New spyderco Delica.... disappointed

[bdjansen]

I got a Delica delivered today and I'm a little disappointed with it. I read so many positives about these knives and other spyderco knives I was sure I would like it.

But compared to my Opinel...

I love my Opinel knife. But I wanted something that would open a bit easier and with one hand. The Delica doesn't fit nearly as well in the hand, the balance isn't as nice. The first thing I did with it was cut up an apple, the Delica made sauce out of it because of the thick blade.

I guess what I want is something as close to my Opinel number 8 as possible, but with one handed opening.

 

[Yo Mama]

Easy opening and lock back don't go together. It takes some time, and breaking in for it to loosen a bit. If you want smooth as glass and easy opening maybe l'd suggest an Axis lock where you have little to no resistance.

For my new Endura, I have to move my arm down as I flick it open in order for it to work. It's about the same for my Native, both lock backs.

 

[Carl Levitian]

You in luck, the Opinel is the easiest knife to modify.

Sand down the handle so it's more of a Case sodbuster shape. This will also get rid of that nasty orange finish they use. Doing this will leave much more blade exposed to grab if your in a hurry.

You can also loosen up the blade a bit when you sand down the handle. Fold the sandpaper over so it's a snug fit in the blade slot, and widen out the blade slot, including around the blade pivot. You can actually reshape the whole handle to what ever you like. When you get it sanded down and smoothed off, just use whatever Minwax stain and seal of your choice.

Take off the locking ring, and slowly, a little bit at a time, open it up for a looser fit, so you can actually flip the blade open if you have the locking ring to the open position. Once the knife is open, just flip the locking ring closed with your thumb.

I'm not surprised that you find the Spyderco a dissapointment. After getting used to the way an Opinel cuts, most knives are a let down.

Carl.

 

[bdjansen]

Good suggestions Carl! I hadn't thought about modifying the Opinel.

Take off the locking ring, and slowly, a little bit at a time, open it up for a looser fit, so you can actually flip the blade open if you have the locking ring to the open position. Once the knife is open, just flip the locking ring closed with your thumb.

Could you describe this step in more detail? How do you take the locking ring off? And what do you mean by "open it up for a looser fit", or how do you do that part as well?

Thanks.

 

[NMPOPS]

Not surprised either I have a Delica, an Endura, a Jess Horn and an old left hand Workman and the Endura is the only one I've really used as it's the only one with no serration. I have never been inpressed with their serrations or the plastic clips.

Sent from my Ally

 

[hso]

Spyderco hasn't used plastic clips for a very long time.

As to the OP complaints about the Delica not feeling like the Opinel, it would be very difficult for a "slab" knife to feel like a "stick" knife so you may have to give the Delica a little more use to get the feel for it in your hand since you're used to the round Opinel.

As to the cutting performance, you're right. The grind on the Delica and blade thickness won't allow it to cut like the thinner stock of the Opinel. I hope the "made sauce out of it" is a bit of hyperbole to emphasize how different the two cut, but if not, it sounds like the Delica is dull and should be sent back (assuming you don't want to try to touch up the edge yourself) for sharpening. There's no way the Delica will feel like the Opinel when cutting fruit and veggies because the thicker blade stock will "wedge" a lot more than the thinner Opinel. OTOH, the Opinel's tiny unreinforced pivot pin doesn't make it as suitable for heavy use as the Delica. It's a tradeoff.

Not every knife is ideal for every person and you may never warm to the flat sided type knives having loved using the Opinel so long.

 

[NoBite]

Can you post a picture of your Opinel knife? I googled the name and discovered there are quite a few variants! Previously unknown brand/make to me.

Sorry your first experience with Spyderco was unsatisfactory. I love their knives and highly recommend them.

 

[M-Cameron]

if you have even basic handtools.......add a thumb stud to your opinel.

