My New Spydie (story w/questions, but no pics)

[Harry White]

Yesterday I went with my girlfriend to pick out a compound bow for her birthday. The sportsman's store we went to was having a sale outside with vendors staffing about a dozen booths. I didn't see much in terms of knives initially. But after we went inside and ordered the bow (it had to be ordered as she shoots left-handed) I decided to look more closely at a trailer that was advertising free knife sharpening. I had my Caly Jr with me (gray FRN, VG-10) and although it still had a fairly sharp edge, I asked the guy what he thought. He agreed it was plenty sharp, but touched it up on a paper grinding wheel. He then pulled out a piece of mono-filament (fishing line) and proceeded to shave the single thread into 5-6 slices before my eyes! I was amazed at how effortless this delicate task seemed to him. We got to talking knives (he gave my girlfriend a free utility knife for putting up with me standing in the hot sun for 30 minutes talking knives) and Spyderco in particular. He relayed a story about meeting Sal at a show years ago and buying a fixed blade serrated hawkbill. When I told him I didn't think Spyderco made such a knife he pretty much ignored the statement and continued with his story. He said he went back to the show the next year and brought the knife with him, telling Sal he found the serrations got dull after limited use. Sal supposedly gave him a PE version of the same knife and he was happy.

He had great positive things to say about Spyderco in general, and especially Sal, whom he considered a "great guy." While he loves Spyderco knives, he does not like their serrations. He then went on about how great the Cold Steel knives were. In fact he liked everything about Cold Steel except the owner, whom he called "an a$$hole." I thought that was funny!

Anyway, after all this I asked if he had any Spydercos for sale. He showed me a filthy glass display with about a dozen Spydies. Most were familiar to me, but there were two that I had not seen in person before. Both were older Delicas -- one with the blue FRN and one with black FRN and black blade. I decided to pick up the black-bladed Delica, PE.

This is a great knife, my first black-bladed Spyderco. I like how totally "black" it really is -- black blade, black FRN handle, black clip. The is no spider on the blade at all, and the spider on the clip is etched in the black clip.

I probably picked this up because I miss my D4 which is in Golden for maintenance. This is my first experience with the older Delicas, and I do like the pointier tip. The lack of jimping on the spine also gives it a much different feel than the D4, as does the lack of liners.

The question I have about this knife: Is this considered a Delica II or Delica III? Also, which would you have gotten, the blue FRN Delica or the black-bladed Delica and why.

Thanks for reading!

[smcfalls13]

What fixed blade serrated hawkbill?:confused: You've got my attention:D

Cool story. Did your Delica have the barrel bolt clip or the integral FRN clip. If it's the former, I'd say it's a D3, if it's the latter, than it's even older(I can't bring myself to call it a D2, because that's what the stainless Delicas used to are called)

Not sure which one I'd have gotten, I'd have been too busy trying to get that fixed hawkbill out of him.

[lerman]

a very nice story, a BB delica thet sounds nice hmmmmm...:)

[jaislandboy]

....
The question I have about this knife: Is this considered a Delica II or Delica III? Also, which would you have gotten, the blue FRN Delica or the black-bladed Delica and why.

Thanks for reading!

Well Harry, Scott summed it up nicely! if the steel of the Black Delica is VG10 then I guess it's a D3.....this handle is currently on my Salt.......:D
If the blue FRN Delica was ATS-55 then you need to check out JFJ's website...as i believe some are still available....:rolleyes:
As to which would I have gotten......I've got neither....so I'd probably have gotten both!;)

[Harry White]

What fixed blade serrated hawkbill?:confused: You've got my attention:D

Cool story. Did your Delica have the barrel bolt clip or the integral FRN clip. If it's the former, I'd say it's a D3, if it's the latter, than it's even older(I can't bring myself to call it a D2, because that's what the stainless Delicas used to are called)

Not sure which one I'd have gotten, I'd have been too busy trying to get that fixed hawkbill out of him.
That's what I was thinking -- what FB SE hawkbill?! I think he was mixed-up and possible meant a folding knife, but he definitely said fixed blade.

