Delica 4 Lightweight Signature Folding Pocket Knife, PlainEdge

The Spyderco Delica is my all-time favorite pocket knife. I've been carrying a Delica since it came on the market in 1990 and have owned almost every version of it since that time. This is the 4th version, the Delica 4. I never broke one...I just lose them from time to time. Needless to say, I keep a few extra on hand for those times when I misplace the one I'm carrying. Everything about the Delica 4 is right for me. It is the perfect size to clip in a rear or front pants pocket. It is unobtrusive in the rear pocket, and only slightly obtrusive in the front pocket when seated/climbing (depends on the pants). One of the things I really like about the Delica is that it is always evolving. In a few years, these comments may be obsolete if the knife is revised. Every version of the Delica that I have owned has been an improvement over previous versions, and each version generally came in different configurations, including the Delica 4. The full flat grind (FFG) profile of the blade on this knife is thinner than the saber grind found on other Delica 4s. The only advantage I can think of for the FFG blade would be for slicing/fileting. I prefer the thicker saber grind for the strength, but not enough to deduct a star. The steel used for the blade on this model is VG-10, which I really like. VG-10 has never corroded on me, despite extensive saltwater exposure (some stainless steels will) and it holds an edge, yet sharpens easily enough. I have never broken a tip or bent a blade on versions with the saber grind despite modest use as a pry bar and wood chisel...I'm not sure yet how this FFG blade will hold up in that area. If you are interested, Spyderco has another version of the Delica 4 that uses ZDP-189 steel, which is supposed to be very good. I have no experience, however, with that steel. The pocket clip is secured by three tiny bolts, which keeps the clip from rotating, and can be positioned on any of the four corners. The default location allows a right hander to open the knife right out of the pocket, front or rear, without changing the grip you used to pull it out of your pocket. The circular hole in the blade is the ideal size and shape (ovals don't fit the thumb as well IMO) and in the ideal location. It's as easy to operate for me as it is for a 10 year old. Opening this knife quickly with one hand is intuitive and does not require practice. The lock release is indented, I believe to minimize risk of accidental closing when squeezing the handle. With practice, any knife with the lock release in this position can be closed with one hand. Easy one-handed access, opening, and closing cannot really be appreciated until you need it (e.g., something needs to be cut while one hand is occupied). BTW, if you are considering the Delica 4 Emerson Opener, I can tell you that it works (snags on your pocket to open automatically as you pull it out), but you have to be careful if you want to pull it out without opening it. I don't find this very useful as I can open the regular Delica 4 in a controlled manner as fast as necessary. Serrated or plain edge? Spyderco's serrated edge is definitely more aggressive out of the box, but the plain edge is much easier to sharpen when it gets dull. Even with Spyderco's Triangle Sharpmaker, I have a hard time restoring a serrated edge. For that reason, I always opt for the full plain edge. However, the serrated edge, when new/sharp, will rip through rope and seat belts much better than a plain edge so consider your purpose for this knife when deciding. The handle material is a nylon polymer and seems invincible. It is directionally and sharply textured for superior grip no matter how it is held. The initial portion of the back of the blade and the polymer on the back spine are textured for better grip when the thumb rests there. The grips have a stainless steel liner inside and the entire knife is held together by screws versus rivets (both of these features are revisions over previous versions). The end of the handle farthest from the blade pivot point has a hole for a lanyard if you are inclined to use one. Highly recommended.

I've been using a Chinese Spyderco Tenacious with G10 handle and combo blade for about 10 years or so, and I wanted to try something else. I like the Spyder hole deployment feature, so I stuck with Spyderco and got this Delica 4 with FRN handle and plain blade. G10 feels a bit more refined/fancy and smooth (in a good way), and the FRN feels more, well, plastic. FRN weighs a bit less, but not enough to matter. The FRN handle of the Delica 4 does have noticeably more "grip" to it, but that's possibly because of the design rather than the material itself (Tenacious G10 has a light check pattern, and Delica's FRN is a much deeper pattern). The Delica's lockback is very solid with no play, but less convenient to undo than the liner lock on the Tenacious. That said, both are easily deployed and stowed with just one hand once you're familiar. Ergonomics of the Delica are good, but the larger/meatier Tenacious feels a little better in hand. The biggest win of the Delica 4 vs my old Tenacious is size/weight since this is my EDC. With the Tenacious, I had to remove it from my pocket in order to take my phone out (same pocket, Levi's), but the Delica is slimmer and my iPhone 13 mini goes in/out of pocket while the Delica is clipped on without any trouble. The Delica is just the right amount of lightweight without feeling like skimpy, underbuilt junk. I went with plain blade instead of combo because of sharpening ease. My old Tenacious has the combo blade but I almost never used the serrated portion. The Delica 4 was decently sharp out of the box, but not "razor sharp" as I've seen in so many reviews. I did spend a few minutes with my 1000 grit whetstone and it made a noticeable difference. Lastly, I don't notice any special magic in this Japan made Delica 4 versus the China made Tenacious. Both are great knives with solid locks and smooth action. If size (and price) was no issue I would have probably gotten the Spyderco Shaman.

