AllOutdoor Review: Spyderco Delica 4 Restoration – “Gas Station Special”
Patrik Orcutt 08.22.23
Picture this, your walking through the parking lot of a Circle K and you hear your feet kick something across the pavement. You look down and you see what looks like a small pocket knife. You crouch down to investigate further and you think its a Spyderco. Your naturally in complete disbelief as who would lose a nice knife like this on the ground. You think to yourself “they must have dropped it and never known”. Then you pick up the knife in question and realize two things. Its a Delica 4!! Then you try and open it and find that the opening is about as smooth as your first kiss at the movies. But it only gets worse from there, the clip on the knife appears to be completely bent and has no retention. Like most women who become nurses, you tell yourself he has his problems, but its nothing I can’t fix. This is more or less how I become the owner of a long-forgotten Spyderco Delica 4.
Spyderco Coverage on AllOutdoor
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- One to Watch–Spyderco Kapara
- Spyderco Alcyone Review
- One to Watch: Spyderco Drunken
In the past two decades, few knife companies have enjoyed as much success as Spyderco. When discussing top-tier knife brands, they are consistently mentioned alongside Benchmade, Microtech, and similar names. But what sets Spyderco apart and makes them so popular? Spyderco’s dominance in the folding knife market can largely be attributed to their unwavering commitment to customer feedback. They embody a “small shop” mentality, diligently addressing their customers’ needs. This approach has yielded some of the most groundbreaking features in the knife industry today, notably the introduction and popularization of serrations, pocket clips, and the distinctive opening hole.
What truly distinguishes Spyderco’s knives is their reputation for simplicity and dependability. This reputation has led to widespread adoption by a diverse range of users, including everyday individuals, fire rescue teams, and law enforcement officers. It’s safe to assert that Spyderco currently holds a prime position as the premier folding knife manufacturer globally, and this assertion might very well be accurate. Among Spyderco’s most acclaimed knife models are The Endura, The Dragonfly, The Tenacious, The Paramilitary, and The Bug. These models encapsulate the brand’s dedication to innovation, reliability, and meeting the needs of their diverse customer base.
The Delica 4 was found by myself in a parking lot and Spyderco has not been allowed to preview this review prior to publication. I have had this knife for a few months and have been using it in an EDC capacity. It has opened many boxes from Amazon and cut a lot of packages of chicken in its newfound service to me.
Specifications: Spyderco Delica 4 – “Gas Station Special”
- Overall Length: 7.15″ (182mm)
- Blade Length: 2.90″ (74mm)
- Steel: VG-10
- Closed Length: 4.25″ (108mm)
- Edge Length: 2.49″ (63mm)
- Weight: 2.3oz (65g)
- Blade Thickness: 0.098″ (2.5mm)
- Handle: FRN (Plastic)
- Clip Position: Ambidextrous
- Tip Carry Position: 4-Position
- Lock Type: Back LocK
- Origin: Japan
- MSRP: $80 – $130
Restoration: Spyderco Delica 4 – “Gas Station Special”
By all means, I am not a professional restoration-ist and the majority of what I did to bring this blade back from hell was to clean it, remove some rust, oil it, and sharpen it. The cleaning was easy enough as this is a very simple blade to take apart as long as you have all of the right tools. Bending the pocket clip back to its normal retention point was also easy. The real challenge for me was re-sharpening the blade. I found this to be a challenge mainly because the edge was pretty much gone and this blade has serrations on it. Again, I’m not a bladesmith so I found getting a proper profile grind on this blade to be tricky. I Used my Edge Pro Apex blade sharpener to go the majority of the work but it’s still not great. I plan on getting another sharpener soon and giving it another go.
The Blade – Spyderco Delica 4 – “Gas Station Special”
The blade of the Delica 4 showcases a slender, sharply narrowing profile extending from the tip to the bolster, and it’s forged from VG-10 steel. VG-10, a type of high carbon steel commonly utilized in high-quality kitchen knives, serves as the blade material. Spyderco has engineered a blade that can be sharpened to a fine edge with ease, making it ideal for precise tasks, while its thickness ensures durability. The blade’s increased depth is purposefully incorporated to accommodate the generously proportioned thumb-opening hole.
Ergonomics – Spyderco Delica 4 – “Gas Station Special”
The Delica 4 boasts a handle that spans the entire length, measuring 4.25 inches. This length stands out as notably generous for a conventional pocket knife. When evaluating pocket knives, a handle length of 3.5 inches or more is often indicative of a “full-size” classification. The single-handed thumbhole opening mechanism, both straightforward and innovative, once set a pioneering standard for blade deployment.
My main gripe with the handle is its length. Even when gripped firmly in a clenched fist, the handle’s size seems a tad inadequate for tasks demanding more resilience. During practical usage, the blade’s rear contour is strategically optimized for efficient thumb pressure. This design choice proves advantageous, as the same prominent blade section becomes quite noticeable when the knife is closed. Enhancements could be made by incorporating a slightly more substantial handle design, without substantially altering the knife’s compact dimensions for easy pocket carry.
Build Quality – Spyderco Delica 4 – “Gas Station Special”
Initial perceptions of a knife often revolve around its weight, with a heavier knife conveying a sense of robustness and reliability. The presence of all-metal components contributes to a denser overall structure, instilling confidence in its construction. However, practical experience has taught me that a knife can possess durability without necessarily feeling weighty. In the case of the Delica, its lightweight feel might not match its sturdiness. Despite this, meticulous attention to detail ensures that all parts are securely fitted and optimized.
Likes
- Weight
- Lots of pocket clip options
- Priced well and can often be found on sale
- Lots of variations of this knife with different handles and blades for sale
Dislikes
- Not a huge handle for bigger hands
- The pocket clip can protrude and easily scratch things
Wrap-Up – Spyderco Delica 4 – “Gas Station Special”
The Spyderco Delica 4 is a well-established and acclaimed pocket knife known for its superb blade steel. Its standout feature is the blade, which combines depth with a slender profile. The blade’s thin and gradually tapered edge is optimized for precision tasks and easy maintenance, while the blade’s overall thickness adds durability and confidence. A significant portion of this depth is dedicated to Spyderco’s signature one-thumb-opening hole, setting an industry benchmark. However, this design choice also means that a notable section of the blade extends when the knife is folded, contributing to a slightly bulkier form than strictly necessary. Nonetheless, I’m very impressed with this Knife and its performance considering where I found it.
