carrot
11-27-2006, 06:36 PM
Preamble: I am not nearly as experienced with knives as many on this board but I do appreciate a good knife. (So try and forgive me for any terminology misuse.) I find that the Benchmade Mini-Griptilian 556 and Spyderco Delica 4 seem to be two knives worthy of comparison... and having just received the Delica (one of my first Spydie folders!) in the mail less than a month ago, I want to write about it.
http://static.flickr.com/120/307897997_699cf62fff.jpg
Both the Delica and Mini-Grip share a few similarities. The knives are in the same price range, manufactured by well-respected companies, they are roughly the same size and both use FRN handles with steel liners. But that's pretty much where the similarities end, as both knives represent the different companies' approach to knives and knife design.
Locking mechanism and one-handed opening:
The Mini-Griptilian features Benchmade's wonderful AXIS-lock system which allows for easy and quick one-handed opening. It takes a simple flick of the wrist to open and locks with soft click, and after disengaging the lock, another quick flick to close. When closing the knife, the user's fingers never have to be in the path of the blade. The lockup is as tight as the day I got it and despite the occasionally cited disadvantage of thumbstuds falling off, the ambidexterous thumbstuds on my Mini-Grip are as tight as they came from the factory. When the knife is gripped in various fashions, it is apparent that the AXIS lock was carefully placed as not to be accidentally disengaged.
On the other hand, the Delica 4 features Spyderco's trademark "Spyderhole," a large circular hole in the blade allowing for quick one-handed opening. I find the Spyderhole a bit more finicky than the Mini-Griptilian's thumbstuds to operate (thumbstuds don't much care how you place your thumb), but I find using the Spyderhole strangely satisfying. Locking the blade results in a much more satisfying click as Spyderco's carefully engineered lockback/front lock snaps into place. The David Boye cutout in the locking mechanism prevents a tight grip on the handle from disengaging the lock. In order to close the knife, however, the user's fingers must be (for however short a moment) in the path of the closing blade, which means the operator must pay a little more attention in closing the Delica than with an AXIS-based folder. Opening and closing the Delica requires a little more force than with the Mini-Grip but both have extremely smooth action.
http://static.flickr.com/108/307898322_499ff1a0be.jpg
Grip, clip and ergonomics:
The Mini-Griptilian, true to its name fits the hand very well, especially for a small knife. There are ridges for the thumb on the spine of the blade and on the exposed parts of the liner on the top and bottom of the handle. The reversible clip (to accommodate lefties), while large and beefy, does not make holding the Mini-Griptilian uncomfortable and aids in gripping the knife while closing the blade. The checkered grip pattern on the Mini-Grip do not provide as much grip as the bi-directional texturing on the Delica, but the slightly beefier handle makes up for it. On the other hand, the checkered pattern, when paired with the clip puts a lot of wear on pockets. When using the knife for long durations I have never noticed discomfort in my hands from holding the knife. The Mini-Grip feels like a very well-balanced knife.
The Delica, with its flat handles, does not fit in the hand as well as the Mini-Griptilian but it is still comfortable to use. I feel that due to the slightly slimmer (not by much!) handles on the Delica, I cannot grip the knife as tightly and may develop hand cramps from using the knife for long periods at a time. But the handle's bi-directional checkering allows for good grip with wet and dirty hands. Like the Mini-Grip, the Delica features thumb ridges on the spine of the blade behind the Spyderhole and on the top of the handles, but no texturing on the bottom, which may make it more comfortable but less grippy. The clip is positionable on the knife in four different positions, to allow for tip up or tip down carry. The clip is also springier and lighter than the one on the Mini-Griptilian, but I do not feel that pocket retention would be a problem with either knife. (But if you really want secure, the Mini-Grip has the edge. No pun intended.) No pocket wear is expected from using the Delica, as the point where the clip contacts the FRN handles is smooth. The Delica has the edge in how it rides in a pocket, not just due to the less abrasive clip design, but also because it is slightly thinner. The Delica, while lighter than the Mini-Grip, also feels well-balanced.
As a sidenote, both knives have lanyard holes, but the one on the Mini-Grip is slightly bigger.
http://static.flickr.com/122/307897738_2180b67024.jpg
Blade geometry and design:
Quite frankly, I have very little idea about blade geometry and how it affects cutting ability. I would be delighted if someone chose to enlighten me on the topic.
I will comment however, that the edge of the blade extends almost completely to the handle on the Mini-Griptilian but on the Delica has a little under a centimeter of unsharpened area, which Spyderco calls the kick. This means that the Delica has less cutting surface... but its stock edge cuts very well. The tip of my Mini-Griptilian 556 drop point broke off sometime during usage, but I was able to create a new point by grinding down the spine to form a new point. Spyderco claims that the Delica 4 was designed to minimalize the possibility of tip breakage, which I'm not willing to test.
The Mini-Griptilian now comes in 154CM steel and the Delica 4 in VG-10, so the Delica has a better, stronger steel, for a lower price. (The more expensive Doug Ritter edition of the Mini-Grip has S30V steel.)
No comment on the cutting ability, as the Mini-Griptilian has seen over six months of use and is no longer on the factory edge. (It's also been pretty abused.)
