Spyderco Delica 4 Review

The Delica 4 is the latest in a long line of Delica models (at the time of publishing). It started out innovative and has lasted with minor tweaks along the way. The latest version feels a little "behind the times" but is surely worthy of your consideration. It is a "modern classic" with some practical benefits and proven attributes and materials.

Performance Comparison

Blade and Edge Integrity

The Delica 4 blade is thin, steeply tapered tip-to-bolster, and made of VG-10 steel. VG-10 is Japanese high carbon steel commonly used in high-end kitchen knives. Spyderco's resulting blade is readily sharpened and tuned for finer tasks, while its depth lends sturdiness. Much of the depth is included to accommodate the large thumb-opening hole.

Ergonomics

The handle of the Delica 4 is full length. 4.1 inches is pretty long for a typical pocket knife. On paper, we like that size. To consider a pocket knife as "full size," we generally look for a handle length of at least 3.5 inches. The one-handed thumbhole opening is simple and at one time led the field in terms of opening innovation.

Our primary wish is the handle of the deployed knife was larger in width. In a tightly clenched fist, the handle still seems a little small for sturdier use. In use, the shape of the back of the blade is optimized for thumb pressure. This is good because that same deep section of the blade sticks out considerably when the knife is closed. The handle could be made a little bulkier, in a good way, without really changing the pocket dimensions of the knife.

Portability

The Spyderco is pretty light and compact for a full-length pocket knife. 2.3 ounces is featherweight for the size. The folded knife is thin (0.4 inches) but wide. It is almost 2 inches wide in its folded configuration. For the relatively narrow in-use handle, the Spyderco Delica takes up a disproportionate amount of space in your pocket. The pocket clip is tight and fully customizable. The Delica is one of only a few knives on the market that offers four different carrying orientations with the pocket clip. If you don't yet know how you like to carry your knife, full customization as on the Delica is great.

Construction Quality

Initial impressions of knife quality are often tied to their weight. A heavy knife feels sturdy. All metal components make for a denser package and lend a sense of confidence. In practice, a knife doesn't have to feel sturdy to be sturdy. The Delica feels light. All components are tight and optimized, but the overall package is lightweight. Longer-term GearLab testing has revealed no issues. Decades of Delica use by others prove its integrity.

Other Features

There are no other features on the Delica 4. It is a simple, single-blade pocket knife.

Should You Buy the Spyderco Delica 4?

The Delica model and basic design are decades old and marked an important step in pocket knife evolution. The entire market of one-handed opening, pocket-clipped locking blades owes much of its existence to the initial development of the Delica. While the Spyderco Delica 4 lags behind some of its modern competitors, the blade material alone makes it worth the investment.

What Other Pocket Knives Should You Consider?

The Delica 4 is an expensive knife, and the long legacy of the Delica design proves its value as much as anything. But at this price point, other knives like the Kershaw Leek bring a more refined design to the table. It is also worth considering a knife like the Ontario Knife Company RAT II, which scores similarly to the Delica 4, yet costs half as much.