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Last updated: February 10, 2018
Ah, the Spyderco Delica – is there a more classic EDC design? Well, if we are talking about modern folding knives, I’d argue there really isn’t. One of Spyderco’s most popular knives, the Delica 4, is the brand’s bread and butter; a simple, reliable folding knife that is built with easy carry and utility in mind.
Buy the Spyderco Delica at BladeHQ
Many will wonder why it took me so long to review the Delica. Even the relatively new fourth generation version (hence Delica “4”) has been out for a while. The truth is, there are too many knives and too little time. Also, I reviewed the Endura 4 a while back, and since the knives are so similar it took me a while to get around to the Delica. Better late than never however, and I finally intend to give this knife the attention it deserves.
General Dimensions and Blade Details
The Delica has an overall length of 7-1/8″, a 2-7/8″ blade, weighs 2.5 ounces, and is made in Japan. This is a slim and lightweight design, perfect for every day carry (EDC).
The Delica features a leaf shaped blade, and is defined by its large thumb hole. This is a classic Spyderco blade shape. For the uninitiated the blade will almost look goofy, but for those that appreciate this unique aesthetic it’s a beautiful sight to behold. The 4th generation has been given a full flat grind and a beautiful satin finish. All in all, it’s a pretty unremarkable blade, just a simple look that is designed for performance. The tip is fine and lacks reinforcement so the user needs to take care and avoid any prying tasks.
The standard Delica comes with a VG-10 blade. VG-10 is a Japanese stainless steel. This is a serviceable mid range steel. It’s easy to sharpen, takes a fine edge, and holds on to it for a reasonable amount of time. It’s not a super steel, but it’s a step above budget blade steels like AUS-8 and 8Cr13MoV.
Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip
The handle on the 4th gen is fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) over full stainless steel liners. The liners have been nested inside the scales and are thoroughly milled out. This keeps the knife very slim and lightweight. Everything has been bolted together so you can take the knife apart if needed. Since the Delica has a backlock, this is a closed back design.
You can get the Delica 4 in a variety of colors including blue, purple, brown, white, green and of course black. Collectors like this, and I admit the choice of color is fun. I went with green for mine, it’s a friendly color that stands out from the sea of black handled knives in my dresser drawer.
The ergonomics on the latest generation of the Delica are quite nice. This is no surprise for a design that has spent over 20 years in the Spyderco catalog. That said, there have been a number of refinements to improve the already solid foundation. The FRN scales have been given what Spyderco calls a “bi-directional texture” – this allows for a slip resistant grip at any angle. Jimping extends from the back of the handle to the top of the thumb ramp, and it locks the thumb in nicely. The handle shape is smoothed on the edges and has plenty of room for large hands. This handle is very comfortable in all the normal grips.
The pocket clip is discrete and offers unparalleled carry options. This is a standard “spoon” style pocket clip and has been coated flat black. This is a removable clip and can be positioned on any of the 4 corners of the knife with 3 torx screws. I love the versatility of this clip, this is a truly ambidextrous design. Clip retention is excellent and the knife rides low in the pocket. The only negative I could find is that the coating does wear off with use, which happens with pretty much any pocket clip.
Deployment and Lockup
It should be no surprise that the Delica uses a thumb hole for deployment. This particular spyderhole has a diameter of 13mm. I have found this to be a good size for both gloved and bare hands. Deployment is smooth and the knife can be flicked out with a practiced hand.
The Delica uses a back lock located right in the middle of the handle. This is easy to access but it will take some technique to close this knife with one hand. The lock is very secure with no blade play at all. The spring on the back lock is very good so inadvertently opening the knife is highly unlikely. The Boyd dent on the lock bar helps ensure that the knife will not inadvertently close either.
Spyderco Delica 4 Review – Final Thoughts
It doesn’t take long to discover why this is one of Spyderco’s most popular designs. One thing that strikes me is how well built the knife feels. The nested liners are flush, the blade is centered, the FRN is well finished. I love the satin finished blade and shaving sharp edge.
I also can appreciate how lefty-friendly this knife is. The thumb hole, lock back and pocket clip are entirely ambidextrous. Add in the choice of colors and this really feels like a knife that was made for me.
As I struggle to find negatives about the knife, I’ll mention that at around $65, it is not a cheap knife. Especially if you are considering this as a step up from $20-30 knives. I think you get what you pay for. I would also say that it would be really nice if they made the Delica in America. These are really minor issues, and if its the worst thing I can say about the knife then it really says something.
In conclusion, the Spyderco Delica is an outstanding knife. It has been refined over decades and has become a measuring stick in the EDC knife world. If you are on the road to collecting pocket knives, the Delica 4 is a foundation blade. If you are simply looking for a practical EDC knife, then the Delica 4 fits that bill too.
- Wide Spectrum of Handle Colors: The Delica 4 now offers new vibrant tones including blue, green, brown, gray, orange, zome green, black and purple.
- Superior Blade Steel: The blades are full flat-ground VG-10 Steel with a thinner highly refined cutting edge and a larger 13mm opening hole.
- Ultra-Lightweight: Inside the handle are dual skeletonized Stainless Steel liners which strengthen the knife without additional weight and double as an anchor for external and internal components to attach through generating more sturdiness.