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?15519-Opinel-One-Hand-Opening-Modification


http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?17066-Tactical-Opinel-(Work-In-Progress)

 

[zhyla]

The Delica is one of Spyderco's oldest designs. It may not be the right one for you. For a small knife, I like their Native model -- the balance is ok for a plastic-bodied knife.

 

[conw]

They are both capable of things that the other is not. So it's an apples to oranges comparison. The Delica does sound dull...if you got the full flat ground colored scales version it should not have much noticeable difference from the Opinel.

The delica IMO is a better rounded, handier knife than the opinel, but the opinel is a nice user for certain things. Why not carry both and see what you lean toward for different purposes.

If you prefer the feel of the opinel in the hand use it when you need to cut several things over a period of time. But the ease of the delica - draw, open one handed, cut something, close one-handed, repocket - makes it more desirable for small cutting tasks, IMO.

 

[bdjansen]

They are both capable of things that the other is not. So it's an apples to oranges comparison. The Delica does sound dull...if you got the full flat ground colored scales version it should not have much noticeable difference from the Opinel.

The delica IMO is a better rounded, handier knife than the opinel, but the opinel is a nice user for certain things. Why not carry both and see what you lean toward for different purposes.

If you prefer the feel of the opinel in the hand use it when you need to cut several things over a period of time. But the ease of the delica - draw, open one handed, cut something, close one-handed, repocket - makes it more desirable for small cutting tasks, IMO.

I have been using it for the last few days now and are liking it more. I think my original post should be taken more as praise of the Opinel rather then criticism of the Spyderco.

The Delica is not dull. Rather, it came razor sharp. When I said it made sauce of an apple, it was due to the thickness of the blade. I was getting a lot of mushed up apple on my napkin as I cut it. The problem was I was trying to cut the same potato chip thin slices of apple that I cut with the Opinel or a paring knife and (obviously) the Delica can't do that.

But like I said, I am liking the Delica more and more. But nothing can really replace an Opinel I guess. They are wonderful knives.

Can you post a picture of your Opinel knife? I googled the name and discovered there are quite a few variants! Previously unknown brand/make to me.

The model I have is Opinel Number 8. Really the most common one I think.

 

[JohnKSa]

The first thing I did with it was cut up an apple, the Delica made sauce out of it because of the thick blade.

I've run up against the fact that "older-style" knives tend to cut better than the newer, made-to-be-indestructible, "tactical" knives.

Most "tactical" knives have thick spines for maximum durability so you can use them like a prybar or an axe without ruining them. Unfortunately, when you cut something, the spine has to pass through whatever you're cutting unless you're shaving thin slices off something or cutting small notches in a material.

That means that no matter how sharp the edge is, (unless you're cutting something soft or small) you end up having to wedge the thick spine of the blade through the material being cut which creates a lot of friction, can require a lot of force, and makes the knife feel like it's dull or not cutting well.

What it comes down to is that you can either carry a variety of knives, or a knife with a variety of blades, or you will have to compromise. If you want to carry just one knife with just one blade you're going to have to come to grips with the idea that it won't do everything perfectly.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Variety?

What it comes down to is that you can either carry a variety of knives, . . .

Why, whoever would do a thing like that?

 

[conw]

The opinel #8 is listed unofficially as 1/16", while the full flat ground delica is 3/32". The saber ground delica is also listed as 3/32" so I'm not sure if that's right.

Anyway glad you found it's a little nicer than you initially thought.

 

[JohnKSa]

Why, whoever would do a thing like that?

Who indeed?

I'm always carrying more than one knife if I'm dressed.

 

[conw]

For my new Endura, I have to move my arm down as I flick it open in order for it to work. It's about the same for my Native, both lock backs.

I am not a fan at all of flicking. If the knife fits you right (ie you don't have really, really small hands) a purely mechanical, non-inertia opening of the knife is just as fast, just as effective, and more reliable, especially under stress.

 

[Doug S]

I just bought two Delica PE knives, and I'm not disappointed at all. Nice fit and finish. Good design. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a Delica for a good EDC. To each his own, I guess.