This an excellent knife. I love the Spyderco leaf blade and the spidey hole. The VG10 is very sharp out of the box. The lock up is super reliable. I don’t really have anything critical to say about the Delica 4. The pocket clip could a little better I guess. The Delica series has been around since 1990 and the Delica 4 was released in 2006. For a knife to be that highly regarded for such a long time says something about the craftsmanship and the longevity of this model. It doesn’t take up a whole lot of pocket and is extremely durable. One of the best in that intermediate price range. Excellent EDC knife.

Very light, very sharp. Good quality Easy to open. Great edc knife

I just got this knife in the mail last night as an alternative EDC to my Benchmade 556 Mini Griptilian. I have mixed feelings. The blade length is identical to the mini-grip, but it's thinner and has much more of a slicing character. It doesn't feel fragile at all though. The handle is also a touch thinner than the mini grip. However that big thumbhole makes it much wider when closed. So despite the thin character of the knife I wouldn't say it's more pocketable than the Benchmade. It's still easy to forget about though and quite nice for EDC. I'd call it a tie between the two. The opening and closing action is much different. The movement is buttery smooth but heavy. You're not going to accidentally open it in your pocket, and it feels rock solid when locked open. I can open it one handed, but it doesn't "flick" like the Benchmade. I can't close it one handed, but that's not such a bad thing. You're not going to accidentally unlock it either. But I do kind of like how I can whip out the benchmade and open it while I'm raising the knife, slice something open, then close it as I return it to my pocket. Quick as a blink. I would imagine this knife will loosen up a bit if I keep it, and maybe I just haven't mastered a one-handed close yet. If you've ever driven manual transmission cars or motorcycles from Germany and Japan, these two knives remind me very strongly of shifting a Honda (the Benchmade) vs shifting a BMW (the Spyderco.) Both are smooth as can be, but the Benchmade opens/closes quickly and casually whereas the Spyderco is firm and deliberate. Niether is better in my opinion, just different. I read another review that complained about the finish of the thumb hole. I thought he was just being whiny, but sure enough mine isn't finished either and it's a problem. Aside from the drill marks, the edges of the hole are sharp enough that it's uncomfortable to stick your thumb into it. It's a really surprising deviation from the rest of the outstanding fit and finish of the knife. I'm not sure whether I'm going to send it to Spyderco to ask them to finish machining the damn knife, get out a file and some super fine sandpaper and do it myself, or just return it and get something else. Overall it's a very nice knife with a "character" very different from my other nice EDC (again Benchmade 556 Mini Griptilian) so it could be a nice addition to my budding collection. But that thumb hole is awfully annoying when there are so many great options at the $60 dollar price point. A couple other thoughts - The handle is a touch longer than the mini grip, hence the longer overall length. It's a pleasure to hold. The pocket clip stands off a bit further than the benchmade, which I don't really like but isn't really a problem. The black finish is already coming off, but my Benchmade clip did the same thing. Oh well. That's just what they do. Update: I contacted Spyderco about the knife. They basically said the thumbhole is not a polished feature so don't expect it to be super smooth, but it shouldn't be sharp either. Fair enough. They suggested I send it in and they'll buff it and send it back for free as long as it's under warranty. I assume it's under warranty since it's brand new. That's about the best you could hope for. Thanks for the offer Spyderco. I elected not to bother dealing with getting a brand new knife "fixed." I contacted the seller for a return and they gave it to me, even paying the return shipping themselves. Great service from both Spyderco and eCop! but I'm not going to put up with what I at least perceive to be a flawed brand new $60 dollar knife. I'm sending this back and am going to go with a $40 dollar Kershaw Leek to have a slicer in my EDC collection. I'm going to change this to a 5 star review since it's otherwise a great knife, and the service was A+. Just be warned that you may have to spend a few minutes buffing the thumbhole after you receive this knife.

I had been looking for a perfect general purpose carry knife for a awhile and I believe I've found it with this one. There is nothing cheap about this knife. First off, it has a 73mm blade made of VG-10 steel with a razor sharp edge that will stay sharp for a long time before you need to sharpen it. On the back of the blade near the handle, it has an indention for the thumb that will come in handy mostly in a self-defense situation. This allows you to put more power behind the blade and can be used as a hand guard so you can parry other knife attacks. The most defining feature of the knife, however is the enlarged hole near the top of the blade, which makes one-handed opening much easier in a non-spring opening knife. This also eliminates the need for a thumb stud and allows it to fit much easier in a pocket and makes the knife much lighter. The handle is made from fiberglass reenforced nylon, molded in a bi-weave texture for maximum grip. I used to carry a SOG Blink, which is another great pocket knife, but the issue I had with it was that the handle wasn't long enough for me. The Delica's handle, however has a much more comfortable length. The only thing, I don't like about it (and this really isn't a big deal) is that Spyderco cannot seem to get the paint to stick to the pocket clips of their knives. It is almost guaranteed to wear off quickly but it's mostly a cosmetic issue and doesn't affect the overall performance at all. I would recommend just letting it wear off and then buffing off the remaining paint. The steel underneath won't rust. Overall, this a great, tough, durable carry knife that I would recommend to anyone. **UPDATE** After Several months, the clip seems to have loosened slightly. The retention is not as good as it was and I'm considering replacing the clip altogether. So the clip is, by far, the weak point of this knife but still, as good as the rest this knife is, it's excusable.

