Spyderco Delica 4 Lightweight 7.15" Signature Folding Knife with 2.90" Saber-Ground Steel Blade and Emerson Opener - PlainEdge Grind - C11PGYW

Spyderco has a good reputation for production knives, and the Delica 4 holds to that tradition. The blade itself is VG-10 steel with a Seki City stamp. It is paper slicing sharp out of the box, and holds it's edge well. The slightly under 3 inch length is very usable and legal in most US locations. The handle is good quality polymer, provides a good grip (far better than most knives I've dealt with). It is sturdy enough as to not warrant worry for all but the most abusive cutting tasks. The Emerson Wave feature is the most notable aspect of the knife. It works extremely well for certain types of pants pockets. The Spyderco version of the wave is larger and more rounded than those of Emerson knives. This probably reduces wear on the garments. From personal use, I have found that this opener works best with more horizontally cut pockets. With a slight outward twist, the opener will hook nicely on the thicker edge of the pocket, and open the knife with very little extra movement. Alternately, drawing the knife back and slightly up, toward the corner of the pocket will work in most situations (more vertical cut pockets with thick fabric less consistently catch the opener.) Overall: Excellent mid-price production knife. The steel and handle material perform well, and the Emerson opener works extremely well out of most pockets (with a few minutes of practice).

The first thing that you will notice about this knife (besides the unusual looking "wave" feature) is that it just feels well constructed. It is a great balance of thin and lightweight without feeling "cheap" in any way. When using the knife, I notice that the handle is noticably bigger than the blade which allows for a really good and safe grip. The high quality VG-10 steel comes very sharp, and holds it's edge for as long if not longer than any other knife I've ever owned. I went back and forth for days deciding whether or not to get the "waved" version of this knife. I finally decided to go with the waved version simply because i've never owned a waved knife, and I wanted to try it out. I'm happy with my decision, even though (after owning the knife for a couple months) I do find the wave to be a little unnecessary. While the wave feature works EXTREMELY well, I just rarely "need" to have my knife automatically open (it is more of a self defense or tactical option). I did find out that the wave hook on this knife makes a perfectly decent bottle opener if you are in a pinch (it's not as good as an actual bottle opener, but it gets the job done.) One thing that I must mention is that THIS KNIFE IN IN NO WAY GRAY IN COLOR!!! I know it says gray, but it is in fact a dark navy blue color. I like the color a lot, just dont expect gray or you will be disappointed. I like this Waved Spyderco Delica 4 so much, that I plan on getting a new regular one soon when they are released with new handle colors and a full flat grind on the blade. You can't go wrong with Spyderco.

I have never spent this much on a pocket knife but it is absolutely worth the price. I've always owned cheap Buck knives from Walmart and they have served their purpose, but from the instant I removed this Spyderco Delica 4 from the box it was obvious this was in a different class of tools. I keep my knives sharp but this one is a step above anything I've ever seen and the blade literally seems to sink into anything I'm trying to cut with little to no resistance. Mine was definitely not gray as the description reads, but rather a very attractive blue that other reviewers mentioned. I can't speak of the quality of the make and the steel as well as others can so I won't try. The only thing I can add that I haven't seen mentioned in any online review that I've checked out, and something I was very interested and a bit concerned to know about, is in regards to the Wave feature. My question was, "Even with the Wave feature, can I still pull this knife from my pocket without having it snap open?" And the answer is a definite YES. I find it very simple to pull from its clipped location without using the Wave simply by drawing it to the front instead of to the rear, and in fact I have to be conscious of trying to snap it open in order to do so. It is easy to draw either way. Practice is definitely required to become proficient at using the Wave to snap it open. This is a tool that will last a lifetime and I'll never be without it. EDIT - This cheap guy who has never bought anything more than an inexpensive Buck from Walmart just bought a second of these fantastic Spyderco Delica 4 knives. I absolutely can't be without it and never want another pocket knife that doesn't have the Wave. One word about using the Wave to snap it open: I've found it easier for me to slightly twist the handle and let the Wave catch the pocket on the side as I draw it straight up rather than pull it back and try to catch the seam at the back of the pocket. By doing this it seems to draw more easily, I can draw straight up instead of to the rear, and it also allows me to keep the knife clipped a little more forward which helps for those rare instances when I may want to draw the knife with the blade closed.

Amazing knife. I'm a martial artist, so I like a couple things in a knife. First off, it's blade profile is primarily geared for thrusting (when it comes to using it in a martial encounter) which is a definite plus. It's also completely ambidextrous, allowing you to put it in either pocket and draw it in whichever style of grip you prefer. You can also draw it with either hand from either pocket (like your left hand if it's in your right pocket or vice-versa). The closing mechanism is also ambidextrous, and the lockback style of lockup is definitely my favorite. Very sturdy and reliable. The grip is very ergonomic, and fits nicely in the hand. It has many points of contact for a good solid grip, like the serrated shelf on the emerson opener, which makes cutting very stable and consistent. The knife is also very light, you won't notice it in your pocket. It comes from the factory very sharp, which is very nice for your everyday cutting tasks, although that factory edge won't last long. The fit is great, with zero play on the blade. Only complaint is that there is no tool included to disassemble the knife, or switch the clip, and I've had a hard time finding a tool for the screws. Well worth the money, I don't think there is anything out there better for the price. Or even double the price.