The Delica has a barrel-bolt with a removable left/right tip-up carry. I'm guessing D3, but I'm not that well-versed on the older Spyderco models.

[jaislandboy]

Yeah Harry that sounds like a D3.....I kinda prefer this size handle to the D4's shape (my hand feels a little "cramped" holding the D4) ....so using and carrying my Salt gives me that "fix"!:p

[Harry White]

Yeah Harry that sounds like a D3.....I kinda prefer this size handle to the D4's shape (my hand feels a little "cramped" holding the D4) ....so using and carrying my Salt gives me that "fix"!:p
Yeah, I've heard that before (that some prefer the D3 handle to the D4's). But as my D4 has been out of my hands for about 4 weeks now, I have forgotten how it feels! I'm curious to hold the two side by side when I get my D4 back to compare the handles.

By the way, regarding the barrel-bolts on the older (and some current [e.g., Salt series]) Spydercos -- what is the best tool for removing the clip? A standard "regular" screwdriver? It seems as if there is special tool that would fit those barrel bolts precisely, but I'll be darned if I know what it is! Thank you again...

[Carlos]

Yeah, I've heard that before (that some prefer the D3 handle to the D4's). But as my D4 has been out of my hands for about 4 weeks now, I have forgotten how it feels! I'm curious to hold the two side by side when I get my D4 back to compare the handles.

By the way, regarding the barrel-bolts on the older (and some current [e.g., Salt series]) Spydercos -- what is the best tool for removing the clip? A standard "regular" screwdriver? It seems as if there is special tool that would fit those barrel bolts precisely, but I'll be darned if I know what it is! Thank you again...

Think "coin slot." I think the idea was that you don't need a screwdriver, and can just use a quarter or other coin.

[Harry White]

Think "coin slot." I think the idea was that you don't need a screwdriver, and can just use a quarter or other coin.
Ahhhh! Thanks Carlos! :)

[ghostrider]

I find a nickle fits better, and it doesn't have the edge of the quater to rip up the bolt.

I did notice that the previous version was refered to as D3/E3 in the online catalog before they phased them out, so I would say you have the D3. The D2 was the first stainless steel version, and I would guess that the D1 was the version with the integrated FRN clip.

Interesting is that when I first looked at a Endura FRN via the online catalog, there was no number designation to indicate which version it was, however the SS model was called the E2. After the E4/D4 came out I noticed the change.

[David Lowry]

Great story. I love the older Delica's like you described. I have a thing for ATS-55 steel and the Blue FRN Delica's. I would have bought that one if I could.

I like the older pointy blade also as you do. Only if the new Delica was just exactly like it currently is but with the old pointy blade and no jimping. I don't like the jimping on the thumb ramp. ;)

[ghostrider]

Great story. I love the older Delica's like you described. I have a thing for ATS-55 steel and the Blue FRN Delica's. I would have bought that one if I could.

I like the older pointy blade also as you do. Only if the new Delica was just exactly like it currently is but with the old pointy blade and no jimping. I don't like the jimping on the thumb ramp. ;)
I agree to a certain extent. I much rather prefer the splinter picker tip and was quite disappointed to hear about it's demise. I do like the jimping on the thumb ramp, but it could have also been left out as anyone with a dremmel tool can easilly install thier own.

People wanted a stronger tip because they thought the old styles was too weak. I think that if your breaking the tip, it's probably because you were stabbing something you shouldn't have. Lots of people break tips on knives, and it's usually the result of stabbing something like wood or a tree (something hard). I learned my lesson about that with the first knife I bought, and the warranty paper specifically said that engaging in such activities would void the warranty. Funny how people think that just because the knife costs more than $25 it is supposed to defy the laws of physics.