (such as Robert Humelbaugh from Survival Sheath Systems, www.survivalsheath.com ) could also make a belt rig, or even a shoulder rig, to hold one of these knives in the open position. Because of the cut in, versus stand out, “Wave†I am not sure if a sheath could be made that would hold the closed folder, and activate the Wave on the draw, but it would be worth talking over with Robert or whomever you chose.
Knives such as the Spyderco Merlin/Harpy, SpyderHawk, Civilian, and Matriarch, or Benchmade AFCK and Griptilian, or the Emerson HardWear line, to name a few, can also be modified in these methods.
My Spydercos with these modifications are now an essential, trusted, part of my every-day kit.
Combat Customizing
Enduras & Delicas
Spyderco Endura and Delica models can be found in most shops that handle knives, and in most parts of the world. They are both inexpensive and reliable, using good quality materials, and solid construction. Because of this they have earned a reputation as good working tools, and are rather common. Considering I use my pocket knives for utility first and foremost, I like a knife I can use hard, so I’ve always like Spyderco products, especially the FRN handled Delica and Endura.
Despite the fact that my pocket knives are for the most part work tools first, I always choose them with self defense being foremost on my mind. As a knife-maker and designer, specializing in tactical and defense styles, I know a lot about what is needed for a good defense knife, and my brain is usually tracking on that path anyway, so I use that knowledge to pick my knives. Still, I turn my eye to Spyderco Endura and Delica. Not my first choice, that is an Emerson Commander (and will have a part to play in this article yet), but they are my back-up folders, and would be wonderful defense/utility folders for those on a budget. There are a few things that can be done to make them better for their role as a defense tool however.
Ernest Emerson developed one of the most important advances in folding fighting cutlery of the 20th century, a small catch on the back of the folder blade called the Wave. The Wave (which is trademarked and patented) catches the lip of the pocket when the knife is drawn, and opens the blade as the knife comes out of the pocket. With a little practice this mechanism is fool-proof. What this does is enables a knife equipped with a Wave to be opened faster than any other folding knife, even a switchblade, because all other knives have to be drawn from the pocket, and then opened, a Waved knife opens as it is drawn. This also removes the need for fine motor skills to work the one-hand opener on the knife. Fine motor skills go away under high stress, high adrenaline situations (like fights), so depending on them, or being forced to by your gear, is a mistake. The Wave is the very best opening mechanism in my opinion, because of these qualities. The Emerson Commander I possess and use for my EDC is Wave equipped, and it is because of this that I am reluctant to purchase a knife that is not Waved, or that cannot be Waved. And it is also because of this, that I started on my series of Spyderco modifications.
I got three used Spyderco folders, one Delica and two Enduras, at a gun show for about $40. None of them had clips, but the Delica was the new style, where the missing clip could be replaced, and one of the Enduras had enough of the old molded clip left, that I could make it into a pocket stud, to catch and hold on the lip of my pocket. The third, which had no clip left at all, and a bit of a bent tip, I decided to turn into a trainer. Since I was going to be grinding most of it away to make a trainer anyhow, I decided I would experiment and add a Wave, so that if I screwed up, there was no harm done. I’d been doing some sketching and random note making in one of my note books about these folders, and their tactical applications, and a Waved Delica had ended up being sketched, so I guess that’s why I had it on my brain.
As it turned out, it was pretty easy to do, so I went ahead and did the two I planned to carry. I did the mod like this: I took my hacksaw with the carbide blade (the kind that’s like the thick wire, with carbide coating) and used it to make the initial cut for the Wave. Then I used my Dremel to lower and smooth the area in front of the cut, leading into the cut, so the lip of the pocket was guided in smoothly, to reduce the possibility of a partial, or zero, opening. Then I used sand paper to smooth it all up. Doing it this way retained the integrity of the Hole opener, which is one of the best “stress reaction able†thumb openers around because it’s big and easy to hit.
When I was done I discovered something else nice about a Spyderco with a Wave, especially the smaller Delica. It can be made to work like the Kershaw Talon, AKA the “Southern Comfortâ€, in that it can be drawn, Waving it, into a Pikal (Edge In) grip very easily. Both blades are very nice for Pikal, especially the Delica. Not as good as a Talon, or similar shaped blade with a handle that is shaped for a Pikal grip, either on accident or purposefully, but they definitely do work. Here is the SoCo draw stroke as shown by SouthNarc with a SoCo:
The draw-strike for either of the Spydercos is the same. Any Waved knife should be able to accomplish this type of draw with some practice.The next modification came about as the effect of a realization of a potential problem. The Endura and Delica are lock-backs, and while the more recent Spyderco Lock Backs have had a “Boye Detentâ€, a small concave notch in the back of the lock bar, to keep it from being accidentally depressed, none of the older ones I bought had this. Because of this in Pikal the fingers of the hand were right over the lock bar, and in a tight grip pushed down on it enough to make releasing it a problem. In a convulsive grip, under stress, un-able to adjust the hand around the lock bar, this could be a big problem. So, I took my Dremel tool with sanding drum and installed a detent like the ones Spyderco currently puts on. Problem solved.
The finished knives I was very happy with, and began to carry immediately. In several months of carry now, there have been no problems at all with the locks, or with the reliability of my “Ghetto Waveâ€.
Of course, with every good weapons system there must be a means of training. For folding knives having a trainer that actually folds and functions like your carry folder is just about a necessity. The first knife I set out on modifying was of course to be a trainer, and it is just as important as the other two.
To make the blade safe for training I used my Delta 4x36 belt sander and ground the tip blunt, and ground back into the blade about ¼†back from where the edge had been. This left a blunt, thick tip, and a blunt thick edge. Then I carefully used my sander and then sand paper to completely De-Horn all the sharp angles, especially on the blunted tip and edge, so everything was safely rounded off and smooth. Once that was done, I applied a Krylon orange coating to the handle to identify the knife as a dedicated trainer, so no mistakes could be made, and the wrong one accidentally be pocketed.
Brand new a Delica or Endura shouldn’t cost more than $50. Spyderco makes trainers as well, but if you get a good deal on a well-used model, I see no reason not to get it and turn it into a trainer and save some money. For under $100, give or take some hours in your garage/workshop, you can have a reliable knife and trainer set, that make the very best of stress reactions, gross muscle movement, and superior knife techniques, all while being good, solid, working knives. If you’ve spent $1200 on your custom 1911, and are short for new knives for a bit, you can set yourself up with a nice weapons retention set up with a new Spyderco folder that can be carried weak side (thanks to the reversible clip), and trainer. $50 for a Ring Manufacturing “Blue Gun†trainer, and you’re even better set up for your training.
A talented Kydex maker (such as Robert Humelbaugh from Survival Sheath Systems, www.survivalsheath.com ) could also make a belt rig, or even a shoulder rig, to hold one of these knives in the open position. Because of the cut in, versus stand out, “Wave†I am not sure if a sheath could be made that would hold the closed folder, and activate the Wave on the draw, but it would be worth talking over with Robert or whomever you chose.
Knives such as the Spyderco Merlin/Harpy, SpyderHawk, Civilian, and Matriarch, or Benchmade AFCK and Griptilian, or the Emerson HardWear line, to name a few, can also be modified in these methods.
My Spydercos with these modifications are now an essential, trusted, part of my every-day kit.