Overview:
Both are great knives and I would not hesitate to recommend either of them to somebody looking for a quality knife at a fair price. I have not had to experience any warranty repair or replacement but I hear that both companies are top notch in customer service, so I wouldn't expect any problems on that end either.
So which do I EDC? I either rotate, or carry both.
http://static.flickr.com/120/307897997_699cf62fff.jpg
Both the Delica and Mini-Grip share a few similarities. The knives are in the same price range, manufactured by well-respected companies, they are roughly the same size and both use FRN handles with steel liners. But that's pretty much where the similarities end, as both knives represent the different companies' approach to knives and knife design.
Locking mechanism and one-handed opening:
The Mini-Griptilian features Benchmade's wonderful AXIS-lock system which allows for easy and quick one-handed opening. It takes a simple flick of the wrist to open and locks with soft click, and after disengaging the lock, another quick flick to close. When closing the knife, the user's fingers never have to be in the path of the blade. The lockup is as tight as the day I got it and despite the occasionally cited disadvantage of thumbstuds falling off, the ambidexterous thumbstuds on my Mini-Grip are as tight as they came from the factory. When the knife is gripped in various fashions, it is apparent that the AXIS lock was carefully placed as not to be accidentally disengaged.
On the other hand, the Delica 4 features Spyderco's trademark "Spyderhole," a large circular hole in the blade allowing for quick one-handed opening. I find the Spyderhole a bit more finicky than the Mini-Griptilian's thumbstuds to operate (thumbstuds don't much care how you place your thumb), but I find using the Spyderhole strangely satisfying. Locking the blade results in a much more satisfying click as Spyderco's carefully engineered lockback/front lock snaps into place. The David Boye cutout in the locking mechanism prevents a tight grip on the handle from disengaging the lock. In order to close the knife, however, the user's fingers must be (for however short a moment) in the path of the closing blade, which means the operator must pay a little more attention in closing the Delica than with an AXIS-based folder. Opening and closing the Delica requires a little more force than with the Mini-Grip but both have extremely smooth action.
http://static.flickr.com/108/307898322_499ff1a0be.jpg
Grip, clip and ergonomics:
The Mini-Griptilian, true to its name fits the hand very well, especially for a small knife. There are ridges for the thumb on the spine of the blade and on the exposed parts of the liner on the top and bottom of the handle. The reversible clip (to accommodate lefties), while large and beefy, does not make holding the Mini-Griptilian uncomfortable and aids in gripping the knife while closing the blade. The checkered grip pattern on the Mini-Grip do not provide as much grip as the bi-directional texturing on the Delica, but the slightly beefier handle makes up for it. On the other hand, the checkered pattern, when paired with the clip puts a lot of wear on pockets. When using the knife for long durations I have never noticed discomfort in my hands from holding the knife. The Mini-Grip feels like a very well-balanced knife.
The Delica, with its flat handles, does not fit in the hand as well as the Mini-Griptilian but it is still comfortable to use. I feel that due to the slightly slimmer (not by much!) handles on the Delica, I cannot grip the knife as tightly and may develop hand cramps from using the knife for long periods at a time. But the handle's bi-directional checkering allows for good grip with wet and dirty hands. Like the Mini-Grip, the Delica features thumb ridges on the spine of the blade behind the Spyderhole and on the top of the handles, but no texturing on the bottom, which may make it more comfortable but less grippy. The clip is positionable on the knife in four different positions, to allow for tip up or tip down carry. The clip is also springier and lighter than the one on the Mini-Griptilian, but I do not feel that pocket retention would be a problem with either knife. (But if you really want secure, the Mini-Grip has the edge. No pun intended.) No pocket wear is expected from using the Delica, as the point where the clip contacts the FRN handles is smooth. The Delica has the edge in how it rides in a pocket, not just due to the less abrasive clip design, but also because it is slightly thinner. The Delica, while lighter than the Mini-Grip, also feels well-balanced.
As a sidenote, both knives have lanyard holes, but the one on the Mini-Grip is slightly bigger.
http://static.flickr.com/122/307897738_2180b67024.jpg
Blade geometry and design:
Quite frankly, I have very little idea about blade geometry and how it affects cutting ability. I would be delighted if someone chose to enlighten me on the topic.
I will comment however, that the edge of the blade extends almost completely to the handle on the Mini-Griptilian but on the Delica has a little under a centimeter of unsharpened area, which Spyderco calls the kick. This means that the Delica has less cutting surface... but its stock edge cuts very well. The tip of my Mini-Griptilian 556 drop point broke off sometime during usage, but I was able to create a new point by grinding down the spine to form a new point. Spyderco claims that the Delica 4 was designed to minimalize the possibility of tip breakage, which I'm not willing to test.
The Mini-Griptilian now comes in 154CM steel and the Delica 4 in VG-10, so the Delica has a better, stronger steel, for a lower price. (The more expensive Doug Ritter edition of the Mini-Grip has S30V steel.)
No comment on the cutting ability, as the Mini-Griptilian has seen over six months of use and is no longer on the factory edge. (It's also been pretty abused.)
Overview:
Both are great knives and I would not hesitate to recommend either of them to somebody looking for a quality knife at a fair price. I have not had to experience any warranty repair or replacement but I hear that both companies are top notch in customer service, so I wouldn't expect any problems on that end either.
So which do I EDC? I either rotate, or carry both.