I bought a Spyderco Delica 4 Wave knife In 2014 and have loved it ever since. It is my favorite EDC out of many to choose from. Some are much more expensive. I got no stake in this company or anything whatsoever I’m just trying to save you the hassle of going through a bunch of knives like I did. Look at my pics and you can see my EDC’s range from modern ultimate steel such as M390 and CPM M4 to Grand Pappy old school. I do love them all. However the Spyderco Delica 4 with Wave just fits the bill best...super comfortable in the pocket all day, ultra fast opening when called to task, excellent fit and grip in hand, good blade quality with VG10, and average closeability when done. And you always have a bottle opener. Unless you’re worried about how ugly it is, go for it. Update 2022: I’ve had it for several years now. It operates so smooth and easy it’s like an extension of my hand from the moment I grab it. It looks like it’s been through WWIII and I love that. I lost it for 2 months and I was physically I’ll about it. I bought a couple of new knives and carried a couple of old ones but they couldn’t replace this one. I was so happy when my wife found it and so was she. She got an $80 dress as a reward.

So, I’m not really the “tactical” or even “tacticool” type of guy. I don’t walk around with weapons on me at all times, and I have no illusions about the size of various knives and guns bolstering my appeal or my reproductive organs. But you can’t tinker around with knives as long as I have without crossing paths with some of the things that would be considered “tactical”. Tinker enough, and you may develop opinions, such as I did. I picked up a Spyderco Delica 4 with an Emerson opener out of pure curiosity. For those not in the know, the Emerson opener (or “wave”) is a patented little hook that sits on top of a knife to catch and open the knife as it leaves the pocket. I am assuming its purpose is to make sure the knife is out and locked in a major hurry (even more so than it would take to do the usual “remove and open” that one does with a one-handed opening knife). The main thing I like about this technology is that it works. With a little practice, I was able to get it to open consistently upon departure from the pocket, most of the time in the fully locked position. Most of the time. See, therein lies the problem. If I switched to pants of a different material or pockets of a different cut, some pocket shapes seemed inimical to Emerson opening, and some types of pants (particularly those without a robust seam long the pocket) seemed particularly resistant to it. On the wrong pair, I would get either a knife that bound in the pants, or did not open enough to engage the locking mechanism. Additionally, certain body positions made the wave opening problematic. For instance, sitting (which happens in my life with some frequency) resulted in unreliable opening most of the time. For something whose point is “fastest possible opening for tactical situations”, that unreliability seems like a real issue. Of course, your mileage may vary. I should mention that I have spent zero days practicing from sun-down to sun-up to perfect my Emerson technique, and I’m unwilling to limit myself to a single pair of pants (or body position) to minimize failure in that way. For different people (and perhaps different “waved” products), mileage of course varies. Otherwise, the knife is a great knife. The Delica 4’s weight, handle shape, texturing, and ergonomics are a triumph. Not quite as good a cutter as its full-flat ground non-Emerson cousins (of which I have owned many), but still quite a good pocket knife. The VG-10 is still shiny, easy to sharpen, and decently wear resistant, and if you were wondering, a small counter-clockwise rotation upon removal will keep the knife from automatically opening if you have the yearning to do it the old fashioned way. Also, the weight distribution on this version actually makes it a little easier to flick open and closed than the regular full flat-ground Delicas. In terms of other negatives, the secondary bevels are ground unevenly and a bit sloppily (which does happen in quite a few of the Seki City Spyderco knives). If you're a sharpmaker user, this matters not at all and effects performance in very minor ways. If you like to sharpen with bench stones (as I do), that slop in the bevels is a bit irritating, but nothing that can't be overcome with a good coarse stone, a sharpie, and some patience.

I ADORE this knife!!!! Tactical, practical, perfect for everyday carry and self-defense. I'm a petite, 5', vulnerable-looking female so I take this knife EVERYWHERE and feel so confident!! It's heavy-duty--mine was literally run over by a car and is still in good shape--so it's great quality and 100% worth your money. It's also customizable: the pocket clip can be attached to either side for lefties or righties, or drawing the knife with forward or reverse grip. What REALLY seals the deal is the Wise Men Company's "signet ring" attachment--you buy this separately, take apart the knife and reassemble with the ring--this REALLY improves the grip and ease / security of the draw. The best part of this knife is the Emerson wave opener--that little hook on the blade catches on your pocket as you draw the knife and SNAPS the blade out into locked position, so it functions even MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN A SWITCHBLADE! Quick and easy to draw even when sitting, kneeling, squatting, almost any position AND can be done single-handed (these are big in my book for real-life self-defense situations). This knife totally impressed my male work friends and earned me a new level of respect. I've already bought more for my girl-friends because they loved it too. Ladies (and gents), stop reading reviews and BUY IT NOW!!! (And don't forget the matching Wise Men Company signet ring!!)

Just an awesome EDC knife. Great steel, shaving sharp out of the box. The FRN scales and the jimping on the top of the blade provides for a very secure grip and easy handling. If you've ever owned one you know that Spyderco is nothing but quality. The Emerson opener works great, just a slight twist counter-clockwise and it catches the side of my pocket on the way out, fastest knife deployment this side of a fixed blade. It's hard to describe how it works so if you aren't familiar with wave openers, check out a YouTube video. I prefer a deeper carry than the factory clip provides, but this is easily solved as there are a variety of custom deep carry clips specifically for the Delica available on eBay in the $25-$30 range. Blade length is under three inches, so legal carry in all but the strictest knife law areas. This is my EDC during the work week because it's so light and it rides so deep in the pocket with the modified clip, it basically disappears. Also, the FRN handle is so rugged that I've got no worries keeping it in a pocket full of keys. The handle is a dark blue color, would have preferred black, but this is a small quibble with an otherwise great knife. Highly recommended!