We are taking two popular EDC knives from Spyderco and putting them head-to-head to see who will come out on top. Will there be a winner? Maybe or maybe not. But hey, what else are we supposed to do during a quarantine?
In the name of fairness, I went to my knife drawer and pulled out two comparable models within the Endura and Delica lineups. For the folks who are into that kind of “nerdery”, me included, the specific models I’m using are the Spyderco Endura4 C10PSBBK and the Spyderco Delica4 C11PSBBK.
Let’s compare their specs.
Specifications
| Spyderco Endura4 C10PSBBK | Spyderco Delica4 C11PSBBK | |
| Blade Steel: | VG-10 | VG-10 |
| Overall Length: | 8.75″ | 7.125″ |
| Blade Length: | 3.75″ | 2.875″ |
| Closed Length: | 5.0″ | 4.25″ |
| Edge Length: | 3.44″ | 2.56″ |
| Weight: | 3.6 oz. | 2.5 oz. |
| Blade Thickness: | .125″ | .093″ |
| Handle Material: | FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) | FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) |
| Clip Position: | Ambidextrous | Ambidextrous |
| Tip Carry: | Tip-up or Tip-down | Tip-up or Tip-down |
| Lock Type: | Ball Lock | Ball Lock |
| Grind: | Saber | Saber |
| Country of Origin: | Japan | Japan |
| Street Price: | $98 | $94.50 |
Let’s be honest, there’s not a lot of differences in these two knives…at least in terms of materials. Let’s look at some of the similarities.
Similarities
Steel
Both of these knives utilize VG-10 stainless steel for their blades. In case you don’t know, the “G” in VG-10 stands for Gold. They are referring to this steel as setting the “gold standard” in terms of blade steel. Some people may disagree with this, but many agree.
This type of stainless steel is manufactured in Seki-City, Japan, and has become quite popular in a variety of knives, including kitchen knives, hunting knives, EDC knives, and more. VG-10 is considered to be high-carbon steel, but also contains a variety of other metals making it able to hold an edge. It is also known to be very durable.
These two versions of knives have a non-reflective VG-10 blade that is coated with black titanium carbonitride and is flat saber-ground. They have strong tips and feature Spyderco’s large 13mm opening hole. Added to the blade’s spine is slip resistant jimping and phosphor bronze washers smooth out the open and close action.
Handle
Both of these knives utilize fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) for their handle. FRN is a nylon polymer that is mixed with glass fiber to offer a lightweight and extremely strong handle material.
Spyderco Bi-Directional Texturing is used on both of these handles to improve traction and improved ergonomics. Spyderco uses dual skeletonized stainless steel liners inside the handle to add strength without unnecessary weight.
Pocket Clip
The pocket clip on both of these blades has been upgraded to a four-way ambidextrous tip-up, tip-down, left or right-handed clip. This versatility allows you to set either of these knives up for your preferred method of carrying.
Differences
Size
So, when it comes down to it, these two knives are very similar. The main notable difference will be in overall size. The Endura is a larger knife and can be considered a big brother to the Delica.
In terms of overall length, the Endura is about 1.6″ longer than the Endura. However, it’s only .75″ longer than the Delica when closed. The Endura’s blade is .875″ longer overall.
They both carry well in the pocket, but you can notice a benefit to the Delica’s smaller size when squatting or performing movements like that.
Weight
Make no mistake, both of these knives are lightweight. However, the Delica is about 1.1 oz. lighter than the Endura. It may not seem like much, but that’s about a 30% difference in weight (2.5 oz. vs. 3.6 oz.).
Final Thoughts
Both the Endura and the Delica are time tested knives by Spyderco. You really can’t go wrong with either. They both have a solid lock up and you get that audible “snap” knowing you’re good to go.
The ergonomics are great and the contour and aggressive jimping on the spines of both blades allow you to add a little elbow grease for tougher tasks.
They are both versatile, have slim profiles, and are extremely durable. If their action is a little too stiff for you, you can always make some adjustments to loosen things up a little. However, with use, this will naturally occur a slight bit.
Spyderco Endura4 Lightweight FRN C10PSBBK
Spyderco Delica4 Lightweight FRN C11PSBBK
Who is the winner? You are! Lame answer…I know. But in all reality, you won’t go wrong with either one of these options.