- Ergonomic: Added to the blade's spine is slip resistant jimping. Phosphor bronze washers smooth out the open/close action and the clip is upgraded to a four-way tip-up, tip-down, left-or right-handed clip.
- A Secure Grip: Molded onto the FRN Handle's surface is Bi-Directional Texturing for slip-free tactile traction. It provides resistance to slipping in the hand.
If you would like to buy a Spyderco Delica 4, I recommend purchasing it at Amazon.com or BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
Nice review! The Delica is a personal favorite of mine and has been for years.
Thank you Matt! This is an absolute classic.
An Australian friend was looking one these for a first good pocket knife for her daughter, and she thought one of these would be great. Sadly, they have a lot of trouble importing these down there and the chances are good that it would be confiscated at customs as a gravity/flick knife. Madness! A real pity, as even though I choose not to own Spydercos for personal reasons, I fully admit they’re excellent knives and worthy of anyone’s EDC lineup.
That really is a shame RK – Australians should have access to these awesome knives. Sometimes I take living in America for granted. It’s ok I find the allure of the Spyderhole hard to resist and as a result I own way too many Spydercos – plenty for both of us. 🙂 Thanks for droppin by.
I’ve heard some importers will tighten the pivot up quite tight to get them through.
I’ve had excellent service buying Spyderco knives in Australia from Ron who runs urbanconquest. He’ll easily get you a delica for a reasonable price in Australia.
Thanks for clearing that up a bit for us R. I’m glad to hear it’s not impossible to get one as it really is an awesome EDC knife. Thanks for stopping by.
Easily my favorite medium-to-small EDC knife. The traditional saber ground Delica 4s are still available, but I think this full flat ground version is the way to go. Huge slicing power for the size and weight.
I wish I owned all five colors.
Yes, this is just an absolute classic. Great balance, materials and fit/finish. The new orange version is really striking. Wish I had held out for one of them!
the delica 4 is my favorite knife i own as of late but i paid $66 for mine. I wish I would have shopped around more but that is the brakes. I am proud of this knife and it is japanenese right. I hope. it says SEKI-CITY japan. I just want to stay away from chinese made products. This is my new edc.
Hey Matt, Sure you probably could have saved $15 or so, but it’s small potatoes when you consider the value of a good knife. And it definitely is made in Japan. Enjoy it my friend!
Thank you, Dan I do not know what to say more than two words: “AWESOME”
God Bless You
Thank you very much Hieu! You are really too kind.
Best regards,
Dan
Great review!
I recently bought a Manix2 Lightweight and its a great knife but somehow my Delica4 keeps finding its way back into my pocket. For EDC it just simply cannot be beat in my humble opinion.
I actually own three of them:) Two FFG, Tan and Orange and one sabre grind. The sabre feels stronger but the FFG just cuts so effortlessly. Spydie Fan for life here!
Very nice, Russ! The Delica is a classic, no denying it. Carry them in good health!
Dan
Hi Dan,
After studying your blog for a few days, I finally bought my first EDC folding knife, the Delica 4!
The copy I received feels fantastic. But I’m slightly concerned that it might not be the genuine one as it did not come with the paperwork somehow.
I’ve done a bit of searching to see if there’s detailed comparison of fake vs real delica 4, but couldn’t find anything useful so far. I used a video that compares real & fake endura as a reference, and so far my knife seems to be authentic.
Except maybe one thing – my Delica 4 has very pronounced machine marks on the wider bit of metal underneath the cutting edge that’s connected to the grip. Same machine mark can be seen inside the round hole of the blade. I couldn’t find images of authentic delica 4 online to verify if this is normal, I was wondering if you could help?
Cheers,
TC
Hi TC,
Congratulations! The Delica is a great folder for EDC. I hope you enjoy it.
Honestly, I am not sure. My suggestion would be to take some good photographs of the knife and area in question, and post it in the Spyderco forums or the Spyderco section of BladeForums (or your knife forum of choice if you have one). The collective power of the forums will be far better than any opinion I could offer. Hope this points you in the right direction.
Best,
Dan
I think the Wave Delica deserves a special mention.
I have the Wave Endura 4, but sold my Delica Wave. I was in a phase of downsizing my expensive toys, and I decided to keep the Endura and flip the Delica. Now I’m deciding the Endura may be a little larger than is practical.
Now I’m thinking of reacquiring a Delica Wave.
Hi Fred,
I know Andrew at the Edge Observer is a big fan of the waved Delica. I wouldn’t mind one myself, and agree that a special mention is in order!
Dan
Hi! Love reading your reviews…I got a Paramilitary 2 and a Caly 3 a couple years ago based on them! I’m currently testing out a Manix 2 for work use (turns out a black DLC paramilitary is not a very “high visibility” color in the field), but find it to be a bit bulky. Would I be better off with a satin Paramilitary, or would a Delica be robust enough? The knife basically needs to cut rope and be capable of some light whittling.
Danny, Thanks! So glad to hear you have been enjoying the reviews. I think the Delica would be robust enough for what you are describing. It’s not as strong as the Para 2, but should get the job done and is a much slimmer and lighter knife. I say try it out.
Dan
Thanks! I just may…although I may just keep the Manix for now as, size and weight aside I fricken love the ergonomics!