I wanted a knife to carry at work as a police officer. I just wanted to cut stuff. I wasn't looking for a tactical knife, although it would be nice to be able to have both. My requirements were a folded size under 5 inches, a high quality blade that would hold a sharp edge to be low maintenance, a quality locking mechanism, to be easy to open with one hand, and a price under $60. I previously had a large Smith & Wesson SWAT knife which was huge and rusted over the years. I looked at a lot of reviews and videos before ordering this knife. My new Spyderco Delica 4 (in black) is beautiful, with a high quality mechanism, a very sharp blade, it's easy to open, lightweight, and fits all of my requirements. The size of the handle is perfect for me as a woman with medium sized hands but a little small for my husband. The textured handle and jimping make it very secure in the hand. I have been using it for a few months and it is still as sharp as when I took it out of the box. The only things I would change about it would be a liner lock so it could be more easily closed with one hand and an assist to open it more quickly. The knife can be easily opened with one hand but it is not quick compared to other knives. I was aware of these two small drawbacks when I ordered the knife so they were no surprise. I would definitely recommend this knife.

I've owned and carried various pocket knives just about every day for last 30 years or so. Many were spydercos, slipjoints (traditional and SAKs), small fixed blades, and several OHOs. In the spyderco lineup (dragonflies, para original s30v, mili in D2). Picked up a para3 lw and just did not like the size/feel overall with the light weight. Picked up a basic frn delica w/ vg10. The metal backspacer/lock, and liners provide a tiny bit of weight and contribute to the solid feel. It is by far the sharpest sypyerco options I've ever had out of the box. (All my spydercos have been ffg.). It fits my criteria w/ <= 3" blade for carry in my location. You can pay more and get better steel, or handles, but while not inexpensive, it is a quality knife. Not sure why I never bought one in the past. I have a spyderco bias and prefer this over any of my other options with thumb studs. Maybe because the spydie hole works with light gloves fairly well and I am just used to it. YMMV. I did notice that it does not sit and carry as well with tip down as the military lineup. could be the handle depth, clip placements, etc. I carry it tip up so not a big deal. Maybe a tad big for the office (desk job business casual), but again YMMV.

Habe das gute Stück für knappe 70 euro hier gekauft und ich muss sagen,eines der besten Deals zur Zeit. Ich hatte schon fiele Messer von spyderco bis Benschmade aber bei diesem bin ich hängengeblieben. Es ist leicht nicht zu klein und ist easy nachzuschärfen bei guter snitthaltigkeit.Alles andere ist zu groß für den Alltag oder speilerei.Kleiner Tip,damit sich die Schrauben von Klinge oder Pocketclip nicht lösen einfach entfetten und mit Schraubensicherung rot oder blau (vorsichtig)wieder verschrauben,dann hält das gute Stück ewig.

サムホール付きの独特なブレード形状は好き嫌いだけで言えば「うーん」だが、使ってみると理にかなっているのはよくわかる。スタッドと違って出っ張らないから邪魔にならない。ロックにガタが全くないのも驚くほど。吸い込まれるようにロックされてスッと解除できる。 切れ味は言わずもがな、箱出しで十分以上。そして何より軽い！ アウトドアに出る時、まずはこれ一本と思える手軽さと使い勝手。

Es la iteración más reciente de una de las navajas más icónicas de Spyderco. Calidad excelente tanto de materiales como de acabado, muy buena compra por este precio. Además se nota que es la cuarta versión, tiene un montón de detalles ergonómicos perfeccionados que hacen que encaje perfectamente en la mano y que sea segura de utilizar. Además la de filo liso es más fácil de afilar.

Compré mi Delica en este sitio en Amazon. Llegó en perfectas condiciones y es original. Es una navaja excelente, comodo de llevar y usar. El precio es bueno dado su calidad y en comparación con otros modelos de Spyderco. La Delicia 4 es una navaja muy famosa y al tenerla un tiempo entiendo por que. Abre y sierra con una sola mano. Muy recomendable!

hat meiner Meinung nach die ideale Größe um täglich in der Hosentasche dabei zu sein. Griffschalen sind aus Kunststoff und daher relativ unempfindlich. Die Klinke lässt sich leicht öffnen, läuft aber so schwer das sie sich nicht von alleine bewegt. Das ist auch notwendig denn die Klinke ist sehr scharf. Würde ich wieder kaufen